Washington Sundar's bold prediction that the visitors would seal the win 'probably in the first session' turned into a haunting soundbite, as England staged a spirited comeback to snatch a 22-run victory and a 2-1 lead in the series.
England have won all four Tests since the new head coach took over last month.
Global media has hailed New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum as 'the best batsman in the world' for his blistering knock of 195 runs against Sri Lanka in Christchurch.
'Bazball' could be the most used term in world cricket over the last one month but the inspiration behind it, England Test coach Brendon McCullum, finds the incessant talk around the newly coined word 'silly'.
Abhishek Sharma opened up about a small but meaningful habit-pulling out a chit from his pocket after scoring a century in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Former captain Michael Vaughan is astonished by England's decision to bowl first on a dry Headingley wicket, a decision that backfired as India finished at 359 for 3 on day one of the first Test in Leeds.
After the end of the fifth and final Test match against India in Dharamsala, England head coach Brendon McCullum said that the visitors were more "timid" as the series went on.
Bazball is in the firing line, with former players and pundits decrying the high-risk game on Australia's spicy pitches.
In a must-win situation to keep the five-match series alive, England would be hoping to put a much improved performance with the bat.
The Ashes could be decided within days at an Adelaide Oval furnace where England's hopes of wresting back the urn will fire anew or flame out entirely against a strengthened Australia.
Selected at number three ahead of the burgeoning talent of Jacob Bethell, who averaged 52 on his first Test tour of New Zealand, Pope settled after early scares to compile his ninth Test century.
Statistical highlights from Day 1 of the opening Test between India and New Zealand in Auckland on Thursday.
'I think McCullum wants to take this up because he sees this as a major challenge.'
Tim Southee equalled West Indies great Chris Gayle's tally of sixes in Test cricket to move to joint-fourth spot in the all-time list.
England have only drawn one from 35 Tests in the McCullum-Stokes regime, with one of their exhilarating run chases in that spell coming when they reached 378 against India in 2022 -- the only time India have lost when defending Test totals of more than 350.
Former West Indies skipper Denesh Ramdin feels the role of wicketkeepers has evolved over the years since Adam Gilchrist came into prominence.
Rajaneesh Gupta lists the amazing numbers that make Rohit Sharma one of the finest ODI batters of his time.
'Mohammed Siraj and the passion of the Indian boys was too strong and ultimately they deserve to win this Test match.'
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum may reportedly retire from international cricket if there is any relapse of his crippling back problem during or after the first Test against the West Indies in Dunedin, which is his home town.
Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum has been ruled out of the remainder of the Indian Premier League after injuring his left hamstring during the Gujarat Lions's loss to Delhi Daredevils on Thursday.
England wicketkeeper Jordan Cox has been ruled out of the three-Test series against New Zealand after fracturing his thumb in a net session during a tour match in Queenstown.
Jofra Archer will play his first Test in more than four years as he replaces fellow seamer Josh Tongue for the third Test at Lord's.
McCullum, who is currently in charge of Indian Premier League side Kolkata Knight Riders, was keen on taking the job
The spotlight will be firmly on Mohammed Shami as the Indian team contemplates his inclusion in the playing XI.
'...he's not shown any obvious signs of dismissal and he's played stylishly.'
Former wicketkeeper batter Dinesh Karthik believes Shubman Gill is yet to realise the 'enormity' of what it means to be India's Test captain.
West Indies batting legend Vivian Richards has lauded swashbuckling New Zealand batsman Brendon McCullum for posting the fastest ton in Test cricket off just 54 balls, bidding adieu to the game on an incredible high. Richards, who held the record for the quickest hundred in Tests off 56 balls jointly with Pakistan's Misbah-ul-Haq till McCullum broke it yesterday, was all praise for the Kiwi skipper for his record-breaking feat. "Let me take this opportunity to congratulate Brendon...(I've) been a great fan of yours for many years. Well done on your achievement," said Richards in the video on Twitter, posted by Pakistan Super League (PSL) side Quetta Gladiators. "And if there was going to be an individual who you would've liked to have surpassed whatever you would've achieved in life, certainly it would be you. You're one of those individuals who help to put bums on seats. Long may that continue. Well done, man," he added.
Ahead of England's five-match Test series against India at home, head coach Brendon McCullum hailed young all-rounder Jacob Bethell
'He wants to do something significant and leave a legacy and impact on Test cricket and he is getting there.'
In 2008, Brendon McCullum got the inaugural IPL off to a scintillating start for Kolkata Knight Riders against Royal Challengers Bangalore. McCullum's sizzling 73-ball 158 set the ball rolling for IPL in its very first game.
Former West Indies great Brian Lara has named Brendon McCullum as skipper of his Dream World Cup XI, which has three Indians in it.
Glenn McGrath said his prediction this time is based on how England were held to a 2-2 series draw by India in the recent Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy five-Test series.
While the triple century against India and an away series win over West Indies were the highlights of his career, Brendon McCullum said it was the camaraderie of the dressing room that would linger longest in his memory.
A Dismayed New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said on Monday that national captain Brendon McCullum was not under investigation for match-fixing, as reported earlier by a British daily, and added that he had only given testimony to the International Cricket Council on the understanding that it would be kept confidential.
Kolkata Knight Riders coach Brendon McCullum says it is also comforting to be at home as the world battles a pandemic, which has made isolation the new normal. He said the situation demands that everyone stays at home and maintains social distancing, the only way to curb the spread of the virus, which has caused thousands of deaths worldwide.
The contest between England's dialled-down "Bazball" approach and Australia's more methodical batting could determine who prevails in the Ashes series beginning in Perth on Friday.
'Rooty has got 11,500 Test runs, he's brilliant, but he's so desperate to fit in to what Ben (Stokes) and Brendon (McCullum) are doing that sometimes I don't think he gets his balance of attack and defence right.'
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum batted with freedom in the nets on Wednesday and should be fit to play Sunday's ICC World Cup clash against Afghanistan.
Brendon McCullum became the first cricketer to score two centuries in Twenty20 Internationals as New Zealand launched their ICC World T20 campaign with a crushing 59-run victory over Bangladesh in Pallekele.
Brendon McCullum wants James Anderson and Stuart Broad to be in his Ashes squad
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