India will need to be ruthless and tactful in equal measure while dealing with an unpredictable England when the third chapter of a riveting Test series begins in Rajkot on Thursday.
The opening Test between India and England ended in a dull draw after rain washed out what had promised to be a humdinger of a final day on Sunday.
The 37-year-old left-hander was forced to retire on 49 not out on the fourth day of Australia's 405-run second Test victory against England at Lord's, which levelled the series 1-1.
Picked for the ongoing tour of England as a back-up middle-order batsman the talented K L Rahul did well to open the Indian innings and put his hand up in adverse conditions.
Both players had a forgettable outing at Brisbane as Australia went 1-0 up in the series.
India, who are 2-1 up in the four-Test series, were 24-1 at stumps and will be confident against a spin-heavy England attack with James Anderson as the lone frontline seamer.
Seeking to continue their winning momentum and take an unassailable 2-0 lead, India were dealt a blow ahead of the third one-dayer against England at Trent Bridge on Saturday as opener Rohit Sharma was ruled out of the remainder of the tour because of injury.
In what will be a dress rehearsal of their opening game in the World Cup, an unbeaten Australia take on England in the cricket tri-series final, in Perth on Sunday.
Former Australian international cricketer Shane Warne has reportedly challenged England captain Alastair Cook to toughen up else he might face an Ashes whitewash.
He has broken many a record with his batting, but Virat Kohli, the medium-pacer, could have had a lot more than eight international wickets had his teammates believed in his bowling ability like he does.
Ben Stokes says he will decide day-by-day whether he will be able to bowl for England in the third and final Test against the West Indies as he struggles with injury.
England need to bowl West Indies out cheaply and try to force a follow-on to have any chance of winning the second Test, said seamer Sam Curran
Rishabh Pant and Cheteshwar Pujara forged the only century-plus partnership of the innings but India still finished the day 321 behind.
Ashwin ended with nine wickets in the ongoing first Test, including 6 for 61
Australian fielding coach Greg Blewett believes that sharp fielding will play a paramount role in the upcoming quarter-final tie against Pakistan on Friday in Adelaide.
Fiery home opener Kusal Perera had a wild swing at a delivery outside off stump and was caught by Joe Root high above his head at first slip for 6.
England named an unchanged 13-man squad for the second Ashes Test against Australia starting at Lord's on Thursday.
IMAGES from the Premier League matches played on Sunday
Ashwin dismissed David Warner on day three of the ongoing third Test against Australia, and as a result, the off-spinner registered his 193rd wicket against left-handers
Going by the ICC manual, India all-rounder Deepti Sharma's run-out of Charlie Dean in the third women's One-Day International against England, at Lord's on Saturday, was perfectly legal, but it still divided opinion, with some backing it and Englishmen Stuart Broad and James Anderson expressing annoyance.
Ashwin has been in brilliant form in the ongoing Test series against Australia.
Can the subcontinent giants maintain their 12-year invincibility?
Images from Day 5 in the second Test between England and India, at Lord's, on Monday.
The West Indies beat England by five wickets in the second Test at Headingley on Tuesday to level the three-match series at 1-1.
The selectors have much to ponder after England slumped to a crushing 405-run defeat by Australia in the second Ashes Test at Lord's with calls for change in the top order coming a week after the team were lauded for their first-test victory.
None of the 31 balls Steyn bowled to Tendulkar in the entire game -- the second India-South Africa ODI -- produced a close LBW shout.
He is the first Indian player since Sachin Tendulkar in June 2011 to lead the rankings and ends Steve Smith's 32-month spell at the top.
Warwickshire bowler Stone is suffering with a lower back strain, his club said on Wednesday.
Images from Day 4 of the first Ashes Test between England and Australia in Edgbaston, on Sunday.
Pakistan are scheduled to play three Tests and as many Twenty20 matches against England. The first Test will begin at Lord's on July 30.
One of the biggest turning points of the July 14 final was the overthrow on the fourth ball of the final over bowled by Trent Boult.
ICC chairman N Srinivasan on Friday made it clear that the apex cricket body is "not considering" a complete overhaul in the 'Code of Conduct' for players, which has become a subject of debate following the alleged spat involving England fast bowler James Anderson and India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja.
India lost the second Test by an innings and 159 runs on Day 4 at Lord's as a dominant England took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow hit half-centuries and combined in a sixth-wicket stand of 110 to launch England's fightback against India in the second Test on Saturday. - Scorecard: The pair kept the hosts at bay all morning on the third day before being separated 10 minutes before lunch as England reached 191 for six at the break, replying to India's first innings 455.
A patient 94 not out from Marlon Samuels helped West Indies recover against England to end the first day of the second Test on 188 for five in Grenada on Tuesday.
India captain Virat Kohli and off-spinner R Ashwin put on splendid performances to put the hosts in the driver's seat on Day 3 of the 2nd Test. Here are the statistical highlights from the day's play from the match played between India and England in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.
Factbox on the five-Test Ashes series between England and Australia
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah took five wickets to help Pakistan crush England by 10 wickets in the final Test at The Oval on Sunday and level a fluctuating series 2-2.
IMAGES from Day 3 of the opening Test between England and New Zealand at Lord's on Saturday.
Ben Stokes took two wickets in two balls to inspire England to victory over New Zealand in the first Test at Lord's.
