The Buzz
Rishabh Pant turns pizzaiolo
ESPNcricinfo staff
14-Aug-2025
The last we saw of Rishabh Pant was him being golf-carted off the field at Old Trafford after suffering a foot fracture, but then hobbling back in on one leg to try and add a few more runs to India's score. It was all very heroic and sombre.
The good news is that the injury has done absolutely nothing to dent his sense of humour. He recently posted a video of him in a pizza kitchen in an unnamed location, attempting his hand at pies; no, he wasn't bowling. The kitchen cameo comes weeks after he limped through a gritty 54 at Old Trafford despite the injury, helping India draw the fourth Test. Now, with six weeks on the sidelines, Pant's swapping the middle order for the middle rack of the oven.
What are Kane Williamson and David Warner's favourite Oasis songs?
ESPNcricinfo staff
13-Aug-2025
British rock band Oasis are on a reunion tour, so naturally it's the right time to ask cricketers what their favourite song from the group is. These were the picks from London Spirit Men's players:
Captain Kane Williamson picks "Don't Look Back In Anger" from the 1996 album (What's the Story) Morning Glory?, although, along with several other of his team-mates, "Wonderwall" also features high on his list "after the amount of buskers I've heard play that."
For David Warner, "Wonderwall" is the only Oasis song he knows, while Ryan Higgins needs some help, asking team-mate Richard Gleeson: "What do Oasis sing?"
Full postWho does Risbhabh Pant's roly-poly shot better - David Warner or Alastair Cook?
ESPNcricinfo staff
11-Aug-2025
Rishabh Pant is known for his innovative batting and out-there shots, so can a batter as orthodox as Alastair Cook imitate them?
To be fair to the 40-year-old Cook, who attempted the "roly-poly ramp shot", it's not easy in civvies with a mike in hand.
"What he was doing was playing the paddle sweep," Cook said while demonstrating Pant's shot. "But what he wanted is more pace on the ball to really get in the lines.
Full postDoes Jasprit Bumrah like British snacks or Indian snacks more?
ESPNcricinfo staff
08-Aug-2025
Jasprit Bumrah traded his bowling chops for potato chops - near enough - for SPORTbible's Snack Wars, pitting British munchies against Indian crunchies… and the results will shock you, somewhat.
First up it's Scampi fries versus the Indian staple bhujia. It looks like it might be a clean sweep for team bhujia as Bumrah scoffs at the size of the fries packet: "We Indians don't believe in small portions," he laughs. But the Scampi fries land like a Bumrah yorker to take this round on their cream-and-onion flavour - England wins this round.
Full postRashid Khan is not a boomer, people
ESPNcricinfo staff
08-Aug-2025
Is Rashid Khan a morning person? Yes, as long it's not early morning and is more like "early afternoon". In a "This or That" feature, Rashid picks winters over summers, road trips over plane rides - "tired of planes!" and beaches over mountains. And since he's not a boomer, he obviously (and rightly) picks texting over phone calls.
Sophia Smale would survive the apocalypse… probably because she'd arrive too late for it - that's what we glean from her Oval Invincibles team-mates, who ask and answer a question from each other. Meg Lanning's one meal for the rest of her life would be avocado on toast, Alice Capsey would like to take flights to avoid the M25, and Amanda-Jade Wellington reckons it would take her 24 hours to sit on every seat of The Oval.
Full postWalking wounded: Woakes and Pant bond over injuries
ESPNcricinfo staff
07-Aug-2025
During the first day of the fourth Test between England and India in Manchester, Rishabh Pant attempted to reverse sweep a yorker from Chris Woakes and ended up inside edging it on to his shoe and fracturing his foot. Pant was ruled out of the series but the next day, he surprised everyone by hobbling down the stairs from the dressing room and resuming his innings. He went on to complete his half-century in India's first innings, before India clung on for a draw at Old Trafford.
As fate would have it, Woakes hurt his shoulder on the first day of the fifth Test at The Oval and was ruled out of the remainder of the match. And like Pant, Woakes also walked out to bat injured - with his left arm in a sling - to try and win the Test on the final morning.
After the series ended 2-2, Woakes said he and Pant had exchanged messages.
Full postWhat Arshdeep Singh had to teach match-winner Mohammed Siraj
ESPNcricinfo staff
06-Aug-2025
Mohammed Siraj may have won India the Oval Test and been one of the heroes of their 2-2 draw in England, but when it comes to gaining cool creds, he still needs some guidance from his younger colleagues.
After bowling out Gus Atkinson when England were only seven runs away from a series victory, Siraj was soaking in the win with his team-mates. Fellow fast bowler Arshdeep Singh suggested a post for Siraj's followers on social media, acting out what Siraj had to say.
"Say 'Pressure', pause a bit, and then say, 'What pressure?' Arshdeep told Siraj.
"Story or post," asked Siraj.
Full postEmotions overflow after Oval epic
ESPNcricinfo staff
05-Aug-2025
It had all the makings of a miracle. England charging, the crowd on edge, and a wounded Chris Woakes ready for a one-armed stand. But just as the dream neared reality, Mohammed Siraj thundered in with fire and fury, snapping the stumps and silencing The Oval. Six runs the difference, but miles in drama.
Belief. Anticipation. Jubilation!
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 4, 2025
Raw Emotions straight after #TeamIndia's special win at the Kennington Oval#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/vhrfv8ditL
Eventually, India clinched a dramatic victory on the first hour of the fifth day, squaring the series 2-2, their support staff's emotional celebration, and the players soaking it all in with a lap around the ground.
Full postWhat's Harry Brook got stuck behind his ear?
ESPNcricinfo staff
04-Aug-2025
This is one for the etiquette coaches - what do you do with your chewing gum when you pause to eat or drink something? Shove it into the side of your mouth and hope not to choke on it accidentally? Fold it into its original wrapper for the time being?
If you're Harry Brook, you find a rather novel place to keep it.
During a drinks break on the fourth day of the final Test at The Oval, after smashing a 91-ball century against India, Brooks was topping up on his electrolytes when the commentators spotted something behind his ear.
Full postRavindra Jadeja asks spectator to change his t-shirt
ESPNcricinfo staff
04-Aug-2025
With India hoping to level the series in the final Test at The Oval, Ravindra Jadeja was batting to extend their lead when he was distracted by a spectator's red t-shirt right behind the bowler's arm.
He informed the umpires, who informed the security staff at the ground and a long discussion took place before the man in question was identified.
"There's been a lot of conversation about him and he still doesn't realise he's the problem," the commentator chuckled.
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