Feisty, positive and quietly efficient, Matt Prior was one of England's finest wicketkeeper batsmen in seven years behind the stumps during which he helped his country to three Ashes victories.
As much as Brendon McCullum looks back fondly on a stellar career, more than anything he wants to sign off with a series win over Australia starting with the first Test in Wellington on Friday.
International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive David Richardson revealed that a clampdown down on bouncers is unlikely despite the passing of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes last Thursday.
Rajneesh Gupta presents the numbers from the first Test.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Naman Ojha says he will be "under pressure" to perform if he makes the playing eleven in the decisive third Test against Sri Lanka, starting Friday, after the freak injury to Wriddhiman Saha opened the door for him after a "long wait".
Pankaj Advani held his nerve to edge past David Causier of England and enter the final of the World Billiards Championship (Time format) by a mere five points, in Leeds, on Wednesday. Eyeing another grand double (points and time format in the same year) after clinching the 150-up short format title last week, the Indian ace led last year's runner-up by a comfortable 400 points at one stage before settling for a 1180-1175 victory.
At stumps on day four, with an hour's play lost because of the weather, Sri Lanka were 109 for three, requiring a further 296 runs to pull off an epic victory.
Leander Paes... Sania Mirza... Pankaj Advani.. Saina Nehwal... Ravichandran Ashwin... Anirban Lahiri... Vijender Singh... Who is India's Sportsperson of 2015?
Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews said on Wednesday that he has gone down on his knees to beg record-breaking batsman Kumar Sangakkara not to quit after the World Cup. Sangakkara, 37, will call time on his ODI career at the end of the tournament but he is still in a rich vein of form.
In a three part series, Rajneesh Gupta highlights all the important numbers from cricket World Cups held between 1975 to 2015.
Key facts on the 11th edition of the cricket World Cup.
Notwithstanding India's good showing en route to the 2003 World Cup final, former batsman Damien Martyn said that it was Australia's 'self-belief' that helped them in outplaying the Sourav Ganguly-led side in the title clash.
How India's players fared in Australia.
Pankaj Advani has won a staggering eight world titles in the last three years and he continues to go about his business unassumingly, as if he is expected to lap up the trophies every season.
The International Cricket Council's recently-promised crackdown on sledging might make it seem that players are behaving badly more often right now but former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff feels the on-field altercations were 10 times worse a couple of decades ago.
Rajneesh Gupta brings you the drama and the magic behind all the 12 IPL finals so far.
Kumar Sangakkara became the first batsman to hit four successive centuries in a World Cup and Tillakaratne Dilshan stroked a fluent hundred in Sri Lanka's 363-9 against Scotland in a Pool A match at Bellerive Oval on Wednesday.
Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin announced his retirement from first class cricket on Wednesday, following Michael Clarke, Shane Watson and Chris Rogers in stepping down from Tests in the wake of the Ashes series defeat.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Sunday
Statistical highlights of the ICC Champions Trophy match between India and Sri Lanka, in London.
Australia opener David Warner paid a fitting tribute to his deceased teammate Phillip Hughes, scoring a rollicking 145 before India dealt three quick blows at the fag end to share honours on an emotionally charged opening day in the first Test in Adelaide on Tuesday. Statistical highlights from the day's play.
'I just go out there and do my thing; try to express myself. I'm glad people enjoy it,' Rishabh Pant tells Dhruv Munjal.
Cricketing world in shock over Phil Hughes' death.
Even on paper, there is not much to choose, especially with Pune beating MI thrice this season including a comprehensive victory in Qualifier 1. But a impressive show by Mumbai in the final cannot be ruled out.
Jones said both the leagues have "their own space" and can co-exist.
While winning four major finals, India have finished on the losing side in the finals on four occasions.
As India kicks off its run in the World Test Championships on Thursday, Rajneesh Gupta tells you all you need to know about the India-West Indies on-field rivalry.
Going into the final Test against South Africa, Australia are staring at the lowest ebb in their 140-year cricketing history.
Former New Zealand wicketkeeper Ian Smith feels it will be extremely difficult to fill up the void created in Indian cricket once Mahendra Singh Dhoni bids adieu to the game in near future.
In Martin Crowe's death, cricket has lost one of its most iconic figures in recent memory, says Shakya Mitra.
Much like Dhoni, Pant is an aggressive ball-belter who keeps wickets. But he will require enormous work on his keeping if he is to reach anywhere close to Dhoni's absurdly high standards, notes Dhruv Munjal.
Josh Hazlewood and Brad Haddin set new milestones as Australia, replying to India's first innings score of 408, ended Day 2 in the second Test at the Gabba on 221 for four. Check out the day's days statistical highlights.
Rajneesh Gupta presents interesting numbers at the start of India-Australia Test series.
Rajneesh Gupta presents Virender Sehwag's amazing international career in numbers.
Tillakaratne Dilshan discusses the origin of his famous shot, the 'Dilscoop'.
The 8th Champions Trophy begins in England this week. Rajneesh Gupta captures the tournament in all its statistical glory like only he can.
The comparisons with the legendary pair of Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly are certainly flattering but Rohit Sharma feels his partnership with Shikhar hawan still has a long way to go before matching up to the iconic opening combination. "Comparisons with India's most successful opening pairing (Ganguly-Tendulkar) gives you immense satisfaction. Comparisons are a piece of joy. It would be great if me and Shikhar as opening pair can achieve the success that these two accomplished in their illustrious careers," Rohit, who is going through a dream phase in his career, told PTI in an exclusive interview. "We are still not there but both of us would like to entertain the fans and win as many matches as they have won for India," he said. Both the batsmen did well in the recent limited-overs series in Australia with Rohit notching up the Man of the Series award in the ODIs despite India losing 1-4. Despite enjoying a golden run off late, Rohit's appetite for big scores has not satiated yet.
While Rohit Sharma's absence because of a hamstring injury has affected the batting order, Shikhar Dhawan's poor run is a major reason for India's poor showing on the ongoing tour of Australia.
'He is a good gloveman, can be an important batsman and he keeps the team on its toes in the field' 'He is a broken finger away from recall so this may not be the end for him, but I suspect we won't see him again and I am a little concerned that the team may miss him more than they expect. I hope I am wrong' 'It doesn't say much for the family-first policy if Brad puts his family first and all of a sudden he's out. Sometimes the heart has to play a part in selection'
Former England paceman Mathew Hoggard urges England cricket to have shift in mindset
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