Stalwart Joe Root became England's leading run-scorer in Test cricket by surpassing Alastair Cook. He achieved this historic feat during the Test match against Pakistan. Former England captain Alastair Cook tipped Joe Root to go past legendary Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar's record of leading run-scorer in Test cricket. Former Team India cricketer Sachin Tendulkar ended his Test career with 15,921 runs. Alastair Cook feels that Root aged 33 has plenty more years. "I can see him overhauling Sachin Tendulkar's record," Cook said while commentating on BBC radio. "You could say Sachin is still the favourite but just. "I don't see that happening for Root to lose that hunger and ability to keep driving himself forward for the next couple of years." Also Read: IND vs BAN 2nd T20I: Bangladesh wins toss, opts to bowl first Joe Root was also hailed by his skipper Ben Stokes, who is sitting out of the first Test against Pakistan following an injury. "The selflessness that he has is an incredible attribute for him," Stokes said in a video on the England and Wales Cricket Board's social media channels. "He always puts the team first, and the fact that he's got so many runs is just a bonus for us. He's an incredible player." Two other former England captains, Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain, joined those paying tribute to Root, who made his Test debut in Nagpur against India in 2012. "Twelve years of excellence is exactly what it has been," said Atherton during television commentary. "I was there in Nagpur, I thought: 'This guy's going to be one of our greats,' But you've still got to do that." Co-commentator Hussain echoed the praise. "He has graced us with such amazing ability and shots and temperament and hunger, and throughout those 12 years he's played with a smile on his face, which we all know is not easy," said Hussain. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer sent Joe Root a message on X: "Congratulations to Joe Root on becoming England's leading Test run scorer. A fantastic achievement from an outstanding cricketer who just gets better and better." (With AFP Inputs)
09 October,2024 07:12 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBangladesh won the toss and elected to bowl first in the IND vs BAN 2nd T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Currently, Team India is leading the three-match T20I series by 1-0. Ahead of the IND vs BAN 2nd T20I, Bangladesh have made one change in their playing XI. Tanzim Hasan Sakib has been included in the squad in place of Shoriful Islam. The hosts have named the same playing XI. Having a lead in the series against Bangladesh, Team India will aim for the series win. Mayank Yadav and Nitish Kumar Reddy will look to better their performances compared to their debuts. In the IND vs BAN 2nd T20I, people will expect Mayank Yadav to showcase his pace yet again in Delhi. Also Read: Tests: Highest run-scorers for England In the absence of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill, Sanju Samson will open the innings alongside Abhishek Sharma. Samson delivered a decent performance in the first T20I as he scored 29 runs in 19 balls. Also while chasing, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya played a fiery knock of unbeaten 39 runs off just 16 deliveries. His knock was laced with 5 fours and 2 sixes. Pacer Arshdeep Singh claimed three wickets following which he was named the "Player of the Match." Spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, too snapped three wickets. Pandya, Mayank and Washington Sundar registered one wicket each to their names. The third T20I between India and Bangladesh will be played on October 12 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. IND vs BAN 2nd T20I Squads:India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Riyan Parag, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh.Bangladesh: Litton Das (wk), Parvez Hossain Emon, Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Towhid Hridoy, Mahmadullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Jaker Ali, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman.
09 October,2024 06:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRohit Sharma, currently relishing a break from the rigors of cricket, has commenced preparations for the upcoming IND vs NZ Test series, which kicks off on October 16 in Bengaluru. The Indian skipper headed to the Reliance Corporate Park Cricket Ground in Mumbai for training but was quickly surrounded by a large crowd of enthusiastic cricket fans. Multiple videos circulating on social media indicate that Sharma has begun his training regimen for the three-match IND vs NZ Test series. However, after an intense practice session, as he was leaving the facility, a significant number of fans swarmed the ground in hopes of capturing selfies and securing autographs. Captain Rohit Sharma started practice session before the big BGT and NZ test series at Mumbai Jio park.🔥Captain working hard for WTC @ImRo45 🐐🙇🏼♂️ pic.twitter.com/VGj3R9Q7uj — 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) October 9, 2024 The way fans ran towards Captain Rohit Sharma for clicking picture with him during Rohit Sharma practising at RCP Mumbai.🥹❤️The madness and love for boss @ImRo45 🐐🙇🏼♂️ pic.twitter.com/bIXSvy1iCT — 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) October 9, 2024 In the midst of the excitement, Sharma could be heard asking the fans to slow down and kindly requested them to leave the field. Also Read: IND vs NZ Test series: Viral video features Rohit Sharma’s touching birthday tribute to fan Recently, Sharma led India to a resounding 2-0 Test series victory over Bangladesh, clinching a seven-wicket win in the second Test to complete the series whitewash. This triumph not only solidified India’s dominance but also strengthened their position at the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 points table. With a points percentage of 74.24%, India currently holds the lead, while defending champions Australia follow in second place with a percentage of 62.50%. The finalists from the 2023 WTC are closely pursued by Sri Lanka (55.56%), England (42.19%), South Africa (38.89%), and New Zealand (37.50%). Following the two consecutive defeats to India, Bangladesh has fallen to seventh place with a points percentage of 34.38%. Looking ahead, India’s prospects for qualifying for a third consecutive WTC final remain bright. If the team secures victories in at least four of their remaining eight matches without incurring any penalties, they will be guaranteed a top-two finish in the standings.
09 October,2024 06:16 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentCurrently relishing a break from the rigors of cricket, India captain Rohit Sharma was spotted bringing joy to a young fan by wishing her a happy birthday while seated in his opulent Lamborghini Urus. Havig attended an NBA game in the UAE last week, Sharma is now gearing up for an upcoming three-match IND vs NZ Test series, with the first match scheduled to commence on October 18. In a heartwarming video that quickly went viral, he was spotted maneuvering through the bustling streets of Mumbai. Despite the heavy traffic, he took a moment to engage with his supporters, showcasing his approachable nature. Also Read: IPL 2025: Rohit Sharma to RCB? De Villiers compares potential impact with Hardik's MI transfer Notably, he extended birthday wishes to a young girl, shaking her hand after another fan alerted him to the special occasion. This endearing interaction has captured widespread attention on social media, with fans commending Sharma for making the girl's day truly unforgettable. Captain Rohit Sharma spotted in Mumbai streets today. Then he met a cute fangirl whose birthday it was and Rohit wished her happy birthday.🥹❤️Look at her happiness what a wonderful birthday for her.🥹❤️ Thank you boss @ImRo45 🐐🙇🏼♂️ pic.twitter.com/OBWzQWFfSk — 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) October 8, 2024 Meanwhile, Sharma has not indicated any imminent plans for retirement, although his childhood coach Dinesh Lad recently suggested that the captain may contemplate stepping away from Test cricket following the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, particularly considering his advancing age. “No, look I am not saying that Rohit Sharma will announce his retirement after the World Test Championship, maybe he will. Because as his age is increasing, it seems that he may retire from Tests,” Lad shared in an interview with Dainik Jagran. Also Read: IND vs NZ Test series: Kane Williamson set to miss 1st Test against India in Bengaluru He further expressed his belief that Sharma is determined to achieve his dream of winning the ODI World Cup in 2027, assuming he remains fit. "The reason for this may also be that he wants to keep himself fit for ODI cricket. However, I promise 100 percent that Rohit Sharma will play in the 2027 ODI World Cup. The type of cricket Rohit is playing is unbelievable," he added. With the upcoming series against New Zealand on the horizon, all eyes will be on Sharma as he leads his team, aiming to secure victories while also preparing for the challenges that lie ahead in his cricketing journey.
09 October,2024 05:43 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAhead of the Champions Trophy 2025, Eoin Morgan said that England should consider Ben Stokes and Joe Root. Joe Root and Ben Stokes last played ODIs in 2023 during the World Cup in India. Both players will miss the upcoming three-match series against West Indies which will taker later this month. Stokes format skipper missed the recent ODI series against Australia due to injury which the Three Lions went on to lose 3-2 whereas on the other hand, the 33-year was given a rest in order to give him a break between Test series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Also Read: "It's going to take long time for someone to...": Stokes on Joe Root becoming England's leading run-getter in Tests "I'm happy to back the younger players. In the recent series against Australia, they found a template. Australia, you have to commend how good they are at the moment in all formats of the game. But when you put them up against a side that, at stages, didn't have [Jofra] Archer, no Wood, Stokes and Root as well, no Buttler, that's half your England team," Eoin Morgan said at the launch of the International Masters League as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. "Ben Stokes has already said that he hasn't had the call yet from Baz as to whether he will play or not. If that call comes, obviously he would love to play. In my eyes, they've got to come into a major world tournament and look to win it, and that means trying to find the best team - and for me, Stokes and Root are in that best team," Eoin Morgan added. "The younger players playing in the upcoming series against the West Indies, and then coming here [India] in February, the opportunity is there in front of your face. And that opportunity can be quickly taken away when those big names come back." Before the Champions Trophy, the "Three Lions" will play three ODIs in the West Indies and three in India. (With ANI Inputs)
09 October,2024 05:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRiding on a string of impressive performances, Indian seamer Arshdeep Singh entered the top 10 among bowlers and was placed eighth in the ICC T20I rankings issued on Friday. The left-arm seamer, who returned 3/14 in the opening T20I against Bangladesh in Gwalior last Sunday, jumped eight spots with 642 rating points to reach the eighth position. He is the only Indian bowler in the top 10. England's Adil Rashid continues as the top-ranked bowler in the shortest format followed by Akeal Hossain of the West Indies and Afghanistan's Rashid Khan at the second and third spots respectively. "Arshdeep is also a big winner in the latest rankings update, with the left-arm pacer rising eight places to equal eighth on the updated list for T20I bowlers and reaching a new career-high rating following his three-wicket haul against Bangladesh," the ICC said on its website. Hardik Pandya, who blasted a 16-ball 39 with five fours and two sixes, moved up seven places to reach the 60th spot among batters. The ace Indian all-rounder also returned 4-0-26-1 and moved to the third spot as he rose four positions in the list of top all-rounders, which is headed by England's Liam Livingstone with Nepal's Dipendra Singh Airee at the second position. Also Read: Ishan Kishan aims for fresh start in Ranji after controversial exit last season Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is not a part of the India squad for the three T20Is against Bangladesh, dropped one position to fifth and was leapfrogged by Pakistan's Babar Azam. Washington Sundar also improved his ranking as he got to 35th among T20I bowlers, moving up four positions in the latest ICC T20I rankings. Meanwhile, India and Bangladesh are set to clash in the second T20 International on Wednesday with the home team's young mavericks proving more than a handful for the full-strength visitors. The visitors have hardly looked like the plucky opponents that they are hyped to be but India have looked every bit the marauding force that loves to intimidate on home turf. (With agency inputs)
09 October,2024 05:07 PM IST | Dubai | mid-day online correspondentIndia batter Ishan Kishan on Wednesday returned to the Jharkhand Ranji team as its captain, following his controversial pullout last season that led to his exclusion from the BCCI central contract. The explosive left-hander, who became a regular in India's white-ball squad after Rishabh Pant's road accident in December 2022, took a break during India's tour of South Africa last year. Post break, he did not participate in any official BCCI matches, which raised a few eyebrows as the board stressed on players prioritising domestic cricket when not on national duty. The 26-year-old resurfaced this February, playing in the privately organised DY Patil T20 Cup ahead of the IPL and sparking a debate over balance between franchise cricket and state commitments. His absence from domestic cricket during this period contributed to his omission from the BCCI's 2023-24 central contracts. However, Kishan has since worked his way back into the BCCI's good books with strong performances in domestic cricket, including a century for India C on his return in the Duleep Trophy last month. He also represented the Rest of India in the Irani Cup, scoring 38 in his only innings. Also Read: India’s fate hangs in balance against Sri Lanka Now, as captain of Jharkhand's 16-member squad, Kishan is set to lead a young squad with last season's designated skipper Virat Singh as his deputy and Kumar Kushagra as the wicketkeeper. Jharkhand begin their Ranji Trophy campaign against Assam in Guwahati in Elite Group D. Last season, Jharkhand finished third from the bottom in Group A, winning two, losing two, and drawing three of their seven matches. "Ishan is an experienced player and he has international experience," chairman of Jharkhand's selection committee Subroto Das was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo. "We have picked a very young team. Saurabh Tiwary, Shahbaz Nadeem and Varun Aaron had all retired after last season so we had to rethink our strategy. Ishan is capable of leading this young side and we're confident of doing well this Ranji season." Squad Ishan Kishan (c), Virat Singh (vc), Kumar Kushagra (wk), Nazim Siddique, Aryaman Sen, Sharandeep Singh, Kumar Suraj, Anukul Roy, Utkarsh Singh, Supriyo Chakraborty, Saurabh Shekhar, Vikas Kumar, Vivekanand Tiwary, Manishi, Ravi Kumar Yadav and Raunak Kumar. (With agency inputs)
09 October,2024 04:56 PM IST | Ranchi | mid-day online correspondentAs Joe Root became England's highest run-scorer in Test cricket, skipper Ben Stokes said that it is going to take a long time for someone to break that record. Joe Root surpassed legendary Alastair Cook to become the leading run scorer for the "Three Lions" in Test cricket. He attained the feat during the first Test match against Pakistan. On his 71st run, Joe Root scripted history for England Cricket. Speaking in a video shared on the England Cricket Board's (ECB) social media handle, Stokes said that Root always puts the team first and is a selfless player. Also Read: Tests: Joe Root overtakes Alastair Cook to become... "The amount of times that he's won us the game with the bat. Never mind the conversion rate, because, you know, converting these 50s into 100s doesn't necessarily mean you're going to win the game. But the selflessness that he has, is an incredible attribute for him. He always puts the team first and the fact that he has got so many runs is just a bonus for us. He's an incredible player. It's going to take a long, long time for someone to come in and break that record. And you know, an unbelievable feat to score that many runs...," Stokes said. 🏏 "Incredible player. Great bloke." ❤️Hear @BenStokes38 on @Root66's incredible achievement...Click below for full interview 👇 — England Cricket (@englandcricket) October 9, 2024 Joe Root now has accumulated 12,473 runs whereas Alastair Cook ended his Test career with 12,472 runs for England. In the 43rd over, Root achieved the record when he took just one single against Pakistan's Abrar Ahmed. Soon after the British cricketer achieved the record England's dressing room stood and started clapping to honour the 33-year-old's milestone. After achieving the milestone, Joe Root continued to bat and smashed a glorious century. He is shouldered by Harry Brook, who is batting on unbeaten 72 runs. The "Three Lions" have lost just three wickets and are going strong on 369 runs with Root and Brook still on the crease. (With ANI Inputs)
09 October,2024 04:00 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTeam India will look to seal the series as they lock horns with Bangladesh in the second T20I of the three-match series at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday. Suryakumar's side has already taken a 1-0 lead in the series after clinching a seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the first T20I match in Gwalior. India and Bangladesh have faced each other on 15 occasions in the shortest format of the game so far. The Men in Blue have dominated the visitors as they have managed to emerge victorious 14 times. Speaking of the team's form in this format in recent times, the hosts have won all their last five encounters. On the other hand, the Najmul Hossain Shanto-led side have won only one game out of their last five. In the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League this year only five matches took place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. In these five matches, the teams were able to cross the 200-run mark in eight innings out of ten. So, the match is expected to be a high-scoring clash. The weather at the venue is believed to be clear, with a little bit of dew later in the match, according to ESPNcricinfo. India's left-arm speedster Arshdeep Singh asserted that skipper Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir will check the wicket and share the plan for the game. "We [Punjab Kings] did not play here this IPL, but after seeing the scores, I did not feel like checking the wicket. But yeah, we will come tomorrow and see what could be a good plan here. And of course, the captain and the coach will check the wicket and share their plan," Arshdeep Singh said in the pre-match press conference as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. Further the Bangladesh all-rounder Mahmudullah heaped praise on the team's bowlers saying that they have been doing a wonderful job in the last few years. "Our bowlers are doing a wonderful job for the last few years. I don't think we played that badly in the first game. We shouldn't doubt ourselves based on one game. That'd be unfair. We have to come out of that zone and try to win the game. We tried to play aggressively with the bat. We have to be more organised, which will serve us better," Mahmudullah said. Mahmudullah announced his decision to retire from T20I cricket on Saturday to shift his focus to the ODI format. The final T20I between India and Bangladesh at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad, will mark Mahmudullah's final appearance in Bangladesh colours in the T20I format. Squads: India: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Nitish Reddy, Hardik Pandya, Riyan Parag, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Mayank Yadav, Jitesh Sharma, Tilak Varma, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana. Bangladesh: Parvez Hossain Emon, Litton Das (wk), Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Mahedi Hasan, Tanzid Hasan, Rakibul Hasan, Tanzim Hasan Sakib. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
09 October,2024 01:02 PM IST | New Delhi | ANIStar New Zealand cricketer Kane Williamson will miss the opening Test against India in Bengaluru, according to ESPNcricinfo. The report added that Williamson has not fully recovered from the groin strain that he suffered in the recently concluded Sri Lanka series. The 34-year-old's injury will be a big blow for the Kiwis against India in the long-format series against India. Williamson sustained a groin discomfort during the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. Following that, he had to extend the period of rehabilitation at home before flying to India. The Kiwis have included Mark Chapman in the squad for their upcoming tour of India. Following, Tim Southee's resignation from captaincy after the 2-0 defeat in Sri Lanka, Tom Latham will lead the Kiwi side against India in the three-match Test series. New Zealand selector Sam Wells hoped that Williamson would be available for the latter part of their upcoming Test series. "The advice we've received is that the best course of action is for Kane to rest and rehabilitate now rather than risk aggravating the injury. We're hopeful that if the rehabilitation goes to plan Kane will be available for the latter part of the tour. While it's obviously disappointing to not have Kane available from the start of the tour, it provides an opportunity for someone else to play a role in an important series," Wells was quoted by ESPNcricinfo as saying. In Tests, Williamson has played 102 matches and 180 innings, scoring 8881 runs at a strike rate of 51.43 and an average of 54.48. The 34-year-old made his debut in the long format in 2010 against India. New Zealand squad: Tom Latham (C), Tom Blundell (WK), Michael Bracewell (1st Test only), Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Will O'Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi (2nd and 3rd Test only), Tim Southee, Kane Williamson, Will Young. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
09 October,2024 01:01 PM IST | New Delhi | ANI
First up, India kicked off their campaign against New Zealand, but fell, losing by 58 runs. But not to worry, every champion has their off days, right? It’s all part of the grand plan to build suspense for the audience. Then came the clash with arch-rivals Pakistan. The stage was set for an epic showdown. India needed to chase down a modest total of 105. One would expect fireworks, a spectacular run-chase filled with the sounds of bat hitting ball. Instead, they scurried home in 18.5 overs, with a performance that seemed like watching a slow-moving train wreck. The crux of India’s woes, it seems, is their opening combination—Shafali Verma and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana. A duo that promises fireworks but instead fails to deliver. Shafali, bless her heart, managed a mere two runs in the first match and followed it up with a dazzling 32 in the next. As for Mandhana? She contributed a magnificent 12 and a stellar seven. Now, let’s talk about captain Harmanpreet Kaur. She has got talent, no doubt. Yet, in this tournament, she has not been entirely been at her best, retiring hurt with a neck injury after scoring a mere 15 and 29. She is now doubtful for the upcoming match against Sri Lanka. It is like the cricket gods decided to sprinkle a little more chaos into the mix. In the absence of their captain, the middle-order batters are under immense pressure. Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, and Richa Ghosh are expected to step up and share the load. This means that a significant portion of the team’s hopes now rests on their shoulders. Let’s not forget the bowling department, which has had its own share of misery. Arundhati Reddy made a dazzling appearance against Pakistan, dazzling us all with figures of 3/19. Such a star performance deserves a standing ovation, especially in a match where the batting was ‘not their strong suit’. But the real concern lies with the other pace colleagues, Renuka Singh and Pooja Vastrakar. They were mysteriously absent in the previous game due to injuries. Meanwhile, Deepti Sharma, India’s spin department stalwart, is in the midst of a less-than-stellar run. But fear not, young off-spinner Shreyanka Patil and leg-spinner Asha Shobhana have risen to the occasion, picking up a few wickets here and there. The pair’s contributions have added just enough intrigue to keep the audience guessing, mostly about whether they will indeed manage to make an impact in the upcoming matches. Looking ahead, the stakes are high, and the team is set to face Sri Lanka next on Wednesday. India must lift its game in all departments. After all, they need a win, not just any win, but a substantial one that could bolster their Net Run Rate (NRR) before facing the defending champions, Australia, on October 13. Now, Sri Lanka might have stumbled in their first two matches, but let’s not underestimate them. After their triumph in the Asia Cup final against India, they’ve shown they can bite back. One can only imagine how invigorated they must feel, taking on a team that’s currently teetering on the edge of chaos. Shafali herself admitted that Sri Lanka is no longer solely dependent on their skipper, Chamarai Athapaththu. In a tournament filled with expectations, India’s campaign has been a delightful rollercoaster ride, with ups, downs, and plenty of surprises. Will the batters finally find their form? Will the bowlers support each other? The answers remain shrouded in mystery, much like the team’s performance thus far.
09 October,2024 12:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
