India Women's Cricket Team Struggles in T20 World Cup Preparations Against England The India women's cricket team faced a challenging encounter against England in a T20 World Cup preparation match on Wednesday. The rain-affected game saw the team struggle throughout, but Richa Ghosh's determined batting kept hopes alive until the final over. Despite her efforts, the team fell short of victory, highlighting the difficulties in their preparations for the global tournament. The match, part of India's three-match T20 series against England, marked another setback for the team. In the first game of the series, India had defeated West Indies by 26 runs, but the second match against England proved tougher. England's strong performance, led by opener Amy Jones (64) and middle-order batswoman Nat Sciver-Brunt (57), set a formidable total. However, the real threat came from Daniel Gibson, who smashed 30 runs off just 12 balls, propelling the team to 171. India's bowling attack failed to contain the damage, with Shreyasi Patel taking two wickets but the rest of the pace and spin bowlers struggling to curb the run flow. The lack of wickets for the fast bowlers has raised concerns ahead of the World Cup, as the team looks to refine their attack. In the batting lineup, the opening pair of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma managed only 8 runs before collapsing, while the rest of the batters failed to contribute significantly. Richa Ghosh, however, stood out with a gritty 68 off 36 balls, keeping the team in the game. Her innings, though cut short by a dismissal in the final over, prevented a complete collapse. The series against England has been a mixed bag for India, with a win in the first match but a loss in the second.#england_cricket_team #richa_ghosh #india_women_cricket_team #nat_sciver_brunt #amy_jones
Sciver-Brunt Recovery 'Going to Plan' but Captain Yet to Bowl England cricket captain Nat Sciver-Brunt has confirmed her recovery from a calf injury is progressing as expected, though she remains sidelined from bowling ahead of the T20 World Cup. The 33-year-old all-rounder, a key figure in the team's strategy, has been absent from recent matches due to the injury, which was initially diagnosed as a "minor tear" during a game for Blaze on 29 April. Sciver-Brunt missed the 50-over and T20 series against New Zealand in May and will also be absent for the T20s against India, starting on 4 June. She has been cleared to resume running in training and has been batting in nets, though her return to bowling has been delayed. Sciver-Brunt emphasized the importance of her role in the team's preparations for the home World Cup, stating, "Now is the time to start pushing on." She acknowledged the frustration of being sidelined, saying, "Everything is sort of going to plan as far as it can do at the moment. It's been really frustrating watching from the sidelines and not being able to help and feel like I'm missing out a little bit." Her absence has raised concerns about the team's balance, as she provides both batting depth and leadership, alongside her all-round contributions. England's management has reiterated their confidence in her recovery, stressing that they are taking a cautious approach to ensure she is fully fit for the tournament. The injury initially ruled Sciver-Brunt out of the three one-day internationals against New Zealand, but a follow-up scan on 18 May extended her absence to the T20 series against India. The decision was based on the need for a "longer period of rehabilitation," as the injury required careful management.#england_cricket_team #t20_world_cup #nat_sciverbrunt #blaze #england_management
Liam Livingstone interview - 'I asked England for help, I was told I care too much' Liam Livingstone has not played for England since their Champions Trophy exit in March 2025, and he claims his communication with the team’s management has been minimal. In a recent interview with ESPNcricinfo, the England all-rounder described his interactions with the coaching staff as brief and dismissive, with two phone calls lasting just a minute each. He accused the team of lacking "respect" and avoiding "difficult conversations," which he believes has left him without a clear path to rejoining the squad. Livingstone was dropped from England’s white-ball teams last summer after a slump in form during a tour to India and the Champions Trophy, where the team lost 10 out of 11 games. He criticized the management for failing to engage with him constructively, citing a lack of support and a dismissive attitude toward his efforts to improve. He described the environment under head coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key as uncooperative, claiming that players outside an inner circle are not valued. The 32-year-old, who remains contracted to Sunrisers Hyderabad for the IPL, emphasized his frustration with the lack of communication. He recalled a call from McCullum in May 2025, where he was informed he had been dropped for the West Indies series without explanation. Key, who had previously responded to Livingstone’s public concerns about his status by inviting him to contact him, only spoke to him again in late September, informing him his central contract would not be renewed. Livingstone said Key dismissed his attempts to seek clarity, claiming the managing director had "100 more important things to do than speak to you.#liam_livingstone #england_cricket_team #brendon_mccullum #rob_key #champions_trophy
Liam Livingstone Critizes England's Cricket Setup Liam Livingstone has publicly criticized the England cricket team and its management, expressing frustration over his lack of involvement with the squad that reached the T20 World Cup semi-finals. The 32-year-old all-rounder, who has earned exactly 100 caps for England across all formats, revealed that he felt no connection to the team during the tournament, calling it the "worst experience I've had playing cricket." Livingstone, who has not played for England since the 2023 Champions Trophy, confirmed he had only two brief phone calls with England coach Brendon McCullum and director of cricket Rob Key, each lasting no more than a minute. Livingstone’s struggles with the team became evident during the Champions Trophy, where England lost all three of their matches. His performance was lackluster, with a highest score of 14 and three wickets taken through spin bowling. He described the tournament in Pakistan as a "disappointing" experience, noting that the England hierarchy’s feedback was dismissive of his efforts. "I was just trying to ask for help to get better: what do they see that isn't going right?" he said. "You'd hit a couple out of the middle of the bat and they'd go 'Great, you found it. Let's go back to the hotel.'" The lack of communication from the England leadership extended beyond the World Cup. Livingstone recounted being left out of the team during the 2024 Ashes series, with no clear explanation from Rob Key. He claimed Key offered no response to his inquiries and only spoke to him in September after the player had already lost his central contract. "Keysy said nothing—he said 'I'll speak to you in the summer,' but he was busy at a Test camp at Loughborough," Livingstone said.#liam_livingstone #england_cricket_team #will_jacks #brendon_mccullum #rob_key
