Gus Atkinson hopes trophies and Test debut can give Alec Stewart a farewell lift

Gus Atkinson has no shortage of motivation to win a Test debut this summer, but one of his driving factors is to put another feather in the cap of Surrey stalwart Alec Stewart.

Stewart announced in March that he would leave his role as director of cricket at the Kia Oval club at the conclusion of 2024 following more than a decade in the job.

Atkinson is one of several Surrey academy graduates to have paid back Stewart’s faith and while the 26-year-old has made his England white-ball debut over the past 12 months, he is eager to win red-ball honours for a man who backed him during multiple stress fractures of the back.

Keep ’em busy

Gus Atkinson kept Kashif Ali on his toes and earned the reward in the end with a well-directed bouncer

🤎 | #SurreyCricket pic.twitter.com/HxascPs3o3

— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) June 26, 2024

“Hopefully we can win a few trophies to see him off,” Atkinson told the PA news agency.

“There is no one else really who has done more for me. He was here when I signed my first contract at Surrey and he probably saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself.

“I went through a few seasons with stress fractures and to keep backing me, to keep sticking with me…to be here now and played for England, played for Surrey, yeah I owe a lot to Stewie.

“I can’t speak for him but I am sure he loves seeing players that he’s seen come through at Surrey go on and play for England. It is probably what his job is all about, so yeah I am sure that would be amazing (if I could be another).”

Atkinson hoped to follow in the footsteps of Ollie Pope, Sam Curran and Will Jacks when he was named in England’s Test squad for the five-match series in India earlier this year, but was overlooked on several turning wickets.

Nevertheless, he “learned a lot” during his two months in the subcontinent and especially from back-of-the-bus pal Mark Wood, another bowler to make the transition from speed merchant on the county circuit to a point of difference in the Test area after the pair bonded during the 50-over World Cup last year.

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Gus Atkinson (@gusatkinson)

Atkinson said: “We were back of the bus in the World Cup, me, Woody and Toppers (Reece Topley).

“We lost Toppers through injury so it was just me and Woody there at the end. Then obviously back in India for the Test series, we were back of the bus crew.

“Woody is such a good lad and he’s not shy to ask me if there is anything I think he could be doing differently when I am running on a drink. He is asking me if I have seen anything and it’s nice that he can do that. He is such an easy guy to speak to as well.

“Obviously I would have loved to have played but I still feel like I learned a lot on the trip.

“I tried to get as much out of it as possible and I hope I left a good impression.”

That certainly appeared the case when Brendon McCullum, England’s red-ball head coach, tipped Atkinson for a summer Test debut at the end of the India series.

England name their Test squad for the July series with West Indies next week before they play Sri Lanka in three matches across August and September to round off the home summer.

Atkinson, who clocked 95mph in the 2023 Hundred, has been carefully managed during recent months after it was decided he would not compete in the Indian Premier League.

Jofra Archer’s return saw him miss out on the T20 World Cup, but the fast bowler has taken 14 wickets in the Vitality County Championship this season to help Surrey sit at the summit ahead of Sunday’s home match at the Kia Oval with Essex, which doubles up as the club’s festival of red-ball cricket day.

Another eye-catching display by Atkinson will aid his twin 2024 goals of sending off Stewart with more silverware and becoming his latest fledgling to play red-ball cricket for England.

“I want to play for England as much as I can this summer and in the future,” Atkinson admitted.

“Playing Tests in the summer is definitely something I want to do and to play in front of an English crowd in England would be pretty amazing.”

The post Gus Atkinson hopes trophies and Test debut can give Alec Stewart a farewell lift appeared first on Cricket365.

from Cricket365 https://ift.tt/cGXRrmd

Aiden Markram insists squad effort is key to guiding South Africa to T20 final

India and South Africa are competing to rewrite their stories in a titanic T20 World Cup final, as the tournament’s two unbeaten teams go head to head at the Kensington Oval.

There can be no doubt that the best sides in the competition have made it to Saturday’s showpiece in Barbados, with both boasting perfect records to outlast the pack.

The Proteas have won eight from eight, sometimes by tighter margins than they would like, while only a washout against Canada has held up a star-studded India squad’s onward march over the past month.

The unstoppable forces meet 🇿🇦🇮🇳

Aiden Markram 🆚 Rohit Sharma – who will lift the #T20WorldCup trophy? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/hlR4hasBIp

— ICC (@ICC) June 28, 2024

But both sides are looking to shake off an unwanted reputation. South Africa are into the final for the first time ever, overcoming a litany of near misses, as they look to banish the cruel tag of ‘chokers’ for good. India, meanwhile, have a golden generation that is conspicuously light on silverware.

Since winning the Champions Trophy in 2013 they have repeatedly failed to turn their vast resources – in both financial muscle and personnel – into trophies.

In the past decade they have finished as runners-up five times across three formats, coming up short in the 2014’s T20 World Cup, the 2017 Champions Trophy, last year’s 50-over World Cup on home soil and two World Test Championship finals.

There are two unwanted narratives but only one can fall.

South Africa captain Aiden Markram has gone further than illustrious predecessors like Hansie Cronje, Shaun Pollock, Graeme Smith, AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis ever did, but he insists their efforts echo even now within his own side.

“There has been a lot of support from back from past players which is very special for us a group, these are the guys who inspired us when we were young,” he said.

“To be making them proud and to have their support means a hell of a lot to us as a team. I don’t see it as just me who has got us in this position, it’s a squad effort. We have been on a journey and now that journey has got us here to our first final.

“It is a proud and special feeling, not just for me, but for everyone here.”

For India head coach Rahul Dravid, who leads his country for the final time and hopes to sign off in style, the message is to stay in the present and move on from past failures.

🗣️🗣️”𝐅𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭”

An eventful coaching journey in the words of #TeamIndia Head Coach Rahul Dravid, who highlights the moments created beyond the cricketing field ✨👏

𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙤𝙤𝙣 on… pic.twitter.com/iiSb3LxgZ1

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 28, 2024

Just seven months ago his side were defeated in front of 100,000 Indian fans in Ahmedabad, stumbling at the last hurdle having established themselves as front-runners over seven long weeks.

“I don’t think players go in keeping the baggage of the past and what has happened before,” he said

“Every day is a fresh day and players are very good at moving on from things. Just as we will move on from Ahmedabad, I’m sure South African will not be thinking about history and it will be a fresh day.

“I think that everyone will agree that probably the top two teams in this tournament, who played the best cricket, are South Africa and India. They have as much right to win it as we do but we hope that we will play better cricket on the day.”

7️⃣ checkmates on the road to glory, 1️⃣ more to go ⏳

Rohit Sharma leads an unbeaten India into the #T20WorldCup Final 🤩 pic.twitter.com/JYCfSx0oXa

— ICC (@ICC) June 28, 2024

India boast one of the tournament’s standout batters in captain Rohit Sharma, who needs 34 runs to become the top run-scorer, while their attack is led by the incomparable Jasprit Bumrah and his impeccable economy rate of 4.12 an over.

South Africa have spread the work more evenly, but rely on the pace pair of Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje to disquiet opposition batters and rarely lose when Quinton de Kock cuts loose in the powerplay overs, as England found out their peril in St Lucia.

The post Aiden Markram insists squad effort is key to guiding South Africa to T20 final appeared first on Cricket365.

from Cricket365 https://ift.tt/G4vJzwe

England left to sweat ahead of India semi-final by rain in Guyana

England faced a nervy wait in Guyana as their T20 World Cup semi-final against India was delayed by rain.

The gloomy forecasts came true as showers peppered the Providence Stadium in Georgetown, rendering a scheduled 10.30am start impossible.

Controversially, there is no reserve day for the game despite taking place in the region’s rainy season, leaving England in danger of being ousted without a ball bowled.

In the event of an abandonment, India would take their place in Saturday’s final against South Africa, having finished top of their Super 8 group while England came second.

The rain is still falling here…

Providence Stadium, Guyana#EnglandCricket | #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/7QNJzu58et

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 27, 2024

This match is alone among the three knockout games not to have a spare day scheduled but an extra 250 minutes have been allocated to get a minimum 10-over contest in.

Speaking on the eve of the match, England coach Matthew Mott took a measured view but suggested the International Cricket Council should assess its policy.

“It’s something we’ve known about since the start of the tournament so to cry foul over it now probably doesn’t make a lot of sense,” he said.

“But I’m not going to lie, it would be great to have a reserve day because the weather can change from day to day. We’ve been through that the entire tournament sweating on weather reports, so that’s nothing new to us but in an ideal world maybe that’s something the ICC need to look at long term.”

The post England left to sweat ahead of India semi-final by rain in Guyana appeared first on Cricket365.

from Cricket365 https://ift.tt/sq0fjOW

England dumped out of T20 World Cup after heavy semi-final defeat to India

England’s reign as T20 world champions was ended in brutal fashion by India in Guyana, with their batting hopelessly exposed in a 68-run semi-final defeat.

Eight months ago England held both white-ball crowns and, while this T20 World Cup has been an improvement on the 50-over debacle that unfolded India last year, they were outclassed by a side who outstripped them on all measures.

On an awkward surface at the Providence Stadium, a low and slow turner that required guile and impeccable judgement, India still found their way to 171 for seven while England stumbled to 103 all out.

Only two of their top six managed double figures as they lacked the tools to take on an outstanding attack that reduced their plans to ruins. While India will head to Barbados for Saturday’s final against South Africa, their beaten opponents head for home after a turbulent campaign.

Head coach Matthew Mott and captain Jos Buttler arrived in the Caribbean with their jobs under scrutiny and, although reaching the last four shows progress of sorts, they lost heavily to Australia in the first round, botched a chase against South Africa in the Super 8 and failed to come close to India.

Three of their four wins here came against against associate nations, with a solitary win against the West Indies in the higher-profile contests. And while they were always second favourites against the world’s number one side, particularly on a pitch better suited to India’s strengths, the gulf between the teams was yawning.

Rohit Sharma starred with 57 in a decisive stand of 73 with Suryakumar Yadav, while spin twins Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav shared six wickets at a cost of just 42.

Yet, for a few fleeting minutes at the start of their chase England gave the illusion of being on sound footing. Buttler took the fight to Arshdeep Singh as he hurried the score to 26 off three overs.

But his flurry was all too brief. The very first ball of spin from Patel proved fatal, stooping into a reverse slog-sweep but getting his timing all wrong. Instead of racing away to the boundary it looped off the toe of the bat and nestled gently in the wicketkeeper’s gloves.

It was a hammer blow but one that Phil Salt could not dwell on as he set about the fiendish task of taking down Jasprit Bumrah. Aiming a booming drive at the seamer he hit nothing but fresh air as a smart off-cutter rattled the stumps.

India were enjoying themselves and plunged England further into the mire when Patel saw off Jonny Bairstow for a three-ball duck. Looking to hit with turn that never came he paid for the error with his off stump.

By now the game plan was in the bin. Left-handers Moeen Ali and Sam Curran were both promoted, to three and six respectively, but never laid a glove on the bowlers. Moeen charged Patel but flopped to his knees by the time he was stumped and Curran was frazzled enough to review an lbw decision plumb in front of middle stump.

At 49 for five, it was all but over. Harry Brook made 25 in quick time, extracting some enjoyment from a grim enterprise, but was bowled off the reverse-sweep as the excellent Kuldeep Yadav whirled away.

Jofra Archer hit two sixes but ran out Liam Livingstone with a bad call, with Adil Rashid also caught short of his ground as the wheels came off and the innings subsided in 16.4 deliveries.

The post England dumped out of T20 World Cup after heavy semi-final defeat to India appeared first on Cricket365.

from Cricket365 https://ift.tt/cEuNfLs

England face challenging chase to reach T20 World Cup final

England faced a stiff target of 172 to claim a place in the T20 World Cup final after a finely poised first innings against India in Guyana.

Regular wickets meant the defending champions did not allow their opponents to dominate in this semi-final, despite a crucial stand of 73 between Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, but a testing surface at the Providence Stadium means chasing 171 for seven promises to be anything but straightforward.

With slow turn and low bounce in play, free-flowing strokeplay is unlikely to be easy as they attempt to book their date with South Africa in Barbados.

The match was twice delayed by rain, with two-and-a-half hours lost to the weather in total, but clear skies in Georgetown suggested the game would reach its conclusion.

Chris Jordan took three for 37, including two in two balls at the death, while spinners Adil Rashid and Liam Livingstone found conditions to their liking during tidy spells.

After sending India in to try and exploit any early assistance from the pitch, Jofra Archer almost delivered the big wicket of Sharma for just five in his first over. But, as the ball skewed up towards point, Phil Salt appeared to lose sight of it as it sailed over him at catchable height.

Reece Topley made up for that missed opportunity at the other end, threading the gap between bat and pad to knock over Virat Kohli’s leg stump for nine as India’s A-lister continued a positively C-list run of form.

Sharma survived a couple of mis-hits before finding his timing with a couple of sweet strikes off Topley but England picked off another when Rishabh Pant hacked across the line at Sam Curran and picked out short midwicket.

The all-rounder bellowed in celebration as the ball stuck in Jonny Bairstow’s hands, leaving India 46 for two at the end of the powerplay.

The rain returned with India 65 for two off eight overs, Yadav scooping Jordan for six just before the break. India added 106 for five when they resumed for the last 12, a handy score in trying circumstances.

Livingstone was a surprise package, getting through four overs for 24 and allowing just one six and one four. Rashid conceded only one run more but also snapped up the key scalp of Sharma for 57 off 39 balls, with some treacherous low bounce enough to render his googly unplayable.

India’s key moment came in the 13th over, the returning Curran blasted for 19 as Sharma and Yadav both hammered him over the ropes. With Sharma gone, Yadav was unable to see the innings home – flaying Archer high in the air just a few balls later to exit for 47.

Jordan closed out for England, conceding two sixes and taking two wickets in the 18th as he duelled with Hardik Pandya, and adding Axar Patel with the penultimate ball of the innings.

The post England face challenging chase to reach T20 World Cup final appeared first on Cricket365.

from Cricket365 https://ift.tt/pUj1m4t

South Africa through to first T20 World Cup final with demolition of Afghanistan

South Africa are through to their first T20 World Cup final after a dominant nine-wicket victory over Afghanistan in Tarouba.

On an unruly pitch, the Afghanistan batsmen could do little against a rampaging Proteas’ bowling attack.

Tabraiz Shamsi and Marco Jansen took three wickets each as South Africa finally put an end to their run of seven straight semi-final exits in World Cup competitions.

Afghanistan’s Cinderella run in the tournament looked in danger from the first over when Rahmanullah Gurbaz was caught for Jansen’s first.

Afghanistan were bowled out for 56 (Ricardo Mazalan/AP)

Gulbadin Naib was dismissed for nine, and was quickly joined in the clubhouse by Ibrahim Zadran and Mohammad Nabi to leave Afghanistan in all sorts of trouble on four for 20 through just four overs.

Afghanistan desperately needed to make a stand, but their efforts were fruitless as each new batsman was picked apart in quick succession.

They ultimately managed just 56 from their innings, Azmatullah Omarzai top-scoring with 10.

Afghanistan were able to dismiss Quinton de Kock for just five as the uneven bounce also proved tricky for the Proteas.

But they were unable to replicate the consistent pressure of South Africa’s bowling attack, Reeza Hendricks getting the winning runs with a boundary in the ninth over.

South Africa will face either England or India in the final.

The post South Africa through to first T20 World Cup final with demolition of Afghanistan appeared first on Cricket365.

from Cricket365 https://ift.tt/Lj9FY7p

Matthew Mott: England ready for India battle after returning from ‘rock bottom’

England head coach Matthew Mott believes his side have gone from “rock bottom” to the real deal as they prepare to fight for a place in the T20 World Cup final.

A blockbuster semi-final against world number ones India awaits in Guyana on Thursday, giving Mott the chance to complete a radical shift in fortunes after plumbing the depths just seven months ago.

Back in November, Mott and his captain Jos Buttler oversaw a torturous 50-over World Cup on Indian soil, losing six of their nine group games before bowing out with big questions over the duo’s leadership.

But England’s director of cricket Rob Key held the line, insisting they had earned the right to defend the title they won together in 2022 and has watched them walk a tightrope all the way into the last four.

And Mott, bore the brunt of the criticism last time around, thinks hard experience has helped he and Buttler forge the team’s identity.

“Anyone in life, when they reach rock bottom it is an opportunity to reflect and really be true to what you believe in,” he said.

“What we have tried to do is double down on the things we think are incredibly important to this team. We have really recognised we need to stand for what we believe in and to let go the things we can’t control.

“Jos and I have a great combination going. We really enjoy our influence on the group and a lot of the senior players are really contributing as well.

“We will be judged at the end of the tournament – we haven’t achieved anything yet in this World Cup but we are really excited about the challenge ahead.”

Recent form places England as underdogs, with India winning all six of their completed games at the competition while Mott’s side have already been turned over by Australia in the first round and South Africa in the Super 8 stage.

They have survived a couple of near misses, almost bundled out by the rain in Antigua and only squeezing past Scotland on net run-rate, tribulations which have brought our their true character according to Mott.

“We have not had the dream run yet but I would like to think we will put our best foot forward in this game,” he said.

“We’ve had to play most of this tournament from behind and with adversity and we’d love to throw that first punch, get in front and really hammer that home.

“We’ve had to fight and scratch and claw our way to get to the position we’re in and it’s really galvanised us as a group. We all come at this with a clean slate and if you’d given us that opportunity a couple of weeks ago we certainly would have taken it with both hands.”

There is no reserve day for the match, the only knockout game not to have one allocated, meaning a washout would send India through by virtue of winning their Super 8 group.

And while Mott declined to gripe about the logistical quirk which has left his side looking nervously at a concerning weather forecast in Georgetown, he did urge the International Cricket Council to review the policy for future events.

“It’s something we’ve known about since the start of the tournament so to cry foul over it now probably doesn’t make a lot of sense,” he said.

“I’m not going to lie, it would be great to have a reserve day because the weather can change from day to day.

“We’ve been through that the entire tournament sweating on weather reports, so that’s nothing new to us but in an ideal world maybe that’s something the ICC need to look at long term.”

England’s analysts have challenged the stereotype that Guyanese conditions support lavish turn, instead suggesting that the predominance of spinners – who tend to bowl around half the overs in T20s here – is down to the slow, low bounce.

There will still be conversations to be had over the balance of the XI, with four seamers in their side perhaps one too many.

If one dropped out, possibly Sam Curran, there would be a temptation to recall Will Jacks as an additional power-hitting option in the middle order.

The post Matthew Mott: England ready for India battle after returning from ‘rock bottom’ appeared first on Cricket365.

from Cricket365 https://ift.tt/ZWhcRDO