London, July 2, 2025 – NEOM McLaren Electric Racing has today revealed a striking new livery for the season finale of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in London on July 26-27.
Unveiled at McLaren Racing’s Never Stop Racing fan experience in Trafalgar Square, the design reimagines the team’s identity as a bold “away kit,” creatively expressing the ambition of Oxagon, NEOM’s reimagined industrial city.
The partnership between Oxagon and the NEOM McLaren Electric Racing Team highlights the power of strategic collaboration to drive meaningful change. By combining McLaren’s technological edge with Oxagon’s vision for advanced and clean industries, the two organizations are working to redefine how technology, sustainability and design converge to shape the future of industry – within NEOM and beyond.
Developed between the two brands, the livery introduces dynamic new colors inspired by Oxagon, while retaining the signature papaya elements that define the NEOM McLaren Electric Racing Team’s visual identity. This distinctive design will also feature on the race suits and helmets of drivers Sam Bird and Taylor Barnard.
“This special edition livery offers a fresh take on our existing design — a purposeful “away kit’ that shines a light on Oxagon, one of NEOM’s key regions,” said Ian James, Team Principal, NEOM McLaren Electric Racing Team. “It represents more than bold visuals; it symbolizes a partnership rooted in innovation, collaboration and real-world industrial transformation.”
“Our work with the NEOM McLaren Electric Racing Team demonstrates how cross-industry partnerships can accelerate sustainable transformation,” said Vishal Wanchoo, CEO of Oxagon. “By combining McLaren’s performance and efficiency with Oxagon’s vision for clean, connected manufacturing, we’re advancing the kind of innovation that is shaping the future of industry.”
Since the launch of the international Oxagon x McLaren Accelerator Program in 2023, two successful cohorts of scale-ups from around the world have completed the 12-week program designed to fast-track deep tech and next generation solutions to advance industries. From autonomous mobility to smart logistics and supply chain innovation, the program has already led to pilot projects within NEOM and commercial opportunities across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In 2024, out of seven companies, four were shortlisted to pilot their technologies in the port on HSE, worker wellbeing, robotic container handling and condition-based predictive maintenance.
The NEOM–McLaren partnership, established in 2022, extends beyond motorsport sponsorship to reflect a shared commitment to high performance, innovation and the development of future talent. Revealed in London and inspired by Oxagon, the livery captures the spirit of the partnership and its role in advancing progress through design, technology and shared values.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst arrived at Liverpool FC as assistant coach in June 2025.
Van Bronckhorst – who joined Arne Slot’s backroom staff following the departure of his former Netherlands international teammate, John Heitinga – brings a wealth of coaching experience that has been amassed following a distinguished playing career.
Like Slot, Van Bronckhorst won both the Eredivisie and KNVB Cup as head coach of Feyenoord, where he came through the youth ranks as a player.
Having taken charge in his first managerial post ahead of the 2015-16 season, Van Bronckhorst delivered the cup in his maiden campaign at De Kuip, the league title in his second and then the cup again in his third.
Following one season with Chinese club Guangzhou R&F, Van Bronckhorst took over …
Great Britain will host Round 12 of the 2025 F1 season this weekend, but what does the weather have in store for the drivers at Silverstone?
As things stand, it looks like mixed conditions could be on the cards across the three days of action, with sunshine early on making way for potential showers as the weekend progresses.
McLaren were the team to beat last time out in Austria, where temperatures became increasingly hot throughout the event. The squad will be hoping for more of the same this time around, though the forecast suggests that Silverstone will not be quite as warm.
Mercedes, meanwhile, are known to prefer cooler weather, with the W16 seeming to go well on occasions where the temperatures have dropped. How will the Silver Arrows fare this weekend?
Scroll down for a more detailed look at the forecast for the weekend.
2025 British Grand Prix weekend weather forecast
FRIDAY, JULY 04 – FP1 AND FP2 Conditions: Sunny start then clouds building up but dry afternoon expected. Gentle west-south-westerly breeze. FP1: 24°C // FP2: 25°C Maximum temperature expected: 25 Celsius Minimum temperature expected: 16 Celsius Chance of rain: <20%
SATURDAY, JULY 05 – FP3 AND QUALIFYING Conditions: Cloudy but dry at first before a rainy weather front crossing England from late afternoon. Timing and intensity tbc (2-5mm max). Moderate southwesterly wind with gust up to 55kph. FP3: 19°C // Q: 20°C Maximum temperature expected: 20 Celsius Minimum temperature expected: 15 Celsius Chance of rain: 60%
SUNDAY, JULY 06 – RACE Conditions: Behind the front, unsettled with showers sometimes moderate (up to 5mm through the day) driven by a constant westerly wind. Race start: 19°C Maximum temperature expected: 19 Celsius Minimum temperature expected: 15 Celsius Chance of rain: 60%
Indonesia will look to continue its winning form in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers when it takes on Pakistan in its next qualifier on Wednesday.
The Garuda Pertiwi started its campaign with a 1-0 win over Kyrgyzstan and faces Pakistan next, a side that lost 0-8 to Chinese Taipei in its previous match.
When and where will Pakistan vs Indonesia be played?
The AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers will be played at the Indomilk Arena Stadium in Banten, Indonesia.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 8:00 pm local time (6:30 pm IST).
How to watch Pakistan vs Indonesia AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifier?
The AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifier, Pakistan vs Indonesia, will be broadcast on Indosiar and can be live streamed on Vidio Sports.
In the previous match, it was Isa Warps who had struck the winner in the 68th minute, and will be an usual suspect to find the goal against Pakistan too.
The qualification round comprises 34 teams divided into eight groups. The winner of each group will advance to the Asian Cup, set to be played in Australia next year.
Jyothi Yarraji, the national record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles with a personal best timing of 12.78s, was last seen in action at the Taiwan Athletics Open last month, where she won the gold medal in her event after clocking 12.99s.
The Indian athlete also clocked 12.96s to win gold at the Asian Athletics Championship in May.
Jyothi Yarraji’s injury also ends her bid to compete at the 2025 World Athletics Championships, which is set to take place from September 13 to 21.
An Asian Games silver medallist, Yarraji had begun her 2025 season with a gold in the 100m hurdles and 200m race in the National Games in February before bagging top spot in the 100m hurdles at the Federation Cup.
She also successfully defended her Asian Championships title in Gumi, the Republic of Korea.
Formula 1 returns to Silverstone this weekend for the British Grand Prix – and tyre suppliers Pirelli have confirmed the compounds that will be in play.
This year Pirelli have gone one step softer in their range, bringing the C2 as the hard tyre, the C3 as the medium and the C4 as the soft.
Drivers will get two sets of the hard tyre (marked white), three sets of the medium tyre (marked yellow), and eight sets of the soft tyre (marked red), as well as access to the green intermediate tyre and the blue full wets, should they be required.
An extra set of softs is reserved for those who reach Q3 in Qualifying, while all drivers must use at least two different slick compounds during the race, providing the track is dry.
On the decision to bring a range that is one step softer than at last year’s British Grand Prix, Pirelli’s weekend preview says: “The aim, shared with the FIA, F1 and the teams, is to create a wider range of strategy options for the race.
“In 2024, when the C3 was the soft, it was used by just a few drivers in the closing stages of the race following the rain. This year, as the medium, it is bound to play an important role, probably in several phases of the race.
“For those aiming for a one-stop race, the stints will have to be managed very carefully, while accepting a longer total race time. Also a consideration in this equation is the fact that the time taken for a tyre change is not very long (around 20.5 seconds) and while challenging, overtaking is possible.”
In terms of the conditions that can be expected at Silverstone, the tyre manufacturer adds: “The circuit is in almost year-round use with four and two-wheeled racing categories and so it provides good grip right from Friday’s first free practice session, aided by the fact the surface is rated medium-low in terms of abrasiveness.
“Despite taking place at the height of summer, the English weather can often be unpredictable with very changeable temperatures and wind and rain suddenly putting in an appearance, turning the tables during the race, as was the case last year.”
For more information about Pirelli’s F1 tyres, visit pirelli.com.
Lunchtime email: “Do we just give up on complaining about the woeful over rate now, and just accept it?” wonders Adrian Riley. “I know all teams are bad, but England now seem the worst. They don’t even get near 90 overs these days, even with the extra half hour. I reckon they’ll do about 75 by 6pm.”
It’s quite hard to measure what’s acceptable when things happen in the game – this morning, for example, there was an open window, a moving steward and two attempts to change the ball which I think I neglected to mention. So it’s not simply a reflection of callous players, but it does feel annoying when the players disappear at 6.30 with the light still more than good enough.
Anyhow, I’m going to grab a break, and we’ll return in 30 or so to do some emails.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, though. What a player.
Lunchtime reading: 20 years ago, Edgbaston was full for the final day of the second Ashes Test – apart from one seat: mine. Here’s why.
25th over: India 98-2 (Jaiswal 62, Gill 1) Ahahaha, strike that – Ben Stokes, what a cliche. He brings on his spinner for one over before lunch, three singles eventuate, and that’s that for a terrific morning session.
24th over: India 93-2 (Jaiswal 60, Gill 0) Early days, but there’s a nice balance about this England attack – the bowlers are good but different and, in Stokes, they have a canny captain who feels the game.
WICKET! Nair c Brook b Carse 31 (India 93-2)
Carse has that little bit of extra gas, doesn’t he? He bangs one in, gets more lift than Nair – and anyone – anticipated, the ball gets big on him and, in a bit of a tangle, he lobs a catch to second slip.
Brydon Carse celebrates the wicket of India batsman Karun Nair. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images
24th over: India 93-1 (Jaiswal 59, Nair 30) Carse returns to try and make something happen, as he did at Headingley – I’m surprised Stokes gave Tongue so many overs – and his first two deliveries go for singles.
“Botham and Flintoff have rightly been mentioned,” says Brian Rafferty, “but can I give a shout-out for Bob Willis. His 5th day 8-43 v Australia at Headingly in 1981 is one of the best performances I have ever seen. England, made to follow on, pulled off something magical in that test. Okay, it’s known as The Botham Test, but Willis won it on day five.”
Sure, and Bob was excellent – though before my time. But in talking about best, we can’t reference individual spells and matches because being good requires more than that.
23rd over: India 93-1 (Jaiswal 59, Nair 30) Eeesh, another short one – I wondered if England might try something different – and Jaiswal goes again, this time looking to haul around the corner only to top-edge a pull; it falls just short of Woakes at fine leg. They run one, another single follows, and India are in charge here … words we might have written as many, many points during the first Test.
22nd over: India 91-1 (Jaiswal 58, Nair 29) Tongue continues and Nair adds one, then drops shorter – even shorter – and Jaiswal rolls wrists over it, hooking to the fence. Then, offered width, he leaps to crack a vicious cut to the fence, immediately raising his bat like a statue to celebrate an initially dicey but latterly devastating fifty. This boy is a superstar, and to prove the point, when Tongue goes over the wicket but again offers width, he carves a third consecutive four through third man! He’s so lithe, so creative, so daring and so brilliant.
Yashasvi Jaiswal leaves the floor as he hits a boundary. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA
21st over: India 77-1 (Jaiswal 45, Nair 28) Three dots, a no ball, then a gloved single to Nair. Time for a change for England? Stokes has now bowled four overs, Tongue five.
“Love a good all-rounder chat,” says Pete Salmon. “Had a long one recently about the fact that Australia rarely produces them, Keith Miller, Richie Benaud and Gary Gilmour excepted. Is lack of all rounders part of Australia’s strength? Does correlation imply causation? Ended with us all agreeing that Cam Green is no good, because Australia.”
Adam Gilchrist should really be added to that list, and it’s worth noting that Border and both Waughs could bowl well enough to a fair few Test wickets. Otherwise, I wonder if Aussie conditions – true pitches – create and reward specialists.
20th over: India 75-1 (Jaiswal 45, Nair 27) Jaiswal pulls Tongue for two, then adds a single, and this is excellent work from this pair; Nair adds one more, and England could do with something.
19th over: India 71-1 (Jaiswal 42, Nair 26) Nair takes a single then, offered one outside off but with bounce, Jaiswal refuses to miss out, playing the kind of smash you’d expect to see at Wimbledon not Edgbaston. for four through cover. What a player he is; what a character he is too.
18th over: India 65-1 (Jaiswal 37, Nair 25) Tongue’s had a difficult morning so far but this is a tighter over, yielding two singles. I wonder if we might see Bashir shortly.
17th over: India 63-1 (Jaiswal 36, Nair 24) Stokes goes wider on the crease, so Jaiswal waits until the ball is right upon him, then caresses an on-drive straight back down the pitch. He’s a beautiful batter, and you can almost taste his attitude; I think he and Stokes exchange sentiments, then again at the end of the over which yields six.
16th over: India 57-1 (Jaiswal 31, Nair 23) Runs are coming quickly now, Jaiswal stomping forward to clout Tongue’s first delivery through cover for four, then presenting the full face to the next, overpitched and sent to the long-off boundary. He then holds the pose for at least 13 minutes, sees off three dots, and retreats in the crease to glance a third four of the over past gully. The partnership is 42 off 30.
15th over: India 45-1 (Jaiswal 19, Nair 23) Stokes replaces Woakes and when he’s too full first up, Jaiswal bumps him for three through cover. Oooh, and when he does similarly next ball, Nair flicks for through midwicket, then is beaten by a straighter one which leaves him. That’s a much better line and length.
“Regarding Dean Kinsella salivating (perhaps) over the joys of watching peak Botham, Flintoff and Stokes in the same England side, my first thought was, ‘how many would complain about bits and pieces players?” emails John Burton.
“I doubt anyone would argue that Julian and Boyce were ‘greats’, but in 1973, they batted 8 and 9 for West Indies, with Sobers at 6, plus Holder 10 and Gibbs 11. They emphasised their all-round credentials by performing better at Test level than for their English counties.
I suspect it’s remembered as a quieter period between Hall, Griffith et al and then the all-time greats lead by Marshall, Ambrose, Garner, Holding with so many others in their train – but 1973 at Lords was, iirc, England’s heaviest defeat up to that time, although I’m sure there’s a stronger example somewhere else.”
Ronnie Irani, Dermot Reeve, David Capel and Mark Ealham would’ve slotted in seamlessly.
14th over: India 38-1 (Jaiswal 16, Nair 19) Jaiswal takes a single to square leg, then Tongue, going a little wider on the crease, persuades one to bounce a little more, passing Nair’s edge.
“Multiple all-rounders,” begins Jeremy Nash, which my childish brain parsed as something far less exciting. “South Africa must have played a few Tests with Kallis, Klusener and Pollock in their line up. They were all pretty useful with both bat and ball.”
And, for a brief shining period, England had Stokes and Jack Leach.
13th over: India 37-1 (Jaiswal 15, Nair 19) Jaiswal takes one, then Nair, again offered width and fullness, shoves four more through cover. Woakes, though, responds nicely, going fuller again – that’s the length – and Nair, who, notes Broad, almost triggers forward rather than back and across, edges into the pad. Stokes can’t believe England haven’t had an lb this morning, and Nair adds two more from the final ball of the over; he’s got a start, and at the end of an engrossing first hour, that’s drinks.
12th over: India 30-1 (Jaiswal 14, Nair 13) Tongue replaces Carse, Jaiswal takes his loosener for one, then Nair times a half-volley to the fence for four … and the next ball, the exact same happens. England won’t want to give a jump start to a batter under pressure, but here we are.
“Sad to hear of Ned’s passing recently,” writes Mark Lloyd. “My stand-our memory of him is the Kingston test in 1990 where we flippin’ murdered ‘em (sic). I went on a sponsored hitchhike to Paris that weekend so didn’t follow the game closely until I got back on the Sunday. My hitchhiking partner, who sadly passed away last year, and I cycled from Cambridge out to the M11 whereupon we were immediately picked up by a doctor from Bury St Edmunds who was driving to Paris to visit his daughter! He bought us lunch and ferry tickets, and when he dropped us under the Eiffel Tower we found out we’d arrived even before the organisers. Our return trip was less fortuitous and we had to sleep in the ferry terminal in Calais. Anyway, on arriving back in Cambridge Lamb had just hit one of his customary tons against the Windies. It was scarcely imaginable that we might go on to win, but win we did. Dev spectacularly castled Haynes and King Viv in the second innings of course, and I watched Ned hit the winning runs with the feeling that someone was cruelly pulling my leg. The wheels came off later in the series of course but for a few days life was glorious!”
Yup, I absolutely loved that tour – the first time England had competed against West Indies in my lifetime.
11th over: India 21-1 (Jaiswal 13, Nair 5) Ahahaha, as if he wasn’t displeased enough, as Woakes runs in, Nair pulls away! Biggup to the batter if he did that on purpose. In comms, Broad advises that he’d not have been happy to have those two appeals rejected, also noting the near-celebrappeal. I don’t know – on the one hand, he should know, on the other, it was 100% the real thing.
REVIEW! NOT OUT!
Oh man, it’s umpire’s call on stumps – Hawkeye reckons it was only clipping the top of off. It’s a bit like seeing a Tellytubby with a flick knife, but Woakes is ticking now!
11th over: India 21-1 (Jaiswal 13, Nair 5) Carse nips off, perhaps to sort a problem with his boot, then Woakes, back of a length, raps the back thigh as Nair leaves on height; he gets away with it, just, then drives beautifully through cover for four. Ooh, but Woakes is properly into this, and when a fuller one dips in, again hitting the back pad with no shot offered, he introduces the now lesser-spotted celebrappeal, then gets as aggressive as a non-aggressive person will ever get to persuade Stokes to review. It looks good from here…
10th over: India 17-1 (Jaiswal 13, Nair 1) Four dots, then Jaiswal, tucked up, forces around the corner for one, and Nair, to his immense relief I’m sure, flicks to deep backward square. He’s off the mark.
9th over: India 15-1 (Jaiswal 12, Nair 0) Nair will feel under pressure, desperate to contribute after finally being offered a return to Test cricket. He looks nervous but sees out two dots, completing the wicket maiden.
WICKET! Rahul b Woakes 2 (India 15-1)
You can’t say it wasn’t coming. Woakes drops a little shorter, Rahul is late on his shot, and can only drag on.
KL Rahul looks to the stumps as he loses his wicket. Photograph: Darren Staples/AFP/Getty Images
9th over: India 15-0 (Jaiswal 12, Rahul 2) Woakes nips one back and Rahul sort of lets it go then tries to get his hip in the way, feart it’s hitting the stumps. So he goes again, contacts the back pad … England like it … until Brook, at two, advises there was an edge.
8th over: India 15-0 (Jaiswal 12, Rahul 2) Rahul nurdles to the side of mid-on and they take a single, the only run from the over.
7th over: India 14-0 (Jaiswal 12, Rahul 1) Woakes is bowling nicely now, shaping one away from Jaiswal who again manages not to impart an edge. Another maiden, and this is intensifying.
REVIEW! NOT OUT!
There may have been two sounds, but it was definitely pad first; the ball pitched in line, but was only clipping the leg-stump bail, so it’s umpire’s call.
7th over: India 14-0 (Jaiswal 12, Rahul 1) Woakes moves one in and nails Jaiswal on the pad; the appeal is again rejected, and this time England review.
6th over: India 14-0 (Jaiswal 12, Rahul 1) Jaiswal clatters a cut and must assume he’s getting four, but Pope, at backward point, flings himself right to stop it; brilliant work. Jaiswal, though, is not for being denied, waiting to get right over Carse’s fourth delivery, before thrashing it through cover for four. And of course he goes again, this time missing with his drive; I’m not sure the manner in which he’s batting is sustainable because that is, I think, the third time he’s been beaten outside off, and if he keeps doing it he’ll eventually nick off.
5th over: India 9-0 (Jaiswal 8, Rahul 1) Woakes knows a thing or 105,986 about bowling at Edgbaston and he sends down a second maiden in two overs.
“Completely shocked but not surprised about India’s selection, says Anand Kumar. “Gambhir’s poor strategic and tactical abilities to the fore. You have five players scoring centuries and end up strengthening the batting. I think Kuldeep will be this management’s Ashwin. Being overlooked for a few runs from someone else. Sadly, don’t think there is any way Gambhir is leaving soon.
Since the loss to NZ in the first Test at home, they have been addressing the wrong problem (playing on spin-friendly pitches elevating NZ’s spinners). That led to the obsession with the long batting line up.
Maybe a 5-0 whitewash might see GG get sacked? Given his clout, it might be Gill who might get the axe!”
This team just doesn’t feel very … India.
4th over: India 9-0 (Jaiswal 8, Rahul 1) A massive yahoo from Jaiswal, who tries hitting Carse’s first ball all the way back to Uttar Pradesh, getting nowhere near it. So of course he goes again, this time taking care not to dislocate his shoulders and earning four through point. Three dots follow, then Carse drops shorter, the delivery describing an excitable parabola as it jags back in, and Jaiswal can’t get a bat on it.
3rd over: India 5-0 (Jaiswal 4, Rahul 1) In comes Woakes with a leg slip – the tactic must be to bowl straight at Rahul, who showed admirable patience at Headingley. His first delivery is full and a little bit floaty, moving it away from the batter who tries turning it to leg, misses, and wears it on the pad. Woakes likes it, but when the umpire does not, he and Stokes decide it was going down … which it was. Maiden.
“What a day!” begins Showbizguru. “Perfect timing. England and the Lions both playing as I look forward to the festivities of my 70th birthday today. Although as it’s also our 30th wedding anniversary the current Mrs Showbizguru is less than enamoured of my plans to watch the cricket all afternoon in a cider bar in Bath before falling into a restaurant for a celebratory meal. Grand weather for it!”
Mazal tov to both of you. May well all be similarly blessed.
2nd over: India 5-0 (Jaiswal 4, Rahul 1) Carse takes the new meteorite from the other end, and I wonder how Rahul feels this morning. His second-innings knock at Headingley is a footnote rather than a highlight only because of stuff others did subsequent to it – it was an absolute gem. Anyroad, he takes the fifth ball of the over for one into the on side, then Carse goes around to the left-handed Jaiswal, who blocks back to him.
“Since you’ve already put a link to the TMS overseas page in the OBO,” writes Guillaume Clement, “I thought I’d add that most overseas viewers can watch the entire test’s Sky Sports coverage on the official ICC website. All you need to do is create a free ICC TV account.”
KL Rahul opens for India. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA
1st over: India 4-0 (Jaiswal 4, Rahul 0) Woakes begins just back of a length, swinging away, and Jaiswal lets it go by. Three further dots follow, then one on the pads allows for a flick around the corner for four, before he misses with a loose cut.
“Good morning Daniel. And all,” begins Dean Kinsella, channelling Widecombe Fair. “‘Flintoff bowling at his peak’. What beautiful images to have in my mind as this game begins. I was thinking the other day that these all-rounder champions always seem to come one at a time for national teams. Imagine if you had a Botham, a Flintoff and a Stokes all at the same time! Maybe there has been a team with something equivalent?”
Daffy DeFreitas and Chris Lewis, obviously.
There’s a window reflecting some sun, so Stokes is gesticulating at whoever’s behind it to shut it. It’s done, Jaiswal will face, and here we go.
Woakes, perhaps even more uncannily handsome now he’s silvering, has the ball.
Righto, it’s time.
Our players are out, and proceedings will begin with a moment of siilence to remember Wayne Larkins; it turns into a moment of applause when Ben Stokes begins clapping. Well batted, Ned.
And there’s more! “The TMS overseas link is here,” says Andrew Benton. “To get there, go to the BBC cricket page, click the live coverage button and it’s linked in the left box on that page. Always, every day there’s a Test match, easy to find.”
As Milo Minderbender said, “Everyone has a share.”
The OBO cooperative bids you a good morning, courtesy of Andrew Goudie. “Would you like today’s TMS overseas link?” he asks.
Enjoy!
Email! “Best bowling from an Englishman,” begins Shaun. “May I respectfully add Stuart Broad’s 8-15 v Australia? Lots of great spells over the years but this one will always stand out for me. Couldn’t believe what I was watching at the time.”
It surely can’t be only me who, when asked the time when it’s 8.15, will say it’s Stuart Broad, where previously I’d answer “it’s 8.15 and that’s the time that it’s always been.” As it goes, though, I wasn’t talking about spells – Broad has always been the best at those – rather the highest level I’ve seen an English bowler hit was Flintoff at his peak.
Part of me wonders if India are trying to not lose this Test, opting for a long batting line-up while sneaking in a rest for Bumrah, in order to go hard at Lord’s. Other hand, it may be they’re simply trying to address their lack of lower-order runs, which makes sense, it’s not unclear how they plan to take 20 wickets while leaving enough time to score more than England.
Aha, the Champo blog is up and away. Join Tanya for even more love and joy.
What do we think about England’s attack, then? I’m cautiously optimistic in that I think they’re all good bowlers, but for the side to hit a level, at least one of them and ideally two will have to develop into a champion. The batting, on the other hand, looks like it might be there or close to it.
India would also have bowled, and make three changes: in come Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar and Akash Deep; out go Sai Sudharson – harshly – Thardul Shakur – less so – and Jasprit Bumrah. They thought about playing Bumrah but feel there’ll be more for him in the pitch at Lord’s so leave out the world’s best bowler after a week off – I dunno, maybe it’s be, but are you serious? – and were tempted to pick Kuldeep, but in the end opted to strengthen the batting. Finally, he says “This year has been a year of chaos. A lot of teams who haven’t won a lot have won, so maybe that’ll change fortunes for us.”
Gosh, he doesn’t sound like he fancies his team all that much.
England did well in the last Test so, though you always consider everyone, they are unchanged. When “Bazball with brains” is put to Stokes as a way of describing, he laughs, saying him, Baz and brains are not three words you usually hear together.
England win the toss and bowl
Decent overhead conditions are cited as the reason.
It’s toss time…
I enjoyed reminiscing to myself when reading Ali’s piece, and agree Stokes has far exceeded Flintoff, partly because of his World Cup exploits but mainly because this thing of ours, nearly 150 years enriching humanity, is, on account of his contribution, changed for the better. And yet there’s a part of me saying but the best bowling I’ve ever seen from an Englishman? Flintoff’s.
Also going on:
Sky have Ian Ward interviewing Ben Duckett, who notes that with a newborn at home, you’re quickly back to reality after cricketing heroism. He also notes that at Headingley, the bat just felt great in his hands, and the team have changed as a group, setting a new way of making sure to win. We can see that in how they played Bumrah, and he notes his dismissal in the third Test in New Zealand, when he was out charging Tim Southeee as one of few regrets he has in cricket. Had England finished day four of the first match 10-2, they’d have had very little chance of a successful chase, but they were sensible, reaping their rewards later on.
India also have a choice to make with their bowlers. They’ll presumably leave out Shsrdul Thakur, but do they bolster the tail by replacing him with Washington Sundar, or attack with Kuldeep Yadav – goodness me, they’d have appreciated having him on day five at Headingley.
The sense from DK and SJ is that Jasprit Bumrah won’t be playing. Neither quite gets it – the teams have had a week off and India are trailing – and Broad doesn’t understand why they announced he’d play three of five, instead of taking each “week” as it comes. For my part, I thought they’d pick him here then leave him out at Lord’s, much as they’d want him there, then pick him for OT and see where the series is after four Tests. We shall see.
It looks a pretty pleasant day in Birmingham, which is a relief – I woke up, saw what London was doing, and feared for our plans. But here we are; this is going to be great.
Preamble
“It’s called a Test for a reason” is one of Test cricket’s most enduring cliches. Generally speaking, though, its deployment references the sporting aspect: what happens out there in the middle.
But the reality is somewhat different. Though the game remains testing, an extended examination of will and skill, for those with requisite ability and mentality the more significant test is abandoning friends, family and life for months at a time and year after year – while also being expected to perform.
As such, and though there were other operative factors, it is not entirely surprising that, on recent tours to India and Pakistan, England won the first Test of the series before losing the others. Similarly, in the most recent Ashes, Australia won the first two then lost the second two, and when South Africa last visited, they won the first before being clattered in the second and third.
Or, in other words, it’s hard not to fear for India. Of course there’s the playing aspect – a young team and a novice captain, coming to terms with the retirements of three champions, facing hosts who may just be maturing from something special into something serious. We know, though, that they can play – and they proved it at Headingley, a match it should have been impossible for them to lose. Yet lose it they did, meaning they arrive at Edgbaston trailing 1-0 with four matches still to go. It may not be a long way back, but it is a long way home.
Lando Norris was back on the top step of the podium in Austria – but he had to fend off a dogged attack from his McLaren team mate Oscar Piastri to seal victory.
Having dispatched Charles Leclerc on the opening lap to jump up to second place, the young Australian harried and hassled Norris – even momentarily getting ahead – before his attack was repelled by the man who had taken pole position.
It was another fascinating contest between the two team mates, with the result that Norris bounced back from the disappointment of his self-inflicted DNF in Canada to narrow the points gap to Piastri.
