Captain Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara made centuries and shared a stand of 226 to put India on course for a big first-innings total against England on the first day of the second Test on Thursday. - Scorecard: Kohli was unbeaten on 151 and Ravichandran Ashwin on one as India reached 317 for four at the close after winning the toss in the first ever Test match in the port city of Visakhapatnam.
It is usually a sign of a day with few redeeming features when a coach rather than a player faces the media after play and Sunday's appearance of England's Trevor Bayliss was no exception.
Recalled England fast bowler Steve Harmison took two wickets in two balls and James Anderson captured three to help dismiss South Africa for 194 on Kevin Pietersen's first outing as Test captain on Thursday.
AB de Villiers' sixth Test century put South Africa on the verge of winning the second Test at Headingley after England ended the third day 269 runs behind the visitors on Sunday.
India bowled England out for 218 and cruised to 135/1 in their robust reply to seize early control of the fifth and final test.
'They will bowl short at you. Therefore, you will have to come out with a plan.'
Only James Anderson, Muttiah Muralitharan and Imran Khan have taken more Test wickets against India, earning Nathan Lyon significant praise from Indian great Sachin Tendulkar.
'When you bowl someone out for less than 100 you're never quite sure whether you've bowled well or if the wicket is not as good as you think it might be. To see both sides bat on it and see the way our openers went about their business just felt so calm.'
England named an unchanged squad for first match of the three-Test series against Pakistan that begins on August 5 in Manchester, the country's cricket Board (ECB) said on Wednesday. England beat West Indies 2-1 in the first international Test series since the COVID-19 pandemic suspended the sport in March, winning the third match by 269 runs on Tuesday.
A "gut feeling" choice made by Michael Vaughan to drop his bowling spearheads Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard paid enormous dividends for the England captain during the second Test win against New Zealand.
England cemented their position by finishing day two on 202-5 riding fifties by Ben Duckett and Harry Brook.
England on Sunday named their strongest available squad for the Ashes tour to Australia as all-rounders Ben Stokes and Sam Curran missed out but seamer Stuart Broad was included despite the calf injury he picked up in the Test series against India.
The 34-year-old debuted for England in 2007 at Colombo with Chaminda Vaas his first, and only, wicket in that Test at a cost of 95 runs and logged his best figures of 8-15 when he rampaged through the Australians at Trent Bridge in the Ashes five years ago.
England made a bright start to their second Test against Pakistan at Headingley on Friday, after being hammered at Lord's last week, with Stuart Broad taking two early wickets and the visitors reduced to 68-4 at lunchtime.
England will not go out of their way to bait David Warner, says paceman James Anderson.
'We felt that seam isn't going to offer as much in terms of being a threat, it's more of a holding role.'
Kevin Pietersen celebrated his first innings as England captain with a century, leading the hosts to a 122-run first-innings lead over South Africa on the second day of the fourth test at The Oval on Friday. South Africa, bowled out for 194 in the first innings, were 37 for one at the close in reply to England's 316.
A captain's century hewn from granite and two wickets in a fiery pace assault after tea saw Australia wrest the momentum away from England on day three of the series-opening Ashes Test in Brisbane on Saturday.
James Pattinson has the full support of the Australian team in his battle against over-stepping and they expect him to come out and "blow the game apart" in New Zealand's second innings, according to off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
England fast bowler Steve Harmision was ruled out of the game due to a sore throat with Kabir Ali replacing him.
A counter-attacking 67 not out by Ross Taylor helped New Zealand to 202 for four when bad light ended play after just 54 overs on the first day of the second Test against England at Old Trafford on Friday.
Dinesh Chandimal completed a fine century as Sri Lanka continued to hold up England's bid to clinch the series by moving on to 403 for six at lunch on the fourth day of the second test in Durham on Monday. The touring side, crushed in the opening test and bowled out for 101 in the first innings, are six runs ahead in the match after losing only one wicket in the morning session.
IMAGES from Day 3 of the 1st Ashes Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Saturday
Kevin Pietersen was included in a 14-man squad for next week's third Ashes Test against Australia at Old Trafford despite concerns over his calf injury, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Sunday.
The England all-rounder scored an unbeaten 72 as England beat New Zealand by three wickets with just one ball to spare in the third ODI of the tri-series.
England have dropped experienced fast bowlers Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard for the second test against New Zealand starting on Thursday.
He remains a doubt for this week's first Ashes Test despite being cleared of any fractures.
'James Anderson was unavailable for selection in the Test squad as he continues his rehabilitation from a calf injury,' the ECB said in a statement.
India captain Virat Kohli remained in second spot behind Steve Smith while Alastair Cook jumped nine places to be eighth in the latest ICC Test rankings after his unbeaten double century in the ongoing Ashes.
England Lions cricketer Ben Duckett was suspended for pouring a drink on a senior England player reported to be paceman James Anderson after an argument in a Perth bar.
England held their nerve to end Australia's last-wicket partnership of 65 and seal a dramatic 14-run victory in an extraordinary first Ashes Test at TrentBridge on Sunday.
Rajneesh Gupta presents the numbers from the Oval Test.
Alastair Cook and Ian Bell scored maiden centuries as England beat India by 104 runs in the first ODI.
Injury-hit England have called up Middlesex batsman Owais Shah as cover for their test series in India starting on Wednesday, a team official said.
Westley has enjoyed a prolific season for Essex in the CountyChampionship, scoring 478 runs, including two centuries, at an average of 53.11.
England on Tuesday rested IPL stars including Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow for the upcoming two-Test series against New Zealand while Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes were not considered for selection due to injuries.
India's pacemen produced a terrific display of swing bowling to crush England by 151 runs in the second Test at Lord's on Monday, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
'It's just incredible that we've got him on our team and he's great to watch.'
'These are elementary things you do not do against any decent swing bowler in English conditions. To try to do it to James Anderson, who is one of the great master craftsmen in those conditions, tells me the Indian batsmen have not done their homework'
The performance of openers Rohit Sharma and K L Rahul has been the biggest plus for India in the batting department. Both have showed remarkable temperament and technique in testing conditions to give the team a solid start.
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