Images from Day 2 of the fourth Test between India and England in Rajkot on Saturday, February 24.
England captain Ben Stokes on Saturday said staying true to the 'Bazball' approach did not work and conceded that India were too good in their own conditions, always finding a way to wriggle out of tight curves.
Can the legendary James Anderson and Stuart Broad bowling together in what will clearly be their last Test in India stun the Indians on Thursday afternoon?
'He is obviously a bit of a rough diamond.'
Opener Ben Duckett smashed an 88-ball hundred to lead England's robust reply to India's first innings total of 445 on day two of the third Test in Rajkot on Friday.
New Zealand were in trouble at 37 for 3 at stumps in reply to England's declared first innings total of 325 for 9 at Bay Oval, with seven wickets tumbling in a frantic evening session.
Ben Duckett's hundred overshadowed Ravichandran Ashwin's monumental feat as England stormed to 207/2 at stumps on Day 2.
Pacer Ollie Robinson destroyed India's batting line-up with a five-wicket haul to power England to a huge victory by an innings and 76 runs, on Day 4 of the third Test, at Leeds on Saturday.
Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja slammed centuries under pressure in a 204-run partnership as India recovered from a jittery start to pile 326/5 on the opening day of the third Test.
Pant, whose rapid 146 put India in the box seat, was more restrained in the second innings.
The last time England toured India, back in early 2021, Joe Root's team went back home beaten and bruised 3-1.
From World Cup titles to personal highs to heartbreaks, Virat Kohli witnesses it all at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium
India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was fined 50 percent of his match fee after being found guilty of a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Code for Players and Player Support Personnel for his involvement in an incident with James Anderson during the second day of the first Test against England in Nottingham.
I don't think Rohit has been superior as captain, his bowlers did the trick: Graeme Swann
Chris Woakes and rookie pacer Olly Stone will be vying for a final spot in the playing eleven.
As expected, fast bowler Jofra Archer was included in the 12 and looks poised to make his Test debut in the absence of England's record wicket taker James Anderson.
'If you want to know how to beat anybody as an England team, you pick Stuart Broad and James Anderson, together. While they are still working, still walking, pick them together for goodness sake.'
However, with six back-to-back Tests against the Windies and Pakistan, the rotation policy could be used to keep the paces fresh.
Chasing 194 runs, India resumed their second innings at 110 for the loss of five wickets with Kohli and wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik needing 84 for victory.
England shot out India for a paltry 78 and cruised to 120 for no loss in their robust reply to take early control of the third Test at Headingley on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old is expected to open the batting with Surrey team mate Rory Burns for the one-off match against Ireland starting at Lord's next Wednesday.
The touring side have the option of replacing Thakur with either a spinning all-rounder in Ravichandran Ashwin or a fourth seamer in Ishant Sharma.
Jonny Bairstow led England to within 40 runs of South Africa's first innings total, with seven wickets in hand, on the first day of the second Test at Old Trafford on Thursday.
'Hard work is there, but I believe in visualisation and manifestation. Whatever match or series, one or two weeks prior I start preparation looking at the bowling line-up, who will bowl and how will I play them. I play out the scenarios and it helps.'
IMAGES from Day 5 of the 5th Ashes Test played between England and Australia at The Oval, London, on Sunday.
'Were there thoughts of retirement going round my head? One hundred per cent. Because I was so down'
England pulled off a memorable victory in fading light and barely 10 minutes before the close of play
Chasing 343 for an improbable victory, a dogged Pakistan nearly snatched a draw but pace bowlers James Anderson and Ollie Robinson produced a reverse-swing masterclass to deny them.
England won the toss and put South Africa in to bat only for a shower to sweep in and put a stop to proceedings
Lyon surprised virtually everyone in the ground when he hobbled out to bat at number 11
England had taken a 1-0 lead in the five-match series in India but Ben Stokes and his men let the hosts draw parity in the second Test as all their batters were unable to get big scores.
The former England captain has urged pitch curators against preparing flat decks
Important and satisfying to score runs at number 3: Shubman Gill
Ravichandran Ashwin has maintained the top spot among bowlers
'You have to have a plan and use every delivery wisely. I was very happy to execute it today and happy to contribute on that pitch.'
Rain is expected early on Tuesday before drier conditions and, with Australia requiring a further 174 runs and England needing seven wickets, a classic is brewing.
England batted with positive intent to take control of the final Ashes Test at The Oval on Saturday, moving on to 389-9 at the close on the third day with a 377-run lead over Australia.
England hammered India by an innings and 159 runs in the second Test at Lord's on Day 4 to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the five-match series, on Sunday.
'It's one more distraction that Kohli doesn't need but he is, of course, capable of leading his side to a victory in the second Test to quieten things down a bit.'
India became a "laughing stock" during the Ravindra Jadeja-James Anderson incident because of the timidity of BCCI president in-exile N Srinivasan, who played a "puppet" fearing a backlash from the England and Australia boards, CAB secretary Aditya Verma said on Saturday.
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