As India prepares for the upcoming five-Test series against England, memories of past batting heroics on English soil resurface. From Rahul Dravid’s resilience to Ajinkya Rahane’s match-winning century at Lord’s, these performances highlight the skill and determination required to succeed in challenging conditions.
The World Test Championship final at Lord’s was marked by a sombre tribute to the victims of the Ahmedabad plane crash, with players observing a minute’s silence and wearing black armbands. The Air India flight crashed shortly after takeoff, claiming 265 lives. On the field, Australia held a 218-run lead, but South Africa fought back, leaving the match delicately poised.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir returned home on June 12 as his mother suffered a heart attack on June 11. Gambhir is with his mother at the moment who is undergoing treatment in a Delhi hospital but is likely to rejoin the side before the first Test against England which gets underway on June 20.
Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 launched with a blend of nostalgia and explosive action at the Oakland Coliseum. West Indian legends Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh bowled the ceremonial first balls, with Adam Gilchrist behind the stumps.
Novak Djokovic reflects on his career. He speaks about his place among tennis greats Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Djokovic admits feeling like an outsider. He acknowledges the impact of cultural factors on fan support. He respects his rivals. He highlights the influence of their rivalries on his development. He shares his thoughts after his French Open exit.
Former opener Matthew Hayden attributed the South Africa and Australia batting woes in the WTC final to technical flaws, contrasting with T20 approaches. He emphasized the need to ‘smell the leather’ by moving towards the ball in Test cricket.
Finn Allen’s explosive 151, featuring a record-breaking 19 sixes, propelled the San Francisco Unicorns to a massive 123-run victory over Washington Freedom in the MLC opener. The Unicorns set a league record with 269/5, while Freedom’s chase faltered after a promising start, leading to a dominant win for the home side. Allen’s performance earned him Player of the Match honors.
India prepares for the England Test series with a strategic intra-squad warm-up game, prioritizing privacy and acclimatization. The closed-door practice match, featuring 360 overs of simulation, aims to fine-tune player fitness, resolve selection dilemmas, and allow Shubman Gill to lead the team in a low-pressure environment.
Ahead of the first Test against England at Headingley, Team India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel expressed satisfaction with the bowlers’ intensity and discipline during their practice sessions. Morkel highlighted the importance of consistency and maintaining energy, even when the pitches flatten out.
