England Test captain and all-rounder Ben Stokes has marked himself unavailable for the mega auction for a second straight season in a row. The decision comes as the star all-rounder wants to prolong his red-ball career over franchise cricket. As per current IPL regulations, any overseas player opting out of the mega auction will automatically be ineligible for selection in the next year's IPL season. 

Such has been the case with Ben Stokes. As per the player registration list unveiled by the BCCI, there has been no mention of Stokes' name in that list which effectively keeps him out of action till 2027. 

What are these stringent measures introduced now by BCCI?

Traditionally, the BCCI offered a lot of flexibility to the overseas players to omit mega auctions and rather make inroads via mini auctions which would often result in hefty contracts. Stokes, in particular, benefitted the most from this practice. After skipping the 2022 IPL mega auction, Stokes made an entry in the 2023 IPL season and by doing so attracted a whopping contract worth Rs. 16.25 crore bid from the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the mini-auction.

But as the current situation stands, such leeway is now being taken away by the governing authority. This move has been put in place to discourage overseas players from entering the mini-auction at potentially higher bids. Moreover, the screws have been further tightened by the BCCI which will now hand a two-year ban to any player who withdraws after being picked up in the auction. These measures have been reinstated in a bid to foster consistency and dependability within the franchises.

What does the future hold for Stokes & Root? 

Both Stokes and Root will miss out on the upcoming IPL season and will continue to wait on the sidelines till the year 2027. Stokes has been a key asset in the IPL marketplace with his ongoing valuation expected to range between Rs 15-20 crore. Root, on the other hand, was picked for his base price of Rs. 1 crore at the 2023 IPL auction and played three matches for Rajasthan Royals, scoring 10 runs and bowling two overs without picking a wicket. The English duo will have to enter through a likely mini-auction format as per the current regulations.   

See also: WPL 2025 retention names revealed; T20 WC winner released

Former England Test captain Joe Root is very happy with their dominant performances on the fourth day of the Multan Test against the hosts Pakistan. He praised the English bowlers' dominance in the fourth day's last session, which opened an incredible winning chance for them.

The ongoing Multan Test suddenly changed from England’s reply to Pakistan’s big first innings total of 556 to Joe Root and Harry Brook’s outstanding batting performances to open a good chance for the visitors to secure a historic win.

While England earned a strong 267-run lead after the end of their first innings, which experienced the fourth-highest total in Test cricket history (823/7 declare), Pakistan ended the fourth day with 152/6.

Mental disintegration

In fact, the hosts were struggling at 82/6 in the second innings, before a 70-run partnership for the unbroken seventh wicket between Salman Agha (41*) and Aamer Jamal (27*) helped Pakistan to bring some fight back in the Test match. 

English bowlers Gus Atkinson (2/28) and Brydon Carse (2/39) got two wickets each, while Chris Woakes (1/29) and Jack Leach (1/20) picked up one wicket each. 

Talking about the sudden change of the match scenario in the last session, Root told Sky Sports at the end of the day, "That last session there, the way that we bowled was fantastic. You've obviously got to play on the fact that they've been out there for long periods of time, the mental disintegration that you can sometimes go through when you've been waiting to bat for so long. It feels so flat, and then you see one scoot low first ball of the innings, and all of a sudden, it looks like a very different pitch, and a very different game."

English bowlers' success reason in the last session

English batters also played crucial roles in setting up the match for a result in favour of the visitors. Challenging Pakistan’s 556 runs, Joe Root and Harry Brook set a world record fourth wicket partnership in Test cricket history with 454 runs. 

While Root scored 262 runs off 375 balls, Brook scored 317 runs off 322 balls. England scored the fourth-highest Test innings total, 823/7 declaration, in just 150 overs with a run-rate of 5.48. Their batting helped England produce more than 100 overs for the second innings. 

Excited Root added, "It'd be a hell of an achievement [to win this Test]. We worked really hard to get into this position and, tonight, I thought that was equally as phenomenal as the way that we played with the bat. 

“You've got to try and play on that and understand that, as a bowling group, if you hit the right areas and you create those opportunities, then you could really cause some havoc. And for us to be here now six-down is brilliant going into the last day.”

SEE ALSO: Harry Brook records second fastest triple century in Test

We're going to create some opportunities tomorrow: Root

England are four wickets away from winning this Test match, while Pakistan are still trailing by 115 runs. Moreover, Abrar Ahmed’s hospitalization makes it more complicated only for Pakistan cricket. 

Root strongly believes that the English bowlers will create some opportunities on the final day to secure an unforgettable Test win. 

Root said, "To exploit the little that was there on offer for us, to get ahead of [the game] and get their bowling allrounders out there batting, is a great achievement for us. With another day's wear into the wicket, I'm sure we're going to create some opportunities tomorrow. If we can open the door early, things will hopefully fall in our favour, and we can enjoy what's been a really good week."

During the Multan Test between Pakistan and England, England cricketers Joe Root and Harry Brook set up a record fourth-wicket partnership in Test cricket history. 

After Pakistan chose to bat first in the three-match Test series opener, three centuries helped the hosts to score 556 runs. In reply, Joe Root and Harry Brook’s powerful batting led the visitors to score a mammoth total of 823/7 before the declaration with a lead of 267 runs. It was the fourth-highest total in Test cricket history. 

Root scored 262 runs off 375 balls and Brook scored 317 runs off 322 balls. They had a giant fourth-wicket partnership of 454 runs. 

SEE ALSO: Harry Brook records second fastest triple century in Test

Here are some records of the 454-run fourth-wicket partnership between Root and Brook. 

Broke a 90-year record

It was the highest partnership for any wicket by the visiting batters in Test cricket history. The previous record was a 451-run partnership for the second wicket between the Australian cricketers Don Bradman and Bill Ponsford against England at The Oval in 1934. 

Broke a 67-year record

It was the highest Test partnership for any wicket by the England batters. The previous record was a 411-run fourth-wicket partnership between Colin Cowdrey and Peter May against West Indies during the 1957 Birmingham Test.

Broke an almost nine-year record

It was the highest fourth-wicket partnership in Test cricket history. The previous record was the 449-run partnership by the Australian cricketers Shaun Marsh and Adam Voges against West Indies during the 2015 Hobart Test match.

First in the ICC World Test Championship history

It was the first 400+ partnership in the ICC World Test Championship history. The previous record partnership in this competition was a 369-run partnership for the fourth wicket between the New Zealand cricketers Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls against Pakistan in the 2021 Christchurch Test match. 

Fourth highest Test partnership

It was the fourth-highest partnership for any wicket in Test cricket history. 

Highest partnership for any wicket in Test cricket history

Veteran England batter Joe Root smashed his sixth Test double century as he continued to punish the Pakistan bowlers on Day 4 of the ongoing first Test in Multan. Root reached his double ton in 305 balls as well.

However, Joe Root got lucky on Thursday morning in Multan as he was dropped on 186 by Babar Azam, denying Naseem Shah his wicket. Root made full use of it and scored the second major landmark of the Test as well. It was Root's sixth Test double-century. He surpassed Alastair Cook in the list of England batters with the most Test double-tons. Root, 33, is just one hundred behind Walter Hammond's tally of seven double-centuries, which is the record for England in Tests as well.

Most Double Hundreds For England

1. Walter Hammond - 7
2. Joe Root - 6
3. Alastair Cook - 5
4. Leonard Hutton - 4

See Also: T20 World Cup 2024: Top 5 captains of the tournament

When Joe Root surpassed 183 on Day 4, he also became the first England batter to hit 20,000 runs in international cricket. Root also became only the second active international player after Virat Kohli to score as many runs across formats of the game as well. However, Root became the 13th player and the first one since AB de Villiers to go past 20,000 runs in international cricket as well.

Most International Runs (Active Players)

• Virat Kohli - 27,041 runs in 535 matches
• Joe Root - 20,000 runs* in 350 matches

However, Joe Root, on Day 3, surpassed Alastair Cook's tally of 12,472 runs to become England's all-time highest run-scorer in the longer format as well. Also, Root has reached 1000 runs in a calendar year for the fifth time in his career. He also triggered hopes of him going to break the Indian batter Sachin Tendulkar's all-time Test record of 15,921 runs as well.

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.

England batter Joe Root has shared his thoughts on the possibility of surpassing Sachin Tendulkar’s record to become the highest run-scorer in Test cricket. Currently in excellent form during the ongoing Test series between England and the West Indies, Root scored a remarkable century in the second innings of the second Test at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. This performance has elevated him to the eighth spot on the list of all-time Test run-scorers, surpassing West Indies legend Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

With all the players ranked above Root now retired, he has a strong opportunity to advance further up the list. As of now, Root is the leading run-scorer in Test cricket among contemporary players, significantly ahead of his closest rival, Steve Smith.

Joe Root speaks out on targeting Sachin Tendulkar’s record

In a chat with Sky Sports, Joe Root reflected on his Test cricket journey and his place among the all-time greats. “When I walked out at Nagpur, I never imagined reaching this level. I was just happy to play one game. To be mentioned alongside such incredible players feels surreal, like you’re waiting to wake up. I’m very humbled, but it’s a nice feeling,” Root shared.

The interview, hosted by former England fast bowler Stuart Broad, touched on whether Root could surpass Sachin Tendulkar as the No. 1 run-scorer. Root responded that he needs to stay focused and not think too far ahead.

SEE ALSO:Indian all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer signs with Lancashire for county cricket debut

“Who knows? I might hit a lean patch after all this talk,” Root joked. “Honestly, you never know what will happen in the next few games. We just need to keep working hard, step by step, and see where it leads.”

Joe Root: England’s all-time leading run-scorer

Joe Root is one of the most successful batters in cricket history. To date, he has amassed 11,940 runs in 142 Tests at an average of 49.95, with 32 centuries and 62 fifties.

Among English cricketers, Root is the leading run-scorer overall. He has accumulated 19,355 runs in 345 international matches at an average of 48.26. The second-highest English run-scorer, Alastair Cook, trails Root by nearly 4,000 runs.

The ‘Fabulous 4’ or the ‘Fab 4’ term started from the fantabulous performances coming from the willows of Virat Kohli (India), Steve Smith (Australia), Kane Williamson (New Zealand) and Joe Root (England) when they donned their white uniforms. Former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe coined this terminology and used the nickname ‘Fab 4’. Crowe predicted in one of his August 2014 columns for ESPNcricinfo that all four members of the ‘Fab 4’ comprising the above mentioned four, who would become future cricketing leaders of their respective nations.

And to no one’s surprise, his predictions did come true, and all four players have displayed their top-class calibre, not just with the bat but also with the captaincy hat. The former Kiwi skipper, Kane Williamson, is stepping down from the New Zealand central contract after a disastrous stint in the recent 2024 T20 World Cup. This news marks the end of the Fab-4 or an era of pure cricketing display with the bat and captaincy. Though all the players still have some game within them, some aspects like the test captaincy would be dearly missed by the fanatics. Here’s a simple and noteworthy summation of the ‘Fab-4’, making it an ode to providing some memorable cricketing displays.

Virat Kohli

Though Martin Crowe predicted the staggering growth of Fab-4 in mid-2014, the unboxing happened lately in the 2015-16 period. Virat Kohli has been one of the batting legends in the red-ball format, who helped the Indian cricket team to be fearless and resilient in the toughest away conditions. His sheer calibre, aggression and intent have helped the team set high benchmarks in test cricket.

To briefly update his red ball stats, he has captained over 68 matches by winning over a phenomenal 40 games, losing 17 matches and just one match being a draw. With his MRF willow, Kohli has scored 8848 runs in 191 innings, at a commendable ongoing average of 49.16. And a majority of the runs have come from the tough and challenging away matches, symbolising his gameplay. He has 30 fifties, 29 centuries and seven massive double-century innings in his red-ball stint. And with big upcoming matches, there is no stoppage for one of the best Indian test captains.

Steve Smith

Steve Smith’s cricketing journey is a testament to resilience and adaptability. He began as a leg-break bowler, a role he performed with skill, but fate had other plans for the Aussie player. Known for his unique stance, Smith has been the reliable backbone of the Australian Cricket team. His calm and intelligent demeanour on-field and unique playing style have been his unique selling point. His tenure as a red-ball captain was commendable, with 21 wins, 10 losses, and seven draws out of 38 matches.

During his peak in the 2015-17 period, he was known for having the best and most consistent batting average, which almost reached 70. However, the unfortunate 2018 ball-tampering scandal, which led to his suspension from international cricket, has hindered his captaincy stint. He is now focused on contributing with the bat to the fullest. His ongoing test stint has seen him amass 9685 runs in 195 innings, averaging 56.97. He has 41 half-centuries, 32 centuries, and four double-centuries.

Also Read: Player Analysis: The Enduring Legacy of James Anderson’s 21-Year Test Career

Kane Williamson

Though the Fab-4’s inception came from the batting performance point of view, the captaincy aspect acted as the cherry on top. One man who symbolised the enigma of being cool, calm and composed is the Kiwi batter, Kane Williamson. The former New Zealand skipper has been a part of many final stages of the ICC tournaments, with the 2019 CWC final and the 2021 T20 WC final, naming a few. But, the memorable moment of his illustrious and ongoing cricketing journey would be the big triumph against India in the first-ever World Test Championship title match, held in 2021. His 44 test match captaincy stint garnered him 22 wins, 10 losses and 12 draw results.

Williamson is one of the players from the Fab-4 list who has successfully maintained consistency across all the formats. But, with his recent disastrous performance in the 2024 T20 World Cup, he has stepped down from the New Zealand Cricket Central Contract, almost ending his illustrious captaincy stint. In terms of numbers in the test format, Williamson has played the lowest number of matches out of the rest, where in just 176 innings, Williamson made a colossal 8743 runs, with an average of 54.99. In addition, the former Blackcaps’ skipper has 34 half-centuries, 32 centuries and six double-centuries.

Joe Root

Joe Root has been a batter touted as having the potential to overtake the test records of the Master Blaster, Sachin Tendulkar. His classy stance and shot selection have been the pivotal aspects of his batting for the English side. Root has been a go-to man across the ODI & Test Formats. His decent attacking yet impactful batting has been the prime context to check out amongst the cricket fanatics. Having a kickstart to his peak from 2014, Root has been at its best in maintaining the same consistency.

Though the new BazBall format in England’s side only synchronises a little with Joe Root’s approach, he has unleashed his attacking side in crucial times and harnessed victories for the team. Coming to the stat numbers in the red-ball game, he has made a colossal 11940 runs in 260 innings, with an average of 49.96. By playing the most matches in this list, he has also made 62 half-centuries, 32 centuries and five double-centuries. Also, his decent test-match captaincy stint of 64 matches got him 27 wins, 26 losses and 11 draw results.

England made a stunning comeback in the second Test at Trent Bridge against the West Indies. For the first time in Test cricket history, England scored over 400 runs in both innings of a match.

West Indies won the toss and chose to bowl first. England scored 416 in their first innings, led by a century from Ollie Pope and other solid contributions. The West Indies then fought back, scoring 457 in their first innings to take a lead.

In response, England scored over 400 runs again in their second innings, reducing the deficit. Centuries from Harry Brook (109) and Joe Root (122) gave England a lead of over 350 runs.

Joe Root’s record-breaking performance at Trent Bridge

Joe Root hit his 32nd Test century, including his sixth against the West Indies and his fifth at Trent Bridge. He reached this milestone in just 260 innings, with only Alastair Cook ahead of him among English players.

Historically, teams have scored over 400 runs in a Test innings 12 times. England has been on the receiving end five times. Australia has done it six times, India three times, and South Africa, Pakistan, and England once each.

Australia achieved this six times between 1924 and 2008. South Africa did it against England in Durban in 1939. India scored over 400 against Pakistan in 2005, Sri Lanka in Ahmedabad in 2009, and England in 2024. Pakistan did it against India in Faisalabad in 2006. Recently, England achieved this against the West Indies in the second Test.

Historic achievement for England in Test cricket

England has set a target of 385 runs for the West Indies at Trent Bridge. After being bowled out for 425, England made a remarkable comeback after initially being overtaken by the West Indies’ first innings score. The West Indies need 385 runs to win with one and a half days left.

England sets a challenging target for West Indies

It’s a tough challenge for the West Indies batters. Despite their first Test win, England is still at the bottom of the WTC points table, while the West Indies are sixth. England’s win could move them above South Africa in the standings.

Jayden Seals took 4-97, while Alzarri Joseph claimed 2-103. Shamar Joseph, Jason Holder, and Kevin Sinclair each took a wicket.

Joe Root’s connection with a Royals franchise is not new. In 2023, the IPL team Rajasthan Royals (RR) signed him, marking his debut in the league. Root played three matches for RR, scoring a total of 10 runs. Though RR did not retain him for the 2024 season, he will now join the Paarl Royals for SA20 2025. Announcing his arrival, Paarl posted an edited picture of Root with the text ‘Royal Again. The social media admin captioned the post as follows.

Root has extensive T20 experience but is no longer a first-choice selection for England’s T20I team. His last T20I appearance for England was on May 5, 2019, against Pakistan at Sophia Gardens.

SEE ALSO:Why Shubman Gill was chosen over not Hardik Pandya as Vice-Captain for T20Is against Sri Lanka

“We are excited to leverage his expertise, personality, and intelligence,” commented Kumar Sangakkara on Joe Root joining the Paarl Royals. The Royals’ Director of Cricket praised Root and welcomed him to the team, stating in a media release:

SA20 will commence on January 9, 2025, in South Africa. The Paarl Royals have yet to qualify for the final in the two seasons played so far. Root’s arrival could potentially change the team’s fortunes, making this season an exciting one to watch.

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.

See Also: IND vs ZIM: Player Analysis: What moves are propelling Washington Sundar to the top?

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.

See Also: MLC 2024: Season Analysis: Who tops the Adjusted Boundary Rate (aBR) metric Leaderboard?