Archive June 21, 2025

At Headingley on Saturday. fancy attire On the Western Terrace, a group of clergymen took their place.

Ollie Pope might have been a part of the universe they were watching from the sidelines. Perhaps Jacob Bethell never put his place in danger.

If Ben Stokes had jumped at the chance to keep his vice-captain at number three for the first Test against India, Pope had chosen the ideal time to play the appreciative disciple.

Pope’s century, which came after Stokes’ Stokes gave the captain a chance to escape purgatory, saw England bat first in a score of 209-3, 262 behind India’s 471.

Ben Duckett, who made 62 in a stand of 122 with Pope, said, “It sums up and demonstrates why he’s England number three.”

Any debate between Pope and Bethell is absurd, in the end, there is a case. While Bethell has never scored a century in professional cricket, Pope increased his average to 45.19 on Saturday, making him England’s first-drop.

Numbers alone cannot accurately represent the entire picture. Pope’s stats reveal a feast-or-famine career: only six of his previous 98 Test knocks resulted in 34% of his runs. Pope can act nervous and skittishly when he’s on the field. Bethell, who is calm, appears to be destined for international success.

Stokes ended the discussion on Thursday by referring to the May 171 Pope’s attack on Zimbabwe. Without ever going into more detail about what might have transpired if Pope had failed at Trent Bridge, Stokes claimed it would have been “remarkable” to leave him out after such a long innings.

“A dressing room makes noise outside, but there is no noise inside,” Duckett said.

“We’re not talking about who will play,” he said. Coming into this Test match, it seemed pretty obvious that if a guy had scored 171 a few weeks ago, he would play this one.

England and India are two teams that England face in 10 crucial Tests during the Stokes era, and Pope acknowledged the need to improve his performance against them.

One of the all-time great innings by an Englishman overseas was his 196 against India in Hyderabad at the beginning of last year, but he has also produced subpar results against the world’s two biggest teams.

The best bowler in the world, Jasprit Bumrah, was the main obstacle to breaking that record. The violent incident that Bumrah used to dismiss Pope in Visakhapatnam 18 months ago led to the need for a health warning.

Bumrah had everything in his favor on Saturday. Floodlights and a moody sky as he stutters down the slope. Pope arrived at the crease with a score of 4-1 when Zak Crawley was edged inside out.

What followed was a bravery, perseverance, and determination display. The best century Pope has ever had in a home test, not quite the heights of Hyderabad, but it was undoubtedly his third in a row.

What batter would need fortune when Bumrah bowls with such potency? Every delivery was risk-filled, and the paceman was truly magnificent.

When Pope and Duckett were heading toward the same end, Pope edged Bumrah between third slip and gully when he had 10 and could have run out on 15.

Pope displayed a serenity that hasn’t been present for him in the past. Yes, there were still some ugly ball shots and a high 27-feeb false-shot percentage, but those were mixed with good judgment.

Pope was quick to react when India’s line went a little off the mark when he crossed his stumps. The majority of his runs were scored behind square on the other side, but he also tucked in from his pads. The Surrey man didn’t score anything in the “V” down the field.

Former England captain Alastair Cook testified on Test Match Special, “He undoubtedly played with the most control in the way he played Bumrah.”

He later played the ball, not knowing whether it was a conscious choice. He appeared much less agitated.

The longest day of the year moved play past 7pm as the sun set and the close approached. Bumrah summoned for one more solo effort, Pope on 99.

Pope leapt in celebration as an inside edge trickled to his square leg. He greeted the Western Terrace audience with applause before saluting the dressing room.

The clergymen had been waiting for the moment. They recognized their Pope and sped away from the building.

When Joe Root edged Bumrah to first slip, they would have been hardly ever seen down the stairs, and Harry Brook was the only one to be saved by a Bumrah no-ball.

The chance for a Sunday service to carry out England’s fightback is still up for grabs.

Wing Josh Adams says it hurts that some of his Wales team-mates having not experienced an international victory.

The national men’s side are on a record 17-match Test losing sequence as they prepare for a two match tour of Japan in July.

Wales have slipped to a new low of 12th place in the world rankings with the previous international win against Georgia in October 2023.

In contrast, Adams was part of a Wales side that won a record 14 games and reached number one in the world in August 2019.

“It hurts me when some boys say they’ve never won for Wales,” said Adams.

“It’s horrible when they say things like that because of the things I’ve experienced.

Adams, 30, is confident Wales can halt the losing streak.

“We probably have just got a little bit lost and are trying to find our way back now,” said Adams.

“That’ll come because the talent is there. I know I see it every day, these boys are as good as what we’ve had and are good enough to produce and win.

“It’s just confidence is a huge thing.”

The British and Irish Lions wing says the desire and commitment is there to change Wales’ fortunes.

“It is horrible to question that, although I know it can be questioned when you are looking in because of the results and magnitude of some of them,” said Adams.

“That hurts the playing group. They have lost and lost badly on occasions, but it doesn’t affect the amount of effort that goes in. That can never be questioned.

“There will be a tipping point. We all believe that and hope it will be this summer. “

Adams says the squad have spoken about the situation they are in.

“It’s something we have addressed because there is no point in not talking about things,” said Adams.

Former head coach Warren Gatland left in February during the Six Nations with his permanent successor yet to be appointed.

Adams is hoping Wales will benefit in Japan from the new-look coaching team that is led again by caretaker boss Matt Sherratt and includes backroom staff Danny Wilson, Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, Rhys Thomas and Leigh Halfpenny.

“It has been brilliant and exactly what the squad needed with a new way of looking at the schedule,” said Adams.

“Meeting times have changed, how we do weights and at what time. Everything feels new, which is a good thing because it has freshened things up.

Adams has fond memories of Japan having been the World Cup’s top try-scorer with seven when Wales reached the semi-finals in 2019.

Six years on, he is only one of four survivors from that squad alongside Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith and Aaron Wainwright.

In an inexperienced squad heading to Japan, Adams is the most capped back with 61 Wales internationals, with only Test centurion Taulupe Faletau boasting more appearances.

Cardiff wing Adams is back fit after missing the final three Six Nations defeats because of a hamstring injury.

“I got back for the last six games of the season,” said Adams.

The new-look squad have spent the past few weeks attempting to acclimatise to the searing heat and humidity expected in Kitakyushu and Kobe.

Japan coach Eddie Jones has stated he wants to run Wales around in matches that will be played in the afternoon.

Wales have replicated the tactics sides adopted in the 2019 World Cup by training with wet balls to become used to the greasy conditions.

They have also had intense gym sessions in a heat chamber at Wales’ training base where temperatures are ramped up to 36 degrees and 87% humidity.

Adams has experienced previous brutal fitness sessions with Wales in Switzerland and Turkey and rates the latest conditions as some of the toughest he has experienced.

“Some boys were saying ‘that’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done’ and it’s got to be in the top three worst I’ve felt after a session,” said Adams.

“It was really bad, genuine, because it’s so stuffy.

“There’s certain times and calories you’ve got to do, but you’re all crammed in there, so it’s uncomfortable when you’re knackered.

“You want a bit of space just to breathe, but you can’t because it’s so hot and stuffy and everyone’s rubbing against each other. You’re trying to not agitate each other because it’s so cramped.

The gruelling conditions led to some players losing up to 5kg in one session.

“We’re weighing in before and after, we take one bottle of water which is rationed for the whole session,” said Adams.

“Not because they want to be horrible, but it gives them a better gauge of how much fluids we lose and it’s a considerable amount of weight.

“There’s a lot of fluid then you’ve got to drink to get your body back to some sort of base level.”

Adams says one of the worst parts is “cooling down as you let your body regulate the temperature”.

“They don’t want us hopping in ice baths because you can’t do that in the game,” said Adams.

“It’s trying to get your body to regulate this body temperature and back to normal.

“We have done these off-field conditioning sessions and then come straight down and got into some skills.

Marcus Rashford is hopeful of joining Barcelona, while Marc Guehi is ready to see out his final year of his Crystal Palace contract.

Despite the Eagles wanting to cash in on the England defender, 24-year-old Marc Guehi, is willing to watch out the final year of his contract with Liverpool if he does not receive the best offer for his career. (Guardian)

Rasmus Hojlund, a 22-year-old Danish striker from Manchester United, is wanted by Ruben Amorim, according to Italian champions Napoli. (Gazzetta Dello Sport, Italian)

Rodrygo, 24, has hit a stumbling block in Arsenal as a result of the Brazilian’s £10.2 million-per-year wage demands. (AS) in Spanish

Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay, 28, was contacted by Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal, who had no intention of selling the international. (Football Italia)

With interest from Napoli and Juventus, Chelsea are prepared to sell Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson, 24. (Gianluca Di Marzio, Italian)

Christian Norgaard, 31, a midfielder from Denmark, could be a transfer target for Arsenal because of their desire to improve their midfield. (Mirror)

Andre Onana, a goalkeeper for Manchester United, is wanted by Monaco and wants to stay and compete for his place. (Guardian)

Despite the fact that a deal between the player and Barcelona has already been reached, Bayern Munich still has no hope of signing Spain winger Nico Williams, 22. (Mundo Deportivo, Spanish)

Despite the Catalans’ imminent signing of Williams, 27-year-old Marcus Rashford, has not given up hope of a move to Barcelona. (Times)

Illia Zabarnyi, a 22-year-old Ukrainian defender, has been on the radar at Paris St-Germain since moving from Bournemouth. (L’Equipe, in French)