'Ajinkya has 12 centuries and more than 4,000 runs in Test cricket. So he knows his game and he has gone through such kind of bad phases before as well.'
Reports this weekend have claimed Bale will put pen to paper on a three-year deal with Jiangsu and earn a staggering one million pound per week as he leaves Real Madrid following a six-season stint during which the winger has won four UEFA Champions League titles and the 2017 La Liga crown.
Britain's Prince Harry confidently predicted that England would lift the World Cup as Gareth Southgate's men prepare for their semi-final against Croatia later on Wednesday.
Former captain Misbah applies for Pakistan head coach role
Chelsea's 0-0 home draw with second-placed United ensured Thomas Tuchel is still undefeated in nine games since replacing Frank Lampard, but it meant they failed to dislodge fourth-placed West Ham United who became Manchester City's 20th successive victims in all competitions on Saturday.
The veteran opener remains a dangerous batsman capable of single-handedly destroying any bowling attack with his trademark power-hitting which makes him one of the sought-after players in Twenty20 leagues across the cricketing world.
Images from Europa and Champions League matches played on Wednesday.
Ravichandran Ashwin claimed four for 60 to reduce England to 285 for nine in 88 overs at stumps on Day 1 of the first Test.
Laxmi Negi/Rediff.com picks five of the best team performances from this round as the tournament heads into its business end.
West Indies Test captain Jason Holder on Tuesday said his team will treat Barbados-born speedster Jofra Archer as just another English cricketer when the opening Test begins in Southampton on July 8. Archer gained eligibility to represent England in 2018. He had played for West Indies Under-19 side in 2014.
Real are third in the league standings with 54 points after 28 games, two behind second-placed Atletico Madrid who visit Athletic Bilbao later on Saturday and nine points behind leaders Barcelona who play at Real Betis on Sunday.
Bairstow will be a key player for the England in the World Cup starting May 30 in the United Kingdom.
IMAGES from Day 2 of the 1st Ashes Test at Edgbaston, Brmingham, on Friday
Australia's Steve Smith struck a superb 144 on his return to the side as they recovered from 122-8 to reach 284 all out against England in the first innings of the first Ashes Test before the hosts saw out two overs unscathed at Edgbaston on Thursday.
Images from La Liga matches played on Sunday
England coach Chris Silverwood said England may need to consider using the Barbadian-born quick in short bursts.
England reached the semi-finals of a major tournament for the first time since Euro 1996, when Southgate was part of the team.
CA's Head of Cricket Operations Peter Roach thanked the umpires and said the decision to reduce head count was a mutual one.
The English top flight was the earliest of the major European leagues to start this season, kicking off on Aug. 10, a week before Spain's La Liga and Italy's Serie A and a fortnight ahead of Germany's Bundesliga.
England fast bowler Jofra Archer on Monday claimed he was subjected to "racial insults" by a spectator during the fifth and final day of the first Test against New Zealand, in Mount Maunganui.
Bayliss will step down from his current role with the England team after the Ashes beginning next month.
Denly, who made his Test debut against West Indies last year, has reached double figures 24 times in 28 innings but has managed just six half-centuries.
Real Madrid's Gareth Bale and Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey will miss Wales' friendly at home to the Netherlands on November 13, manager Chris Coleman said on Wednesday.
England's James Anderson became the leading fast bowler in Test history as he bowled Mohammed Shami to seal victory for England over India at the Oval on Tuesday.
The ICC advised teams to use larger squads and exercise caution over bowlers' workloads, saying Test cricket would require a minimum of eight to 12 week preparation with the final four-five weeks involving match intensity bowling.
"Football's Coming Home is a song I couldn't even listen to for 20 years, frankly. So for me it has a slightly different feel," Southgate told reporters
Images from Thursday's action in the Europa League Europa League - Round of 16 Second Leg - matches.
Real Madrid barged their way back into the Spanish La Liga title race with a 3-1 victory over Atletico Madrid in a feisty derby at the Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday.
Goals from Harry Maguire and Dele Alli gave Gareth Southgate's side a deserved 2-0 last-eight win over Sweden on Saturday, and they must now prepare to take on Croatia in three days time for a spot in the World Cup final.
How they strategised, motivated and led their teams to victory.
Senior spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was the big surprise in India's squad for the T20 World Cup to be held in the United Arab Emirates next month.
The series win in Australia shows India will be a difficult team to beat and England will have to be at the top of their game to outwit the hosts in the upcoming four-match Test series, coach Chris Silverwood said on Tuesday.
Real Madrid got off to a flying start in La Liga by beating Celta Vigo 3-1 away from home on Saturday with the help of a magnificent long range strike from Toni Kroos.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored on his return from injury as Real Madrid thrashed Osasuna 5-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday to equal the club's 1960-61 record of 15 successive La Liga wins.
England captain Eoin Morgan won the toss and sent Pakistan in to bat after early morning showers delayed the start and reduced the game to 47 overs per side.
Jofra Archer's first five-wicket haul in Test cricket put England in command on a weather-affected opening day of the third Ashes Test at Headingley on Thursday as they bowled Australia out for 179.
Round-up of World Cup qualifiers played on Friday
England Test captain Joe Root is keen to play international cricket this summer but not by compromising on quality of the game or its intensity, the 29-year-old has said. With professional cricket suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is considering playing the series against West Indies and Pakistan behind closed doors.
Alastair Cook, who will retire after this week's fifth Test against India, is the sixth highest scorer in five-day cricket with 12,254 runs, including 32 centuries.
Real's record signing Bale has not played since injuring his groin against Barcelona on April 23 but is fit and available for the final in his home city of Cardiff after returning to training last Friday.
