Joe Root is “not too concerned” about his modest returns with the bat, saying he has “14,000 runs for a reason”. Captain Root, England’s all-time leading Test run-scorer, has passed 50 only twice this summer. An average of 29.44 is his second-lowest in a home season in a 14-year international career. The 35-year-old has been
Ben Duckett – 4 – Another quiet Test for Duckett whose total of 18 runs across the match was only three more than at Headingley last week. Could do little about his first-innings dismissal but the way he hit a drive straight to mid-off in the second was really poor. Emilio Gay – 5 –
Jos Buttler says a conversation with England batting coach Marcus Trescothick helped him rediscover the form that took his past the all-time T20 run-scoring record. The England wicketkeeper broke Kieron Pollard’s mark of 14,803 as he recorded a 20-ball 51 for Manchester Super Giants on Wednesday – his third 50+ score in four innings. Buttler
Northamptonshire head coach Darren Lehmann says there is “no problem” with his team’s form in the T20 Blast after progressing to the quarter-finals. The Steelbacks lost three of their last four Central and West Group matches, including a five-wicket loss to Warwickshire on Sunday. But Northants still comfortably topped the group to secure a home