Friday, July 03
At Headingley, England capitalized on India's batting collapse and fielding errors to dominate Day 2. Despite a strong start by India, England's bowlers triggered a collapse, limiting India's score. Jasprit Bumrah bowled with intensity, but dropped catches and lack of support from the other end allowed England to build a strong reply, leaving the hosts in a more advantageous position.
Pakistan hockey team advanced to the FIH Nations Cup final after defeating France, but captain Ammad Butt's controversial social media post referencing Rafale jets sparked online debate, overshadowing the victory. Meanwhile, India's hockey team faced another setback, losing to Belgium in the FIH Pro League, extending their losing streak and jeopardising their World Cup qualification hopes.
Rishabh Pant, known for his calm demeanor, displayed rare frustration during the Headingley Test when an umpire denied his request to change the ball. Despite the incident, Pant's batting prowess shone as he surpassed Rohit Sharma to become India's leading six-hitter in the World Test Championship.
Rishabh Pant marked his Test century at Headingley with a memorable somersault, revealing he had other celebrations in mind. His explosive century off 146 balls, including 4 sixes, powered India past 400, aided by a 209-run partnership with Shubman Gill. Pant's return from injury has been remarkable, highlighted by this viral celebration.
Ravi Shastri has declared Jasprit Bumrah as India's best-ever fast bowler, even surpassing Kapil Dev, highlighting his ability to dismantle any opposition across formats. Shastri compared Bumrah's skill in reading batsmen to that of Malcolm Marshall, noting his improved swing with the new ball.
India and England cricketers honored David 'Syd' Lawrence, the former England fast bowler, with black armbands. A moment of applause was observed before the start of play at Headingley. Lawrence, who passed away at 61, was remembered for his contributions to cricket. He was the first British-born Black player to represent England.
