Jack Leach looks increasingly doubtful for England’s second Test in India after sitting out the first training session in Visakhapatnam.
Leach did not take part in the tourists’ net practice on Wednesday, joining his team-mates at the ground solely to receive treatment on his left knee injury.
The Somerset spinner picked up the problem when he jarred his leg while fielding on the first day of England’s remarkable victory in the series opener and later aggravated it as he tried to play through the pain.
Despite suffering from bad bruising and swelling around the joint, he continued to play a reduced role in Hyderabad, contributing the wicket of Shreyas Iyer as the tourists pressed for the win.
But he was visibly limping as he watched the squad go through their paces ahead of Friday’s clash and would need to rally quickly to have any chance of being considered.
Captain Ben Stokes hailed Leach as a “warrior” for battling through last week and opener batter Zak Crawley is not ruling out an unexpected recovery.
“He’s a tough kid, Leachy, so I’m not sure. You never know with Jack,” he said.
“You can never really write him off. We’ll see how he pulls up in a couple of days.”
While his injury looks set to scotch head coach Brendon McCullum’s mischievous suggestion that England could all of their spinners in a seam-free attack, it does raise the chances of a debut for his Taunton team-mate Shoaib Bashir.
The 20-year-old, who has just six first-class caps and 10 career wickets to his name, was a belated arrival in India after visa complications related to his Pakistani heritage forced him to return home to London.
But, after banking some unwanted air miles, he is back with the squad and played a full part in training. Rehan Ahmed, the leg-spinning all-rounder, sat out the optional session but is understood to be fully fit.
Despite Bashir’s gossamer-thin track record, he impressed during the pre-series training camp in Abu Dhabi. Tom Hartley’s nine wickets on debut in Hyderabad, meanwhile, are unlikely to deter England from backing another hunch.
“He’s a great kid. He’s got a lot about him,” Crawley said.
“He knows what he is trying to do with his bowling and he backs himself. I like that and feel like if he got his chance in this series he would go well.”
India have had injury problems of their own, losing the world’s number one all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul after the first Test.
Their most glaring absentee remains Virat Kohli, who top-scored with 167 when England played their only previous Test in Visakhapatnam seven years ago, and remains unavailable due to personal reasons.
There is a growing feeling that the wind is blowing in England’s direction but Crawley, who was part of the side who went from 1-0 up to a 3-1 defeat here in 2021, is keen to not get carried away.
“Whoever they pick, they’re going to be a very good team,” he said. “They’re a top side in their own conditions.
“There’s four games left and we need to stick to what we do well. Hopefully the results come from there but we’re not getting too far ahead of ourselves.
“We’re preparing for this one like it’s the first game, we’re staying where our feet are and we’ll see where that takes us.”
England ease to pre-T20 World Cup series win against Pakistan
England eased to a seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in their final T20I at The Oval on Thursday to win the series 2-0.
England won the toss and decided to bowl first, and it almost looked to be the wrong choice as Pakistan raced to 59-0 within the first six overs.
However, Adil Rashid and Jofra Archer quickly bowled Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam to turn the tide as Pakistan suddenly collapsed.
England's bowlers turned on the style as Liam Livingstone got a double wicket maiden (2-17), with Rashid (2-27) and Mark Wood (2-35) also doing their part to limit Pakistan to 157 all out in the final over.
England comfortably chased down 158, with Phil Salt (45) and captain Joss Buttler (39) getting them off to a strong start as the openers.
Will Jacks added a further 20 before Jonny Bairstow and Harry Brook, who finished the game off with a final six, saw England to 158-3 with 27 balls remaining.
After two washouts disrupted the series in Leeds and Cardiff, England got a confidence-boosting victory ahead of their World Cup title defence, which will begin against Scotland in Barbados on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Pakistan will play the United States in their World Cup Opener on Thursday.
Data Debrief: Buttler breaks records
Buttler has broken the record for playing the most T20Is (116) for England, surpassing Eoin Morgan.
Though he did not quite reach the heights of England's win at Edgbaston, his knock saw him hit seven fours and one six on their way to a comfortable victory.
World of possibilities: Lynch sees big spin-offs from Kensington Oval hosting T20 World Cup games
Noel Lynch says members of the National Organising Committee (NOC), of which he is the chairman, are equally upbeat about the positive spin-offs that will come as a result of Barbados hosting games from the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
According to Lynch, hosting matches from the June 1-29 showpiece has not only served to transform Kensington Oval into a multi-purpose stadium, but it will also create opportunities for Barbados’ young proficient cricketers.
This, as he explained that the venue will be used to foster new cricketing talent, which in turn will bring more skilled local players to a number of franchise tournaments.
“This is the real basis for the cricket factory that we want to produce for the future. I can’t think of anything that a boy or girl could do in Barbados that can earn you more money now than playing franchise cricket,” Lynch said as he addressed members of the media during Thursday’s Open Day for citizens at the newly renovated Kensington Oval.
“Being able to play franchise cricket, and T20 cricket which is what this World Cup is about, is for all young Barbadians to ensure that they feel a part of the movement and this historic thing that we are doing,” he added.
Aside from the possibility that it will boost the economy, Lynch stressed that the tournament in which Kensington Oval will host nine games including the final, provides an opportunity to introduce social and sports development programmes.
“Fundamentally, this is an important step for Barbados, an important social and economic step going forward. The people who talk about hosting global events, say that the holy trinity of hosting global events are economic impact, infrastructural legacy, and promotional value. I think that Kensington Oval is the centerpiece of this tournament and fits right into the center of that,” Lynch said.
“This is not just going to be a cricket facility; the intention here is to have an all-purpose entertainment facility. Apart from what you see here and how the $37 million has been spent on the bathrooms, bleachers, new scoreboard etc – there is a new field covering that is coming. The reason that the new field cover is coming, is that you can play cricket here one day, cover the field, have an entertainment event here, come back the next day and play cricket all over again,” he explained.
Finally, Lynch revealed that there is another component of drop in pitches – which the Prime Minister insisted on – that will also assist in making the Oval a full-fledged entertainment facility.
“What we are talking about is that we could put down in here a track and field track, maybe a cycle track if you wanted to, you can hold tennis, we can shoot a movie, hold a concert, all of those things are important for the iconic Kensington Oval,” he noted.
Hot shots: Five players to watch in West Indies’ pursuit of T20 glory
With the 2012 and 2016 titles already to their credit, West Indies will no doubt be intent on adding this year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup crown to their accolades, but achieving that feat will require efficient all-round execution from the off.
Like the 19 other participating teams in the historic June 1-29 showpiece, the Darren Sammy-coached 15-man squad –to be led by Jamaican Rovman Powell –is lined with its own fair share of talent and explosive batting, enough to prove a formidable force, as they seek to make amends for their disappointing campaign two years ago.
Still, among the blend of experience and youthful exuberance, it is no secret that a few players will be heavily relied on, more than others, to carry the weight of the Caribbean side’s chances to possibly finish tops in a tournament they co-host with United States.
That said, SportsMax.TV zones in on five key players –in no particular order –that cricket enthusiasts worldwide will undoubtedly keep a keen eye on where their performances are concerned, eager to witness the West Indies’ quest for another T20 World Cup title.
Rovman Powell –Middle order batsman and captain
Took over leadership of the T20 team from Nicholas Pooran after the failed 2022 outing in Australia. Since his appointment last year, Powell has emerged as a crucial figure in the West Indies T20 setup, both as a powerful middle-order batsman and a strategic leader. He led the regional side to three bilateral series victories over South Africa, India and England, before a loss to Australia earlier this year.
Besides the fact that Powell’s leadership skills have been instrumental in shaping a cohesive unit, his ability to turn games around with his aggressive batting style makes him a player to watch.
The hard-hitting Jamaican has so far scored more than 1,300 runs at a strike rate of 144.81 in 61 international innings and nearly 4,000 overs in all T20 matches, with 16 fifty-plus scores to his name. Powell’s penchant for big hits and sixes can also be evidenced by his boundary numbers, which feature more maximums than fours across all T20s.
Powell’s overall experience in domestic and international T20 leagues certainly adds a layer of tactical acumen to his game, and his knack for hitting sixes under pressure and guiding the team through challenging situations will be vital to West Indies' campaign.
Nicholas Pooran –Wicketkeeper/batsman
Fresh off impressive performances in the IPL 2024 in India, where he ended with 499 runs at a strike rate of 178.21, including an unbeaten 48 off 26 balls, 61 off 27 balls, and a 29-ball 75, Pooran will definitely be a significant factor to West Indies chances, especially if he maintains that rich vein of form.
Known for his explosive hitting and agile keeping skills, Pooran’s performances in T20 leagues worldwide have cemented his reputation as a formidable player, and it is his ability to accelerate the scoring rate and play innovative shots that makes him a key asset in the middle order. In fact, many would love to see him in the top order batting at number three, but let’s see what Sammy and Powell decides.
That aside, the Trinidadian’s experience and understanding of the T20 format will be crucial in navigating the high-pressure scenarios typical of World Cup matches. He boasts over 300 T20 matches, including 88 internationals, in which he has tallied 1,848 runs at a strike rate of 134.69, with 11 half-centuries to complement those figures. Overall, Pooran has amassed over 7,000 T20 runs with 39 half-centuries and two centuries to show.
Simply put, Pooran’s expansive limited-overs experience is poised to be useful for West Indies. His presence behind the stumps also adds value, as his sharp reflexes and quick decision-making are critical in the shorter format, but whether or not he will wear the glove is left to be seen, as Shai Hope and Johnson Charles can also cover that task, provided all three are fielded in the same starting 11.
Roston Chase –All-rounder
Say what you want about Roston Chase’s batting tempo, he brings balance to the West Indies team with his all-round capabilities. A reliable batsman and a crafty off-spinner, Chase provides depth in both departments. Never mind the fact that he has only played 13 T20Is and scored 210 runs at a strike rate of 125.00, or the fact that he lacks the explosive boundary hitting power of others, it is his calm demeanor and ability to anchor the innings that makes him a stabilizing force in the middle order.
The Barbadian even proved that much in the recent 3-0 sweep of South Africa at Sabina Park, as he ended unbeaten on 32 and 67 in the first two encounters, and also took a wicket in both games. With the ball, Chase’s variations and control can stymie the opposition’s scoring rate, especially in the middle overs.
All in all, Chase’s versatility allows the team to adapt to different match situations, and the fact that he is no doubt intent on silencing his doubters with big performances, makes him an indispensable part of the squad.
Andre Russell –All-rounder
One of the most feared all-rounders in T20 cricket, Russell, a two-time T20 World Cup winner for the West Indies, packs incredible power-hitting and athletic prowess that can change the course of a game single-handedly. The explosive Jamaican has experience in nearly 500 T20 matches with over 8,000 runs to his credit at a strike rate of 169.80. He also has close to 450 wickets at a remarkable bowling average of 25.32.
Russell’s ability to clear the boundary with ease and finish innings on a high note is unparalleled, a quality he again demonstrated when he assisted KKR to the title in the just-concluded IPL. For the 2024 campaign, he tallied 222 runs, at a strike rate of 185.00, and took 19 wickets.
With his fast bowling and sharp fielding adding to his value as a complete T20 package, coupled with his ability to consistently perform under pressure, Russell is certainly one of West Indies’ best bets to excel in the tournament.
Shamar Joseph –Fast Bowler
Burst onto the international scene with his sensational performances against Australia in the Test series earlier this year, and that spurred much talk about his immense potential to prove effective in the game’s shortest version. However, he got a tough introduction to the IPL in April when he leaked 47 runs in Lucknow Super Giant’s contest against KKR.
Still, Joseph’s selection in West Indies final squad prior to making his T20I debut, underscores Sammy’s confidence in his ability, and the Guyanese could very well reward that confidence, once he finds his footing in the format.
Joseph’s debut in the 3-0 series sweep against South Africa recently, yielded three wickets for 67 runs, with a best of 2-26 in the final encounter. While that might not seem like much to write home about, there is no denying that Joseph is a raw talent, and his ability to bowl with pace and precision certainly makes him a potent threat.
Furthermore, there is a sense of anticipation that Joseph, if given the opportunity, might produce something special at the tournament as he has proven that he can rise to the occasion when it matters most and, as such, will be keen to leave his mark on the international stage once more.
West Indies will open their campaign against Papua New Guinea in Guyana on Sunday.
Full squad: Rovman Powell (Captain), Alzarri Joseph (Vice Captain), Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Obed McCoy, Gudakesh Motie, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
