From Stuart Broad‘s last-ball six in Test cricket to Venkatesh Prasad’s criticism of the India team – here’s your daily wrap of cricket stories and updates from around the world for July 30.
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Stuart Broad hits his last ball in Test cricket for six
Having announced his retirement after stumps on day three of the ongoing fifth Ashes Test, Broad came out to bat for the last time on the fourth morning and pulled Mitchell Starc for a six off the last ball of the first over of the day. As it turned out, that was the last ball that Broad faced in his Test career as James Anderson was dismissed in the next over with Broad remaining unbeaten at the non-striker’s end.
His final ball faced in Test Cricket? 🤔
A MASSIVE six! ❤️@StuartBroad8 🙌 pic.twitter.com/jHg99Q2nAi
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 30, 2023
A special guard of honour for Broad
As he made his way out to the middle, Stuart Broad was given a special guard of honour by the Australian team, commemorating his final Test match. To go with that, the entire Kia Oval crowd was up on its feet to cheer the legendary fast bowler as he walked out to bat for one final time in international cricket.
Stuart Broad makes his way to the pitch with Jimmy Anderson 🥺💫 pic.twitter.com/dpDJ5eoSt5
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 30, 2023
Rahul Dravid explains India’s surprising selections
After defeat in the second ODI of the series against West Indies where India rested Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli and played around with their batting order for the second game in a row, head coach Dravid came out to explain India’s thought process behind the experiments. He mentioned that with several first-choice players still unavailable and the World Cup fast approaching, the team is looking to give game time to players who would be the potential backups in case the first-choice players don’t recover in time.
Ajinkya Rahane pulls out of county deal
Rahane had previously signed a deal with Leicestershire where he was supposed to be available for several County Championship games as well as the One-Day Cup. However, following his comeback to the national side, he has pulled out of his stint, citing a hectic schedule, and has been replaced by Peter Handscomb, with the club saying that they fully understand his position.
Venkatesh Prasad criticises India’s performances in limited overs cricket
Prasad, the former India fast bowler, said on social media that India have been an ordinary side in the recent past in limited-overs formats. He mentioned how India have lost several ODI series in the recent past, including against Bangladesh, Australia, and South Africa, as well has how they have underperformed in the last two T20 World Cups.
He went on to add that India have ‘become used to celebrating mediocrity’ and that India’s approach and attitude are major factors behind their failures.
Test cricket aside, India has been very ordinary in the other two formats for quite sometime now.
Lost odi series against ban, SA and Aus. Poor in the last two T20 World Cups.
Neither are we an exciting team like England nor brutal like how the Aussies used to be. Cont— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) July 30, 2023
