In Case You Missed It: Root's Headingley heroics, and the hurt of racism in South Africa
Our best content from last week
ESPNcricinfo staff
28-Aug-2021
Joe Root, who has made two double-centuries and four hundreds in 2021, is unlikely to be beaten as the leading Test run getter this calendar year • Getty Images
England are looking to gain a series lead over India after dismissing them for 78 at Headingley. With the drawn West-Indies Pakistan series out of the way, the attention moves to the CPL in the Caribbean. Off field, it's been a moment of reckoning for coaches Mark Boucher and Justin Langer. And cricket said its goodbyes to a former England captain - Ted Dexter. Here's our round-up of the important stories of the week.
India fight back through resolute Pujara, Rohit and Kohli
After a sublime hundred by Root gave England a 345-run lead, India's steadfast top order have kept the game alive after their first innings collapse for 78 - Steve Harmison breaks down how India were bowled out for such a low score.. They still trail England by a sizeable chunk, but might be in with a fighting chance if they survive much of day four.
After a sublime hundred by Root gave England a 345-run lead, India's steadfast top order have kept the game alive after their first innings collapse for 78 - Steve Harmison breaks down how India were bowled out for such a low score.. They still trail England by a sizeable chunk, but might be in with a fighting chance if they survive much of day four.
Mark Boucher apologises for offensive songs and nicknames during playing days
South Africa's head coach has admitted the national team culture in his playing days was exclusionary and blamed it on a lack of "maturity and consciousness" in the era immediately after apartheid. Boucher's comments were part of an affidavit to Cricket South Africa's Social Justice and Nation-Building committee containing a "general response" to implications of being involved in racial discrimination. South Africa's white-ball captain, Temba Bavuma, said the revelations had had an impact on the national team, but that Boucher had "addressed us as a team, speaking to the accusations against him".
South Africa's head coach has admitted the national team culture in his playing days was exclusionary and blamed it on a lack of "maturity and consciousness" in the era immediately after apartheid. Boucher's comments were part of an affidavit to Cricket South Africa's Social Justice and Nation-Building committee containing a "general response" to implications of being involved in racial discrimination. South Africa's white-ball captain, Temba Bavuma, said the revelations had had an impact on the national team, but that Boucher had "addressed us as a team, speaking to the accusations against him".
Shaheen Afridi, Nauman Ali bowl Pakistan to series-levelling win
Afridi took ten wickets in the match for the first time in his career - dismissing West Indies for 150 and 219. His 18 wickets in the two Tests, which bagged him the Player-of-the Series trophy, also pushed him up the Test bowling rankings - to a career-best No. 8.
Afridi took ten wickets in the match for the first time in his career - dismissing West Indies for 150 and 219. His 18 wickets in the two Tests, which bagged him the Player-of-the Series trophy, also pushed him up the Test bowling rankings - to a career-best No. 8.
Former England captain Ted Dexter dies at 86
A powerful middle-order batter and medium-pace bowler, Dexter played 62 Tests, leading the side in 30 of those. Mark Nicholas pays tribute to a free spirit, cricket thinker and renaissance man, and David Hopps remembers him as an old-fashioned modernist, a man out of sync with his times in more ways than one.
A powerful middle-order batter and medium-pace bowler, Dexter played 62 Tests, leading the side in 30 of those. Mark Nicholas pays tribute to a free spirit, cricket thinker and renaissance man, and David Hopps remembers him as an old-fashioned modernist, a man out of sync with his times in more ways than one.
Usman Khawaja: Justin Langer will feel like the players are "stabbing him in the back"
Tensions between Australia's players and their head coach have been bubbling for some time now. Last week a peace was brokered after emergency meetings among Cricket Australia's leadership, and captain Tim Paine promised that Langer will have the players' support. This week Khawaja said that while Langer emotional swings are his "greatness weakness", the conflict was disappointing.
Tensions between Australia's players and their head coach have been bubbling for some time now. Last week a peace was brokered after emergency meetings among Cricket Australia's leadership, and captain Tim Paine promised that Langer will have the players' support. This week Khawaja said that while Langer emotional swings are his "greatness weakness", the conflict was disappointing.
CPL preview: St Kitts & Nevis Patriots could pose favourites Trinbago Knight Riders their stiffest challenge
The CPL kicked off with wins for Amazon Warriors and St Kitts and Nevis Patriots on the opening day, but, as per our tournament preview, Trinbago Knight Riders, the defending champions, remain the favourites.
The CPL kicked off with wins for Amazon Warriors and St Kitts and Nevis Patriots on the opening day, but, as per our tournament preview, Trinbago Knight Riders, the defending champions, remain the favourites.
Quiz: What was the highest individual score in the men's and women's Hundred?
Test your knowledge of the Hundred with our quiz. And see who makes it to ESPNcricinfo's teams of the tournament - women and men .
Test your knowledge of the Hundred with our quiz. And see who makes it to ESPNcricinfo's teams of the tournament - women and men .
How many batters have bagged king pairs in Tests?
And how many have been marooned in the 190s in Tests at Lord's? Steven Lynch will tell you.
And how many have been marooned in the 190s in Tests at Lord's? Steven Lynch will tell you.
Craig Ervine named Zimbabwe captain for Ireland and Scotland tours
Ervine will be the fifth man to lead Zimbabwe in white-ball cricket since the start of 2020.
Ervine will be the fifth man to lead Zimbabwe in white-ball cricket since the start of 2020.
Pakistan Women to host England for the first time in a bumper home season
England Women will play two T20Is and three ODIs in Rawalpindi in October. In all, Pakistan Women will compete in 33 matches - both domestic and international - in the upcoming home season.
England Women will play two T20Is and three ODIs in Rawalpindi in October. In all, Pakistan Women will compete in 33 matches - both domestic and international - in the upcoming home season.
Women's squad selections
India picked uncapped players Meghna Singh, a medium-pacer; Yastika Bhatia, a left-hand batter; and Renuka Singh, a fast-bowling allrounder, for their tour of Australia in September and October. And England picked batter Maia Bouchier and allrounder Charlie Dean for their three-match T20I series against New Zealand next month.
India picked uncapped players Meghna Singh, a medium-pacer; Yastika Bhatia, a left-hand batter; and Renuka Singh, a fast-bowling allrounder, for their tour of Australia in September and October. And England picked batter Maia Bouchier and allrounder Charlie Dean for their three-match T20I series against New Zealand next month.
Photo feature: disappointment
Here's a collection of pictures for the next time you feel inconsolable about a defeat.
Here's a collection of pictures for the next time you feel inconsolable about a defeat.
Afghanistan-Pakistan ODI series postponed indefinitely
The three-match ODI series has been postponed indefinitely after the two boards concluded that logistical challenges made it tough for the Afghanistan contingent to travel to Sri Lanka and the situation back home would not have left their players in a good mental space.
The three-match ODI series has been postponed indefinitely after the two boards concluded that logistical challenges made it tough for the Afghanistan contingent to travel to Sri Lanka and the situation back home would not have left their players in a good mental space.
Canada, UAE and Papua New Guinea make it to 2022 Under-19 Men's World Cup
Qualifying events for the tournament were cancelled for the Americas, Asia and East-Asia Pacific regions due to complications arising out of Covid-19, but these three teams made it for having secured the most wins in the last five U-19 qualifying events in each respective region.
Qualifying events for the tournament were cancelled for the Americas, Asia and East-Asia Pacific regions due to complications arising out of Covid-19, but these three teams made it for having secured the most wins in the last five U-19 qualifying events in each respective region.
Roy Kaia suspended from bowling in international cricket after ICC deems his action illegal
The offspinner's bowling action was reported last month during the one-off Test against Bangladesh in Harare.
The offspinner's bowling action was reported last month during the one-off Test against Bangladesh in Harare.