Spirits Cricket

After the England Cricket Team’s losses in the Indian Test series currently ongoing in India, Alastair Cook – captain of the English team – has said that Joe Root was ready to take over the captaincy position in the team.

Cook’s ability to captain the team was first questioned with the team’s failure in their home test series against Pakistan. However, he has admitted that the end of the Indian Tour could see him step down from the exalted position as the extent of their defeat by their Indian counterparts, led by Virat Kohli seems to have ended any hopes he harbored of continuing in the role beyond this season.

The fourth test held in Mumbai saw India humiliate England as they pushed on to clinch the series 3-0 with one match still remaining.

Cook also mentioned that he would stick with the team till the end of the series, after which he would sit with Andrew Strauss, England’s Director of Cricket in the New Year and talk things over in a honest and open manner. (more…)

Jason Roy is a great prospect for England with the view of the 2019 World Cup.

Aggressive opening batsmen in ODI Cricket were a rarity for England in the last 5 years and that’s why, they couldn’t create a sense of fear among the international bowlers.

However, now, the Three Lions have two such batsmen, Roy and Hales, who don’t play the waiting game and instead, like to tear into the bowlers.

In his innings against Sri Lanka yesterday in London where he plays his domestic Cricket as well, Roy was fearless to say the least.

Caring very little about the length of the faster men, he was forcing himself on the front foot on each ball which was almost disrespectful and embarrassing to Sri Lanka. And, his dismissiveness of the visitors’ strongest department, that is spin, was exhilarating too. He did not have any kind of regard for the ability of their spinners.

Playing it off the pitch is the general way of playing spin in England, but, for Roy, it’s about reducing the distance between him and the bowler to change the length of the ball to his liking and to take the turn out of the scene, much like an Asian.

Also, the elbows of Roy remain so upright. There is probably no player in the world who keeps his elbows more upright than that. (more…)

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The captain of the England cricket team, Alastair Cook, wants his players to pull their socks and come up with something special in the third test match against Australia which is going to start from tomorrow at Perth.

England is down by 0-2 in the series and they have an uphill task in their hands now. If they have to retain the Ashes, they will have to win 2 out of the next 3 test matches.

Cook was clearly looking pressurized while talking to the reporters in the pre match press conference earlier today.

The English skipper said, “We haven’t been at our best so far in the series and that is really disappointing. But, now, we can’t afford to put up another poor performance.”

“Captaincy is not an easy job. You are always under the scanner as a captain, but, you need to be up for the challenges and that’s what I am doing. I am ready for the upcoming game and I will try everything that I can to pull things back for us.”

England had included two spinners in the XI in the last test match as the Adelaide pitch was dry and was expected to assist the slow bowlers, but, on a quick and bouncy surface at Perth, there is no chance of them doing that. One of the two spinners would certainly be dropped.

England might also leave out both of them and go into the Perth test match with an all pace attack.

When asked about the possibility of both the spinners being sidelined, Cook said, “Selection is always difficult when you are losing games. You have to make some tough calls. As far as going with an all pace attack is concerned, it’s definitely possible.”

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