England will be heading into the T20 World Cup with a massive confidence boost following a series win across both white-ball formats in Sri Lanka under captaincy of young Harry Brook, who has switched his side's fortunes since taking over.
England captain Ben Stokes underwent surgery in November for his long-standing left-knee problem.
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.
KKR had just two wins out of seven matches at the end of the first leg and were placed seventh. But, in the second half of the tournament in the UAE, they won five out of their remaining league matches to make the play-offs, and then the final.
Despite losing the series, McCullum maintains positive outlook.
It was a wild ride while it lasted but the 'Bazball' revolution that enlivened English cricket for three years collapsed in 11 days on Australian soil in an Ashes defeat as harrowing as any in the modern era.
England have won all four Tests since the new head coach took over last month.
'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'.
'Bazball' has changed the dynamics of England's batting approach in Test cricket and their Kiwi coach Brendon McCullum is very clear that irrespective of outcome, his team won't deviate from its aggressive tactics against India in the five-Test series, where most tracks will offer substantial turn.
Joe Root returned to England's one-day international squad for the first time since their ill-fated World Cup title defence in November
McMillan appointed White Ferns' batting, fielding coach ahead of World Cup
Statistical highlights from Day 1 of the opening Test between India and New Zealand in Auckland on Thursday.
England coach Brendon McCullum on Monday described his Indian counterpart Gautam Gambhir as a "strong leader of men", backing him to achieve success with the national team in near future.
England captain Ben Stokes went on to call Jofra Archer an 'incredibly gifted cricketer', irrespective of the colour of the ball in his hand.
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.
'It is an immense honour, a responsibility I couldn't have imagined.'
'I think McCullum wants to take this up because he sees this as a major challenge.'
The England and Wales Cricket Board has sacked its data analysts, Freddie Wilde and Nathan Leamon, weeks ahead of the Test series against India, as head coach Brendon McCullum wants to put more emphasis on gut feeling and intuition.
Mohammed Siraj produced a stellar display across five gruelling Tests to prove that he possesses both the heart and the craft to lead India's pace battery.
England skipper Ben Stokes on Thursday said the hosts don't think the absence of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and R Ashwin makes India any lesser side as their "ginormous" talent pool is enough to fill the void.
The Perth Stadium curator has promised the wicket will be green, fast and bouncy but Stokes offered no thoughts on whether England would attack with four quicks or pick the specialist spinner, Shoaib Bashir, in their 11.
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.
'I've never seen anything like it in my life.'
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.
As India marches toward the Asia Cup final, one thing is crystal clear -- Abhishek Sharma isn't just participating in this tournament; he's redefining it.
This series begins a potentially era-defining period for Stokes and England coach Brendon McCullum, having enjoyed plenty of highs and lows over the past few years, with the Ashes series in Australia next up in the Test format, starting in November.
McCullum, who is currently in charge of Indian Premier League side Kolkata Knight Riders, was keen on taking the job
"Came here to give myself every chance to play just as batter": Stokes after being ruled out of Oval Test
Former West Indies great Brian Lara has named Brendon McCullum as skipper of his Dream World Cup XI, which has three Indians in it.
Captain Gill will be looking to get India back to their best in red ball cricket and he has 'Let you actions lead the way.'
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.
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.
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 five-match Test series against India at home is a massive test for England's 'Bazball' brand of cricket under skipper Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum.
'He wants to do something significant and leave a legacy and impact on Test cricket and he is getting there.'
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 third Test at Lord's could well be the series' turning point. This isn't just about team combinations or tactical tweaks anymore. The pitch has emerged as a defining factor -- one that could tilt the balance of power in a contest hanging delicately at 1-1.
England tearaway Jofra Archer is willing to do everything in his power to secure a ticket on the plane that will fly to Australia
