How England valiantly fought to avoid winning the series?

England isn't bad. They just seem lost sometimes. Lost as a 5-year old kid on an airport unable to find his parents. They went to the Carribean and cricket pundits licked their lips while uttering that West Indies will fail to win a single game in both tests as well as ODI series.

Both series are over. West Indies didn't lose either of the series.

Let's deal with test series first. England is known to cuddle the opponents, putting overthinking in the selection and giving too much weight to conventional methods. And when they do go unorthodox, they favor gut instincts over cold, hard facts. Don't get me wrong. I love Sam Curran as much as his parents do, but since he bats at number 8 or lower and he only has 15 wickets in 9 tests, there was absolutely no logic in picking him over the veteran Broad (who has more than 28 times the number of test wickets as Sam.)

England didn't lose because of Sam Curran blunder. A couple of less Roach and Holder in West Indies would have helped though. In the first test, Holder absolutely made a mockery of England bowling lineup en route to his first double hundred. Though when you get bowled out for 77, you know you are in ...

Second test: Common sense restored. Broad was brought back, but not at the expense of Curran. England just often seems too greedy to get lower order contributions that they forget to pick proper bowlers to pick 20 wickets. Darren Bravo sucked the hope out of England's bowling and England batters did the rest. They fought valiantly hard in both the test matches to not convert any fifty into 100 or daddy ones.

The third test was a restoration of pride. Jason Holder was banned for slow over rate, which was as ridiculous decision from ICC as failing to provide a satisfactory format for the World Cup. I would have recommended banning England cricket team from the third test for their dim-witted batting in the first two tests. Anyway, moving on...

ODI series began. New faces. New England (as they choose to call themselves after the debacle of 2015 world cup) was on the island. No scars of test series defeat. Number 1 team in the world by a country mile. They haven't lost in their last 10 ODI bilateral series. They hadn't lost in an ODI match to West Indies since December 2014. "It'd be 5-0. This series is a way to test our squad depth. Bla. Bla. Bla."

Except they were hit by a familiar though deadlier hurricane named "Christopher Henry Gayle".

39 sixes in 4 games. 400+ runs with a strike rate of 130+ en route to becoming the first man, woman or any other animal in the entire solar system to hit 500 international sixes.

If you deliver full and straight, you are putting the bald headed guy sitting at mid-wicket region in the crowd in mortal danger. If you choose to instead target his rib cage, it will crash the glasses of cars parked outside the stadium. Instead, if you choose to take the pace off the ball, it may work when Gayle is starting his innings, but when he is having fun out there, you will only cause a lost ball.

4 games. 2 hundreds. 2 fifties. Hitting sixes for fun. He causes delirium in the crowd making them forget who they are cheering for and he does things which are difficult for mortals to imagine let alone try out in the middle.

England weren't bad (except in the last match, where they were in a hurry to watch the latest episode of "Game of Thrones" that they forgot to bat, bowl or field), they were just beaten by a team which is massively underrated. With the batting lineup of Gayle, Hope, Bravo, Hetmyer, Russel, Holder, Braithwaite: they have got too much dynamite to explode any bowling lineup on this blue-green planet.

England remain consistently inconsistent. They know that they have only as much chance of winning the World Cup as other 3-4 nations. Sure, they are good and they are playing at home and all that, but one brain-freeze like they had at Gros Islet, and the dream and the honeymoon will be over.

But, but, but... despite this criticising post, it doesn't change the fact that I've always loved England cricket and will continue to do so in future (Unconditionally). It matters very little to me whether they win this World Cup or not. They are and will remain my babies. And it gives me goosebumps to even imagine Eoin's team at the podium with the World Cup on July 14, 2019. I hope this dream turns into reality. 

12 years of Adelaide 2006: Remembering the most painful defeat of my life

It seems like yesterday. England 97 runs ahead after stumps at day 4 with 9 wickets in hand. On day 5, they made the most painful 70 runs ever in around 55 overs at the cost of 9 wickets. Australia played ODI cricket in rest time and chased it down with ease. Ricky deservedly was the Man of the Match. 

I will never know what happened that night after day 4. It will always remain a mystery to me. Did England players sleep on the wrong side of the bed? Did God himself intervene and give divine powers to the Aussies? Did England players forget how to play cricket overnight? Was it written in the stars? Was it fate or destiny or was it one of those freaks of nature performances? Was it bad luck or was it years of hard work and mental grittiness of the Aussies? Whatever it was, it was a symbolic representation of everything Cricket stands for. That defeat was a recognition of how hard Aussies had worked hard to regain the Ashes after the debacle of 2005 and how much prepared they were this time. 

I was 13 and was in grade 8 at that time. We didn’t have cable TV and the only source of England-Australia matches were news channels or the newspapers. After day 4, I was so sure that the game was gonna end in a draw that I didn’t bother to check the score for the whole day. Next day, I casually opened the newspaper and as usual, went to the sports section first thing. I will never forget the sinking feeling when I saw the title, “Warne-Ponting magic steal an impossible Ashes test win”. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I thought that the paper guys made a mistake. They don’t know what they are talking about. So, I took some of my savings, went to the market and bought a few other newspapers. I was so sure that they were going to show a different scoreboard. The one, in which the test ended in a draw. The innocence of 13 year-olds. Ah! it still hurts as if it happened yesterday.

Well. All the newspapers, both in Hindi and English told the same story with different words and fonts. Everyone at my home was normal. None I knew really cared about Ashes or England. I had to grieve alone. I went to school, kept thinking about it. Whole day. Then the whole week and whole month. It was hard to move on. It is like they say, “The toughest lessons of life are always learned in your formative years.” I have sobbed in anger, in pain, and in frustration thinking about that defeat. I made a few pacts to myself later. I promised myself that day that I will never be England. I will always love them, but I will never be them. I couldn’t ever bring myself to love Aussies again. My relationship with them was over on that very day. 

That defeat had a constant and ever-lasting impression on me and I was never the same person after that. I started working harder and harder since that day. I was already rank one in studies in my class, but after Adelaide 2006, I made the second rank guy a far distant second. I stopped taking anything for granted and almost become paranoid. I became extra cautious and started to be over-prepared all the time. Adelaide 2006 made me who I am and who I want to be. That defeat transformed my inner self. I had never felt so much sympathy and love for anything like I did for England that day. I questioned everything since then. The defeat happened on December 5, 2006. Freddie’s birthday (my favorite cricketer growing up) was the next day. I felt for him. After all, he was the captain of that England side that summer. I wish I could have shared his pain.

I hated the Aussies while maintaining a deep respect for the way they went about their business. I wanted to be like them while being an English cricket lover in the heart. I vividly remember my diary entry from that night. I was crying and I had depicted my pain in words like,

“Dear Nicole Kidman and Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, and Medicine

I dare you to alleviate this perpetual pain I find myself into. Just so you all know, that you are not a panacea. You can’t fix this. A part within me just died with England losing at the magical Adelaide today. That part will forever stay dead. Nothing and absolutely nothing will ever be enough to erase the memories of today. If a man were dying today and asking for my help and I happen to be there, my first question to him will be, “Hey mate! Show me your passport.” If it happens to be an Australian, I would call for help and wouldn’t help him myself. I know that is ridiculous as humanity is the biggest religion of us all, but I don’t care about that right now. 

I feel so much loathing for the entire nation today. I know that it is childish and England themselves are to blame for this, but I can’t help myself. God, please help me and ease my pain. Please, never again I want to go through something like this. Please God, comfort me.”

Note: My favorite actress growing up was Nicole Kidman (who happens to be an Australian) and my only dream in life has always been to win a Nobel prize in either of Physics, Chemistry or Medicine (besides making the fastest hundred on debut against Australia in Australia of course).

Every time something good happens in my life or I feel like I am getting ahead of myself, I watch that scorecard of Adelaide 2006 and it brings me back to earth. It is a mirror of the brutal and cold truth that in sports, anything can happen. You just never know what will you get once you cross that white line. The pitch, the bat and the ball can and will betray you. The moment you start taking things for granted, it will hit you back hard. 

I have read autobiographies of almost half of the players from both England and Australia involved in that match. Everyone said different things. Warne, Ponting, KP, Lee, McGrath, Hayden, Flintoff, Clarke: All had their own versions of that day. I am still not satisfied. The mystery in my head endures. How can England lose the unlosable? Ian Chappell said after that defeat, “The difference was in the mind.” I was thinking like, “What if the Aussies are fundamentally superior to English? What if every woman on earth choose them over the English? What if England never beat Australia ever again? What if every test match turns out to be Adelaide?” So many bad things. Such a little life. 

I have spent countless nights thinking about that defeat. It still hurts and haunts me. The wounds have just gone deeper in skin now. That defeat is a constant reminder of why sports is so pure and why victory in any sports is always morally appropriate. I still haven’t forgiven Australia for that day. I hate them, and yet I can’t stop thinking about them. It is weird. Someday, I may let it go. But, one thing is for sure that I will never forget the sinking feeling in my stomach when I saw the newspaper headline that day. It was as if I had seen a ghost. 

If I ever meet any of the England players from that match, I have only one question to ask, “What happened?"

I have celebrated every year of December 1 - 5 as a tribute to that magical match. I barely watch any cricket during that week. It is a no-cricket week for me. It is perfect. I still remember taking ice-bath in the chilling winter in Kanpur during midnight on the 10th anniversary of that match. Cricket has always been like a baby to me and it has taught me everything I know. Both about life and about numbers. Adelaide 2006 is a perfect representation of it. 

I still remember at one stage Australia needed 43 off 67 balls with Freddie bowling 5 dots in a row to Clarke. The last ball of the over was clipped towards midwicket. Clarke ran three and then Pietersen overthrow costing additional four. Seven runs in one ball! That look of exasperation on Flintoff's face was not of disappointment, but of sadness. I just wish I was there stopping that boundary. It is like the title of this article shows, "You may smile at a six, but you will cry at a seven."

For Joe Denly

The last time he played, I had just started my graduation in 2010. In between his last game and now, I had lived an entire lifetime of heartbreaks, pain, and agony. Watching England struggle is one of the most painful things I have to go through.

Imagine having to live for 3,172 days without the thing you love the most. The proud three-lions cap. Denly must have missed it. Hell, even I missed it for him. When he went out for England yesterday, my faith in perseverance and hard-work got renewed. It was a moment of euphoria for me.

When Joe came out to bat yesterday, I had tears of joy rolling down my cheek. It was Saturday night with me trying to read some science on my sofa. England was trying to find closing momentum. Stokesy was struggling on the other end going at run-a-ball. The outfield had got damp because of the rain and there was a chance that England could end up with a below par total. And amidst this, Joe was up against one of the all-time greatest T20 bowlers: Lasith Malinga. It was an enormously uphill task. Keep the wickets and try to accelerate.

Malinga was just too good for him. With the mix of slower balls and deadly toe-crushing yorkers, he was hard to get away with. He bowled 4 dot balls in a row to Joe Denly and it was painful to watch. Eventually, Joe got going in the next over with 3 boundaries. All of them were pure class. The use of feet lifting over the bowler's head followed by slash over third man and ending the over with a gorgeous midwicket on-drive. He was back! I was feeling elated and ecstatic at home.

In the next over, Malinga got rid of Denly. He made 20 before departing. It was a decent innings considering the fact that Denly opens the batting for his county, Kent and it was a very unfamiliar role in a completely different situation and that too, in the subcontinent. I was reasonably happy for him. But his best was yet to come.

Captain Morgan gave him the new ball to bowl some leg-breaks. Denly often does that for Kent.

Joe Denly was simply sensational. He got the ball to turn just enough. The ball was skidding because of dampness and he got rid of both Sri Lankan openers in his first two overs. Rashid did the rest and both leggies combined 7 wickets in their 8 overs. Denly bowled the last over and got two more wickets and ended up with 4-0-19-4. The best bowling figures in T20Is for England against Sri Lanka. England had a comprehensive win by 30 runs.

Normally, I sleep early. But this time, I stayed awake till late. Just to watch him. It was worth it. I was a little sad that the game had to end. I wanted to soak it up a bit more. It's sad that nothing lasts.

Typical Saturday for Cricket fans, huh?

Cricket will miss you, Cooky!

My emotional development from a little kid living in the suburbs of India to an adult runs very parallel to generation Alastair Cook. He is leaving International Cricket after Oval test at the end of summer, but he won't ever be gone from my mind.

I liked Alastair Cook from the first glance I had at him when he was picked at the Nagpur test in India in 2006 as a 21-year-old teenager. He shocked the world by getting a 60 and 104* against two of the best spinners of that time. Making a hundred against India in India is something so many have dreamt and died without fulfilling. Cooky did it in the first attempt after flying 10000 miles from the Caribbean coming as a last-minute replacement! I knew that he was such a special talent. The chef, my hero, and role-model-to-be.

Before I saw Alastair Cook, I hated everyone I met. I hated the rules and regulations. I wanted to be this cool guy from the Hollywood movies. I wanted to be wearing V-neck t-shirts and going to the mall, looking cool on social media and all those things cool guys do. I must admit I have never been a patient guy. Since childhood, I have always wanted to do things fast. Everything. I hate to waste time. I want things quickly. Watching and following Cook in England's shirt changed me for the better. He taught me the value of placidness, humbleness, patience, and calmness. I was never the same after I saw Cook. It was the cricketing equivalence of Buddhism. I liked him and I will always like him from everything I have. He has had a huge role to play to wherever I am today.

So many things I do in life, I can find a bit of Alastair Cook in it. He is there with me. All the time. He has such an indelible impression on me. I was always a rebellion. He was the string which compelled me to be a gentleman. He is one of the big reasons, I have always tried to polite to everybody I met since high school until now. I believed in his methods. It was him who taught me that being a gentleman is not a choice, it is a responsibility. Every time I look at him, it gives me a sense of sanity in the world. He symbolizes something far greater than the numbers in cricket. He is a living symbol that traditional methods still work. He is an epitome of hard work, perseverance, focus, commitment, and sheer will. He scored so many runs with his limited scoring options. The thing with him was: If something wasn't working out for him, he will put it to bed and try to score runs with his strengths. He gave everything he had to be the best player he could be to the best of his abilities. His grit and determination are a story worth telling to the future generations of young cricketers.

As a batsman, Alastair Cook was something who I instantly fell for. Though I have always liked aggression in sports, watching Cooky bat was a different joy altogether. It was a perfect let-out from the ennui of life. It was pure art. Easy to the eyes. A complete package of concentration, knowing where your off-stump is and using your limited scoring areas to score unlimited runs. You can keep bowling him all day and he will keep batting for hours after hours. If you think you can frustrate him into throwing his wicket away, you are dreaming. His appetite for runs was as immense as I have ever seen. He retires as England's highest run-getter by some distance. As an England opener, you play half your games with Duke balls which are the toughest to bat with. There are no night-watchmen for openers and add England's struggling mostly in cricket, he often had to bat at most uncomfortable timings possible in tests. As a person, he is easily the nicest bloke you will ever find in cricket. If you ever introduce him to someone, they will give you a high-five.

I still get nightmares remembering the Ryan Harris delivery which got Cooky a golden duck in his 100th test at WACA in 2013-14. It is one of the lowest moments of my cricketing life and it will always be. It was December 16, 2013. I use the video of that dismissal to remind myself of the unfairness and cruelty of life.

Cook announced his retirement just 2 days after my 25th birthday. September is my favorite month by some distance. September 2018 won't be, because of him leaving. Cooky leaving the scene also reminds me of how quickly time flies. It seems only yesterday when I saw a handsome kid from Essex County making runs all over the world and now today he is leaving. My own life is so much part of him playing test cricket. It was as if I felt his success and failures vicariously. He always felt so close to heart.

I just turned 25. I started watching Alastair Cook when I was 13. I loved watching test cricket since the beginnings. Watching Cooky bat in a test match was a dream come true. I remember watching his MCG special 244* in my graduate lab the whole day when I was supposed to be reading a research paper. Such was his spell over me. I couldn't focus on anything when Cooky was there on the pitch. It was his aura.

I was thinking how will I ever explain the greatness of Cooky to someone who didn't witness his mastery. How will I ever explain living an entire lifetime in those 12 years of Cooky's career? How will I explain this to my kids in the future?

I am going to tell them his debut century at Nagpur to his record-breaking Ashes 2010-11 series. From his Edgbaston grand-grand daddy to his 3 hundred to beat India in India. I will definitely tell them his 14-hour marathon 263 in UAE to mastering the pink ball under flood-lights to make 243. Whenever the kids are bored, I will play them a few videos on the internet of him driving, cutting and pulling on his way to greatness.

My cricketing life has seen so many generations. Cook remains the most influential player among all those. I want to be Alastair Cook.

Australia destroyed at Trent Bridge

Trent Bridge 2015: Australia were humiliated by bowled out on 60 and eventually losing by an innings.
Trent Bridge 2018: Australia were thrashed by a record margin of 242 runs after conceding a record 481 runs.

The only difference in both occasions was: This time the coloring of clothes wasn't white.

In sports, there is a saying: "Defeat always hurts. The intensity of the pain is directly proportional to the manner in which it is achieved".

On Trent Bridge, the intensity of pain was as high as it goes for an Aussie supporter. The only thing which went in Australia favor whole day was winning the coin toss. It was all downhill from then.

Trent Bridge has a special place in England's heart. They do better here than most grounds in the country. In last few years, they beat Australia here in 2013 and 2015. They smashed the world record back then 444-3 against Pakistan here. Yesterday again, they beat the hell out of the Aussies' hapless bowlers to reach a whopping 481. This was absolute carnage.

Sure, it was a batting pitch and Australia are playing without at least 5 of their first-choice players. Also, England are arguably at their best in their ODI cricket history. But, there have been better pitches and worse bowlers to face and England have lost an ODI game to Scotland not too far ago. Therefore, we mustn't shrug this incredible accomplishment of England cricket off. Mind you, two of the England's players: Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes who would walk into this side weren't even playing.

The whole England batting lineup was a highlight clip. On their way to destruction, they created plenty of records. On the other hand, Australia had nowhere to hide. You know you have a problem when your most economical bowler is Aaron Finch.

England are looking like a side having all bases covered. With top-order firepower from Bairstow, Roy and Hales to Middle-order solidity by Root and Stokes and finally having Morgan, Buttler and Ali for explosive finishes. I know that It will amount to little until England do it in a global tournament but the future of England cricket has never looked brighter to me. 

Yet another abysmal winter for England

Insanity is doing same thing over and over again and expecting different results. ~ Albert Einstein

England finished their winter season today. Stats from this season are woeful. Played: 7. Won: 0, Lost: 5. Four of those losses were in Ashes and one was against the kiwis today. Lost both series. England leave Hagley oval tonight with same questions as they had when they first landed in Brisbane five months ago. Being denied by New Zealand's lower order meant they are now winless away from home in a record 13 matches. They have lost 5 of them by innings. That is bad even by England's standards.

Other than boxing day test, when Cooky saved England from whitewash and the performance in Christchurch this week, there is not much to show for during this whole dreadful season. From getting bowled out to 58 to losing by innings from 368-4 at WACA, this season had every ingredient of a nightmare. Stokesy was away for the Ashes, which had a huge impact on the series result, but there was none else to blame other than himself. He needs to learn and hopefully he will.

During this winter season, the performance of pacers other than Jimmy and Broad was absolutely stinking. While Broad and Anderson averaged 29 together, rest of the others averaged a whopping 72! You don't win many games when third, fourth and fifth bowlers average in excess of 70.

The team looks horrendously unstable. I love Cooky as much as anyone else, but 80% of his runs in last 20 innings have come in just 2 innings (243 against West Indies and 244* at MCG against Australia). He averaged less than 10 in this current series, which is simply not good enough for someone having scored more than 12,000 test runs. It is creating pressure on newbies like Stoneman. England would want him to come back with oodle of runs this summer. He is the best batsman in England and he has earned his right to call his time on career, but time also seems to be closing on him quickly.

While the white ball team is on a roll and arguably the best in the world right now, the test team in general looks abysmal. Trevor Bayliss is not having any answer to their overseas test woes. In my opinion, England cricket needs a fresh red ball coach and a new beginning starting with chopping and changing the coaching staff. ECB needs to prioritize Test cricket again. By focusing more on white ball after 2015 world cup, they seem to have forgotten about test cricket completely. Nothing seems to be working. The concern now is that England's overseas problems could start to erode a healthy home record that has propped up their Test standing over the last two years.

There are some silver linings from all this though. Malan looks like the find of the season. Vince was convincing on a number of occasions, though he still averages in the 20s after 13 games, but IMO he is worth the investment. Stoneman looks like a good bet considering the form Alastair Cook is in. Mark Wood is fit and back in the team. His pace will be crucial when England visits Australia again in the future. Anderson is as breezy as ever. In fact, like an old fine wine, he is getting better and better with age. Even in the disaster of Ashes, he managed to pick 17 wickets at a respectable average of 27. Today at Hagley Oval, he also overcame Courtney Walsh to become the bowler to have bowled maximum number of deliveries by a pace bowler in tests. That is an excellent testament to his longevity in the game and his services to English cricket. Broad endured his toughest ever year in 2017, but seems to be back reasonably well as his performances in New Zealand show. Jonny Bairstow has become arguably their most reliable batsman.

On the downside, Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes were disappointing. Woakes averages 61 with the ball overseas, which is ridiculously bad. Ali neither seems to be getting runs, nor pick up crucial wickets, which made him useful in the first place. Root has had 7 fifties this season and yet he failed to convert a single one of them into a hundred. Vince promises so much, yet he delivers so little. Mark Stoneman got a couple of starts in Ashes and looked good on a number of times. Even in this series he got two fifties, but time seems to be running out for him as well. Neither Stoneman nor Vince has nailed down their spots, though ECB is likely to stick with them for a while. They have experimented with Leach, Crane, Curran etc. but none of them have been very impressive. It will be interesting to see their starting XI in the coming summer.

There is just so much chaos that I can't possibly say. Serious changes are needed, otherwise touring teams next summer are going to give them a really hard time. I will watch from the sidelines as usual and wish them luck as always.

The gloom of WACA

It is done and dusted. Before Christmas. Yet again. England endured once again one of those WACA tests. They have been losing on this ground since Dinosaurs used to roam around the earth. They have only ever won one Test in the western Australian outpost back in 1978 and last avoided defeat there in 1986. This is abysmal even by England's poor standards.

In many ways, the WACA always brings out my worst memories. I will describe only two recent ones:
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                          Ashes 2013-14 WACA test (13-17 December 2013)

In Ashes 2013-14, when Cooky got a first ball jaffa by Ryan Harris (it was 16th December 2013), my heart sulked and I wanted to be dead.

WACA test in 2013 made me an atheist. The moment when England's second innings began, I had never felt as excited as that before in my life. Cooky was my favorite test cricketer back then. He was playing his 100th test match and captaining England who was 2-0 down and the only hope of retaining the Ashes was to save the game by batting out 5 sessions. Cooky had never got a golden duck in tests before. He was the highest scorer in England's first innings(He got 72). It was GAME ON.

Ryan Harris starts with the first ball. There was a huge crack in the good length area at the WACA. Cooky was on strike. Harris (known as Rhino among his team-mates) starts running. The whole of Australia and the whole world was watching. Harris picks up the pace in the background clapping noise of the WACA. He goes past the umpire, his biceps brushing his ears and he delivers the ball. Then this happened:

"Did it hit the seam? Did it hit a crack? Did it swing after pitching? Whatever it did, the opening delivery Harris conjured for Alastair Cook in the second innings of the WACA Test was truly a collector's item. this was an offering of symbolic value far beyond the fact of its taking a most important wicket in an extraordinary way. It summed up how hard Australia had worked to give themselves a chance in the series, and how wondrously all that work paid off, with a little serendipity thrown in. For the rest of his life, Harris is entitled to dine out on this ball, just as Cook is entitled to have nightmares about it."

Harris ran so hard after the wicket as if he was about to take off to the moon. None was catching him. The crowd and commentators were exuberant. All I could hear was them saying, "Oh! STRAIGHT-AWAY" after I had heard the clinking of stumps. Cooky didn't even look back and just looked at the large screen. He was on his way back. Walk of shame. Here he was. Captain of the side who had to lead from the front to give England a chance of saving the Ashes. And he was gone for a first-baller. Life can be indeed cruel.

For me, it didn't stop there. I could almost hear my heart-beat beating so fast. I thought that I will get a heart-attack. I just put my head in pillow. I put the television on "Mute" and just started chanting, "it's just a game. it's just a game. it's just a game." like a madman. A part within me just died that moment. I had never hated everything on earth so badly. All I could do was utter the swear words for Australians in a non-stop manner. I was abusing and cursing God himself. How could he do that? Why did he do that? Why would he do that to me? Was it part of some grand plan made by him? Was Cooky's getting out related to some greater good of the universe? Will Cooky get more peace in after-life because of that golden duck? Then I couldn't keep it together and I just said, "Screw God. God doesn't exist. God shouldn't exist. And even if he does and he let this happen, I am done with him." I never felt so dejected in my life than that moment. The expectation was enormous. Ah! Expectations. They are the source of all the pain.

Australia regained the urn at WACA on December 17, 2013, after enduring 3 successive Ashes losses.

The only silver lining from that WACA test was: Ben Stokes made a brilliant test hundred before England lost. So, at least WACA did manage to give us an English Hero in the form of "Ben Stokes" who arguably is the most valuable player in the world right now. I will take that.
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                  Ashes 2017-18 WACA test (14-18 December 2017)

There was so much build-up to this match. England was as usual 2-nil down in the series. The good part was that they were the previous Ashes winners, so that meant that they only had to avoid defeat here to maintain a chance of retaining the urn. England had played well at Gabba and in the day-night test at Adelaide but just were unable to win key moments. Australia was not as good as everyone thought they would be. They just managed to hang on for a longer period and they looked like a team on the downhill in second innings in Adelaide. I had a genuine belief in my heart that England was only one session away from breaking Australian resistance.

I didn't want to feel like I did in 2013 WACA test. So, I made a pact with myself. I won't follow the ball-by-ball commentary or live action for this test match. Just an occasional fling at twitter or cricinfo. I won't watch the WACA test as it had brought so much trauma in 2006, 2010 and 2013. This was a place comparable to hell itself for me. Life seemed to be at its lowest point. Aussies used to murder the opposition at WACA. No matter how much they were struggling previously, at WACA Aussies used to bend the laws of nature itself to crush anyone who came in their way.

Because of my pact, I missed out a dream-filled day from England on day 1. England was 305-4 with David Malan making a scintillating hundred. Every time I watched the score I imagined him playing the shots against Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins, and Lyon. It appeased me. I really thought that this was the day England were going to turn it around. I envisioned a scoreline of England winning the Ashes 3-2. No team had won the Ashes from being 2-nil down in the last 90 years. So I thought that it was probably due anyway. Nature will conspire to make it happen. You know, nature just doesn't like anomaly like "never happened in 90 years". Bring on day 2!

It was day 2 when the hopes started to fade away. Though I was so happy for Jonny making his first Ashes ton, From a position of 368-4, England did what they always do. Explode. Hand over the advantage on a silver platter to Australia.

They got all out on 403 and hence lost a massive chance of batting Australia out of the match. Last 6 wickets adding a dreadful 35 runs. The score was undoubtedly competitive, but it was nowhere near safe. The pitch was dry, no sideways moment and England's quicks, though skillful, are medium pace at best. Australia ended the day 200 runs behind with seven wickets in hand. Smith on batting on 92.

All I could think that night was how England was going to get early morning breakthroughs and gain a handy lead of 50-60 runs which could be decisive on widening cracks of WACA. I was thinking how Steve Smith will be so alone in fighting it out with only Shaun Marsh as recognized batsman left. Next man in was Mitchell Marsh, who I have always thought as the worst test all-rounder to have ever played for Australia. I often used to joke with my brother about how Mitch Marsh was a waste of plane ticket and Australia could better use that ticket to send someone else, not necessarily a player who could at least bring something to the table.

Next day was December 16, 2017. The nemesis itself. Smith will bat out the whole day for Australia. The hope of regaining the Ashes will be sucked out after 16th December.

On this day, my worst fears came true. I promised myself that I won't watch the scoreboard for the whole day. I will keep myself busy with research work while silently wishing for England to do well. It was a tacit agreement between me and England. I won't watch the score and they will deliver me the good news at stumps.

I fulfilled my promise. England, not so much.

On this day, Australia plummeted England into the ground by hammering 346 runs for the loss of just one wicket. Steve Smith made his highest test score and Mitchell Marsh got his maiden test hundred (that too a daddy one). I felt as if Mitchell Marsh was laughing and cursing at me. I saw the highlights. He was so excited and celebrated so hard on getting his hundred. He totally shut me up. I was speechless. Though I was dejected at England losing their way, I felt strangely peaceful. There was a serene beauty in knowing that you tried your best, it just wasn't meant to be. It was the victory of mastery over fate. In some corner of my wretched heart, I felt happy for that bastard. I let it go. All my anger vanished. Breathe. just breathe. Let it go.

I have been an English cricket fan for as long as I have watched cricket. And because of that Australia remain the ultimate cricketing enemy to me. I have always wanted them to lose against England no matter what. But, I have always secretly admired the way they go on about their business. Always taking the game forward. "You can win from anywhere", Shane Warne used to say. The sheer ruthlessness and dominance of Oz have always inspired me. I wanted England to be like them. Brutally annihilating the opposition. Historically, England has always been soft. They have never been ruthless. They are just happy to scrap for a series win. Once they win a series, they let it slip away. They never go for the kill. They will get happy with a scoreline of 3-2 as long as they are on top. I have always hated that. I wanted England to be wild hunters. I wanted England to be those whack-job guys you meet, who after being punched in the face will spit blood and a few teeth and will tell you to fucken try harder. I wanted them to be bloody aggressive. Not mushy and weak. There was always a beauty in which Australians played cricket. The way they used to beat the shit out of everyone was spectacular. You will almost feel the happiness being sucked out of you. You will even secretly enjoy it. That was their aura.

Anyway, Long story short. Australia, after 16th December 2017 ended, were in such a position from where they couldn't lose the test match. It was either England's loss or with extreme weather interruption a stalemate of a draw.  Next day wasn't so bad. England managed to stop Steve Smith from getting a triple ton and Mitchell Marsh from a double. It was hard to even believe that they managed to take 5 Australian wickets within a few hours of play. The lead was sizeable already. But with rain and using the bat effectively, it could be saved.

Rain did its part. England players not so much. James Vince received the alleged ball of the 21st century. That missile from Mitchell Starc's hand pitched on middle stump line at 90 miles an hour, hit one of the WACA cracks and instead of going to pads of James Vince, changed direction as if it was being controlled by Starc telepathically. It deviated dramatically and disturbed the off-stump. It was the most spectacular ball I had ever seen. It was UNPLAYABLE. I couldn't imagine anyone avoiding at least a leg before to that ball. James Vince was befuddled. His face was someone like a boy who can't find his parents on a crowded airport. He had no idea what the hell just happened. Starc celebrated as hard as he could. England was fighting like a cornered cucumber.

Last day was a formality. Even with the rain, England couldn't save it. It was all over. Hazlewood spared them the pain. It was almost as if he was consoling them, "It's okay. Travel safe. It's not the end of the world". Aussies had regained the urn on December 18, 2017. The Christmas was still a week away and the Ashes was back where it belongs for now. England was not disappointed. They were just sad. They knew that they were beaten by a team who were genuinely better than them.

To me, the gloom and horror of WACA continued. The only silver lining for me in this entire episode was, "At least it was WACA farewell match." No more agony. Next matches in western Australia will happen in the newly built stadium. I can only hope that the ghost of WACA doesn't know the way there.

Ashes 2017-18 preview: The battle is ON

Finally, the most awaited sporting event in test cricket is here. England and Australia going for the prized possession of Ashes. The greatest test series between two cricketing nations.

Last time England were in Australia: (2013-14) Relief. That was the state of mind of England players last time when they visited Australia and lose inside 3 days at SCG completing the whitewash. Second whitewash in three visits to the country.  But, the times have changed. This is no longer the Australia, which played in 2013-14. Apart from a few players, most of them haven't even played in an Ashes test. Australia won 5-0. I think 2013 ashes was a very good indication of what was to follow. England managed to hang on by winning 3-0 there, but later that year, Australia completely destroyed England in their home. Both Johnson and Harris were like hounds looking for a sniff to get English batsmen out. England couldn't catch a break. Losing inside Sydney inside 3 days was almost a relief for them. This series also ended some great England players to have ever played the game. Kevin Pietersen was sacked, Graeme Swann was forced to retire. Jonathan Trott flew back home after the first test. He only played 3 tests after that. The scars left on England's players were just too much. Johnson ended up with 37 wickets in 5 games.

Second last time England were in Australia: (2010-11) England won 3-1 (all 3 wins were by an innings) First time in history, Australia lost more than 1 test by an innings in one home season. This was the Ashes which redefined England completely. They broke Australia apart. On a ground, which is said to be the cauldron for visitors, England were 517/1. Cook averaged 127, while Trott averaged 89 in this Ashes. KP masterpiece of 227 gave them Adelaide test match. Rest was formality. Australia were thrashed on their home soil by England for first time in 28 years. The only sole victory came when Johnson ran through England at WACA. When next time England visited this country, he will murder them. 

Third last time England were in Australia: (2006-07) Australia won 5-0. England captain: Andrew Flintoff. Australian Captain: Ricky Ponting. Other than one game at Adelaide oval, which was a horror loss for England, rest of them were straightforward hammerings. This series brought upon the retirements of some great players like Justin Langer, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath etc. England were simply not good enough. Australia were buzzing with skilled players and England simply had no answer to them.

Last time Australia played England (It was in England): Ashes 2015: England won 3-2. Redemption to Cook after 599 days. He found himself again. This was a series of swinging pendulum. No team seemed to seize the momentum. In first test at Cardiff, Brad Haddin dropped Root and Root made them pay by a brilliant hundred. England went 1-0 up. Then, at Lords at flat deck, England were hammered by Smith. Third and fourth tests England won inside three days by a series of 6-fors by Finn, Stokes, Anderson and Broad's dream spell of 15-8. England did to Australia what Australia had done to England 18 months ago. This series brought an end to some illustrious career of Australian players. Brad Haddin, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke, Chris Rogers all took a call on their test careers.

Ashes 2013 (In England) England won 3-0. The series was actually closer than the scoreline suggested. Cracks were beginning to form in England team. They managed to hang onto the crucial moments. Australia were rubbish in Trent bridge when debutant Agar saving them from humiliation. At Lords, they were abysmal. Then, they played some good cricket before being annihilated by Stuart Broad's magic at Chester-le-street. At oval, bad light resulted in a draw when England needed 17 off 4 overs. All in all, England were way ahead of Australia.

Ashes 2009 (In England) England won 2-1. England managed to hang onto a draw by 10th wicket partnership between Panesar and Anderson. Then, defeated Australia at Lords after 75 years. Freddie became Jesus and then lastly at Oval, Broad blew them apart while England unearthed another talented batsman in Jonathan Trott who notched up a ton on debut.

Ashes 2005 (In England) England won 2-1. England captain: Michael Vaughan leading England to victory after 19 years of humiliation. Last time England won the Ashes was in 1986-87. Australian captain: Ricky Ponting. His first Ashes loss against England. He will go on to lose two more. England got a few superstars in the form of Kevin Pietersen. Andrew Flintoff finally broke the drought of Ashes for England.

Statistics: Last 6 Ashes. England won 4 (all 3 at home, 1 away from home) Overall: Australia and England have won 32 series each and five series have been drawn.

Now, here we are. Near Ashes 2017-18. Verbal battles never cease to stop before Ashes. Warner has called it a "war" and would like to create "hatred" for England players in his mind. Hayden has called England "a rabble". Nathan Lyon has stated that "Matt Prior was scared to face Australia and wanted to return home in 2013-14 series". Handscomb has said that "He would like to hear chirps from barmy army". Cummins has said that "they would like to inflict the same pain like they did in 2013-14". Warney has given the advantage to "England". McGrath as usual must be chanting "5-0" somewhere.

Everyone is busy making predictions. KP says that Australia will win, though closely. Bell, Vaughan, Swann and a lot others have other ideas that England are going to pull this off.

England team selection: Ben Stokes is a huge miss. Lower middle order of England is arguably the best in the world. Top order, though immensely fragile seems to be finding form in the warmups. Cook: The best opener in test cricket right now. Root is the best batter in England. Bairstow has come up of age. Ali is the trump card. Woakes is perfect number 8. Anderson and Broad are the current best opening ball pair. Mark Stoneman has passed score of 50 in each outing on this tour. Malan has got a hundred in warmup too. James Vince remains a work in progress. England are a strong force by all means and I would certainly expect them to fight till the end.

Australian team selection has been a bit bizarre. Tim Paine has been given the nod ahead of Matthew Wade. Last time he made a first class century was in 2006. To put that in perspective, Darren Lehmann, the australian coach last made a first class hundred in 2007. That speaks volumes of the confusion Australia are going through. Other than Starc, Hazlewood, and Cummins, the bench strength of Australian bowling seems very ordinary. Lyon has brought pressure upon himself by constant blabbering. Handscomb, Bancroft, Marsh remain unproved in highly intensed Ashes matches. If Smith and Warner fail, they may fail to win a single test match. Player by player comparison, England stand out over Australia, though home advantage is something which plays heavy roles in such series.

My gut says England are going to win Ashes 2017-18. Prediction: England winning 3-1.

England's guide to winning this Ashes

England's Guide to Winning this Ashes

The rise of Moeen Ali and England's triumph

Old Trafford: There were so many things about this test match which caught so much attention. James Anderson bowling from James Anderson end, Pressure on South Africa to protect the streak of not losing a series in England since 1998, Faf under pressure to not lose his first test series as captain, Pressure on Root to start well in his first test series as captain, So many careers of newbies like Jennings, Malan, Kuhn, De Bruyn etc. on line and so on. There were so many speculations going on over the combination.

All the matches played in this series were quite similar in a lot of way. Team winning the toss (England on 3 occasions, South Africa on 1) chose to bat first, put a respectable total, gain a reasonable lead and then winning comprehensively defending in fourth innings. Despite the role played by toss, I firmly believe England were more consistent after a long time with bat and ball and always stayed ahead in 3 out of 4 games in this series. South Africa missed the services of AB, Steyn and Philander (in the last test) badly. Better team won at the end.

South Africa have a lot to think about their combinations. With AB almost certain to call it a day on red-ball career, they need to groom someone for number 4. Bavuma has been solid, but he is fragile as well. He gets starts and then throws it away. De Kock batting position has been very fickle and he needs to be given a healthy go at a fixed position. I would want him to bat at number 7. He can do a lot of damage coming down the order and taking the attacks apart. Hashim Amla's power seems to be on the wane, still he is the best they have at this moment. Faf just had a bad series. Elgar has been the biggest positive in last 3 years for South Africa. With just a little tweak here and there, there is no reason why they can't be a good test team.
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Let's talk about Moeen Ali. A person who believes in Cricket, faith and family. I can't imagine anyone who doesn't like him. Hating him is like hating nature, rainbows, sunny day in winter and cricket itself. He comes from a poor background in Birmingham and is a perfect example of how talent trumps every adversity thrown in the way. He is an epitome of humility and gentleness. England have found a gem in Moeen the test cricketer.

Moeen Ali is not very talkative. He is a silent achiever. He is humble and as honest a cricketer as you will ever find. He has picked up a test hat-trick. He picked up so many vital wickets in this series. He slams innings like 87 and 75* when England desperately needed it.  Moeen Ali is the only one to achieve 250+ runs and 25 or more wickets in a four-Test series. Since his debut, Moeen Ali has won 5 Man of the Match awards for Moeen Ali in Tests - the joint most for England, alongside Joe Root, in this period. Only Steve Smith has higher (6).

Statistics don't always tell the full story, of course. Moeen Ali and Ben Stokes give England enviable depth in the middle order. Combine that with the superb form of Johnny Bairstow and they have the best lower middle order in the world. Moeen Ali has been a catalyst in the making of this England side.

Moeen Ali's rise has been enormous. From a bowler who used to succeed because batsmen wanted to annihilate him, he has come such a long way. He has taken so many top-order wickets that it is fair to call him a proper bowler. He is not like other off-spinners. He bowls quick and gets drift and the ball skids through. It has been one of the reasons he has been so successful in English conditions. He picked up 18 wickets against India in 2014 who are adept at spin. He has made a double of 2000 runs and 100 wickets faster than Sir Botham, Hadlee, Kapil, Sobers, Kallis, Imran Khan. He is a bloody good cricketer.

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Final Words: It was surreal to watch James Anderson bowling from his own end. Marcus Trescothick has an end named after him in Somerset, but there is a big difference between hitting sixes to your end and picking up wickets from your end. Jimmy had a great test match by picking 7 crucial wickets. He seems to be certain to make the Ashes trip this summer and reach the summit of 500 test wickets against West Indies in the coming series. He still has a lot to offer to this English side.

England still have a lot of questions to answer. Who will replace Jennings and Malan? Should Dawson be given another go? How good will Toby Roland-Jones be in Australia? What is the ideal spot for Johnny Bairstow to bat? There are 3 holes in top 5 which needs to be rectified before Ashes in this summer.

This series win will boost their confidence and hopefully they find all their answers in due time.

England: Consistently inconsistent

Finally, the humiliation is over. If you are an England fan, you will be relieved that the game didn't go to fifth day. It was almost comforting. The whole batting looked like a comedy show. Dean Elgar said last night that Proteas didn't want an easy win. Maybe England heard them. As if they were so desperate to prove him wrong, they didn't show any fight at all. Total surrender. Complete submission.

England have been amazing in terms of inconsistency for the last two years in test cricket. Since 2015, this is the 8th occasion on which they have lost a test match in the very next match after pulling off a victory. They have now lost 6 of their last 8 test matches. In this match, their combined two innings spanned for 96.1 overs, while South Africa's first innings stretched for 96.2 overs. You don't win many games by batting for less than 100 overs. They didn't last 2 sessions in second innings. Everyone talks about how much talent is there in this England's side. It annoys me a lot. Brutal fact: They don't deliver when it matters.

Their team selection is comical. Let me highlight more over this.

According to coach Trevor Bayliss, Moeen is England's 2nd best and Dawson is the best spinner in the country. (I doubt even Dawson's mum will agree with that). Moeen has picked 14 wickets and won Lord's test for his country. Dawson got a pair there. Dawson doesn't look threatening with ball, that is totally fine. He was picked over Rashid as he is miserly in giving away runs. The problem is : In both the tests, he gave away too many vital runs. His batting was bonus, which ran out of luck against world class Proteas attack. (He got 66* on debut against India, which led to his preference over Crane and Rashid). Sometimes, I wonder what would a team with 11 Dawsons look like (Imagine the 12th man is Dawson too). What in almighty God's name they are gonna do? Can't bowl. Can't bat. Fields at innocuous positions. By his reaction on the field, it seems as if even he has no idea why he is getting picked.

Coming to Gary Ballance. He has no idea what he is doing in the middle of a ground with a wooden thing in his hand. There is no doubt that he earned his England recall by scoring oodle of runs in county championship. (For the record, he was averaging almost 100 when he got picked). But, on international arena, he is just so clueless. His technique continues to betray him. He doesn't know whether to go forward or on back-foot. He was standing almost pacific ocean deep in his crease even when Vernon was pitching the ball so full. By the time he makes a decision, a whole parliament session is over. His weak craftsmanship against full balls were exposed dangerously in 2015 Ashes by Australian pair of Mitchells. He has already been dropped twice for his poor technique, I doubt there will be any way back for him to live this dream once another sack happens. He needs to pull up his socks and if he is lucky enough to be included for Oval test, that will be probably his last chance. He needs some vital runs if he wants a ticket for Brisbane later this year.

Opening pair: I can write a whole romantic novel over Cooky's long search for true love in the form of opening partner. Ever since Strauss retired, England have tried 11 openers (if my memory serves me right in this old age). Still everyone comes, hangs out for a while and then Cook is left frustrated. It is not that the openers England have tried have not been given long runs. Just the mere fact that the gap between County championship and international cricket is proving out to be too much to adjust. I liked young Hameed. It just disappoints me so much that he got injured when he was in sublime touch against India. This county season, his form has been abysmal. I really adored Keaton Jennings. From Durham. Good mates with Woody, Stokes and Collingwood speaks highly of him. His father has been an amazing influence over his cricket. He looks good when he bats. Getting a ton in your first game on Indian soil is something not many players achieve. Sadly, even he is turning out to be just another heartache. It is not that he has played very badly in this series. But, he seems to be getting too many unplayable balls, which indicates that he is not international quality yet.

Mark wood is proving out to be too one-dimensional. In white ball cricket, he is the go-to bowler for Eoin Morgan. He can run, bowl fast and reverse swing the old ball. A perfect weapon for any captain. But, I doubt he is yet ready for the rigors of test cricket. He last played a test in 2015 and has never played two tests back to back. He is averaging 197 in this series. One wicket in two games. That wicket too of JP Duminy. It is simply not good enough. Perhaps it was a mistake to include him for Trent Bridge. Maybe Toby Roland Jones should have been given his debut here. Well. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, isn't it? Everything looks so clear when we look at things in retrospect. Ah!

Another issue which is hampering their progress is : There are just too many all-rounders in this England team. Once Woakes returns, there will be 8 players in this line-up who can ball and 10 players who have got a first class hundred. It is certainly nice to have this cushion of skill in your team, but right now it is backfiring for England. Moeen doesn't know what his role is. He was not given the ball till first 45 overs in first innings and later he was the one who picked 4 wickets in second innings. Either he is doing too much, or nothing at all. Stokes: normally a helluva cricketer when on song. This series, he has not done justice either with bat or ball. He is bowling too many release balls at the moment. Bairstow, Root, Cook, Anderson and Broad have looked good, but haven't found much support from others.

This defeat won't be hard for any England's cricket fan to swallow. After all, they have been doing this for a while now. They are getting used to this. Anyway, tomorrow we have England and South Africa ODI game in Women's world cup. I can only expect that Knight's team haven't watched the highlights of this game and put on a better show.

Well. Enough already. Like it is: With England cricket, happiness is a rare episode in the general drama of pain. Let us await what unfolds in Oval.

Shine Joe Shine

Joe Root on 99. He gets a full ball on leg stump from Maharaj. If you are playing at Lords, you are generally so desperate to get a 100. You will either flick through your pads near square leg and sprint a single. Joe Root chose to paddle sweep it to fine leg for a 3. Here it was! The helmet comes off. Punch in the air. Moeen Ali hugs him and congratulates him. The whole atmosphere is electric. The applause doesn't stop for almost forever. Everyone is at their feet giving standing ovation. His father, grandfather and son all are there to watch. All 4 generations of Roots on the same ground at the same time to cherish the most beautiful moment in their family history.

This is what dreams are made of. First test as captain at Mecca of Cricket. Getting your name at the honors board. Leading the team to position of fortitude. Converting the hundred into a daddy one. Leading from the front. That's Joe Root for you. Root de Force.

Just before this match, I saw his interview at Lords. He spoke about his nervousness and the immense pressure the job brings with it. The constant scrutiny is just the nature of this beast. He got a cold and sore throat just before the match began. It looked like bad omen. At 76 for 4 at Lunch, the situation looked perilous. England were in usual mess again.

But, Root found a way to overcome it. He didn't only put England out of trouble, but he put them in a commanding position. He, along with Moeen plummeted 175 runs in the final session to give South Africa a bad night's sleep. At the end of day 1, he was unbeaten on 184. It was magical and surreal.
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Joe Root on 149. He comes down the pitch. Maharaj is bowling from Nursery end. He gets a sharp turn and beats the outside edge. De Kock does the rest. It is all over. Root gets a handshake from Philander. But, wait a minute. They are checking the front foot. No. It can't be. Not a spinner. No kidding. He had overstepped. God was watching and enjoying Root's innings equally well as 29,000 spectators at the ground.

Next ball, he pushes to sweeper cover to reach 150. Applause begins. It doesn't fade for the rest of the day.

In many ways, this was a day destined to happen. It was inevitable. All other 3 members of Fab-4 of this generation (Virat Kohli, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson) are already the captains of their countries. Kohli and Smith got hundreds in their first test as captain, while Kane got 91. It was almost as if Joe was due to get a ton at the ground he relishes batting so much. He is now also the fastest to reach 1000 runs at Lords(17 innings) surpassing Strauss (19 innings). He is sixth England captain to get a 100 in his first test. (Previous all 3 captains Strauss, KP, Cook had done it)

He is undoubtedly the best batsman England have ever produced. I remember his debut against India in Nagpur where he scored 73 and 20*. I had a special feeling about him. He looked like a school boy ready to take on the world. Little did I notice that he will go on to become this good. He has an insatiable hunger to improve. He is one of few players who play all formats for England. He has all the shots in the book, can play any situation.

This hundred will definitely settle him into this new England captain role. Admittedly, it was riding on a lot of luck. 2 dropped chances and once out off a no-ball, but like they say, "fortune favors the brave". Root made sure that he made most of it. He was aggressive throughout the day and in the evening session at one stage he had scored 94 off 83 balls in 150 runs partnership with Moeen. He wasn't ready to slow down to savor the moment. He was there to put South Africa out of the match. There is a lot of work to be done, but it is nice start for sure.

The butterflies in the stomach are gone. The monkey is off the back. Highest score in first innings as England skipper. Captain Root sets a new marker for England. Shine Joe, Shine.