TOP STORIES
Harry Brook blames smog behind England’s struggle against India’s spin in Kolkata

England's batting unit found itself in a spot of bother during the first T20I of their five-match series against India at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday, as they suffered a crushing seven-wicket defeat. England, who were put in to bat first, could only muster 132 runs on a challenging surface, with Indian spinners making good use of the conditions.
England vice-captain Harry Brook attributed England's struggle, particularly against spin, to the the thick smog lingering over the ground. Brook only managed to gather 17 off 14 before being claimed by Indian spinner Varun Chakaravarthy. Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel returned with three and two wickets respectively as they were the force behind England’s demolition.
"I didn't face Bishnoi but Chakravarthy is an exceptionally good bowler. He's tough to pick. I think actually with the smog the other night, it was a lot harder to pick as well. Hopefully, the air is a bit clearer here and we can see the ball a bit easier,” Harry Brook said during the pre-match press conference.
"He's an exceptional bowler and has got a lot of skills with extreme accuracy as well. Their spinners are their key threat, so we will look to put pressure on them, take them down, put as much pressure as we can on them, and hopefully they crumble from there."
With four games remaining, there’s still ample opportunity for England to turn things around. The second T20I is scheduled to be held on Saturday in Chennai.
Tags
More News

“We have the squad that is ready to take on the world for the next eight years”: Virat Kohli
Indian star Virat Kohli has made a bold statement regarding the future of Indian cricket. After contributing heavily to India’s thrilling victory in the ICC Champions Trophy, Kohli expressed confidence that the current Indian squad is well-equipped to compete at the highest level for the next eight years.
"It's been amazing. We wa...

Harry Brook pulls out of IPL for 2nd year in a row
England batter Harry Brook has pulled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL). This is the second time in a row that Brook has withdrawn from the IPL. Brook’s latest decision could result in a two-year ban from the tournament. During the auction in November, Brook was acquired by Delhi Capitals for a whopping sum of INR 6....

“I’m not going to retire from ODIs”: Rohit Sharma
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has officially confirmed that he is not retiring from ODI cricket. Having led India to the Champions Trophy title win, Rohit clarified that he does not have any immediate plans to step away from the 50-over format. India beat New Zealand in final on Sunday in Dubai to win the Champions Trophy title, ending their 12-year ODI title dro...

India win the Champions Trophy, clinch a momentous win over New Zealand in final
India pulled off one of the greatest chases to beat New Zealand by four wickets in the Champions Trophy final on Sunday in Dubai. Indian skipper Rohit Sharma produced a trademark innings with a breathtaking 76-run knock off 83 to lay the foundation for India’s excellent victory. Amid a vast sea of blue, India stunned the kiwis to cla...

Daryl Mitchell, Bracewell drag New Zealand to 251
Riding on the half-centuries from Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell, New Zealand piled up a total of 251 in the champions Trophy final against India on Sunday in Dubai.
Indian spinners, meanwhile, put on a tremendous show, keeping New Zealand batters in check. Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy claimed two wickets each, limiting New Zealand...