Spirits Cricket

Paul Collingwood is yet to make a final call over his participation in the much hyped twenty 20 series that is going to be held on the Pakistani land.

Earlier it was reported that Collingwood had agreed to be a part of the Rest of the World squad that would take on Pakistan in the proposed series.

But, the former English all-rounder has clarified his position. While he has admitted that he has had a chat with Andy Flower who would be managing the Rest of the World squad, he stresses that he has not committed to Flower that he would definitely be there playing in that series.

As per Collingwood, it’s an exciting proposition, no doubt because he is not an active international Cricketer anymore. He bid adieu to the international game long back. But this is a chance to get involved in international Cricket again as all the games of this series are going to be counted as international games. (more…)

New England Test captain Joe Root says that the experience former skipper Alastair Cook will bring to the team would be helpful to the success of the team now and in the future.

Cook resigned from the role in February after record 59 games.

“I think Cook will be great. He’s done a fantastic job and I’ve inherited a side that’s so settled – he has to take a lot of credit for that. I’ve got fantastic senior players. Alastair is a great person to go to – he will let me get on with it and do it my own way.

“It’s in his DNA to help the rest of the guys out. He always led from the front which is what made him such a great leader. If he’s firing on all cylinders with the bat then we’ll be in a good position at the end of the summer,” Root said.

On the other hand, bowler James Anderson told the BBCSportthat he has no plans of retiring after the forthcoming Ashes series. The 34-year old Poms star fended off speculations that he might call it quits.

“If we win the Test series, I’ll be over the moon. It means we will have had an amazing year. But right now I have no interest in stopping,” the Lancashire swing bowler said. (more…)

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…)

Stuart Broad reckons there is not much difference between England and South Africa in terms of conditions, but, it would still be very difficult for his team to emerge victorious in the upcoming test series in the rainbow nation.

The English guys are going to make their way to South Africa next month for 4 test matches, 5 One Day Internationals and a couple of Twenty 20 internationals.

The action will kick off with the Boxing Day game in Durban.

According to Broad, test victories playing abroad are absolutely rare nowadays as almost all the teams thrive in home conditions and you have to play out of their skins to beat them in their backyard.

Speaking in a talk show, the tally lanky speedster from Nottinghamshire said, “I would like to believe South Africa is a place where we should not be having too many troubles in regard to the conditions. Most of the surfaces over there happen to be slightly bouncy and you would be able get the ball to nip around a little bit as well.”

“But, touring abroad, it’s never easy. If you see the overseas records of the teams over the recent years, you would not find too many impressive numbers there. It’s been quite difficult for almost everyone.” (more…)

Joe Root started his work in this year’s Ashes in an expected fashion as he thumped a cracking ton yesterday to help England post a substantial total on the board at the end of day 1 in the first Ashes test match being played in Cardiff.

He had had some nervy moments at the start though. In fact, he could have returned to the pavilion on zero if the Australian wicketkeeper, Brad Haddin, had held on to a catch diving to his right.

It was only the second ball that Root was facing in his innings. He tried to dig out a wide Yorker and got a leading edge.

The ball flew to Haddin at a good height, but, it was, by no means, an easy catch. He had to dive full stretch.

Those types of catches actually stick in the gloves, but, unluckily for Australia, it hit the hard part of the gloves and popped out.

Root counter attacked thereafter and took the attack to the Australian camp.

He was not afraid of playing the ball in the air.

Michael Clarke, as he naturally does, was on the attack with three slips, two gulleys, and backward point and there was no fielder back on the boundary square of the wicket on the off side.

Root took advantage of that and played some lofted cut shots whenever presented with a little bit of width.

His shots on the front foot were quite watchable too. (more…)