England produced a brilliant comeback to beat Australia by two runs on the final ball of their first T20 international in Southampton on Friday after the visitors looked to be cruising to victory in their first competitive match for six months.
'We'll have to play right at the top of our game to win out there but we couldn't be in a better place to go and challenge them (India).'
Kings XI Punjab registered a comfortable six wicket win over laggards Rajasthan Royals
Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar picked Australia's batting sensation Marnus Labuschagne as the player who most reminds him of himself, calling the fast-rising batsman a special talent with impeccable footwork. The 25-year-old Labuschagne became Test cricket's leading scorer in the calendar year 2019 with 1,104 runs. He broke into the scene after coming in as a concussion substitute for Steve Smith during the Ashes last August.
Jofra Archer showed why England could not leave him out of their final ICC Men's Cricket World Cup squad as he bowled them to opening win against South Africa.
Wicket-taking is going to play a crucial role in deciding this World Cup.
Eoin Morgan has said that he is hoping to see turning pitches for the upcoming five-match T20I series against India.
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has handpicked Jos Buttler as the dangerman for the hosts in the showpiece, stating May 30.
The British media grilled Buttler on players in all likelihood skipping the Test series against New Zealand starting June 2 if their franchises get to the play-offs starting in last week of May.
Rishabh Pant said it "felt special" when Sourav Ganguly lifted him to celebrate the youngster's blistering 78 that steered Delhi Capitals to a six-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals and the pole position in the IPL.
India skipper Virat Kohli was effusive in praise of Ravchandran Ashwin after the off-spinner became only the fourth Indian, and sixth spinner in the world, to take 400 Test wickets.
Axar Patel claimed a career-best 6-38 as India bundled out England for 112 on Day 1
England fast bowler James Anderson has been ruled out for the rest of the Ashes series against Australia due to a niggling calf injury.
The R Ashwin-led Kings XI slipped to the fifth spot after suffering back-to-back losses against Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore respectively. Overall, the hosts have registered four wins from eight matches this season.
Root said rotation policy is the best they could have asked for under the current circumstances, brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
A concussed Smith was ruled out of the third Test, starting at Headingley on Thursday, after being struck in the neck by a vicious bouncer from England paceman Jofra Archer.
'There aren't too many guys... that have averaged higher than Steve in Test cricket. Clearly they are huge shoes to fill and we don't put all that pressure on Marnus'
Who do you think should be part of England's playing XI for the first Test?
Panesar also expects the ICC to prepare a neutral wicket and not a green top as the WTC is supposed to be a good advert for the five-day game.
'At the moment he's in incredible form and to play the way he has done in such tough conditions, so alien to us as England batsmen, is incredible.'
England faced a double injury blow ahead of the second Test against South Africa as Rory Burns and Jofra Archer were declared doubtful for Friday's start at Newlands. South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has warned his team against complacency as they take a 1-0 series lead into the second Test against England, from whom he expects a backlash at Newlands.
Tendulkar also felt that Leach doesn't vary his pace a lot which will be required on tracks offer turn.
England 'want to stamp authority over Australia from Day 1', says Ben Stokes
'It's a bit different and a bit weird, but it's just something we'll have to get used to'
'If India don't have success in the One-dayers and the T20s, they are in deep trouble in the Test matches and they'll get smoked 4-0, in my opinion'.
While some franchises have said there needs to be a six-day quarantine for them and could see them miss their respective teams' opening games, others have pointed out how they should be excused since it would be simply about moving from one bio-secure bubble (in the UK) to another (in the UAE).
Rajneesh Gupta presents Rajasthan Royals's IPL record over the years.
In recent weeks we have reflected, and acknowledge that black players and fans, who have contributed so much to the history of our game, now feel disenfranchised. They do not feel as if cricket is a game for them. This must change.'
Images from the World Cup final between England and New Zealand, at Lord's on Sunday.
Australia have their own speedsters in Mitchell Starc, who is level with Archer with 15 wickets, and Pat Cummins (11).
KKR have so far failed to come together as a unit and slipped to sixth in the table after starting the tournament on a high against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
On the other hand, the Royals have managed to win only one of their three fixtures. They lost to Chennai Super Kings in their previous match to slip down to the sixth spot. Sanju Samson and his men will be eyeing a second win.
Pakistan opener Abid Ali scored a half-century but England's seam bowlers used the muggy conditions to their advantage to restrict the tourists to 126 for five at the close of a rain-hit opening day of the second Test at the Rose Bowl on Thursday.
Australian head coach Justin Langer has one piece of advice for young sportsperson across the world -- stay away from social media. With the advent of social networking sites, sportsperson around the world, at times, have to deal with abusive and threatening messages online and Langer believes "zero social media" is the key.
A ruthless India, sporting its new flaming orange and blue colours, will be eyeing pole position with a solid knock-out punch on an already disintegrated England in Sunday's high-profile World Cup encounter. With an unbeaten record in six encounters so far, Virat Kohli's men are all but through to the semi-finals with 11 points, but victory over England will tighten their grip at the top and, in the process, oust the world's No 1 ODI team from the global event.
Images from Day 3 of the first Test between England and Pakistan in Manchester on Friday.
RR will have to get their combination right as only four foreigners can make the playing XI.
'... I think it will be one of those things you don't realise how much you need until it's gone. Take it away, and we will realise how much the supporters mean to us.'
Joe Root said that while Ben Stokes would play, he might not be able to contribute much with the ball.
England have lost the away series in India 1-3 before suffering a 1-0 defeat against New Zealand earlier this month.
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