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Nathan Lyon is confident Mitchell Marsh will be able to play a role with the ball in Adelaide but is ready to take up any extra workload that comes his way should that not be the case.Marsh’s fitness has been one of the key watching briefs around the Australia side after he pulled up sore following Perth. Uncapped allrounder Beau Webster is part of the squad but it appears likely that Marsh will retain his place regardless of how much he can bowl. Since returning to the side in last year’s Ashes, Marsh is the only incumbent batter to average over 40 which appears set to keep him in the side.”I honestly think we’ll see Mitch Marsh bowl,” Lyon said on Wednesday. “I’m not concerned about Bison’s fitness if I’m being honest. He’s been brilliant for us since he’s come back in. He came [back] in that game in Leeds during the Ashes and [has] really dominated so got full confidence in Bison. Happy to bowl his overs.”Related

• Cummins hopes for more proactive Labuschagne in pink-ball Test

• Marsh 'hopefully right and ready to go' but questions over bowling

• Webster bolsters Australia squad amid Marsh concerns

• Hazlewood ruled out of second Test; Abbott, Doggett in

• Perth report: India hand Australia 295-run thrashing

While in recent times Lyon has been part of an Australia attack that has featured either Marsh, Cameron Green or sometimes both, he has also featured in a considerable number of sides that have not had a genuine allrounder, instead using the four frontline bowlers with some part-time overs from members of the top order.Lyon’s ability to be both an attacking and defensive bowler means he can play a key role in balancing the bowling unit in the absence of a genuine fifth bowler where, if needed, he can look to control the run rate in the first innings before searching more for wickets as the game develops.”I’m very clear on my role within the team,” Lyon said. “Nothing really changes with me…if I can get the opportunity to bowl more overs, I’ll jump at it.”Lyon expects the Adelaide pitch – which will start with 6mm of grass – will take turn as the game develops. In day-night Tests at the ground, spinners average 24.72 on the third day and 22.91 on the fourth, compared to 113.25 on the first and 60.60 on the second.Lyon was economical in India’s hefty second innings in Perth although was largely nullified by the top order before having Rishabh Pant stumped when the lead was already considerable. This Test brings Lyon back to the ground where he has had most success in Test cricket with 63 wickets at 25.26 from 13 matches, seven of which have been day-night encounters.2:13

Clarke: Mitch Marsh needs to be bowling

“We understand that we didn’t play our best cricket in Perth and India totally outplayed us,” he said. “But with all the other stuff, it’s been quite humorous in a way looking at how much has been said and the reactions of so many different people after one loss.”The beauty of a five-match Test series…is you get the opportunity to turn that around and that’s the challenge of what we face right now. We are coming up against a world-class India side that played an exceptional game of cricket over in Perth but that’s been nine days or so ago now, so come Friday we go again which I’m excited about.”We are humans, we are going to make mistakes, but if we can go out there and try and learn along the journey then we are going to put ourselves in a better position come our next fixture. We’ve got a great record here, playing at one of the best venues in the world on a great wicket, so looking forward to that.”He expressed surprised that both R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were left out in Perth with India preferring Washington Sundar. “[It] more than surprises me,” he said. “That’s the quality of Indian cricketers they have in that squad. You’ve got Ashwin with 530-odd wickets [536] and then Jadeja over 300 wickets [319]. It’s pretty remarkable to see the quality of players sitting on the bench.”In an encouraging sign for Australia, Josh Hazlewood was doing some gentle run throughs of his action alongside the other bowlers during the evening training session on Wednesday after he was ruled out of the second Test with a mild side strain. Scott Boland is expected to be his replacement for this Test.

David and Victoria Beckham face competition from a new sporting power couple, with Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce tipped to "bury Posh and Becks".

• David & Victoria set the standard
• New 'marketing juggernaut' forged
• Swift tipped to become a trillionaire

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  For a long time, the Beckhams have set the standard when it comes to A-list partnerships in world sport. The former England captain, who is now working with Lionel Messi as a co-owner at MLS side Inter Miami, married his Spice Girls star wife in 1999.

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  THE GOSSIP

  Another pop icon in the form of global phenomenon Swift is now preparing to tie the knot with NFL superstar Kelce after they announced their engagement. They have already been dominating the American football scene, with it becoming clear early in their relationship that a “marketing juggernaut” was being forged.

  It is now being suggested that Swift could go on to become the “first trillionaire”, with David and Victoria Beckham being left trailing in her wake as the art of maximising earning potential is taken to new heights.

• WHAT SPORT FINANCE EXPERT SAID

  Sport finance expert Professor Rob Wilson has told : “Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce will bury Posh and Becks. There is a huge amount of money in the NFL. It’s a massive, massive market. Taylor Swift is Taylor Swift. They’re already a billion dollar pairing but the fact together they transcend culture is important here.

  “They bring together sport and music so if you go to someone like Beyonce and Jay-Z, that's all music industry and entertainment. That's optimised but not in the same way as you can with a cross-market strategy. It certainly exceeds what the Beckham era did and allows Swift and Kelce to really exercise a lot of power in global markets.

  “I wouldn't want to put any limits on what they could do or what they could earn. I think it is so unique and if their relationship is solid, and it is a genuine relationship that's deep rooted and they have this long history together, like Posh and Becks, I don't think you could really put a ceiling on what they potentially could earn. “It'll get to a point where they might say, OK, that's enough. Enough's enough. Or they'll become really philanthropic a bit like Bill Gates. It wouldn’t be beyond the realms of possibility that they move into owning a franchise or something like that, and then you're into lifestyle, fashion, wellness, it’s just marketing juggernaut in action.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Wilson added: “Could her marriage to Travis Kelce propel Taylor Swift beyond the likes of Elon Musk to be the first trillionaire? Yes, but the markets that they access are very different.

  “The followings that they are each able to activate are very, very different, and this crossover enables the Swifties to start consuming a bit of NFL content and it just kind of just gets bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger from there.

  “They'll be very, very well advised by some of the leading marketing technicians in the world because culturally it's geared up around profit maximization. It will be about extraction of cash at every single stage if they're being advised in that way. The potential is unreal.”

تحدث هانز فليك مدرب برشلونة بعد فوز فريقه على نيوكاسل يونايتد بهدفين لهدف واحد في الجولة الأولى بمرحلة الدوري في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وقال فليك في تصريحات نقلتها “بي بي سي” البريطانية: “لقد كانت أجواء رائعة، رأينا كيف يلعب نيوكاسل بحماس كبير، هذا ما توقعناه”.

وأضاف :”لقد كنا واثقين من أنفسنا وآمنا بنقاط قوتنا، من المهم جداً حصد الثلاث نقاط في بداية الموسم، لقد خسرنا العام الماضي ضد موناكو، هذا يساعدنا على التحسن أكثر فأكثر”.

أقرأ أيضاً.. رجل مباراة برشلونة ونيوكاسل في دوري أبطال أوروبا

وواصل مشيداً بلاعبه ماركوس راشفورد الذي سجل هدفين: “دائماً ما نرى هذا من راشفورد في التدريبات وقد رأيناه اليوم، أنا سعيد جداً من أجله”.

وتابع فليك: “في الهجوم لدينا العديد من اللاعبين الجيدين وهو واحد منهم، أنا سعيد بوجوده معنا، إنه يمنحنا خيارات أكثر لسير المباراة، لقد سجل هدفين سيساعدانه في الوصول للمرحلة التالية، من المهم جداً أن يتمتع بالثقة ويشعر بأنه بخير، هذه الأهداف رائعة له في المراحل القادمة”.

وأكد فليك: “من الجيد جداً أن نبدأ البطولة بهذه النقاط الثلاث هنا، كان الفريق رائعا، أوضحنا للفريق أهمية الحفاظ على نظافة شباكنا أول 15 دقيقة، كانت المباراة بأكملها جيدة جداً، حتى بعد تلك الدقائق الـ15 في الشوط الأول، استحوذنا على الكرة بنسبة 64%، كان ذلك إيجابياً للغاية، ربما ارتكبنا الكثير من الأخطاء لكني سعيد جداً”.

وسئل فليك عن تغيير سيناريو المباراة، ورد: “مع بيدري وفرينكي ليس من السهل الضغط علينا، لقد قدما مباراة جيدة جداً اليوم، أنا سعيد لأنهما يلعبان بهذه الثقة على الملعب، نحن فريق شاب جداً، ما أراه أن الفريق يلعب بثقة وهذا أمر بالغ الأهمية”.

So India and South Africa it is. How many times have they met in ICC finals? Or a knockout match?

This will be the first time that the two teams meet in the final of a men’s ICC tournament. India and South Africa did meet in the 2014 T20 World Cup semi-final, which India won.

Can they be called the two best teams in this tournament?

Well, one can say that the two most in-form teams have made it to the final. Both India and South Africa are unbeaten in the tournament, and both teams topped their respective groups in the group stage and the Super Eight, although South Africa have an extra win under their belt given India’s washout against Canada.Whoever wins the final will be the first team to win a men’s T20 World Cup unbeaten.

Which team has taken the tougher route?

South Africa registered wins over Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Netherlands and Nepal in the group stage before beating USA and England in the Super Eight. They faced West Indies in their final Super Eight match, knowing that a defeat would knock them out, but eked out a three-wicket win in a tight contest that was shortened by rain.Related

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• Heartbreak or glory, India and South Africa are already winners

• Unbeaten India and South Africa come face to face in bid for glory

• SA team delayed in Trinidad because of runway closure in Barbados

• Shamsi: 'Huge achievement, but we didn't come here to get to the final'

After a string of narrow victories, South Africa hammered Afghanistan by nine wickets in the semi-final to march into the final.India, meanwhile, began their campaign with wins over Ireland, Pakistan and USA. Their perfect record in the group stage was marred by rain, as their game against Canada in Lauderhill was washed out. India started the Super Eight stage with big wins against Afghanistan and Bangladesh and capped it off by beating Australia.In the semi-final, India put in another comprehensive performance to down England by 68 runs.In terms of opposition, it could be argued that India faced tougher teams, having to overcome Pakistan, Australia and then England in the semi-final, but South Africa were seriously tested in most games but still found a way.

Okay, so why is this final a big deal for South Africa?

Well, it is a historic occasion for South Africa because it is the first time they will be competing in the final of a men’s World Cup, ODI or T20. In fact, apart from winning the inaugural Champions Trophy in 1998, South Africa have not made the final of any ICC men’s tournament.They have come close on many occasions, reaching the semi-finals in five ODI World Cups (1992, 1999, 2007, 2015, 2023) and two T20 World Cups (2009 and 2014) before this year, but for the first time they have got to within one win of the title.

And why is it important for India?

While India won the first ever T20 World Cup, in 2007, they are without a World Cup title since 2011 and their last ICC silverware was the 2013 Champions Trophy. They have come close since, reaching the final of the T20 World Cup in 2014, and the semi-finals in 2016 and 2022, as well as the semi-finals of the 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cups. They also finished runners-up in the two World Test Championship finals – in 2021 and 2023. Last year, they were unbeaten en route to the final in a home ODI World Cup, but faced heartbreak in the final. Less than 12 months later, they have a chance to heal some of those wounds and end their barren run in global events.

When was the last time a World Cup was held in the West Indies?

The 2010 T20 World Cup was the last one hosted by the West Indies. That year’s final, between England and Australia, was also played at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown.

So what do we know about the pitch and conditions?

Well, this will be the ninth match of the tournament at the venue. The first game here went to a Super Over, but there haven’t been any close contests here since.The teams batting first won three of the next four completed matches at the venue, and Scotland had raced to 90 for no loss in 10 overs against England before that game was called off. The last two matches in Bridgetown had West Indies and England bowling USA out cheaply and completing comfortable chases.South Africa haven’t played here this tournament, but India have had one game here – a 47-run win over Afghanistan.

Wind, is that going to be a factor?

It could be windy, with wind gusts predicted at 35 kmph from the east, going up to 45 kmph. But it probably won’t have as much of an influence as it did in Gros Islet when India took on Australia.

The India-England semi-final was affected by rain. What’s the Barbados weather forecast looking like for the final?

According to AccuWeather, there are some showers expected, so we may face interruptions. There is a roughly 50% chance of precipitation in the morning between 4am and 9am, but that comes down to roughly 30% between 10am (the scheduled toss time) and 1pm, when it goes up again to roughly 50%. There will be 190 minutes of extra time allotted on Saturday to try and complete the game. Both teams need to bat at least 10 overs for a winner to be declared.

So there is a reserve day?

Yes, the final does have a reserve day. The match will only go into Sunday if at least 10 overs each is not possible on Saturday even with extra time. The game, if already underway, will pick up from where it left off on Saturday, not start from scratch.Like match day, the scheduled start of play on the reserve day is 10.30am local time. There are some showers forecast for Sunday too, though the forecast for match hours is relatively better (about 20% chance of rain) than what’s expected overnight and later in the day.

What happens if we can’t get a result even after the reserve day?

If the weather prevents the match from being completed even on the reserve day, both teams shall be declared joint-winners.

And what happens if it’s a tie?

A Super Over will decide the result, and if that also ends in a tie, there will be another Super Over and so on until a result is achieved.If the Super Over is abandoned because of poor weather after a tied game, the two teams will be declared joint winners.

Newcastle United have been a revelation in the 2024/25 campaign. Eddie Howe’s men won their first trophies in decades, lifting the Carabao Cup by beating Liverpool in the final, and achieved their goal of reaching the Champions League once again.

A key part of that was Sandro Tonali. The Italian midfielder was pivotal in the heart of the midfield for the Magpies, showing exactly why they invested £55m into his signing almost two years ago. He played 36 Premier League games overall, chipping in with six goals and assists from the base of midfield.

It was a genius singing from Italian giants AC Milan, so much so that the North Eastern side might be looking to repeat the feat this summer.

Newcastle's next potential signing from Milan

It was a poor season for Milan in 2024/25, but they have some excellent players. Their squad has been pulled apart already this summer, with the likes of Tijani Reijnders and Mike Maignan seemingly on the move to the Premier League, heading to Manchester City and possibly also Chelsea, respectively.

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Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Well, Newcastle could get in on the act by bringing French full-back Theo Hernandez to St James’ Park this summer.

Calcio Mercato reported that initial ‘surveys’ have been conducted by the Magpies, suggesting they have made first contacts regarding a deal for Hernandez.

The Premier League outfit will not be the only side trying to sign the Frenchman this summer.

Having already said no to Saudi side Al Hilal, Atletico Madrid, and other unnamed sides from England and Spain, are trying to pounce to sign the defender. As for a fee, it could mirror the £29.4m Al Hilal had agreed for Hernandez before that deal collapsed.

Why Hernandez would be a good signing

The 2024/25 campaign was nothing short of a terrible one for Milan. The Italian giants came eighth in the league, which Dougie Critchley said was “their lowest finish since 2014/15, with their fewest points since 2015/16”, a truly disappointing season.

Yet, 27-year-old left-back Hernandez still put in some strong performances despite the struggles the Rossoneri experienced. He played 49 games across the campaign, scoring five times and grabbing six assists in the process.

Not only will Hernandez bring attacking output and a real engine on the left-hand side for the Magpies, but he is also a leader. Last season, he captained Milan 13 times, so adding that kind of attribute to a dressing room already filled with leaders can only benefit the North East outfit.

When looking at some of Hernandez’s underlying numbers, courtesy of Sofascore, from the 2024/25 campaign, it is easy to see what he can bring to the Newcastle side. Described as a “beast” by football scout Antonio Mango, he has some standout stats.

For example, across all competitions last season, the Frenchman, who was born in Marseille, played 71 key passes and won 55 aerial duels. Per 90 minutes, that leaves him with an average of 1.6 key passes and 1.2 aerial duels won.

Hernandez key stats in 2024/25 season
Stat (all comps)	Total	Per 90
Key passes	71	1.6
Big chances created	12	0.3
Dribbles completed	34	0.7
Tackles and interceptions	80	1.7
Aerial duels won	55	1.2
Expected goal involvements	8.58xGI	0.19xGI
Stats from Sofascore

There is not really a need to worry about adaptability from Serie A to the Premier League, either. Tonali is the living proof that, if you are athletic enough, your game can translate over to the English top flight easily. As the stats suggest, Hernandez certainly has those physical attributes.

In fact, Tonali was so good last season that he made Jamie Carragher’s Premier League team of the year. The former defender-turned-pundit said the former Milan star has “made a huge difference” at the base of midfield for Howe.

There is certainly evidence to suggest that Hernandez will be able to adapt to the Premier League with ease.

Not only does he have stats which show how well he has played this season, to support that argument, but his former Milan teammate Tonali has transitioned seamlessly.

If he can become anywhere near as good as Tonali has been in that famous Black and White striped shirt, then he will be a success at St James’ Park. Perhaps, he can be the second coming of his ex-teammate in the Serie A.

He's Gordon 2.0: Newcastle eyeing £43m "magician" after Mbeumo rejection

Newcastle are looking to make a series of signings this summer.

1

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 4, 2025

The 2001 FA Cup final was one of the main reasons Michael Owen won the Ballon d’Or, but one Arsenal player was so good in that game he left Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard stunned.

Liverpool beat Arsenal 2-1 in 2001 FA Cup final

Liverpool won an iconic treble in the 2000-01 season, as they were crowned League Cup champions, won the UEFA Cup (renamed UEFA Europa League) and overcame Arsenal in the FA Cup at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

The victory over the Gunners is mainly remembered for the performance of Owen, who was crowned the best player in the world later that year at the Ballon d’Or ceremony.

Appearances

55

Goals

31

Assists

8

Trophies

FA Cup, UEFA Cup, League Cup

The Gunners largely dominated the match however, mainly thanks to their midfield of Robert Pires, Patrick Vieira, Gilles Grimandi and Freddie Ljungberg. Ljungberg eventually broke the deadlock about 20 minutes from full time, and the legendary Thierry Henry even missed a chance to make it 2-0 shortly after, which he would soon come to regret.

With less than ten minutes to go, Owen pounced on a poor clearance to equalise. Five minutes later the comeback was complete, as the striker raced past Tony Adams and Lee Dixon before firing a brilliant finish beyond David Seaman.

Owen was unsurprisingly named Man of the Match, but Jamie Carragher has since revealed that such was Arsenal’s dominance, the performance of Vieira left a young Gerrard shocked, so much so he still talked about it for years afterwards.

Vieira was "as good as anything we have seen"

Speaking in 2014, Carragher namede Vieira in his XI of best foreign players in Premier League history, and revealed the Liverpool squad were stunned by how good he was at the Millennium Stadium.

Vieira made 405 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 32 goals and winning seven major trophies, including three Premier League titles.

Gerrard later confirmed his admiration for Gunners legend, saying ahead of their meeting as the managers of Aston Villa and Crystal Palace respectively: “He’s a man I have a lot of admiration and respect for, first and foremost as a player.

Patrick Vieira in pictures

“I had many battles against Patrick, some highs, some lows. He was certainly a player you could really go and compete against. You could kick him, fight him, compete against him and he’d shake your hand after the game.

“He was a top, top footballer and one of the toughest battles I ever faced in terms of being a player, and I expect the same to be the case from the side. I know he’s a winner.”

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And the Liverpool star obviously learned a thing or two from their encounter in the final, as he actually boasts a positive head to head record in matches against Vieira, winning seven, drawing three and losing five.

There is no doubt that the pair were the heartbeat of their clubs and two of the greatest midfielders in Premier League history.

Chelsea have now shortlisted a Barcelona star among their “priority” targets for the summer transfer window, after hearing about the player’s release clause, with BlueCo handed a chance to sign him for £55 million.

Chelsea transfers dependent on Champions League qualification

The tight race for a spot in next season’s Champions League draw will define the success of Enzo Maresca’s first season in charge at Stamford Bridge, and it will also play a vital role when it comes to their summer transfer policy.

£195k-per-week Chelsea player holds talks over joining Tottenham via agents

His team are trying to find a new club.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 30, 2025

Chelsea want to sign a new centre-back, winger and striker this summer (Simon Phillips), with rumoured talks already held over a move for Borussia Dortmund starlet Jamie Gittens recently.

However, failure to qualify for the Champions League next season could threaten to alter these plans, by Maresca’s own admission in a recent press conference.

“Football is not five, 10 years ago when the rules were different,” said the head coach.

Liverpool (home)

May 4th

Newcastle (away)

May 11th

Man United (home)

May 16th

Nottingham Forest (away)

May 25th

“Today you have to be careful how much you spend. It will be a completely different kind of target if we finish in the Champions League.”

In Chelsea’s pursuit of a central defender, Bournemouth starlet Dean Huijsen is reliably believed to be a serious target for Maresca’s side, but they face stiff competition from elite Premier League rivals.

Alternatively, perhaps a move for Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo could be on the cards.

The Uruguay international’s contract will include a release clause of around £55 million when it becomes active in July, presenting an opportunity for Chelsea to swoop in and strike a deal for him.

Chelsea prioritising move for Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo

That is according to reports in Spain, which state that Chelsea are now prioritising a move for Araujo this summer amid knowledge of the clause.

Araujo signed a new deal earlier this year, committing him to the Camp Nou until 2031, but it appears his agents negotiated this exit clause to give the South American a chance to part company if he wishes.

Injuries have largely diminished the 26-year-old’s playing time under Hansi Flick this term, but Araujo has been entrusted with the captain’s armband when fit and available.

The defender has also been lavished with praise by Barcelona legend Carles Puyol during his time in Catalonia.

“He’s in extraordinary condition,” said Puyol in 2023.

“I’ll stick with what they’ve told me, because I don’t know him personally, but he’s very professional, humble, he always gives his best in training and matches and that’s where his performance is.

“Right now, if he’s not the best central defender in the world, he’s among the top three. He’s young, he still has room for improvement and I think we have a very good central defender at Barcelona for many years to come.”

England’s attack leader endures a luckless day with DRS but still prises out two key wickets

Matt Roller02-Jul-2025

Chris Woakes trapped Yashasvi Jaiswal in front, and the batter survived on umpire’s call•PA Images via Getty Images

“That is a f***ing joke,” Chris Woakes was caught muttering to himself on Edgbaston’s giant screen, after umpire Sharfuddoula’s on-field decision of not out was upheld via umpire’s call by the DRS. It was out of earshot, but reflected both a rare outward glimpse of Woakes’ inner steel and his disbelief that he would end a faultless opening spell with a solitary wicket to his name.It was also a moment that summed up England’s mood on the first day, as their attack toiled hard with some success only to walk off at the close with India slightly ahead of the game after being sent in. Woakes was the clear pick of the attack, although his figures of 2 for 59 from 18 overs failed to reflect the problems that he caused, particularly with the new ball.The specific source of Woakes’ chagrin was an lbw shout against Karun Nair that he was convinced should have been given out. Nair shouldered arms to a ball delivered from wide on the crease, which ball-tracking projected would have gone on to hit some – but not enough – of his off stump. It left him seething to the extent that he even called for a law change.Related

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• Live Report – Shubman Gill and Akash Deep clinch victory for India

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• Rishabh Pant rises to No. 6 among Test batters; Travis Head also gains in rankings

• Gill holds India together with second hundred as captain

“I need to be careful: I’ve had some [decisions] go my way over the years,” Woakes said. “In general, DRS has been good for the game. A lot more right decisions are given [than before]. The only thing I would like to come in is that if a batsman decides to leave the ball and it’s still hitting the stumps, I think that should be out – regardless if it’s clipping or not.”It was the second umpire’s call lbw in three overs that went against him, and the first could have changed the course of the day. Woakes told his team-mates in the huddle that the ball – from over the wicket to the left-hand batter – had “100 %” pitched in line and was vindicated by the DRS, but HawkEye projected a bail-trimmer, which meant Yashasvi Jaiswal survived on 12.”We could have easily had them 30 for 3,” Woakes said. “It was a pretty frustrating morning, really. Obviously emotions run high when you are desperate to do well for the team, do well for yourself, and it would’ve been nice… had those decisions gone our way, the day looks completely different, but that is Test cricket and we move on.”His first wicket came between the two referrals, and was the culmination of a severe working-over for KL Rahul. Woakes’ lengths were far more consistent at Edgbaston than they had been at Headingley last week, and his line was immaculate. Rahul played out consecutive maidens but, after two tight leaves, chopped the ball on to his stumps while defending off the back foot.2:06

‘Frustrating’ – Woakes on the DRS decisions that went India’s way

Woakes celebrated with a look to the skies, in memory of his late father Roger, who died last May. Woakes has a new tattoo dedicated to his father and has felt his absence keenly at his home venue. “He’s always on my mind, that’s for sure,” he said, his voice wavering. “There are moments where you certainly think about him. He loved his cricket; he would’ve loved this week.”But his plan to Nair eventually paid dividends against another batter: in his third spell, after a change of ends – and umpires – Woakes went wide on the crease, convincing Nitish Kumar Reddy to leave the ball alone. It nipped in off the seam to take out his off stump, highlighting Woakes’ adjustment to a slow pitch where bowled and lbw were the main modes of dismissal.”It felt like the stumps were in play all day,” Woakes said. “It didn’t feel like a massive nick-off wicket, to be honest; it didn’t feel like it had the pace in it for that… It was something which we were looking for. Basically, it was trying to find the right length that allowed you to be full enough not to get driven, but still bring the stumps into play.”0:53

Aaron: Marked improvement by the English bowling unit

Woakes made an inauspicious start to this series, taking 1 for 148 across 43 overs at Headingley, and had been noticeably struggling for rhythm. It was no surprise that he looked sharper on Wednesday, in only his fourth first-class appearance of 2025 – “I’ve always been better for overs under the belt,” he has previously said – not least given the venue.”Across a career, you don’t get that many games at your home venue: this is my fourth Test match here. They are really special weeks. You have a lot of friends and family in the ground, and I’ve got a lot of love for Warwickshire, which goes deep. It’s all I’ve ever known… There’s a lot of people behind the scenes who support you through the good times and the bad.”Woakes spent 18 months either injured or out of favour between the end of Joe Root’s tenure as captain and the 16th Test of the Stokes-McCullum era, but has since become an integral part of England’s attack again. They have only lost once with him in the side in the last two years, and at 36, he has finally emerged from James Anderson and Stuart Broad’s considerable shadows.A hard-earned reputation as one of cricket’s good guys has sometimes worked against Woakes, making it relatively easy for coaches to leave him out – or for umpires to turn down his appeals. But today his obvious exasperation reflected a self-evident truth: reaching this level of sport demands talent, but staying there for as long as Woakes has demands tenacity, too.

A final-ball thriller in Christchurch was celebrated by cricketers around the world

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Mar-2023

Unbelievable!!!! Test Cricket!!

Imagine having been in that NZ changeroom for this and the England finale. Incredible scenes. #NZvSL

— Trent Copeland (@copes9) March 13, 2023