Pitch talk has been a constant feature of India's four-Test series against Australia and the trend continued on the eve of the final match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
England coach Trevor Bayliss has dubbed his team's performance in the drawn first Test against India as "the best since he had been with the Alastair Cook-led team". Chasing an improbable target of 310 runs, Indian skipper Virat Kohli and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja hung in as they remained unbeaten on 49 and 32 respectively in a tense final session to deny England victory at the Saurashtra Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Despite the outcome of the opening Test of the five-match series, Bayliss was impressed by the commitment his side had shown in gruelling conditions as well as on surfaces where England players generally struggle.
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting dropped a hint to his country's selectors that they revisit David Warner's place in the playing XI if he continues to fire blanks in Test cricket in the sub-continent.
England made a poor start to their Australia tour on Thursday with their fancied bowling attack forced to toil by a second-string Western Australia Chairman's XI at Perth.
Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali said that running out a non-striker for backing too is not "their thing"
Several members of the Indian cricket team including the stand-in captain Hardik Pandya on Wednesday began training at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, on Friday, but all eyes were on the wrist-spinning duo, who have to battle it out with Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar for a place in the Playing XI.
India ace batsman said England have to prove themselves against other teams before dethroning Australia atop the world rankings.
Ashley Giles and Liam Plunkett took four wickets each to beat a PCB Patron's XI by 52 runs on the final day of a three-day match.
England have included pace bowler Graham Onions in a 13-man squad for the first Ashes Test against Australia starting at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Wednesday.
England's selectors have yet to decide who will open the batting alongside captain Alastair Cook against Pakistan later this month and will use two warm-up games to choose between Alex Hales or Moeen Ali, coach Trevor Bayliss said on Friday.
Mitchell Johnson claimed two wickets as England's top order was dismissed in the morning session on the opening day of the first Ashes Test.
'After today's performance there is no doubt that he is the find of this edition of IPL.'
England's build-up to their one-day series in Sri Lanka has been hit by a stomach virus sweeping through the squad.
Travis Head hammered a solid ton at the Oval as Australia dominated the proceedings over India on Day 1 of the WTC Final.
India will eye another dominant performance against hosts England in a three- match ODI series
Talking about Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir's conflict, former England off-spinner Graeme Swann said without conflict sports would be dull.
The England cricket team prepares for their warm-up match against a Hyderabad XI at the Rajiv Gandhi stadium in Hyderabad on Friday.
Haddin backed Prabhsimran Singh to come good in the upcoming games, saying his place is safe in the playing XI.
A theory about players' initials is the latest among many coincidences that are being related to England's dramatic Ashes win over Australia. According to a report in leading British daily The Guardian, there is a pattern based on player's initials which decides who wins the Ashes.
The BCCI is set to try out the 'Super Sub' rule in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 tournament next month.
The former Pakistan spinner has also come out in support of Deepak Hooda, who has not been included in the playing XI, despite being in top form in the white-ball setup.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI in the fourth Test against England?
So India lost its first World Twenty20 game on Tuesday night. Maybe, we fielded the wrong team :) Haresh Pandya picks 11 India greats who never played the shortest format, but can take on any team in the World T20 championships.
Alastair Cook's side next travel to India, the world's top-ranked team, before hosting South Africa and West Indies in 2017 ahead of their ultimate challenge in a tour of Australia.
Who would you pick for Sunday's series-deciding third One-Day International?
Who do you should be part of India's playing XI for the second Test against Sri Lanka?
India captain Virat Kohli on Tuesday said there is no reason to change the winning combination but did not shut the door on R Aswhin's inclusion in the playing XI, saying pitch can bring the seasoned off-spinner back into the picture in England.
Shafali was presented with India Women's ODI cap number 131 from captain Mithali Raj
The first Women's Cricket World Cup was held in England in 1973, two years before the first men's world cup in 1975.
'Preparation done. Can't wait to get on the field on the 12th.'
England's batting has been taken care of as it is power-packed from start to end, comprising of Jason Roy, Morgan, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, and Jos Buttler.
Legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar says while Mahendra Singh Dhoni's return to the Indian team as a mentor is a big boost for the side but if there are tactical differences between him and head coach Ravi Shastri during the T20 World Cup, it could have an adverse impact as well.
Head coach Rahul Dravid has called for patience as the Indian team goes through a rebuilding phase for the next cycle of the T20 World Cup.
Gillespie injured his shoulder playing for South Australia in Australia's domestic first-class competition.
Young opener Haseeb Hameed celebrated his Test recall with a gritty hundred but Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Siraj's lively spell sent County Select XI packing for 220 on Day 2 of the warm-up match in Durham, on Wednesday.
'Well played India, well Captained @imVkohli and amazing skill and guts from a few individuals. Also well played @root66 & England! Great ad for our beautiful game! Excited for the finale'
The Indian men's hockey team climbed two places in the latest FIH rankings following back-to-back wins in the Pro League matches.
The return of all-rounder Ben Stokes will be a welcome boost to the England squad as he provides much-needed balance and lifts morale, team mate Moeen Ali said ahead of the two-match test series in New Zealand.
Agarwal in a tweet shared a picture from India's practice session. He can be seen batting in the nets. "Doing what I love. Loving what I do," Agarwal tweeted.
Ishan Kishan earned his maiden Test call-up, while Suryakumar Yadav was also included for the first two Tests of the four-match series against Australia next month.
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