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Big picture: New guard? Not quite

It’s the start of a new era up at Trent Bridge although, at a glance, it looks a lot like the old era. There’s a solitary change to England’s winning line-up from Lord’s, albeit a significant one, as James Anderson takes his leave of the team after 188 appearances and 21 years. But if you thought the future starts here and now, then the recent past wants to have a word with you.Mark Wood and Chris Woakes, with their venerable combined age of 69, were England’s winning formula in the latter half of last summer’s epic Ashes, particularly when they combined in the crucial third Test at Headingley; raw pace on the one hand, incisive swing and nibble on the other, not to mention their cool-headed marshalling of a fraught run-chase on the fourth afternoon.Here they are once more, then, back as the continuity candidates in an England bowling attack that will be lacking both Anderson and Stuart Broad in a home Test for the first time since West Indies at Edgbaston in 2012. Ironically both players were subbed out of that 2012 game with an eye to the future too, as the selectors took the chance to assess the attack-leading potential of Steven Finn, Tim Bresnan and Graham Onions, all three of whom went on to retire before either of the main protagonists.Chris Woakes and Mark Wood will lead England’s attack after the retirement of James Anderson (centre)•Gareth Copley/Getty Images

No such leaps of faith are being made this time around. While Matthew Potts and the uncapped Dillon Pennington wait patiently in the wings, England are falling back in the first instance on one of the core tenets of the Stokes-McCullum era: continuity of selection and faith in your chosen campaigners. Wood may have endured a tricky time across all three formats this winter, including four wickets in three Tests in India, but England need no reminding of his visceral power when the conditions are in his favour; nor of Woakes’ prowess on home soil, as last summer’s Compton-Miller Medal amply attests.Wood had not been an original inclusion in the squad, after his involvement in the T20 World Cup. However, his recall is arguably informed by Gus Atkinson’s startling performance at Lord’s. Debut figures of 12 for 106 were hugely impressive in their own right, but the discipline in Atkinson’s performance was an additional factor, as he charged through the crease to hammer out a relentless line and length, pushing 90mph in every spell while offering no let-up to a becalmed West Indian batting line-up. With Wood at the other end, scattering a few pigeons with his extra mph, England’s stated aim of prepping for the next Ashes tour could well get a kick-start in the coming days.For West Indies, there’s no easy route back into contention, though that has often been the case on recent England tours. Kraigg Brathwaite and Jason Holder will remember the circumstances of their fightback on the 2017 tour, when they succumbed to another crushing innings loss in the series opener at Edgbaston only to bounce back with a sensational run-chase at Headingley, while there has been plenty chat in the intervening days about the miracle at Brisbane back in January.But, with respect to an incisive bowling attack that refused to allow England to run away with the game at Lord’s, it’s all about the batting for West Indies this week. Worryingly, it was hard to point many fingers of blame in that first Test. Brathwaite, their linchpin, endured a fallow game, which did not help, but from Mikyle Louis on debut to the obvious talents of Alick Athanaze, the patches of composure that they showcased were all too often undermined by lapses that screamed, more than anything else, of a lack of experience at this level.There’s no easy fix, other than learning on the job and hoping that England offer an opportunity to get a toe-hold in the game – perhaps, as Joshua da Silva suggested, by over-reaching themselves in their eagerness to experiment for the Ashes. But given how stung Ben Stokes was by the suggestion, before Lord’s, that England’s failure to win a Test series in 18 months would be a factor in a more win-at-all-costs attitude in this series, the totality of that Lord’s display was ominous in the extreme. More of the same would appear to be the message. It will have been an astonishing shock for the ages if the teams arrive at Edgbaston next week with series all-square.

Form guide

England WLLLL (last five Tests, most recent first)
West Indies LWLDL

In the spotlight: Gus Atkinson and Kraigg Brathwaite

What’s for the main course, Gus? In a single Test appearance at Lord’s, Gus Atkinson landed not only the fourth-best figures by a Test debutant in history, but bettered each and every one of James Anderson’s 188 Test-match analyses. If he thought his team’s new bowling mentor would be a tough act to follow, then he’s somehow raised the stakes for himself as well. The good news for Atkinson and England is that his phlegmatic character seems to be matched by an equally uncomplicated approach. He kept it simple and direct at Lord’s; a lot of scrambled-seam deliveries on a probing full length, keeping the stumps in play at all times, except when he fizzed in the sort of rib-tickler that dislodged Jason Holder on the second evening. As Lord’s debuts go, it couldn’t have been further removed from Anderson’s first visit way back in 2003, when the magic that delivered him his five-for against Zimbabwe also spoke of a fragility that would be exposed fairly ruthlessly by South Africa later that summer. Even if his subsequent returns don’t live up to this first billing, it’s hard to see Atkinson veering far from what he does best.Mark Wood and Shoaib Bashir prepare to bat during England practice•Gareth Copley/Getty Images

If West Indies are to gain any traction in this series, they desperately need their senior campaigners to step up. Kraigg Brathwaite did just that at Headingley in 2017, making 134 and 95 as Shai Hope’s under-sung sidekick, and again on home soil two years ago, when another painstaking hundred at Barbados set his side up for their series-sealer in Grenada. But for all his obdurate qualities, he has managed one half-century in 16 innings since the most recent of his 12 Test hundreds, against Zimbabwe in February 2023. Maybe the loose nature of his first-innings dismissal at Lord’s – hacking outside off at Atkinson’s second ball – will be the jolt he needs to double down on his crease occupation. Either way, he will need support to drag his side back into contention, and few know better than Holder what that can entail. Though he did his bit with the ball at Lord’s, he was picked off cheaply by Atkinson in each innings. Maybe some of that muscle-memory from his brutal double-century in Bridgetown 2019 can flex back to the fore. For his team’s sake, it might need to.

Team news: Wood returns to the fold

Just the one change for England after their innings win at Lord’s. Anderson has been moved sideways, into his bowling mentor role, and into his place comes the thrusting new kid on the block, Wood, who is back in the ranks for his first red-ball outing since the tour of India in March. At the age of 34, he’s hardly representative of England’s long-term future, but he does have two-and-a-bit years left on his three-year contract, and with the Ashes very much on the selectors’ minds, he probably does warrant a spin to keep him fresh. Shoaib Bashir retains his slot as the lone spinner, despite not bowling a single over at Lord’s. Pennington and Potts must wait in line for an opportunity, as Woakes takes the new ball, and presumably his choice of ends for the first time in a home Test, alongside Atkinson. Ben Duckett, whose wife is due to give birth this week, may yet be a late omission. Dan Lawrence is on standby.England: 1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Ben Stokes (capt), 7 Jamie Smith (wk), 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Gus Atkinson, 10 Mark Wood, 11 Shoaib BashirWest Indies had concerns over Shamar Joseph, who appeared to suffer a hamstring niggle at Lord’s, but it transpires it was just cramp, so he retains his place in an unchanged line-up. His nominal replacement would have been the uncapped Jeremiah Louis – brother of Mikyle – who could have made it two St Kitts players in the West Indies line-up in as many Tests, after none in their first 96 years.West Indies: 1 Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), 2 Mikyle Louis, 3 Kirk McKenzie, 4 Alick Athanaze, 5 Kavem Hodge, 6 Jason Holder, 7 Joshua da Silva (wk), 8 Gudakesh Motie, 9 Alzarri Joseph, 10 Shamar Joseph, 11 Jayden Seales.

Pitch and conditions: Sunny (mostly) and grassy?

Pleasant sunny conditions for the first two days of the Test are expected to give way to a slightly more drizzly weekend, although nothing apocalyptic seems to be on the horizon. With 24 hours to go, the pitch appeared to still have a tinge of live grass on the surface, although there’s time yet for a final shave.

Stats and trivia: Broad from the Pavilion End?

• West Indies have won four and lost just one of their nine previous Tests at Trent Bridge, including a famous ten-wicket victory in their first appearance there in 1950. Their only loss, however, came in their most recent match, in 2012.
• Chris Woakes will be playing in his 50th Test.
• As if England’s bowlers need any more reminders of their former team-mates’ glories, the Pavilion End at Trent Bridge, the scene of that legendary 8 for 15 in 2015, will be officially renamed in honour of Stuart Broad before the start of the first day’s play.
• Joe Root, currently on 11,804 Test runs, needs 11 more to overtake Mahela Jayawardene at No.9 in the all-time list, and is within touching distance of two West Indies’ greats at Nos.7 and 8 as well, Brian Lara (11,953) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (11,867).

Quotes

“When I first saw Gus live in the World Cup in India, he just had all the attributes of a very, very good bowler. There has not been that much movement in the air with the new [Dukes] ball. It’s generally been off the surface, hitting the seam and Gus is a very good exponent of that. At 10-12 overs, you get a buff on one side and that is when it really starts to swing, so that is where me and Woody come in. Woody bowling at 94mph with the ball swinging is going to be tough for anyone.”
Ben Stokes explains the rationale behind Gus Atkinson’s promotion to a new-ball role“The pitch looks a good cricket pitch to be honest. Looks good for batting, the bowlers will get a bit of assistance as well. We think the guys had a long rest, unfortunately the [first] game finished quite early, and as I say Shamar is doing well. I believe 100% in the 11 that played the first Test and we’re backing them 100%.”
Kraigg Brathwaite expects a response from his unchanged XI

India captain Rohit Sharma retired hurt after scoring a half-century in their opening fixture of the T20 World Cup against Ireland in New York. He was struck on the upper arm by a delivery from Josh Little in the ninth over of the chase and walked off after hitting the next two balls for six, having contributed 52 off 37 balls to India’s chase of 97 in extremely difficult batting conditions.Rohit said he was “just a little sore” at the post-match presentation following India’s eight-wicket victory. “I said it at the toss, we were quite unsure of what to expect from the pitch. It’s a new ground, new venue, drop-in pitch, we weren’t aware of what’s it like to pay on a pitch that is five-months old. It was all about getting used to the conditions, that’s why we opted to bowl first. I don’t think the wicket settled down even when we batted second. There was enough for the bowlers, all in all, happy to get those two points, was very important.”Rishabh Pant was also struck by Little in the 11th over of the chase, on a pitch that posed several challenges to the batters. He needed some attention from the physio but continued his innings, finishing unbeaten 36 off 26 balls.Former Zimbabwe batter and England head coach Andy Flower said the pitch in New York was “bordering on dangerous,” after Ireland had been shot out for 96 after getting sent into bat in New York.”I have got to say that is not a good surface to play an international match on. It’s bordering on dangerous,” Flower said on ESPNcricinfo’s Timeout show. “You saw the ball bouncing from a length, both ways. So skidding low occasionally but in the main bouncing unusually high and striking people on the thumb, on the gloves, on the helmet and making life very very difficult for any batsman.”The Indian quicks were good enough to exploit it [the conditions], you’ve got to get that to them,” Flower said. “They kept their game plan really simple, they hit the deck hard on a good length and that was all you needed to do. And it proved to be very tricky batting conditions for any side let alone a smaller cricketing nation like Ireland taking on the giants of India.”Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar said that something had gone wrong during the preparation of the pitch.”You have seen dangerous pitches before as well at the international level but something has gone wrong with the preparation where either the pitch has been under-prepared or something that is beyond their control,” Manjrekar said on ESPNcricinfo’s Timeout show. “This seems more like something beyond their control, where they have put in a lot of work in trying to get the right surface in the Big Apple and all that. But I said couple of days back as well, what can they do to make this pitch better? I am sure it is not lack of effort. At the most what you can do is keep rolling that drop-in pitch but they have a problem in hand. Inherently, I think there is something wrong with the base of that surface.”The game between Sri Lanka and South Africa in New York on June 3 also had the batters in strife, though that was played on a different surface. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 77 in 19.1 overs while South Africa took 16.2 overs to complete a six-wicket win.”Maybe it is a case of, I mean it is a very strong statement, where it seems like the horse has been put before the cart,” Manjrekar said. “You know this excitement of having cricket in New York. I think Florida has been pretty okay over the years. But cricket in New York…but unfortunately, what is the most important thing isn’t quite living up to the hype, which is the pitch and the general conditions, which is unfortunate.”The New York surface was criticised by former international cricketers as well on social media. Michael Vaughan called the pitch “sub-standard” and “shocking”, while Wasim Jaffer felt it was a good way to get the American audience “hooked on to Test cricket disguised as T20”.

Maaz Sadaqat, 20, has probably never been searched or spoken about as much as he was on Sunday night.Under the glare of a primetime audience in a high-stakes clash against India A, the youngster from Peshawar delivered two decisive punches. His tidy left-arm spin removed Jitesh Sharma and Nehal Wadhera in quick succession, sparking a collapse that saw India A lose 8 for 45 and crumble for 136 all out with an over left.And as if that wasn’t enough, Sadaqat then opened the chase with a sparkling statement of intent, hitting a robust 31-ball half-century in an exhilarating display of batsmanship, guiding Pakistan A to a commanding eight-wicket win with plenty to spare in their second game at the Rising Stars T20 Asia Cup.This was Pakistan A’s second straight win in the competition, which assured them of a semi-final berth.

Suryavanshi fires early salvo

India A were once again propelled by the precocious brilliance of 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, the wunderkind who had lit up the tournament with a breathtaking 144 against UAE just two nights ago.On a crumbly surface offering grip and turn, he wasted no time in taking on fast bowler Ubaid Shah, younger brother of Naseem, to give India A the early momentum. His intent helped the team wade through the early loss of Priyansh Arya, who top-edged a pull to mid-on. What stood out was Suryavanshi’s game awareness: he quickly sensed that this pitch wouldn’t suit premeditation, and adjusted accordingly.Vaibhav Suryavanshi did not take much time to tee off•Asian Cricket Council

By holding his shape and trusting his hands, he produced an array of eye-catching strokes: like the crisp inside-out punch over cover, a clean swing over deep midwicket, and a series of razor-sharp pick-ups against spin.His 49-run stand with Naman Dhir ensured India A found a boundary almost every over until the tenth, setting a brisk, early tempo despite the tricky conditions. Suryavanshi even took on left-arm spinner Sufyan Muqeem, before an attempt to launch him over the ropes had him fall for a 28-ball 45.

Sadaqat’s Act-I

After Suryavanshi’s dismissal, India A went 29 balls without finding the boundary. That lull coincided with the introduction of Sadaqat, whose thrifty left-arm spin tightened the screws almost immediately. Using his angles cleverly, he coaxed the ball to drift, grip and occasionally rear up, while subtle changes of pace denied the batters any rhythm.Jitesh, coming off a blistering 32-ball 83 not out against UAE, miscued a lofted attempt to long-off, and Wadhera was stumped after being lured out by one that drifted away late. Between those two blows, Ashutosh Sharma was unfortunate to be given lbw to a delivery that skidded on but appeared to strike him outside the line.Sadaqat finished with figures of 3-1-12-2, setting the stage for right-arm seamer Shahid Aziz to return and wipe out the lower order. From looking set to score 180, India A collapsed to 136 all out.The Irfan Khan-led Pakistan A struck regularly in the second half•Asian Cricket Council

Sadaqat’s Act-II

On a surface where run-making seemed progressively difficult as India A found out, Sadaqat had clean plans: of taking the attack to the bowlers with the new ball inside the powerplay. And on Sunday, nothing was going to stop him.Reprieved second ball when Wadhera put down a tough chance at backward point, Sadaqat took the attack to left-arm seamer Gurjapneet Singh in his first over. Then with spin introduced in the fourth, he laid into leg spinner Suyash Sharma, hitting him for back-to-back boundaries.Jitesh persisted with Gurjapneet for a third straight over inside the powerplay, but Sadaqat snuffed out any fight from India A by clobbering him for 18 – including a flat-bat six over long-on as Pakistan A brought up their 50 inside five overs. This turbocharge meant Pakistan A didn’t lose momentum even with the loss of Mohammad Naeem.As good as Sadaqat was in front of square, there was so much more to his batting. He welcomed the offspin of Dhir by reverse-sweeping him for a six, racing to a half-century off just 31 balls.On 54, he top-edged Suyash, only to be dropped by Suryavanshi at point. Then on 56, he swung one over long-on, only for Wadhera to sensationally intercept the ball and throw it back into the field of play for Dhir to take the relay. However, the third umpire ruled it in favour of Pakistan. Strangely though, he did not rule it a six and it was given as a dot ball instead.Those two chances aside, there were hardly moments on the field where India A had any semblance of control. Sadaqat remained unbeaten on 79 off 47 as Pakistan A cruised home in style.

Steven Smith has confirmed he will use the anti-glare strips under his eyes when batting during the day-night Test at the Gabba after some advice from Shivnarine Chanderpaul ensured he was wearing them the correct way up.Smith trained with them under lights in the lead-up to the second Test against England and said he definitely felt a positive impact. However, initially he had not quite used them the way they were designed.”I actually messaged Shivnarine Chanderpaul and asked him what his thoughts were, whether he wore the chalk or the strips,” Smith said. “He said the strips, and he thinks it blocks out 65% of the glare. And he also said, ‘I’ve seen photos and you’re wearing them the wrong way’. So yesterday I put them on the right way.”I agree with him. I think it certainly stops the glare. Yeah, I’ll be wearing them.”Related

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The ‘eye blacks’ – small, black, adhesive strips worn on the cheekbone – that Smith wore in training are commonplace in several American sports, and are designed to reduce the glare from floodlights by absorbing the light that would otherwise reflect off the skin.Smith is known to not be a fan of batting against the pink ball. In day-night Tests he averages 37.04 with one century compared to 58.31 in day matches with 35 hundreds.”It’s hard to bat all the time,” he said of any difference between twilight and complete darkness. “It’s a tricky one. The ball reacts obviously differently to a red one. It can change quickly. It can start moving randomly.”You’ve got to try and play what’s in front of you at that time and when it does shift on you and the ball starts doing something different, you’ve got to try and come up with plans to counter that, whether it be more aggressive, whether it be going to your shell and trying to get through that period. Everyone’s different. It’s trying to be one step ahead when it does start to shift.”Steven Smith wears black tape under his eyes•Getty Images

During the previous day-night Test at the Gabba, when West Indies famously won by eight runs in early 2024, Mitchell Starc commented about how the harder surface at the venue meant the pink ball went softer than it does in Adelaide where extra grass can act as a cushion.”I think Adelaide, the wicket they have down there, it’s quite furry, and the ball can kind of stay harder for longer,” Smith said. “Here it’s obviously renowned to be quite a hard, fast wicket, and it’s difficult to change your characteristics of the wicket. So at times [the ball] can get a little bit soft, and you can see guys batting comfortably at stages. So that’s one thing we have to weigh up going into this game, and see how it plays out.”Amid uncertainty over how Australia would line up for the Test, Smith said they would be open to in-match flexibility around the batting line-up, referencing the possibility of two nightwatchers. But he was not fully buying into the belief of Pat Cummins and Travis Head that batting orders were overrated despite having opened the batting in four Tests in 2024 at his own request, including the last pink-ball game at the Gabba where he carried his bat to finish 91 not out in Australia’s failed fourth innings chase.”I think [with the] pink ball, anything’s possible,” Smith said. “We’ve been pretty open in the past around maybe having two nightwatchmen and things like that, so it’s a completely different game.”You’ve got to play what’s in front of you at any given stage, but I’m not sure I completely agree with those two on the batting orders being overrated. I think it’s nice to be in a similar role and get used to that role over and over again.”So, it can change in games, and maybe that’s the way forward. But having certain spots for one innings and other spots for a second innings, I’m not sure about. I think it’s nice to have a single role and try to get used to that as much as possible.”

Bangladesh have brought two teenagers into their squad for the Women’s World Cup, which the BCB announced on Saturday. They are Nishita Akter, the 17-year-old offspinner, and the 19-year-old batter Sumaiya Akter. Both were part of Bangladesh’s team at the Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup in Malaysia in February.Bangladesh have also picked the 28-year-old keeper-batter Rubya Haider, who has played six T20Is but is yet to make her ODI debut.Between them, these three relative new faces have played three ODIs and seven T20Is, and none of them has played for the senior Bangladesh side in 2025.Related

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The selectors have offloaded Dilara Akter, Jannatul Ferdus and Ishma Tanjim from Bangladesh’s most recent squad, which played in the World Cup Qualifier in April. Bangladesh qualified from that tournament ahead of West Indies by a net-run-rate margin of just 0.013, but they haven’t played any international matches since then.Recently, the squad has played a number of matches against Bangladesh’s Under-15 boys side as preparation for the World Cup.Women’s chief selector Sajjad Ahmed was excited by the addition of the three young players. He said Rubya, who has played six T20Is, will be the squad’s back-up opener and wicketkeeper behind captain Nigar Sultana.”Rubya has earned her place through sheer hard work,” he said. “Her development over the last six months has been outstanding. We see her as a valuable option both as a reserve keeper and a back-up opener.”Nishita is still young, but she bowls with great maturity. She is consistent, calm under pressure and her ability to contain left-handers gave her an edge. We believe this experience will serve her well and add depth to our spin attack.”Sajjad added that Sumaiya’s patience would be an asset to the side, and her fielding a bonus. “Sumaiya has been knocking on the door for some time. She brings the ability to occupy the crease and accelerate when needed. With her skillset and fielding standards, she gives us an all-round option in the top order.”Apart from these three, the squad wears a familiar look with Nahida Akter as vice-captain to Nigar, and the likes of Fargana Hoque, Fahima Khatun and Marufa Akter bringing the experience that Bangladesh hope will cover for their recent lack of match practice.Bangladesh are scheduled to open their World Cup campaign against Pakistan in Colombo on October 2. India are the hosts of the tournament, with Colombo hosting all of Pakistan’s matches.

Bangladesh squad for Women’s World Cup 2025

Nigar Sultana (capt), Nahida Akter, Fargana Hoque, Rubya Haider, Sharmin Akhter, Sobhana Mostary, Ritu Moni, Shorna Akter, Fahima Khatun, Rabeya Khan, Marufa Akter, Fariha Trisna, Sanjida Akter, Nishita Akter, Sumaiya Akter.
IN: Rubya Haider, Nishita Akter, Sumaiya Akter
OUT: Dilara Akter (wk), Jannatul Ferdus, Ishma Tanjim