West Indies were skittled out for 129 in their second innings, on Tuesday, to lose the third Test at Old Trafford by 269 runs, falling to a 2-1 series defeat
Stuart Broad took 10 wickets in the Test -- for only the third time in his career -- and was named man of the series despite his surprise omission from the first Test in Southampton.
The 34-year-old debuted for England in 2007 at Colombo with Chaminda Vaas his first, and only, wicket in that Test at a cost of 95 runs and logged his best figures of 8-15 when he rampaged through the Australians at Trent Bridge in the Ashes five years ago.
Two India squads travelling to different places at the same time could become a norm in the mentally draining world of bio-bubbles that cricketers are forced to live in amid the COVID-19 pandemic, said India captain Virat Kohli on Wednesday.
Leicester beat Southampton to open seven-point gap at the top.
England's most successful bowler James Anderson feels he and Stuart Broad should be paired together to lead the bid for a series win in the decisive Test against the West Indies. The hosts are spoilt for choice ahead of Friday's start of the third Test at Old Trafford with Anderson, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood all looking to return to the team.
Former India batsman Sachin Tendulkar feels that Mahendra Singh Dhoni should bat at No 5 in the upcoming 2019 World Cup.
'I don't know how we approach this kind of an itinerary where you go for a holiday in between and then come back to play Test matches. One week break was enough post the WTC final. The thing is you need to play continuously. I am amazed this itinerary was approved.'
Mitchell Starc feels the regulation will not have much affect in the limited overs formats.
'But when you get that click, that six or seven overs where everything is in sync and you see the ball flying down at 90mph-plus causing chaos, that's why you put Jofra Archer in your team.'
James Anderson's ascension to the pantheon of Test bowlers when he claimed his 600th wicket on Tuesday can possibly be traced back to a prediction that current New Zealand selector Gavin Larsen made in 2008.
Anderson now has seven wickets in the match.
England fast bowler Mark Wood said on Thursday that players are using 'back sweat' rather than saliva to try and shine the ball in the first Test against West Indies at the Ageas Bowl. Strict health protocols are in place for the return of international cricket after a 117-day stoppage caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including a ban on saliva.
"...he is an underrated player but he contributes on a regular basis, he is a terrific player to have in your team."
Images from the opening day of the third and final Test between England and Pakistan in Southampton, on Friday.
Batting legend Brian Lara believes West Indies will need to adopt a proactive approach in the upcoming three-Test series against England and consider the matches as four-day games as the visitors lack the firepower to last five days. The 51-year-old former captain said while West Indies' boast of a formidable bowling attack, their batting department is a concern, which is precisely the reason behind his statement.
Skipper Joe Root, who led England to a series-levelling win at the Headingley, expects an Indian backlash in the penultimate Test and said they're ready for all combinations including facing the "world-class" R Ashwin at Oval.
Villa's chief executive Christian Purslow said 10 first-team players are among 14 positive cases of coronavirus at the club.
Eager to keep their semi-final hopes alive, a desperate Bangladesh will have their work cut out when they take on a spirited Afghanistan in a do-or-die World Cup encounter in Southampton on Monday. England's defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka on Friday breathed air into Bangladesh's hopes of securing a semi-final berth and the 'Tigers' will be keen on making the most of the situation starting with a win over the bottom-placed Afghanistan.
Manchester City chalked up yet another victory to maintain their stranglehold of the Premier League title race but pursuers Manchester United and Leicester City both secured important wins to enhance their top-four bids on Sunday.
Spurs Premier League match at Brighton postponed due to COVID-19
Rahul Chahar would have added another dimension to India's attack.
Opener Rohit Sharma countering Trent Boult's incoming deliveries will make for a fascinating contest, something that Virender Sehwag will be looking forward to during the ICC World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand, starting in Southampton on June 18.
India's captain Virat Kohli will have to think overtime about the balance of his squad, with a long tail, often bushy with runs, and just two openers -- one untested (Rohit Sharma) but very capable and another supremely talented (KL Rahul) but highly reluctant starter.
Harbhajan feels Siraj can pip Ishant for a place in the final XI.
Buoyant Chelsea extended their Premier League lead and calmed nerves at Stamford Bridge with a 4-2 win over Southampton on Tuesday that moved them seven points clear of their nearest pursuers Tottenham Hotspur.
But the IPL management and the Indian cricket board are optimistic.
India's Kohli, Rohit, Bumrah unmoved
Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin returned impressive figures of five for 59 to help Nottinghamshire bowl out Somerset for 169 in the second innings of the County Championship Division One match n Taunton on Tuesday.
City are two points behind leaders Liverpool, but have a game in hand
Professional soccer has been suspended indefinitely across Europe since last month but countries and leagues are now planning for a return to training and competition without fans in attendance in May or June when restrictions are relaxed.
West Indies Test captain Jason Holder on Tuesday said his team will treat Barbados-born speedster Jofra Archer as just another English cricketer when the opening Test begins in Southampton on July 8. Archer gained eligibility to represent England in 2018. He had played for West Indies Under-19 side in 2014.
Photos from the English Premier League matches played on Sunday
Star all-rounder Glenn Maxwell says that he, along with his Australian teammates, wouldn't mind being on the same chartered flight that would take India, New Zealand and England players to the United Kingdom after the conclusion of IPL 2021.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has blamed his side's poor finish as the reason behind their goalless draw against Southampton in their Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium.
Batsman Fawad Alam, who was also named in the 20-member squad along with two specialist spinners could make a comeback to Pakistan's Test team after 11 years.
Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane pounced on a piece of comical defending to secure a 1-0 win over Sunderland in the Premier League on Sunday although he was later wheeled away on a stretcher after suffering an ankle injury.
There were close matches, acrobatic fielding, some sharp bowling and big runs scored in the round-robin phase. Here are some memorable moments from the World Cup so far
West Ham had lost their first three Premier League games to sit bottom of the table and their dismal start to the campaign had already sparked speculation among pundits as to whether new manager Manuel Pellegrini would see out the season.
Former England captain Michael Atherton believes the ICC should consider allowing more substitutions for injuries which require players to visit a hospital for treatment during a match amid the coronavirus pandemic. International cricket is set to resume after the coronavirus hiatus with England scheduled to host the West Indies team in a bio-secure environment for a proposed three-match series in July.
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