Take a look at Match Breakfast takes a have a look at a number of the largest speaking factors and off-field tales surrounding cricket, with the highlight firmly on England’s blockbuster fourth Take a look at in opposition to India at Outdated Trafford.
From record-breaking performances by Joe Root and Ben Stokes to the most recent quirks within the crowd and controversy over lacking legends, DAVID COVERDALE studies on the moments making headlines — and those you may need missed.
STOKES’ SUPER SATURDAY
If Friday was the day that Joe Root cemented his place among the many all-time greats, on Saturday it was Ben Stokes’ flip to take action.
When the England captain whacked Washington Sundar for an enormous six, he handed 7,000 Take a look at runs. That made him simply the third participant in Take a look at historical past to attain 7,000 runs and take 200 wickets, becoming a member of Garfield Sobers and Jacques Kallis on that illustrious record.
Stokes’ first Take a look at hundred in two years additionally made him simply the fourth England participant to attain a century and take a five-for in the identical Take a look at, after Tony Greig, Ian Botham and Gus Atkinson.
Ben Stokes has scored a century and brought a five-for in opposition to India on this week’s fourth Take a look at
JOE’S MIND IS ROOTED TO JOB AT HAND
Whereas the cricket world debates whether or not Root can go on to interrupt Sachin Tendulkar’s Take a look at run-scoring report, the person himself insists it’s not his ‘focus’.
Root moved from fifth to second on the all-time record of prime run-scorers when he made 150 on Friday. The England star is now solely 2,512 runs behind Tendulkar’s Take a look at tally of 15,921. But he says he is not going to waste time desirous about surpassing the India legend.
‘These form of issues ought to take care of themselves,’ mentioned Root on Saturday morning. ‘It is not one thing that I’ll concentrate on. The main target must be about successful video games, setting them up if we’re earlier on within the Take a look at match, or if we have to chase one thing down, determining learn how to play that scenario properly.
‘It would sound just a little bit boring and methodical, however finally that is what I have to do to assist England win and that is why we play the sport.’
England batsman Joe Root is now solely 2,512 Take a look at runs behind India legend Sachin Tendulkar
BUMRAH’S UNWANTED RECORD
England racked up the data in making a large 669 of their first innings on Saturday. It was the very best complete by any group in Take a look at matches at Outdated Trafford.
It was additionally England’s fifth highest rating of all time and their second-best in opposition to India. The one time England have scored extra in opposition to India was after they plundered 710 at Edgbaston in 2011 – the match which noticed them turn out to be the world’s No 1 Take a look at facet.
There was additionally an undesirable report for the vacationers’ star seamer Jasprit Bumrah, who conceded greater than 100 runs off his bowling for the primary time in a Take a look at innings.
Jasprit Bumrah conceded greater than 100 runs off his bowling for the primary time in a Take a look at innings
PERFECT DAY FOR CRICKET AND RUGBY FANS
British rugby and cricket followers can not often have loved a greater jiffy than they did shortly earlier than 1pm on Saturday.
Hugo Keenan scored the Lions’ last-gasp series-clinching strive in opposition to Australia on the MCG, simply earlier than Chris Woakes claimed his second wicket in two balls in opposition to India at Outdated Trafford.
Whereas England’s opening bowler couldn’t full his hat-trick, his first-over burst left India reeling at 0-2. The Lions collection scoreline in Australia? 0-2.
‘SPECIAL GUEST’ AT OLD TRAFFORD
As England toiled away for greater than 50 overs with out a wicket in opposition to India, followers discovered their leisure elsewhere.
A lookalike of Dutch darts star Michael van Gerwen precipitated a lot amusement among the many revellers in Outdated Trafford’s large Occasion Stand.
The bald punter wore MVG’s lime inexperienced shirt and was accompanied by two associates dressed as dart boards.
Chants of ‘Oh, Michael van Gerwen’ have been heard all through the day, typically whereas the faux MvG was being urged to down a pint.
A Michael van Gerwen lookalike, wearing a inexperienced polo shirt, was within the crowd on Saturday
LANCASHIRE LEGEND SNUBBED
A number of Lancashire legends have attended this Take a look at match, together with Sir Clive Lloyd, Farokh Engineer, Jack Simmons and Wasim Akram.
However one man who seemingly didn’t obtain an invitation was Graeme ‘Cunning’ Fowler, who starred for the county as a left-handed opener for 13 years.
The previous England batsman complained on X: ‘Plenty of former Lancashire gamers on the Take a look at match in the present day. I suppose my invitation acquired misplaced within the put up.’
REBRAND FOR HUNDRED FRANCHISE
Prepare for a ‘Tremendous’ derby within the Hundred.
It has emerged that Manchester Originals are to be renamed Manchester Tremendous Giants from 2026. The title change comes after a 70 per cent stake within the Outdated Trafford-based Hundred franchise outfit was acquired by the RSPG Group, who personal IPL outfit Lucknow Tremendous Giants and South African facet Durban Tremendous Giants.
It implies that the Hundred conflict between the groups linked to Roses rivals Lancashire and Yorkshire will now see the Tremendous Giants play the (Northern) Superchargers.
