Sanjeev Kumar

Birmingham:ReturningcaptainJoeRootbelievesEnglandhavesuccessfullysteadiedtheshipfollowingaturbulentsummer,cappingoffacompleteturnaroundwitha3-0TestseriessweepoverPakistan. TakingbackthecaptaincyinJuneafterBenStokes’suddeninternationalretirement,Root-alongsideinterimheadcoachMarcusTrescothick-guidedEnglandtothreedecisivevictoriesatHeadingley,Lord’s,andEdgbaston.TheclinicalperformancesofferstabilityjustasincomingheadcoachStephenFlemingpreparestotakeoverred-balldutiesfromBrendonMcCullum. Reflectingontheteam’srecoveryafterscoringanunbeaten62inSaturday’seight-wicketvictory,Rootacknowledgedtheoff-fielddisruptionthatprecededtheseries. “There’sbeenalotofchaosaroundthisseriesbeforeaballwasbowled,”theskippersaidafterhittinganunbeaten62inSaturday’seight-wicketwinatEdgbaston. “Ithinkthewaywe’vehandleditonandoffthefield,thewayeveryoneunderstandswhatisexpectedofthem,bothasaplayerandhowwewanttocarryourselves,isareallygoodthing. “It’sbeenaveryunusualsummer,hasn’tit?There’sbeenalotofdifferentthingshappen.Wehadaresignationmid-series,therehasbeenafewoff-fieldincidentsandwe’vegotanewcoach. “Whetheryoucallitchaos,whetheryoucallitunusual,whetheryoucallitunsettling,allofthosearefair. “Butultimately,thethingthatIcareaboutandthemostimportantthingiswhathappensfromthat.Ithinkthewaythatwe’verespondedtothathasbeenexcellent.” ThesummerhadthreatenedtoderailafterStokesannouncedhisdeparturemid-waythrougha2-1serieslosstoNewZealand-aseriesmarkedbydisciplinaryactionsinvolvinganightclubvisitwithGusAtkinson.ThefalloutledtoMcCullumlosinghisred-ballmandate.ScrutinymountedfurtheraheadofthesecondTestagainstPakistanwhenbowlerBrydonCarsewasremovedfromthesquadfollowinganincidentoutsideanightclub. Addressingthebroaderpushtorestorestandardswithinthesquad,Rootemphasisedthatrebuildingtrustandteamdisciplineremainsanongoingeffort. “Whenyou’retryingtobuildacultureitdoesn’thappenovernightanditdoesn’thappenoverthecourseofthreeorfourweeks,”saidtheYorkshireman. “It’sgoingtotaketimetokeepworkingatthat,livingitdayinanddayout,andthat’ssomethingwe’llcontinuetokeepworkingat.We’vemadesomereallygoodstridesintherightdirection.”

American Christian Harrison and British partner Neal Skupski secured their maiden US Open men’s doubles title by defeating German sixth seeds Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz 6-4, 7-6(6) at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday. The fifth-seeded pair, who also won the Australian Open earlier in 2026, navigated the US Open draw without losing a set … Read more

Elena Rybakina delivered a devastating display to dethrone two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka with a 6-4 5-7 6-2 win in the U.S. Open final on Saturday, earning a third Grand Slam crown to accompany her ascent to world number one. The Russian-born Kazakh’s icy composure on the grand stage helped her snap Sabalenka’s 20-match winning … Read more

Aryna Sabalenka smashed a racquet and then binned it in the locker room after losing the US Open women’s singles final to Elena Rybakina in New York. It was an understandable release of emotion from the Belarusian. Over the course of the final Grand Slam of the year, Sabalenka also lost her spot as world … Read more

England’s summer comes to an end with a convincing 3-0 Test whitewash of Pakistan at Edgbaston on Saturday. It’s been a shambolic summer to all intents and purposes. Ben Stokes retired in the middle of the series against New Zealand, which England eventually lost 2-1. Brendon McCullum was sacked from the Test head coach role. … Read more

Aryna Sabalenka has faced criticism from tennis fans after comments about Elena Rybakina taking over the world No.1 ranking following her heartbreaking US Open final defeat. Sabalenka lost 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 to Rybakina at Arthur Ashe Stadium, with the result ending her 99-week reign at the top of the WTA rankings. Sabalenka had entered the … Read more