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Joe Root described becoming the second-highest run-scorer in Test history as a “pinch-yourself moment” but would not be drawn into a discussion on his chances of hauling in Sachin Tendulkar’s record. Root overtook Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting in the all-time list during his 150 against India in Manchester and now sits 2512 runs behind Tendulkar’s aggregate of 15,921.Root has consistently played down the significance of the records that he has broken in recent years, including becoming England’s all-time leading run-scorer in Multan last year. But he conceded that it was “pretty cool” to see his name near the top of a list featuring the batters that he tried to emulate as a boy.”When you look at the names there on that list, they are all people that, as a kid growing up, that’s who I would try to be in the garden, on the street, on the driveway, at my local club,” Root told Sky Sports. “One day I’d try to be Ricky Ponting, the next I’d try to be Kumar Sangakkara or Brian Lara.Related

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“I’d pretend that I was in different parts of the world, scoring Test-match hundreds. Even just to be mentioned in the same sentence as these guys is a bit of a pinch-yourself moment. It is pretty cool, yeah.”Root played against Tendulkar only once, on his Test debut in Nagpur in 2012, and is now closer to his record tally than any batter in history. “It’s not something that I will focus on,” he told the BBC. “Those sorts of things should look after themselves. The focus has to be about winning games.”He made his Test debut before I was born. To be playing on the same ground as him and to get the chance to play against him was incredibly cool. [He was] someone you grew up watching, admiring, trying to learn from… To get to play in a series where he was still playing was really quite a memorable experience that I’ll never forget.”Root only briefly acknowledged the standing ovation for the single that took him past Ponting on Friday and said he had tried to avoid focusing on his record. “I can’t avoid it,” he joked. “They [the numbers] are everywhere, aren’t they? But you try to put it out of your mind. It is easy to get caught up in this stuff… You’re not doing your job if you’re concentrating on yourself.”4:14

Manjrekar: ‘Serious chance’ for Root to break Tendulkar’s record

He added: “It’s something that I’ll look back on at the end of my career rather than right now… It was a really cool day, something I’ll try to take in properly and appreciate what I’ve achieved, but there’s so much important cricket still to be playing within this series, within this game, and obviously in the next little while, so that’s the main focus right now.”Root has reached new heights as a batter since the Covid-19 pandemic: in the last five years, he has averaged 55.33 and has scored 21 of his 38 centuries. He said that he had used the unexpected break to analyse his batting, and that he has approached the game “slightly differently” ever since.”For the start of my career, a lot of [my approach] was based on my technique: where my hands are, where my head is, am I lined up, is my trigger right? Whereas in this second phase of things, it’s been more about managing risk, and thinking, ‘how can I eliminate as many modes of dismissal as possible, with the highest output?'”It does come through experience; it comes from trial and error [and] from getting things wrong. You’ve got to see the game for what it is. It’s very easy to get caught up, get too emotional, either get too hard on yourself or feel too sorry for yourself. You’ve got to see it for what it is, be very honest about it, and then just try to put that into practice.”

Former Australia captain Aaron Finch believes Marnus Labuschagne’s inability to regularly put pressure back on opposition bowlers has left him vulnerable to being dropped from the Test side for the first time in 2019.The day is getting closer to when Australia’s selectors will need to make a huge call between Labuschagne and Sam Konstas for the World Test Championship final: youth vs experience; promise vs 11 Test centuries.Whether Labuschagne survives – and likely gets asked to open in what could be a final chance to save his immediate Test career – or the selectors pull the pin and parachute Konstas into the WTC showdown remains too close to call.Related

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Labuschagne has averaged 28.33 in this WTC cycle, a shadow of the run-scoring powerhouse he was from 2019 to 2022, although has still chiseled out some important performances, among the Old Trafford century in 2023 (the last time he reached three figures), 90 in Christchurch and more recently three crucial fifties against India.But last season there were occasions when Labuschagne almost came to standstill at the crease, albeit against the unique challenge posed by Jasprit Bumrah. The most extreme example was in Perth when he made 2 off 52 balls, then in Brisbane he scored 12 off 52. Overall in the last two years, Labuschagne’s strike-rate is 46.40 compared to his career figure of 51.94.”It’s a difficult one because Marnus hasn’t scored the runs at No. 3 and the way that he’s been playing has probably been the concern for me,” Finch told ESPNcricinfo during the recent IPL. “I mean his strike rate has plummeted over the last 18 months. He is not putting any pressure back on the opposition at all. And when you’re batting in that position, you have to be prepared to counterattack at certain times.Marnus Labuschagne’s last century came at Old Trafford in 2023•Getty Images

“You can’t just allow the best bowlers in the world to bowl with a new ball at you over and over without forcing their hand a little bit. You’re going to get a good one. We’ve seen wickets around the world have probably been better for fast bowling over the last couple of years, so you can’t afford to just sit there and wait to score.”When Nathan McSweeney was dropped after three Tests against India in favour of Konstas, the selectors said they wanted someone to take on the bowlers – the role played for so long by David Warner – which Konstas did with his scoop and ramp-laden 60 off 65 balls at the MCG. One factor the selectors may consider this time is whether a top three of Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green, who all like to soak up deliveries, could be a little one-paced. However, one aspect in Labuschagne’s favour is his overall experience in England.Australia also now have a squeeze for middle-order batting spots with the return from injury of Green, Beau Webster’s handy start to Test cricket and Josh Inglis making a century on Test debut.”Beau Webster took his opportunity at No. 6, maybe Konstas comes back into the side to open the batting, and you throw Cam Green at three and you almost push that for the next cycle of the WTC as well,” Finch said. “Steve Smith’s batting in great nick at four, [then] Travis Head five.”While Labuschagne’s batting tempo comes under scrutiny, Finch can see Head again being Australia’s trump card after he played the defining innings in the 2023 WTC final against India with 163 off 174 balls. In three Tests against South Africa he has a strike-rate of 100.94.”He puts pressure on opposition before he has faced to ball,” Finch said. “You know that you have to be right on and sometimes the better you bowl, the better he bats. It’s like his game is set up for that top-of-off ball. He hits different areas on the ground: he will hit the same ball that’s fourth stump through backward point or through wide mid-on.”So bowlers, all of a sudden, feel that pressure and start searching for ways to get him out. So that’s an advantage as well. And he’ll come hard, he’ll try and he understands that you’ve got your name on one eventually, so get them before they get you.”Australia’s batters were given a thorough examination in Australia’s first full training session in Beckenham earlier this week by Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Scott Boland and more will follow in the coming days, now with the addition of Josh Hazlewood after his IPL campaign.Boland was a team-mate of Konstas when he made his Test debut, then an opposing player later in the season during the Sheffield Shield. In a New South Wales-Victoria game at the SCG there was a brief but extraordinary encounter which ended with Konstas being bowled in the third over the match sweeping the quick. Konstas closed the summer in a more composed manner and has spent the off-season making some technical tweaks.”You can probably see he’s a pretty quick learner,” Boland told reporters in London. “He’s made some little adjustments to his technique and he’s hitting the ball really well. I think he’s going to be an important player for the Australian cricket team over the next five, 10 years…he’s got a good head on his shoulders.”

Sussex Sharks made it two wins out of two in the Vitality Blast when they marked their first home fixture with victory over Gloucestershire by 80 runs. But after their success last season it has been a disappointing start to the new campaign by Gloucestershire, who had been beaten by just four runs in their high-scoring opener against Kent.They needed 174 for victory here but were bundled out for 93, with only three batsmen making double figures. After making a bright start to their chase Gloucestershire soon ran into trouble. Ollie Robinson sent Cameron Bancroft’s off-stump cartwheeling to make it 19 for one and when D’Arcy Short was caught on the deep backward-square boundary they had lost both their Australian overseas players inside the first four overs.Miles Hammond then pulled a short ball from Tymal Mills to mid-wicket and one run later Jack Taylor had his off stump pegged back by the first delivery of the match from James Coles. It was 49 for five when Ben Charlesworth lofted Jack Carson to long-on. Carson had been brought into the team to counter the high number of left-handers in the Gloucestershire team.The dangerous James Bracey was still there but he couldn’t find anyone to hang around with him. It was 50 for six when Ollie Price, reverse sweeping, was caught behind off Carson and then Matt Taylor was stumped as he went down the wicket to Coles. David Payne had his middle stump plucked out by Tymal Mills to make it 88 for eight, Aman Rao was caught at mid-on to give Nathan McAndrew a wicket and finally Tom Smith was caught at midwicket to give Mills his third.Earlier, the Sussex innings had been built around a fine fourth-wicket stand of 105 in ten overs by Tom Alsop and the in-form Coles, before a collapse saw them lose their last seven wickets for 25 runs.Daniel Hughes looked in prime form on a true pitch, with a rapid outfield, and muscled six fours in his 19-ball 34 to give the home side some early impetus. But he was caught in two minds over his shot selection and tamely lofted Price – who had already bowled Harrison Ward – to mid-off. And Gloucestershire made it two wickets in two balls when John Simpson sliced his lofted drive against Matt Taylor and watched in horror as Hammond pulled off a sensational one-handed diving catch to make Sussex 43 for three in the sixth over.But then Alsop (58 off 35, with six fours and two sixes) and Coles (43 off 27, with four sixes) pulled the match towards their side. They set their violent tone when they each hit a six off the 11th over bowled by Tom Smith, which cost 17 runs.The 100 partnership came up in the 15th over. But from 148 for three at 15.1, when Sussex fancied a total in excess of 200, their innings perished before steady Gloucestershire bowling backed up by an outstanding fielding outfit. David Payne and Matt Taylor took three wickets apiece. But Sussex had already made enough.

on 72 off 69.Mandhana was dismissed when she failed to clear short fine leg against Prendergast. But there was no respite for Ireland as Richa Ghosh, promoted to No. 3, took over the baton and scored 59 off 42. She and Rawal added 104 in 12 overs.Rawal opened up after her hundred and raked in 54 off the next 29 balls she faced. Today’s innings took her ODI run tally to 444 – no batter has scored more in her first six innings.Pratika Rawal brought up her maiden international hundred•BCCI

By then, there was more interest in if India could reach 400. They got there with four overs to spare, and then got some more.With Renuka Singh rested, Titas Sadhu and Sayali Satghare opened the bowling for India. Both picked up a wicket each with the new ball but also conceded 15 extras in the first seven overs. India’s fielding was also as poor as their counterparts, with Mandhana dropping a skier from Sarah Forbes off Deepti at extra cover.Forbes and Prendergast made India pay for their mistakes and took the side to 85 for 2 after 14 overs. Tanuja Kanwar broke the 64-run stand by dismissing Prendergast. The batter tried to steer her towards deep third but failed to connect and was bowled. It was Kanwar’s first wicket in ODIs. Three overs later, Forbes was run out going for a quick single.Ireland capitulated after that. From 100 for 3, they were all out for 131. Deepti was the most successful bowler for India, with figures of 3 for 27. Kanwar chipped in with 2 for 31 and two batters were run out.

Jasprit Bumrah is the new No. 1 Test bowler in the world, following his match haul of six against Bangladesh in Kanpur. He replaces his India team-mate R Ashwin – the Player of the Series against Bangladesh – at the top of the rankings. India also have a big mover on the Test batting rankings, with Player of the Match from the Kanpur Test, Yashasvi Jaiswal, moving to third after just 11 Tests.Sri Lanka left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, the Player of the Series in his side’s 2-0 sweep of New Zealand in Galle, also moved up among bowlers, to joint-seventh after just 16 Tests.Among other significant moves on the Test rankings, India’s Virat Kohli is back in the top 10 among batters, moving up six places to sixth after his 47 and 29 not out in Kanpur, Sri Lanka’s eight-Test-old Kamindu Mendis is up to No. 11 following his unbeaten 182 in the second Test in Galle, and Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan Miraz is up to fifth among allrounders – that makes it two Bangladeshis in the top five, with his illustrious team-mate Shakib Al Hasan holding his spot at No. 3.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

ESPNcricinfo Ltd

This is Bumrah’s second stint at the top of the Test table. He had moved up to No. 1 in February this year, becoming the first ever India fast bowler to top the Test rankings. Before Bumrah, the highest ever ranked Indian pace bowler was Kapil Dev, who got as far as No. 2 in 1979-80 in the ICC’s retrospective rankings. In February too, Bumrah had displaced Ashwin at the top.Now, Ashwin, on 869 rating points, remains a single point behind Bumrah.

Kent have signed wicketkeeper-batter Chris Benjamin from Warwickshire on a three-year contract.Benjamin, 25, made headlines when drafted as a replacement player during the 2021 Hundred, having only played one senior T20 for Birmingham Bears. He scored 24 off 15 balls to see Birmingham Phoenix over the line and went on to feature regularly over the tournament’s first three seasons.Benjamin also scored a century on first-class debut for Warwickshire but had limited opportunities in the longer format, making 10 appearances for the county and averaging 22.23.His arrival will strengthen Kent’s options in the wicketkeeping department, with Ollie Robinson and Jordan Cox having left over the last two seasons, and Sam Billings signing a white-ball contract. The club’s keeper in Championship cricket this summer has been Harry Finch.”We’re delighted to have attracted a player of Chris’ talent to Kent on a long-term contract,” Kent’s director of cricket, Simon Cook, said. “He is still a young player with a lot of potential to improve further, and we’re pleased to Kent to be the place for him to do so.”Although Benjamin was born in South Africa, he is a British passport holder through his father and has played in the UK since moving to study in 2018.”I’m excited to be joining Kent and having the opportunity to play regularly across multiple formats,” Benjamin said. “There is a young squad here that will only improve over time, and there’s a clear plan for Kent to return to the highs of their recent successes in the future. It’s an exciting project to be a part of.”Kent were relegated in the County Championship earlier this month, ultimately ending up bottom of Division One. They also finished last in the South Group of the Vitality Blast and seventh in Group A of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.

Suryakumar Yadav, India’s T20I captain, hasn’t given up on Test cricket, even though it’s been more than a year since he featured in his only game in the format so farNot originally included in a largely young Mumbai squad for the pre-season Buchi Babu Invitational tournament in Tamil Nadu, Suryakumar has informed the Mumbai selectors of his availability for the second half of the first-class competition that is set to run until the end of August. He will play under Sarfaraz Khan after requesting the selectors to not change the leadership. It’s likely that Suryakumar will feature in Mumbai’s fixture against TNCA President’s XI starting August 27 in Coimbatore.”I want to play for India in all three formats,” Suryakumar was quoted as saying by the . “Playing in Buchi Babu will give me good practice for the red-ball tournaments this season.”Suryakumar recently led India to a 3-0 series sweep over Sri Lanka in his first tour as full-time T20I captain. He wasn’t picked for the three-match ODI series, with selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar categorically stating that Suryakumar wasn’t in their ODI plans for the moment.With India not playing any more T20Is until the series against Bangladesh in October, Suryakumar has a decent runway of red-ball matches to push for a comeback to Test cricket. The Buchi Babu tournament will be followed by the season-opening Duleep Trophy in Anantapur, which will be contested by four teams picked by the national selectors.Suryakumar’s most recent first-class appearance came in last season’s Duleep Trophy in July 2023. Overall, in 82 first-class matches, he has scored 5628 runs and averages 43.62 with 29 fifties and 14 hundreds.

Southern Brave went top of the table after a dramatic Birmingham Phoenix batting collapse at Edgbaston. Chasing 170 after James Vince’s unbeaten 90, Phoenix were well-placed at 92 for 1 after 49 but then lost 6 for 12 in 25 balls to slip to defeat.Both sides went into this match at Edgbaston with two wins from three, but Brave’s 169 for 2 – the second-highest score of the season – proved more than enough, despite Ben Duckett’s 92 for the Phoenix: none of his team-mates managed as many as 12.After Phoenix captain Moeen Ali won the toss and opted to bowl, Vince and Alex Davies got the visitors off to a solid start, posting 31 off the Powerplay, and then putting the hammer down to reach 81 off 45 balls after one Sean Abbott set of five went for 22.Southern Brave turned the tide with regular wickets•Getty Images

Davies was caught by Jacob Bethell off Benny Howell and Leus du Plooy could only muster nine off nine before he was also caught by Bethell, but from then on Vince and West Indian man mountain Kieron Pollard set about the bowling. Vince scored 90 from 47 balls with six fours and six sixes, and Pollard crashed 38 from 22.In reply, it looked like Duckett had designs on winning the game on his own, racing to a 21-ball half century as Phoenix reached 92 for 1 from 49 balls and the game absolutely in the balance.But ignited by a tight Chris Jordan set which culminated in Liam Livingstone slicing a high catch to du Plooy at point, Brave took five wickets for five runs in 18 balls to effectively seal the match, their stellar attack of Jordan, Craig Overton, Jofra Archer, Akeal Hosein and Tymal Mills proving too good.While Duckett hit eight fours and five sixes, the rest of the side hit just four fours between them.”It was a nice pitch, particularly up front,” Vince said. “Their bowlers bowled well at the back end and it was tricky to get the ball away at the death. Chris Jordan was fantastic, and once we got into a rhythm, we squeezed them really well. It’s a fantastic group of players and people are performing at the right times.”