New Zealand's cricketers may have previously regarded Harbhajan Singh as little more than nuisance value with the bat, but the latter has now emerged as a genuine all round threat with two back to back Test hundreds as the tourists look to do the unthinkable -- win a test series in India for the first time.
Fast bowler Trent Boult is in line to play his first one-day international in almost a year after being included in New Zealand's 15-man squad for a four-match series against England.
'India in their home conditions are a different beast and they have started unsurprisingly strongly - I see them as favourites to win the competition at this stage, no matter what happens in Dharmsala (on Sunday),' writes Ross Taylor in his column for ICC Media Zone.
Yeh Hai India: Capturing Events And Moods Across Our Incredible Country.
Foot Volley, generally played on the beach, is a mix of football and volleyball in which players use their feet to get the ball over the net.
Daryl Mitchell's 129 and a 98 from skipper Tom Latham helped the Black Caps to an imposing 336-5 but Fakhar's fluent 180 from 144 balls and half centuries from Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan got Pakistan across the line with 10 balls to spare.
Kane Williamson, playing his first match of World Cup 2023, scored 78 as the Kiwis eased past Bangladesh by eight wickets.
South Africa sealed a comprehensive 190-run victory over New Zealand on Wednesday for their sixth win in seven matches.
New Zealand will host England in two tests next February
Veteran left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori will reportedly be missing New Zealand's tour to South Africa starting later this month due to an Achilles tendon injury.
Ponting said he was approached by Rob Key, who was then appointed as the English Cricket Board's new director of men's cricket.
The World Cup opener is set to be another barnstorming meeting between two of the favourites -- and a fitting way to start a cricketing feast.
New Zealand beat England by a comfortable six wickets as the four-match Twenty20 International series finished in a 2-2 draw.
New Zealand face England-beaters Afghanistan aiming to keep their unbeaten run intact
Seifert smashed six sixes in his 43-ball blitz as New Zealand romped home
What stands out for Kuldeep 2.0 is his aggressive approach.
Talking about carrying the momentum or starting again in the knockout stage, Boult said, 'For me, it is starting again. We are against some classy opposition coming to the business end of the tournament.'
Trent Boult has not given up hope of playing Test cricket again despite declining a central contract with New Zealand Cricket.
From England's fiery all-rounder Ben Stokes to India's rising star Shubman Gill, and the ever-reliable Babar Azam from Pakistan, these cricketing maestros are ready to redefine the game.
As Mohammed Shami walked back to the top of his run-up, Virat Kohli geed the fans at the Wankhede Stadium to go full throat with their chants - Shaamii! Shaamii! They obliged merrily.
Virat Kohli's World record 50th ODI hundred, a scintillating century by Shreyas Iyer and Mohammed Shami's brilliant pace bowling powered the hosts past New Zealand in the first semi-final with a 70-run victory at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Captain Babar Azam was delighted after hitting an unbeaten century as Pakistan notched up back-to-back wins over New Zealand with a 38-run victory over the tourists in the second Twenty20 International in Lahore on Saturday.
Pakistan scored 182 runs and Tom Latham's side fell well short of their target despite a hat-trick from Matt Henry, with Haris Rauf claiming four wickets for 18 runs as New Zealand were dismissed for 94, with more than four overs remaining.
England's "Bazball" revolution continued apace on Sunday when the tourists wrapped up a thumping 267-run victory over New Zealand in the opening session of the fourth day of the first Test.
Pakistan cricketers floored by 'unexpected' welcome, hit nets 12 hours after arrival
Musheer Khan smashed his second century of the ICC Under-19 World Cup as India thrashed New Zealand by 214 runs.
New Zealand will firmly bank on their potent batting line-up to ward off Bangladesh's capable spin attack on a slow Chepauk pitch on Friday.
Hosts New Zealand were in trouble as Sri Lanka reduced the Kiwis to 165 for five on day two of the first Test.
New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell has likened the England series to a heavyweight boxing bout and thinks the Black Caps are still very much in the fight in the third Test after a topsy-turvy day two at Headingley.
New Zealand will play the World Cup-opener against England on Thursday without key pacer Tim Southee, who is yet to recover from his thumb surgery.
Pacer Mohammed Siraj had reported a 'corrupt approach" to BCCI's Anti Corruption Unit (ACU) from an unknown person, who wanted 'inside news' about his team before Australia arrived in India.
New Zealand's hopes of levelling the T20 series against India with victory in the final match on Tuesday have taken a blow with captain Kane Williamson opting out of the match for a medical appointment.
"He has indicated he's available for the World Cup," Stead told reporters.
IMAGES from Day 1 of the 2nd Test played between England and New Zealand at Trent Bridge on Friday.
IMAGEs from the World Cup match between Pakistan and New Zealand played at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday
PHOTOS from the ICC World Cup opener played between England and New Zealand at Ahmedabad on Thursday
Williamson suffered the injury while fielding for the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League last Friday and returned to New Zealand.
Suryakumar continues to lead T20I rankings
Chapman (57-ball 104 not out) combined with Jimmy Neesham (45) to overhaul the 194-run target and stun Pakistan
Kane Williamson, spinners set up NZ's 35-run win over Ireland
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