As curtains dropped on the third day of the first Test against New Zealand, England strengthened their stranglehold with Stuart Broad ripping through the Kiwi top-order at the Bay Oval.
India were expected to try out a bunch of players after another World Cup debacle but if the team combination for the second T20 was any indication, they seemed reluctant to start with a clean slate.
Images from the T20 World Cup match between Afghanistan and New Zealand, in Abu Dhabi, on Sunday.
IMAGES from Day 3 of the 3rd Test played between England and New Zealand at Headingley on Saturday.
As Mohammed Shami walked back to the top of his run-up, Virat Kohli geed the fans at the Wankhede Stadium to go full throat with their chants - Shaamii! Shaamii! They obliged merrily.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable Player Index of IPL 2024 after Match 54.
New Zealand built a lead of 238 with three second innings wickets remaining on Monday heading into a delicately poised final day of the second Test against England in Nottingham.
Ishan Kishan had to sit out of the Sri Lanka series despite scoring the fastest double hundred in the history of ODIs against Bangladesh.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson admitted that playing the second leg of Indian Premier League in the United Arab Emirates helped in understanding the conditions better in the lead up to the T20 World Cup.
Tim Southee and Matt Henry removed both England openers as New Zealand reduced the tourists to 39-2 and took control of the second Test by the close of play on the second day at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Saturday.
Martin Guptill will play in his seventh T20 World Cup and Devon Conway will keep wickets in addition to his batting duties at the tournament
'When you play for India, there are loads of expectations. We are watched, people come to the stadium and everyone who plays for India needs to embrace that and cope with it. We haven't done that in these two games, and that's why we haven't won.'
'Shami always knew that he would be required at some point in time and for that he was always prepared.'
India opener Mayank Agarwal and New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel have made huge progress in the ICC Test Player Rankings after outstanding performances in the second Test of their ICC World Test Championship series in Mumbai.
Ishan Kishan has made a massive jump to enter the top 10 among T20 batters.
Pakistan captain Babar Azam has surpassed India's Virat Kohli in becoming the world No.1 T20I batter for the longest period of time after he maintained his top spot in the latest ICC T20 batting rankings.
A victory at Hagley Oval to seal a 2-0 series sweep would also push the Black Caps firmly into contention for one of two berths in June's inaugural ICC World Test Championship final at Lord's.
An annoyed Rohit Sharma slammed the broadcaster Star Sports for showing his century in the third ODI against New Zealand was the first in "three years" as the skipper pointed out he hardly played any 50-over matches during the period.
'Great players go through phases like this and we wanted to get him in the game straightaway'
Royal Challengers Bangalore will be aiming to halt the Jos Buttler juggernaut when they take on Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League match at the MCA Stadium in Pune on Tuesday.
Joe Root scored his fastest Test century while Ollie Pope struck a superb 145, as England launched a stirring fightback to reach 473/5 at the close of play on the third day of the second Test against New Zealand on Sunday.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable performances of IPL 2024
Rajasthan Royals would aim to build on their promising start to the season when they take on Royal Challengers Bangalore, a side that is yet to unlock its potential.
IMAGES from the 3rd ODI played between India and New Zealand in Indore on Tuesday.
Rajasthan Royals' director of cricket and head coach Kumar Sangakkara believes they have a 'very competent' squad at their disposal to script a turnaround after three dismal IPL seasons.
'Williamson, Jamieson rested from T20s as Tests key priority.'
Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santer may have not picked up a wicket in New Zealand's thumping win over India but his tidy spell helped immensely in putting pressure on the opposition batters, said teammmate Ish Sodhi.
'It's great that we're playing our neighbour on the other side of the world and in a World Cup final, and a really exciting prospect for both teams. It's another match and another opportunity for us as a team to go.'
Two wrist-spinners, who are currently dominating the bowling charts will be itching to show their wares
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for Friday's second T20I against New Zealand?
A desperate Indian team will pray for a rain-free third and final ODI against New Zealand on Wednesday in its bid to finish on an even keel in a series that neither had context nor any major takeaways.
Neither the batting has worked nor has the bowling clicked in the two matches played so far.
India will aim to shed their archaic playing style for good with a 'young and fearless' bunch in the three-match T20I series against New Zealand, starting in Wellington on Friday.
Astronomical Rs 24.75 crore bid makes Starc most expensive player in IPL history
India defeated New Zealand by five wickets in the first T20 International in Jaipur on Wednesday, but captain Rohit Sharma was quick to admit that his team was made to sweat for victory.
Marcus Stoinis' maiden IPL century lifts LSG to victory.
Both the high-profile openers, Kohli and Faf du Plessis, are big match players and will be itching to make an impact after low returns in the previous game.
Opener Mayank Agarwal hit a gritty hundred to rescue India after New Zealand left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel had put them in a spot of bother with three quick wickets on the weather-hit first day of the second and final Test, at the Wankhede stadium, in Mumbai, on Friday.
IMAGES from Day 3 of the opening Test between England and New Zealand at Lord's on Saturday.
Rajasthan are third on the points table, and it is mostly because of the flamboyant Jos Buttler.
