England have not won the Ashes in Australia after losing the first Test since the 1950s but McCullum and Stokes will remain convinced they can turn the series around, just as they did against South Africa in 2022 when they won 2-1 after losing the opener at Lord's.
The focus is to bring momentum back into the Indian dressing room: Morne Morkel
A record-extending 52nd ODI century by Virat Kohli and a rapid 57 from Rohit Sharma paved the way for India's victory in the series-opener in Ranchi.
Virat Kohli has two hundreds and a fifty in his last three innings, while Rohit Sharma has a hundred and two fifties in his last four outings.
Customs were broken and tensions visible as India and Pakistan skipped the usual handshakes after their Asia Cup clash in Dubai on Sunday.
'It's been a constant thing for us to get some of the greats who are representing England into the environment and helping out.'
'Why stop a guy (from playing in Big Bash League) if he can't make it to the Test side, get a level C or level D contract?'
'He saw opportunities and brought in the right kind of bowlers.'
K L Rahul made a solid 74 before retiring hurt as India remained on course to chase a formidable 412-run target set by Australia A on day three of the second unofficial Test in Lucknow on Thursday.
'I think Dhoni can give any of us stiff competition, he definitely is a guy who can hit the ball furthest, he is very strong and he is good between the wickets. He looks the fittest, it is good fun to have him.'
Shubman Gill on Thursday said he would look to imbibe the 'calmness' that his predecessor Rohit Sharma brought to the dressing room
Everton enjoyed their first Premier League win at Manchester United for 12 years despite playing virtually the entire game with 10 men.
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.
Manchester United's season, already their worst in the Premier League, hit a new low with their 1-0 defeat to Spurs in that final in Bilbao that denied them a spot in this season's Champions League.
Axar Patel's 11-ball 21, laced with a four and a six in the last over off Marcus Stoinis, was instrumental in India's 48-run victory in the fourth T20I.
The usually mobbed Indian cricket team likes training in a relaxed atmosphere and that was evident in their body language as the players went about their business in their only practice session at the Kent County Cricket Ground before the fourth Test in Manchester.
'The West Indies' pace battery was lethal.' 'Watching Gavaskar, Gaekwad, Amarnath and Vengsarkar play against those bowlers I learnt so much.' 'Everybody was getting hit.' 'Someone got hit on the fingers, someone on the chest, someone on the face, but they all showed guts.'
Thanks to a close one's illness, I have seen quite a few hospital rooms in the past half a year or so. They have revived my respect for life reinterpreted via its essentials, notes Shyam G Menon.
The seasoned duo of Meg Lanning and Sophie Devine were also among the marquee picks. Giants bought Devine for Rs 2 crore, while UP Warriorz landed Lanning for Rs 1.90 crore.
'From the heartbreak of 2005 to the fight of 2017, every tear, every sacrifice, every young girl who picked up a bat believing we belong here, it all led to this moment.'
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 a fiery outburst, Yograj Singh - father of India's 2011 World Cup hero Yuvraj Singh - claimed that most of his son's teammates, including greats like Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni, turned against him.
Batting with a fractured toe, the left-hander embodied the spirit of selflessness - drawing praise from head coach Gautam Gambhir.
South African captain Temba Bavuma on Sunday said his game is built around an unshakeable defence, which stood him in good stead on a disintegrating Eden Gardens track, where 38 wickets fell inside eight sessions.
Manika Vishwakarma walked into Miss Universe not just as a contestant, but as a statement of modern India -- confident, cultured and completely in her element.
While ever more hostage to Twenty20's global carve-up, cricket will take a breath from next week to indulge its most time-honoured rivalry as Australia and England battle in the Ashes.
'I feel as confident and motivated as at the beginning. I can't control rumours, but I still have faith'
The former South African pacer said Ganguly will get to know more about his role once he joins the team and meets the players.
Top-order batters subjugate India A's Test bowlers as SA A register five-wicket win
For the first time in many years, India are going into a home Test match as underdogs and not favourites. Ask any player worth his salt and he would tell that it is not a happy place to be.
'The selectors have named 24 because they felt that a larger pool is always available for selection during each game. However, when we play home games in Delhi, we will prune it down to 15.'
'So make sure first you pick the right characters and then if you see that, try and give them a longer run so that they themselves should be content and happy that they've got a longer run rather than just chopping and changing as well.'
India pacer Mohammed Shami, who is currently undergoing a rehabilitation program at the NCA in Bengaluru, also said that undisciplined bowling cost India the series in Bangladesh.
India bowling coach Morne Morkel admitted his side was "surprised" by how quickly the Eden Gardens surface "deteriorated" after a dramatic second day in which 15 wickets fell and the opening Test swung sharply in India's favour.
'He was always a people's person. Don't forget he had been a Delhi captain in a team that had a lot of big stars, India players. They played under him and he managed them fairly well.'
The towering presence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the Indian ODI team can only help newly appointed captain Shubman Gill grow as a leader, said Axar Patel.
Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson expressed disappointment about India refraining from engaging in the customary handshake when his side made attempts towards it after the end of the match.
South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt said that once their Women's World Cup contest against Sri Lanka was reduced to 20 overs a side, she treated it like a T20 game and came out to bat with the same mindset, in Colombo, on Friday.
Karnataka, Maharashtra register innings wins to go 1-2 in Group B of Ranji Tropphy.
Gone are the days when festive fashion meant only picking between a sari or a lehenga; this season, it's time to make a statement with fusion!
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