Sai Sudharsan made the opportunity count in his comeback game with a fifty while Rishabh Pant suffered another injury as India played the old-fashioned way to reach 264 for four at stumps on Day 1 of the fourth Test in Manchester on Wednesday.
Ricky Ponting advised star batters Virat Kohli and Steve Smith to stop trying hard to rediscover their best and pushing themselves too hard and just focus on watching the ball and scoring runs.
England were comfortably placed at 225 for two at stumps after bowling out India for 358 on the second day of the fourth Test in Manchester on Thursday.
Virat Kohli and Steve Smith will be "dangerous" and "hungry" for runs in the remaining two Tests
Australian batter Steve Smith is "focussed" on taking them all head on in the game beginning in Adelaide on Friday.
Earlier, after being 0-2 early in their second innings, India continued to battle on to frustrate England on day five, the tourists doing everything possible to keep the series alive on 322-4 at tea.
Smith took a leaf out of Hussey's book and did not train on the day before the Adelaide Test, hoping to be fresh for a big score.
Steve Smith was facing throwdowns from team-mate Marnus Labuschagne in the nets when the ball struck his right thumb.
Steve Smith has said he had never encountered a wicket like the one at the SCG
Matthew Breetzke became the first player to score half centuries in each of his first five One-Day International appearances as South Africa beat England by five runs in the second ODI at Lord's on Thursday.
Jacob Bethell has represented England in 29 matches across all formats and will lead the team in the absence of the regular Test players.
Despite introducing a single ticket format to make purchases more accessible, organisers haven't seen a significant boost in sales, with the numbers remaining sluggish ahead of the match.
The T20I series against South Africa will be played from 10-14 September, following the ongoing ODI series where the Proteas hold an unassailable 2-0 lead heading into the final match on Sunday.
Glenn Maxwell's hopes of reviving his Test career may be over after the all-rounder missed out on selection in Australia's much-changed squad for the Sri Lanka tour.
Mohamed Salah had already clinched the Premier League Player of the Season award, the Golden Boot for most goals scored and the Playmaker award for most assists, making him the first player to win all three awards in the same season.
R Ashwin says he has figured out ways to tackle Australian batting mainstay Steve Smith in the upcoming five-match Test series
India's Yuki Bhambri, along with his New Zealand partner Michael Venus, stormed into the men's doubles pre-quarterfinals at the US Open 2025
Travis Head scored his second successive hundred while veteran Steve Smith wore the opposition down with a statement century to put Australia in control
"Just Rishabh being Rishabh": Pant's grit wins hearts as he returns to bat in Manchester Test
Siraj's six-wicket haul helps India stay ahead on bizarre day three of the second Test against England at Edgbaston.
Needing 7 to win, Siraj is given the ball and who better than Mr Lion Heart to script India's narrowest win in Test cricket. It takes Siraj a stinging yorker to send Atkinson's stumps flying -- the ball hitting low on the off stump.
He returned with figures of 4-22 in 12.1 overs to join an elite list comprising legends Vinoo Mankad, Bishan Singh Bedi, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar and Srinivas Venkataraghavan, who have taken four wickets or more at the iconic venue.
New Zealand resumed overnight on 92-0 and eased past Zimbabwe's first innings total of 149 before their innings ended on 307-9, with all-rounder Nathan Smith retiring hurt with an abdominal strain.
Harry Brook could be in contention to replace Ollie Pope as Ben Stokes' deputy when England travel to Australia this winter.
Quinton de Kock has reversed his retirement from ODI cricket and has been named in both the ODI and T20I squads for the Pakistan tour.
Australia's senior batter Steve Smith said the last three years have been the most challenging because of Kookaburra changing their ball in 2020.
Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar struck unbeaten centuries as India staged a superb fightback on the final day to draw the fourth Test against England.
IMAGES from Day 2 of the third Test match between England and India at Lord's, London, on Friday.
Miachel Vaughan pushes for injury subs after Pant, Lyon Cases
Angelina Jolie is reportedly planning to sell her house in the United States and relocate abroad with her children.
UK police are appealing for information after an Indian rider's motorbike, used for a round-the-world trip, was stolen in Nottingham. The bike contained the rider's passport, laptop, and other personal belongings.
But the big question that keeps striking the mind is, if Indian tennis system can actually claim this win as its own. The answer is: partially.
Isak's record Liverpool move caps Premier League's 3 billion transfer frenzy
"He has taken to Test cricket like duck to water," Nasser Hussain, who was on-air, said.
All-rounder Jamie Overton, who played the only Test match of his career back in 2022, has been recalled to the 15-member England squad
Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra has been a long-time advocate for athlete mental health.
Australia's Steve Smith wants to adopt a proactive approach against Ravichandran Ashwin in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
India's champion pacer says bowling to Steve Smith has always been a challenge.
Glimpses from India and around the world that will make you smile and cry.
India's batting faltered under pressure as they suffered a 22-run defeat in the third Test against England, at Lord's.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances