The mega auction dates for the IPL 2025 were announced on Tuesday. The registered players’ names were also reported on the same night. A popular international all-rounder will miss the IPL 2025.

While October 31 was the retention deadline for all teams, the IPL 2025 mega auction will be organised in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24 and 25. There are 204 slots available for the mega auction. 

A total of 1574 players, including 1165 Indians and 409 overseas players, have registered for the upcoming mega auction. However, before the mega auction, the long list will be shrunk after receiving the inputs from the franchises. 

Meanwhile, ESPNcricinfo has also brought an important update about the names of the top registered players for the mega auction.   

SEE ALSO: IPL 2025: Top 5 Worst Retentions during the 2025 IPL Mega Auction

Ben Stokes likely to miss IPL 2025

According to ESPNcricinfo reports, the English all-rounder Ben Stokes, who last played IPL in 2023, isn’t on the list of the registered players’ names for the upcoming mega auction. 

Stokes was the most valuable player in the IPL 2017, which was his first IPL season. However, he has hardly played IPL since 2021. While he played only one match for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2021 before suffering a finger injury, he missed out on the IPL 2022 season because he wanted to focus on Test cricket. 

After Chennai Super Kings bought Stokes for INR 16.25 crore for the IPL 2023, he played only two matches that season as the knee injury and later international duty forced him to remain unavailable for the IPL team. 

Like the auction for the IPL 2024, Stokes is reportedly not present for the IPL 2025 mega auction. It also means that the all-rounder will miss the subsequent mini-auctions.

Will James Anderson make his IPL debut?

While the upcoming mega auction will see many great international players, former England pacer James Anderson is also a surprising name on the list. While Anderson last played a T20 match in 2014, he has never experienced the IPL. According to an ESPNcricinfo report, Anderson has a base price of INR 1.25 crore.

Indian players in the highest base price

Talking about the highest base price for the upcoming mega auction, many Indian cricketers are in the INR 2 crore base price list. Injured Mohammed Shami, who hasn’t played a cricket match since the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 final against Australia in November 2023, including missing out on the IPL 2024, is also standing in the highest base price list.  

The other Indian players’ names in the INR 2 crore base price list for the upcoming mega auctions are Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Khaleel Ahmed, Deepak Chahar, Venkatesh Iyer, Avesh Khan, Ishan Kishan, Mukesh Kumar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Prasidh Krishna, T Natarajan, Devdutt Padikkal, Krunal Pandya, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj,  Umesh Yadav, etc.

On Thursday, October 17, the home of England Test captain Ben Stokes was burgled by masked robbers in the Castle Eden area of North East England. The veteran England all-rounder also shared via X that the robbers escaped with jewellery, valuables, and many personal items as well, which are now irreplaceable for his family. Although his family members were not physically harmed, Stokes shared that the burglars entered the house and robbed while his wife and two young children were inside the house. He also expressed deep concern about the psychological impact of the incident, stating, "All we can think about is how much worse this situation could have been.”

In an emotional appeal, the England captain shared photographs of some of the stolen items in the hope that they could be identified as well. However, Stokes shared that recovering the items is secondary as the primary thing is to catch those robbers who did this. Despite the horrific experience, Ben Stokes thanked the police for their ongoing support, both now and during his time away in Pakistan as well.

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Ben Stokes appeals for the help

"On the evening of Thursday 17th October a number of masked people burgled my home in the Castle Eden area in the North East. They escaped with jewellery, other valuables and a good deal of personal items. Many of those items have real sentimental value for me and my family. They are irreplaceable. This is an appeal for any help in finding these people who carried out this act. By far the worst thing about this crime is that it was carried out whilst my wife and 2 young children were in the house. Thankfully, none of my family came to any physical harm. Understandably, however, the experience has had an impact on their emotional and mental state," Stokes wrote on X.

"All we can think about is how much worse this situation could have been. I am releasing photographs of some of the stolen items - which I hope may be easily identified - in the hope that we can find the people who are responsible for this. Although we have lost cherished possessions, to be clear, my sole motivation in sharing these photographs is not the recovery of material items. It is to catch the people who did this. Please come forward and contact Durham Constabulary on 101 quoting crime reference CRI00575927 if you think that you have any relevant information. Finally, I want to say thank you to the police service. Both now and whilst I was away in Pakistan, their support for my family has been outstanding. They continue to work incredibly hard in trying to find these people. basis this, giveme a an article with headline-Theft at Ben Stokes home: England captain appeals for finding robbers." he added.

pic.twitter.com/Rb1mAk8Jrh

— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) October 30, 2024

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— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) October 30, 2024

England lost the Test series against Pakistan

As far as the game is concerned, Pakistan registered a Test series win on home soil after beating Ben Stokes-led England 2-1 in the two-match Test series. For England, they lost the plot completely after being asked to play on spin-friendly tracks as well. 

Captain Ben Stokes is set to make his much-anticipated return to the England cricket team for the second Test against Pakistan, starting Tuesday in Multan. After recovering from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the previous matches, Stokes aims to lead his side to another victory following their impressive win in the first Test.

Stokes back in action

Ben Stokes has been declared fit to play after successfully bowling in the nets, signalling his readiness to take on the role of a third seamer. The all-rounder acknowledges the importance of being sensible with his bowling workload but expresses confidence in making an impactful return to the field.

England's strong line-up

Joining Stokes in the team is Durham seamer Matthew Potts, making his comeback since the Lord's Test against Sri Lanka at the end of August. Meanwhile, seamers Gus Atkinson and Chris Woakes have been rested to maintain their fitness for future matches. England's impressive performance in the first Test saw them secure a resounding innings victory, led by remarkable individual performances from Harry Brook and Joe Root.

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Captain Stokes' return is a significant boost for the England squad, which has already shown its mettle by winning the first Test by an innings and 47 runs. Stokes spoke candidly about his recovery journey, noting that he initially considered playing solely as a batsman. However, he ultimately felt ready to contribute with the ball as well, stating, "Those were the sort of thoughts that went through my head at home before we came out."

In the first Test, England's remarkable batting display was led by Harry Brook, who scored a stunning 317, and Joe Root, who added 262 runs. This performance was historic, as Pakistan became the first team in Test cricket's 147-year history to lose by an innings after scoring over 550 runs in their first innings. As the second Test approaches, the focus is on whether Stokes can make a significant impact in leading his team to another victory in Multan.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has officially announced the 17-member strong England squad for the three-match Test series against the hosts Pakistan. Test captain Ben Stokes returns along with the opener Zak Crawley. The ECB has also named two uncapped players for this upcoming tour. 

Pakistan will host the three-match Test series against England from October 7. Although Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has recently confirmed that Multan and Rawalpindi will host the three Tests of this forthcoming series, the ECB has also clarified that the venues are yet to be confirmed. This Test series will be a part of the 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship. 

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England Test captain Ben Stokes and opener Zak Crawley return from injuries

The 33-year-old English Test captain Ben Stokes has recovered from his hamstring injury and is ready to return to the Test squad. After the last Test against West Indies in Birmingham, Stokes was busy in The Hundred, where he sustained a hamstring injury as he was carried off.  

Meanwhile, the opener Zak Crawley was injured during the series-finale Birmingham Test against West Indies last July. He had a fracture on the right little finger, but he has made significant progress in recovery to earn the call-up in the national team. 

Both Stokes and Crawley missed the recently concluded three-match home Test series against Sri Lanka. 

Jordan Cox and Brydon Carse are the uncapped names

The 23-year-old wicketkeeper Jordan Cox and the 29-year-old fast-bowling all-rounder Brydon Carse are the uncapped among the 17-member Test squad for the upcoming Pakistan tour. 

Apart from the off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, left-arm spinner Jack Leach and leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed have also been selected in this Test squad. 

Talking about the pace-bowling line-up, Stokes has the options of Chris Woakes, Olly Stone, recently Test debutant Josh Hull, Matthew Potts, and Gus Atkinson.  

It will be England’s first Test series in Asia since their 4-1 Test series defeat against the hosts India last March. 

In late 2022, England travelled to Pakistan for the first time in 17 years. In that tour, England won the three-match Test series by 3-0. 

Meanwhile, Pakistan last won a home Test in February 2021 against South Africa. Since then, they have drawn four and lost six out of their last ten home Tests. 

England’s Test squad for the upcoming Pakistan tour

Ben Stokes (C), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Josh Hull, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.

England’s Joe Root became just the seventh player in Test cricket history to score 12,000 runs. He hit this milestone during the third Test against the West Indies at Edgbaston on Saturday.

Root reached 12,000 runs when he scored 62 with a four off Alzarri Joseph on the first ball after lunch on Day 2. He teamed up with current captain Ben Stokes to help rebuild England’s innings, adding over a hundred runs for the sixth wicket.

England had been struggling at 54 for five in just 12 overs, chasing West Indies first-innings total of 282. In this innings, Root also notched his 95th fifty-plus score, ranking him sixth in this category among all players.

Youngest players to 12,000 Test runs

33y 13d – Alastair Cook
33y 210d – Joe Root
35y 176d – Sachin Tendulkar
35y 214d – Ricky Ponting
36y 32d – Jacques Kallis
37y 68d – Kumar Sangakkara
37y 339d – Rahul Dravid

Root is the second youngest player to reach 12,000 Test runs, behind only his English teammate Alastair Cook. Root achieved this at 33 years and 210 days old. The oldest player to do so was former India captain Rahul Dravid at 37 years and 339 days. Root also surpassed the great Brian Lara’s total of 11,953 runs.

Fastest players to reach 12,000 Test runs in innings

224 – Kumar Sangakkara
247 – Ricky Ponting
247 – Sachin Tendulkar
249 – Jacques Kallis
255 – Rahul Dravid
261 – Joe Root
275 – Alastair Cook

However, Root isn’t the fastest to reach this milestone. Cook took 275 innings to get there, while Root needed 261 innings. Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara holds the record for the quickest, reaching 12,000 runs in just 224 innings. Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting are next, both reaching the mark in 247 innings.

Former England captain Nasser Hussain believes that relying solely on pace won’t be enough for England to make history in the upcoming Ashes series in Australia. The next Ashes series, scheduled for the end of 2025, is already prompting England to prepare a competitive team for the historic challenge.

Ahead of the first Test against the West Indies, England captain Ben Stokes emphasized that the team is building with the future Ashes series in mind. England last secured the Ashes in 2015 with a thrilling 3-2 victory at home, but Australia has retained the trophy since then.

In Ashes series played in Australia, the home team has shown formidable dominance. England has not won a Test match in Australia since 2011, with recent series results being particularly disheartening: 5-0, 4-0, and 4-0 losses in their last three visits.

“Pace Isn’t Everything”, warns Nasser Hussain ahead of Ashes 2025

In his column for the Daily Mail, Hussain cautioned England that having sheer pace alone won’t be enough; skill must complement speed. He identified Gus Atkinson and Mark Wood as the two bowlers certain to make the trip to Australia.

“Pace alone isn’t enough,” Hussain wrote in his column. “If you go to Australia and just bowl fast without control, you’ll be easily taken apart. The key to success down under is a blend of pace and skill, as Gus Atkinson demonstrated in the first match of the series and Mark Wood showed here, even though he didn’t get the wickets he deserved. England can’t afford to rely on the same old strategies. It’s crucial to find solutions beforehand.”

“Pace alone isn’t enough. If you go to Australia and just rely on speed, you’ll end up all over the place. The key is combining pace with skill, as Gus Atkinson demonstrated in the first match of the series and as Mark Wood, despite not getting the wickets he deserved, showed here. England can’t afford to arrive in Australia with the same old approach; they need to find a solution in advance,” Hussain wrote in his column.

Gus Atkinson recently impressed in James Anderson’s farewell Test at Lord’s, where he claimed 12 wickets on his debut and was named Player of the Match. Meanwhile, Mark Wood delivered a spectacular spell in the second Test but was unlucky not to secure any wickets. Both Atkinson and Wood, known for their high pace, could be crucial on the fast and bouncy pitches in Australia.

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Nasser Hussain commends Shoaib Bashir

Nasser Hussain also praised Shoaib Bashir for his outstanding off-spin performance on Day 4 of the Test.England’s choice of Shoaib Bashir reflects their strategy of balancing immediate needs with future prospects. Since Muttiah Muralitharan in 2006, no spinner had taken a five-for in a Test at Nottingham. Bashir earned his accolades by demonstrating key qualities of an off-spinner—he extracted a beautiful drop on the ball to dismiss Alick Athanaze and bowled Jason Holder with a stunning delivery.

This performance will benefit him and the entire England bowling attack.England won the second Test against the West Indies by a commanding 241 runs. Despite West Indies initially taking a first-innings lead, England’s aggressive Bazball approach in their third innings allowed them to set a formidable target.

Chasing 385 for victory in the fourth innings, the West Indies faltered and were dismissed for just 143 runs. Shoaib Bashir took 5 wickets for England, while Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson each claimed 2 wickets.

England spinner Shoaib Bashir mimicked his country’s footballer, Cole Palmer, by performing the ‘cold’ celebration after dismissing Alick Athanaze on Day 4 of the 2nd Test against West Indies at Trent Bridge on Sunday, July 21. Shoaib Bashir has “shown the world what he can do” said England captain Ben Stokes.

Star performance by Shoaib Bashir

Shoaib Bashir was the standout performer for England in the second innings, claiming five wickets while conceding just 41 runs with an economy rate of 3.70 in 11.1 overs. His stellar performance helped England secure a commanding victory over the West Indies by 241 runs, clinching an unassailable 2-0 series lead with one match still to play.

Chasing a daunting target of 385 runs after dismissing England for 425, West Indies crumbled under the pressure of England’s formidable bowling attack. They were bowled out for a mere 143 in 36.1 overs. Shoaib Bashir played a pivotal role in this collapse, leaving the West Indies reeling at 82/5 after dismissing Alick Athanaze.

The key dismissal occurred in the 19th over of the West Indies’ run chase when Athanaze attempted to defend a delivery from Bashir. The ball took a sharp edge off Athanaze’s bat and was caught by Joe Root at slip. Overjoyed with his second wicket of the innings, Shoaib Bashir celebrated by rubbing both his arms, imitating Cole Palmer’s signature ‘cold’ celebration.

“I don’t think gratification comes out of an ‘I told you so’ moment or having a point to prove,” Stokes said in the moments after England’s win in Nottingham. “Because the decisions we make are all based around not only how far we think their talent can take them, but also that we think they’re good enough for international cricket straight away.

“This is the worst that they’ll be. And if you think you can identify talent and you can throw them into an international environment and give them the confidence, give them the backing that they’re going to progress really quickly. 

“I don’t want to say it’s an ‘I told you so’ kind of thing, but it sort of is,” he joked.

“Every time we came in for a break [at Lord’s], Baz was going ‘this is Bash if you haven’t met him already,” Stokes said. 

“He showed what he could do in India with conditions in his favour,” Stokes said. “But the pitch this week didn’t really offer much for spin…I think what he’s done today is showed the world what he can do.”

Bashir’s impressive bowling figures

In addition to Athanaze, Bashir dismissed Kirk McKenzie, Kavem Hodge, Jason Holder, and Shamar Joseph to complete his third five-wicket haul in Test cricket. His figures of 5/41 are his best bowling figures in a Test innings to date.

In the first innings, Bashir also made significant contributions by picking up two wickets, those of Mikyle Louis and Kirk McKenzie, finishing with figures of 2/108 in 25 overs.

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Shoaib Bashir’s exceptional performance and his celebratory mimicry of Cole Palmer added a memorable touch to England’s dominant victory over the West Indies.

England captain Ben Stokes has backed senior pace bowler Chris Woakes to lead England’s bowling attack without the veteran speedster James Anderson. With Anderson’ retiring’s retirement from international cricket after England’s convincing victory over the West Indies in the first Test at Lord’s, Woakes is all set to become the new leader for England’s bowling unit. However, despite the absence of veteran pacers, Stokes is optimistic about Woakes’ ability to fill the void as well.

“I see it (James Anderson’s retirement) as an opportunity for someone like Chris Woakes to take up the leadership role in the bowling unit,” Stokes stated on Wednesday. “Woaksy is a very experienced bowler, a very experienced player. We have been so used to Jimmy and Broady doing that. But we don’t have them now. I see that as an opportunity for Woaksy. (Woakes has been) A phenomenal performer, especially in England and great for him now to lead the attack.”

SEE ALSO: Rohit Sharma comments on his retirement plans after quitting T20Is

James Anderson remains with the squad as part of the support staff

Although James Anderson has retired from the game, he remains with the squad as part of the support staff as well. Stokes added that the positive impact Anderson’s presence has had on the team, especially in providing valuable guidance to the bowlers as well.

“The last few days have been really good,” Stokes noted. “You can see that the lads are really desperate to pick his brains. Obviously before that it was a bit different. Jimmy has always been preparing for his games, so it’s about letting him do his stuff and pick his brains as much as you can, that felt appropriate. But now obviously he’s just standing there and you can see lads drawn towards him wanting to pick his brains about what he thinks, how he holds certain deliveries.”

“I think it has been a very, very smooth transition. But there is no doubt that there have been emotions with Jimmy. But with him still being around the team, I think he still knows that he has so much more to offer to the game with the ball. Couldn’t think of a better bloke to be able to pass on the knowledge of fast bowling to the guys we have with us at the moment,” Ben Stokes concluded.

Jamie Smith became the second youngest English wicketkeeper to score a half-century on debut, a testament to his bravery and confidence—qualities essential for being part of this England side. This high-pressure environment isn’t suited for everyone, as evidenced by Ben Foakes, who was dropped for the three-match Test series against the West Indies. For Surrey’s Jamie Smith, however, the challenge was right in his wheelhouse.

Despite not being Surrey’s first-choice wicketkeeper due to the consistent presence of Foakes, Smith seized every opportunity to step up. He was always ready to don the gloves and venture into roles that intimidated other wicketkeepers across the country. His willingness to embrace these challenges demonstrated his readiness and resilience, qualities that have helped him stand out and make a mark in the competitive world of English cricket.

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Analyzing Jamie Smith’s First-Class figures leading up to his debut

The Three Lions have been tracking Surrey wicketkeeper Jamie Smith since 2019, when he first represented the Brown Caps in a match that featured international stars like Stuart Broad, Dom Bess, and Sam Cook. At just 18 years old, Smith faced this formidable bowling lineup with remarkable composure, especially on his debut. He came out attacking, forming a crucial partnership with Ollie Pope and scoring an impressive 127 off 192 balls, which included 16 fours and two sixes.

Since then, Smith has consistently caught the attention of English cricket followers. His name has been frequently mentioned in cricket circles, with BBC’s Daniel Norcross even calling him a ‘generational talent.’ Although his first two years in first-class cricket were not without their challenges, Smith made a significant impact with a 656-run season in 2021, showcasing his potential and resilience.

Smith’s true breakthrough came with the advent of the Bazball era in England, which revolutionized the team’s approach. Embracing this new methodology, Smith’s performance soared. In the first first-class season following the Bazball transition, he amassed 938 runs, with his strike rate leaping from 49.5 to 72.8. This exceptional run of form firmly established him as a player to watch and put him on the path to national recognition.

England wicketkeepers have often struggled when batting alongside the lower order, frequently finding themselves in precarious positions. When Gudakesh Motie dismissed Joe Root, it seemed like history might repeat itself. However, Jamie Smith defied this trend by forming multiple crucial partnerships. First, he joined forces with Chris Woakes, and later found himself batting with Shoaib Bashir. When Woakes came to the crease, Smith was on a cautious 15 off 38 deliveries, but this partnership marked the beginning of a more assertive approach.

During his time with Woakes, Smith methodically increased the scoring rate. Together, they added 27 runs in 51 deliveries, with Smith displaying a mix of resilience and aggression. By the time Woakes was dismissed, Smith had progressed to 42 off 89 balls. His ability to adapt his game and steadily build the innings was evident, and he maintained his focus on the task at hand.

Smith’s partnership with Shoaib Bashir further showcased his understanding of the game situation. They added 25 crucial runs, with Smith contributing 21 of those. While his final score might not have been a headline-grabbing 70, the significance lay in his ability to form vital partnerships with the bowlers, all while adhering to the principles of Bazball cricket. Smith’s innings demonstrated his skill in balancing aggression with responsibility, a trait that would surely impress the selectors.

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