England v India at Cardiff: A 99 on a hot day!

Earlier this year, an email newsletter from Glamorgan CCC notified me that Sophia Gardens had secured one of England’s summer ODIs against India. It had been seven years since my previous live cricket experience so, despite personal health concerns, I thought, what the hell, and bought a ticket. To be honest, I doubted I would be successful, but the response was immediate: I was in! 

My lengthy hiatus was nothing to do with a lack of enthusiasm or any beef with the venue, more a shift in priorities. Maybe a lack of inspiration with the cricketing fare on offer, too, regular readers will now, I am not a Glammy supporter. Another deterring factor is the vagaries of the Welsh weather but I certainly need not have worried on that score. The extensive July heatwave has turned Cardiff into the Costa del Taff; the sky was clear blue, the sun almost overhead and so hot that even I went jacket-free. 

I won’t record here an over-by-over account of the match itself. You can read that elsewhere. The atmosphere was fizzing, largely thanks to the generous contingent decked out in blue and orange. I love being surrounded by India fans; unlike many young Brits, they are there mainly to enjoy the sport. Yes, they will cheer their heroes to the rafters but it’s the cricket that counts, no booze, no post-match recriminations, no demands for the head coach’s sacking. I sat in the Family enclosure, the quaintly named Jellyfish Stand, situate at cow corner at the River End almost below the Indian dressing room balcony. Great surroundings, with the added benefit on such a scorcher of being in the shade for the second half of proceedings.   

However, any match experience is bound to be affected by what pans out on the pitch. As things transpired, it wasn’t an exciting contest. India’s dismissal for a mediocre 233 meant England could play it nice and easy, take singles and the occasional boundary to maintain a steady 4.7 an over. This they achieved with metronomic efficiency, for which they had, not for the first time, a certain Joe Root to thank. 

Since I last sat in the Sophia Gardens crowd watching these two nations, in a T20, so much has changed. I think the only players to have remained were Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Adil Rashid and Jos Buttler. Now aged 65, I was thrilled like a young boy admiring a vintage Kohli one-day innings and Root’s unshowy accumulation. There was a typical straight six out of the ground from Buttler, crisp drives from Shubman Gill and some glorious pulls from Sam Curran. Probably the noisiest cheers came when Bumrah clipped Mahmood’s last over for eighteen, including a delightful flick through midwicket to the boundary near me and a pull for six over fine leg. 

233 was never going to be enough but when Bumrah, his ludicrous stuttering walk-up and straight-armed delivery a wild wonder to behold, induced Duckett to edge the first ball to Kishan, we thought: “Oh, hello….” Bethell didn’t last long either, but when you have Root and captain Brook in harness, England fans needn’t fret. Brook’s clownish attempt to repeat an earlier ramped six cost him his wicket but his Yorkshire mentor nudged, cut, flicked and drove to see the game out. 

Root was on 97 with twenty still needed and Gus Atkinson at the other end. My neighbours and I jokingly mused on the unlikely scenario of the Surrey bowler’s boundaries or wides or yet another no-ball from Bumrah depriving the batting genius of his deserved ton. No illegal deliveries but – blow me! – the improbably duly happened, and his partner duly pulled Prasidh through a gaping leg-side gap to clinch the much-needed victory. I winder what Joe was saying to Gus as they shuffled together back to the pavilion where a jubilant Brook was waiting… 

So what are the abiding memories of the day? Two all-time greats in Kohli and Bumrah chatting behind me on their balcony? The queues for the water-refilling stations? The towering trees of Bute Park as a backdrop? Jofra Archer working Rohit over? One of the Indian sub fielders handing his (much-needed) shades to a boy in the crowd? The call-response cries of “Boom-Boom – Bumrah!” whenever the bowler started another brief spell? All of the above! Seven years away, and it felt as if it was yesterday.

International Team of 2025

Despite all the dire predictions of its imminent demise, I applaud the persistence of international cricket, in particular the traditional red-ball formats. The franchise stuff continues to rake in sponsorship and TV cash but when leading countries accept the opportunity and challenge of a series spanning more than three Tests, cricket invariably rises to the occasion. If only other nations could embrace take note of England’s battles against India at home and the ongoing Ashes barney in Australia, producing high drama and great entertainment lasting several days, although a few Aussie groundsmen seemed hell bent on preparing Test match pitches geared to a T20 duration. 

Australia ended the year atop the ICC Test rankings but were undone in the World Test Championship Final at Lord’s. In a low-scoring encounter in June, South Africa, fired by Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada, at last scooped a major trophy. Both sides defeated India in five-day cricket series, while the Aussies inflicted an ignominous humbling of West Indies in Kingston, reducing their second innings to 27 all out. Mitchell Starc took 6-9. At the other end of the scale, England took the Indian attack for 669 at Old Trafford and Australia plundered their Sri Lankan hosts for 654-6 at Galle. 

I am amazed and encouraged by the plethora of nations participating in T20 internationals around the world. Many of them rely on the Asian diaspora but it’s great to see the likes of Austria, Bahrain and Rwanda playing so much cricket. However, I am not sure what their attendances are like. 

In women’s cricket, Australia barely broke sweat to take the multi-format Ashes without a single victory for England. However, Alyssia Healy’s squad were unexpectedly defeated by Harmanpreet Kaur’s India in the World Cup. The delight on their faces in triumph was a joy to behold. 

India also picked up the ICC Champions Trophy, but only after being allowed to play their fixtures in Dubai rather than Pakistan. The small-scale tournament contained its share of surprises, not least Afghanistan’s historic victory over England, whose Bazball boasting produced not silverware but nul points. Perhaps England weren’t as good as they thought they were…. 

So what about my Team of the Year? In first-class cricket, nobody outscored KK Nair or took more wickets than Mohammed Abbas. West Indian batters Nicholas Pooran and Shai Hope seemed to be everywhere in T20. Compatriot Jason Holder garnered 97 T20 victims, the most by anybody in a single year.

Neither South Africa nor New Zealand played much Test cricket but their players nonetheless made an impact on the world stage. For the Proteas, Markram and Rickelton made runs, while Jansen and Maharaj looked dangerous with red ball in hand. The Black Caps’ Matt Henry was the top wicket-taker in ODIs and Daryl Mitchell proved himself one of the best batters. 

A new record was set by NZ openers Devon Conway and Tom Latham when they each scored a ton in both innings against the Windies in December, and Wiaan Mulder opted to avoid what he considered an undeserved place atop the list of individual Test match innings. On 367 not out, and Brian Lara’s world record at his mercy, he declared South Africa’s first innings against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo. Many criticised him, and I understand why, but to cricket fans, any record achieved against a side as weak as Zimbabwe’s would inevitably come with a mental asterisk against it. 

For openers, KL Rahul and Travis Head are leading contenders. The Indian remained a formidable scorer in Tests and ODIs, and the South Australian proved to be a brutal hitter in any format. He may be inconsistent but saves his best performances for the biggest stage, not least when promoted as emergency opener in the ongoing Ashes series. NZ’s Rachin Ravindra announced himself in the Champions Trophy, nailing down the opener’s spot. 

Shubman Gill was a revelation with the bat in England and was by far the most prolific batter in men’s Tests, albeit 17 shy of the 1,000 mark. Who needs Rohit or Kohli? Harry Brook is clearly hammering on Joe Root’s door as the premier Yorkshireman in cricket but 2025 was the senior man’s year. His 805 Test tally was pretty useful but he surpassed that in ODIs: 808 was superior to anyone else’s. The unbeaten 138 at Brisbane filled a glaring gap in his CV and only Tendulkar has more Test career runs. Root’s average tops 50 and he now claims 22,000 runs in England colours across all senior formats. I don’t normally dwell long on T20 specialists but even I cannot ignore the splash created by Indian Abhishek Sharma, who ended the calendar year with a T20 strike rate above 200. Not even the likes of Gayle or De Villiers managed that but, as boundaries shrink, scoring continues to accelerate. 

Aussie Alex Carey‘s brilliance behind the stumps and decent return with the bat cemented himself as the best ‘keeper in Test cricket and, for me, Ravi Jadeja retains his all-rounder spot in 2025, although he seemed to improve his batting at the expense of his left-arm spin. Ben Stokes demonstrated that he is not finished yet, but fitness issues restricted his appearances to major Test series. 

Last year, bowlers could claim to receive a bum deal. Jasprit Bumrah was given some much-deserved breathing space, allowing Mohammed Siraj to capture 43 Test wickets. Jofra Archer’s return to England’s attack was hailed as the Second Coming but, although miracles weren’t forthcoming, the old fore and pace were much in evidence. However, that old Aussie warhorse Mitchell Starc was relentlessly brilliant, hoovering up 55 wickets in eleven Tests at barely 17, driving the Barmy Army nuts. 

Amongst slower bowlers, it was also nice to see Simon Harmer back in the South African Test fold at the age of 36. In the series success against India, he finished with a superlative seventeen wickets at a mere 8.94 apiece. However, my attention has strayed to the women’s game for my final pick. England may not have enjoyed the best year but Sophie Ecclestone had no peers when it came to limited-overs spin bowling, and she is still only 26. 

My 2025 Team of the Year:

Ravindra (NZ), Head (Aus), A Sharma (Ind), Shubman Gill (Ind), Root (Eng), Carey (Aus +), Jadeja (Ind), Starc (Aus), Henry (NZ), Siraj (Ind), Ecclestone (Eng). 12th: Rickelton (SA)

England v India: One of THE Classic Test series

These days, the people who effectively control cricket are being ushered away from the traditional formats and into the media-friendly white-ball world where TV cameras can capture all the drama rom start to finish in a matter of hours. Kids at grounds can be entertained without boredom sets in, and the all-important bars and fast-food franchises can make a hefty profit. 

But sometimes, more often than you’re led to think, the long-form stuff can be as thrilling as any T20 contest, spread over not only the five days of a single match but twenty-five days spanning a whole series. This summer’s clash between England and India epitomised the exhilaration of sport; two closely-matched sides, plenty of highs and lows, at times feisty but with mutual respect, and no little skill on show from both teams. I may no longer have the motivation or opportunity to watch everything on screen but this has been as good a home series to follow as any I can recall for decades. With two- or three-Test rubbers becoming the norm, squeezed into an ever-expanding schedule of global franchise leagues, ODIs and T20 international, how gratifying was it to witness a rare five-fixture competition that eclipsed any round of meaningless biff-bash events. 

What set it apart from, say, the epic Ashes encounters of yore, was the boorish behaviour of spectators. The atmosphere benefited from crowds supporting both teams, not just the partisan St George’s flag-waving, beer-swilling xenophobic crowds I tend to associate with England’s Barmy Army. Having attended a neutral ODI involving a side led by Dhoni, Kohli et al, I can appreciate the passion of the good-natured, cricket-loving Indian fans who, in the past month, lifted the atmosphere even whilst losing. Had it been India needing only 35 runs on the final morning, I doubt many England supporters would have bothered turning up. The thousands of fans in blue or green, white and orange were certainly rewarded with one of the most sensational and surprising finales to any Test match between the two nations. From Jamie Overton’s pulled boundary, via Woakes’ one-armed entrance to Siraj’s devastating yorker to Atkinson, it was extraordinary stuff. 

A 2-2 series result was a fair one. Each nation enjoyed a comfortable victory, each edged a nailbiter, with a drawn run-fest in between, so not even Ben Stokes or, if he was being honest (as if!) Nigel Farage, could resent the equal role played by India. Remember, this was a touring party shorn of the retired Kohli and Rohit Sharma, and with the world’s premier bowler Jasprit Bumrah to be employed only sparingly.

Curiously, India won both games in which Bumrah was rested, and it was the 31-year-old Mohammed Siraj who rose to the occasion brilliantly, finishing with 23 wickets. Shubman Gill was the inexperienced captain but he covered himself with glory all round, particularly with the bat. His extraordinary, record-breaking innings of 269 and 161 at Edgbaston were the highlights of a magnificent series, while Jaiswal, Jadeja and Pant were usually entertaining at the crease. 

England had their heroes, too. Joe Root was as solid and unfussy as ever, scoring three centuries on his way to second on the all-time list of Test match run scorers. Fitness permitting, Tendulkar’s seemingly unassailable record will on a few years surely fall to the Yorkshireman. Harry Brook is a captain in waiting, although Ben Stokes’ capacity to pull out performances on the biggest stage is undimmed. His 141/5-72 combo at Old Trafford was terrific. Atkinson Tongue and the fit-again Jofra Archer also had their moments, and Jamie Smith’s unbeaten 184 at Old Trafford demonstrated what he is capable of when he applies himself. 

The pundits predicted that the Lord’s line-up, perhaps with Wood and Atkinson for Woakes and Tongue, should start the Ashes campaign this winter. Personally, I would favour Rehan Ahmed as the frontline spinner, and for his superior batting. However, England selectors appear reluctant to pick players based on inconsequential niceties like form and experience! 

But, for now, let’s not waste time banging on about the forthcoming tour to Australia. Instead, we should celebrate the Indian summer of 2025 and hope that there will be plenty more five-Test challenges, home and away, in the future. 

Team of the Series: Jaiswal (Ind), Duckett (Eng), Gill (Ind), Root (Eng), Brook (Eng), Pant (Ind +), Stokes (Eng), Jadeja (Ind), Tongue (Eng), Bumrah (Ind), Siraj (Ind)

India win Under-19 World Cup

I first became aware of the 2018 Under-19 World Cup last summer. While staying on Jersey, I found myself having breakfast in the same hotel dining room as the squads representing Denmark, Scotland and Ireland, each vying for a qualifying place in the New Zealand competition proper. Unfortunately I left before the Irish clinched the deal but I made a mental note to follow their progress.

Six months later, they predictably failed to win the tournament. Instead, and far more expectedly, it was India who duly became the first nation to win four Under-19 World Cups. Was the result ever in doubt?! They won all six matches in the tournament, taking Australia apart by eight wickets in the final, so skipper and opener Prithvi Shaw thoroughly deserved to raise the trophy in Christchurch.

The young Irishmen can at least hold their heads up high, having defeated one of the eventual semi-finalists Afghanistan at the group stage. Perhaps one or two will make it big in the future, but I reckon it will be some of the Indian team who could forge successful cricketing careers in the future. Manjot Kalra won the Player of the Match in the final, thanks to a measured century, while team-mate Shubman Gill was the most consistent scorer throughout the tournament. Amongst the bowlers, I’m sure Rahul Dravid will also be extolling the virtues of his paceman from Rajasthan, Kamlesh Nagarkoti who also shone in the field.

However, looking back at previous Under-19 World Cup finalists, it’s interesting to note how few bowlers went on to become global names.. Mushtaq Ahmed (1988), Josh Hazelwood (2010), Graeme Swann (1998), Ravi Jadeja (2006 and 2008) and the emerging whizz-kid Kagiso Rabada are exceptions to the rule. Admittedly this competition has witnessed the launch of brilliant careers for Albie Morkel (2000), Trent Boult and Tim Southee (both 2008) but they never performed in the final.

On the other hand, there are numerous batsmen who have gone on to succeed at the very highest senior level.  Yuvraj Singh, Sarfraz Ahmed, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Graeme Smith, a beardless Hashim Amla and Babar Azam have all competed in the under-19 final, while the likes of Atherton, Hussain, Cook and Root all starred for England en route to captaining the senior side. However, it is Owais Shah who remains the only English player to lift the cup. Future Test bowler Alan Mullally was a winner in 1988 but for Australia, and both Jonathan Trott (South Africa, 2000) and Eoin Morgan (Ireland, 2006) also made their respective marks for the nations of their birth.

So why haven’t the youth bowlers progressed at the same rate as batsmen? I guess it could be part burnout, injuries, poor coaching or just that bowlers either peak early or mature relatively slowly. I don’t know the answer. In 2016, Jack Burnham struck three centuries for England, while Sam Curran and Mason Crane also caught the eye. The latter two have been fast-tracked into the senior squad although it’s Tom Curran who seized his ODI opportunity in Australia last month. Burnham’s time may yet come, but first he’ll have to drop his stupid and career-damaging drug habit.

Elsewhere, I fancy that Keagon Simmons (West Indies), Aussie captain Jason Sangha and the aforementioned Indian trio will become internationally renowned within five years, provided suitable first-team opportunities open up!