England's Ben Stokes said the knee issue that hampered him in the Ashes opener was a flare-up of an older injury and the all-rounder is confident he can manage it going into the second match in Adelaide this week.
India's experienced opener KL Rahul expressed admiration for vice-captain Rishabh Pant and his dream to replicate the dynamic southpaw's play style following their record-breaking exploits on Day 3 of the third Test against England at Lord's.
India will miss Virat Kohli more than Rohit Sharma in the marquee Test series against England and the duo's recent retirement from the format will "hurt" the transitioning team's chances in the rubber starting on Friday, reckons the legendary Geoffrey Boycott.
'Packing my gear for training after a break is still as exciting now as it was when I was 10 years old.'
James Anderson hailed England's all-round improvement and called inspirational captain Ben Stokes a "freak" as they thumped South Africa by an innings and 85 runs in the second Test at Old Trafford on Saturday, setting up a series decider at The Oval.
Saud Shakeel's crafty 134 fetched Pakistan a handy first-innings lead before their spinners blew away England's top order to boost their hopes of a memorable series victory on day two of the deciding third Test in Rawalpindi on Friday.
'I think it have seen the side-ons (bowlers) but he delivers the ball from about a foot or even a bit more closer to the batsman than the average bowler so the ball feels quicker even than the pace he is actually bowling at.'
England won't rush Ben Stokes into the playing XI against New Zealand if he is not completely fit, skipper captain Jos Buttler said on Wednesday, hinting that the explosive batter might not start in the World Cup opener.
Rising Pune Supergiant defeated Gujarat Lions by five wickets in an IPL match in Pune, on Monday.
"You don't produce the numbers and produce the innings that he (Kohli) does in all three formats and it's fine. We as players and people who play against him a lot, we never take anything he has done in the game before into the game we have got here," said Stokes.
Stokes begs to differ that India are a "step up" than New Zealand, saying the change in opposition won't alter their playing style.
Stokes' father Ged suffered a stroke just days after arriving in the country to follow his son on tour and is still hospitalised.
The left-handed batsman now has 497 points in the all-rounder rankings, while second-placed Jason Holder has 459 points.
England head coach Chris Silverwood says he won't push star all-rounder Ben Stokes's return from a mental health-break despite the team's struggles in the ongoing Test series against India.
He finished with the figures of 4-49 in his 14 overs including five maiden overs.
Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and spinner Nathan Lyon made history on Friday as they became the first bowling quartet in Test history to take 500 Test wickets while playing together.
Rassie van der Dussen scored a classy century as South Africa secured a 62-run victory in sweltering heat in the first one day international to spoil England all-rounder Ben Stokes' farewell party at Chester-le-Street on Tuesday.
'I always know that when he gets into that game, he'll want to put his mark on it, put his stamp on it.'
England selected an entirely new squad for their limited-overs series against Pakistan after three players and four staff members tested positive for COVID-19.
Newcastle coach Bruce offers the England all-rounder centre-half role
Meanwhile, Middlesex middle-order batsman Dawid Malan has been confirmed the replacement of Stokes in the ODI squad.
Gill's magnificence. Siraj and Akash's brilliance. Jadeja's class. Jaiswal and Rahul's success. Stokes' toss blunder. Root's failures.
Ben Stokes will take time to recover from memories of the catch he dropped, which cost England the first Test in the Ashes 2023 series against Australia.
England all-rounder Ben Stokes mistakenly applied saliva on the ball after the completion of the 12th over of the India innings
Images from Friday's IPL match between Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals, in Abu Dhabi.
A grafting century from Dom Sibley and an increasingly belligerent one by Ben Stokes put England in control on day two of the second Test against West Indies in Manchester on Friday. Opener Sibley completed his second Test century shortly before lunch, eventually falling for 120, while Stokes cut loose after it before going for 176 as England declared on 469-9.
England all-rounder Ben Stokes was reprimanded for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct after he was charged for making inappropriate comments during the opening day's play in the third cricket Test against India in Mohali on Saturday.
IMAGES from Day 4 of the 1st Test between England and India at Headingley in Leeds on Monday.
The curtains dropped on another exciting India vs England Test series, with the visiting side falling to a crushing defeat in the final match in Dharamsala.
IMAGES from Day 5 of the 2nd Test played at Newlands in Cape Town on Tuesday.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) expects technology that enables the third umpire to check for no balls to be available for the remainder of the Ashes series after it broke down ahead of the ongoing first Test.
Brook's innings was by no means chanceless -- Tom Latham and Tim Southee both missed one good chance to take a thick edge in the slips -- but he rode his luck to bring up his 10th Test half century with a six.
England all-rounder Ben Stokes said he had his family's blessing to return to action in the Indian Premier League with the Rajasthan Royals after taking compassionate leave to visit his father, who is ill with brain cancer.
Images from Sunday's Indian Premier League match between Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals in Abu Dhabi.
England's selectors are acutely aware of the impact on players of bio-secure bubbles and with a demanding year ahead, are making sure they protect their key performers.
The second Test begins on Thursday, with a third and final Test scheduled at Birmingham starting on July 26.
Former Australian spin wizard Brad Hogg believes that England cricketer Ben Stokes is a better all-rounder than Hardik Pandya. Pandya has always drawn comparisons with Stokes as the two all-rounders are explosive with the bat and also capable pace bowlers.
England all-rounder Ben Stokes has taken an indefinite break from all cricket with immediate effect to prioritise his mental wellbeing and continue his recovery from an injury to his left index finger.
England's Ben Stokes feared it "might be the end" after he almost choked on a tablet while alone in his hotel room ahead of the Ashes.
England have retained old warhorse James Anderson who is seven shy of reaching the landmark 700 wickets and become the first pacer to achieve the feat.
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