The England players are all set to be allowed to take part in the remainder of the cash-rich Indian Premier League after the postponement of their limited overs series in Bangladesh in September.
A concussed Smith was ruled out of the third Test, starting at Headingley on Thursday, after being struck in the neck by a vicious bouncer from England paceman Jofra Archer.
'England against Australia at Lord's, it doesn't get much bigger than that.'
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.
And one Saturday evening, under the Mumbai night sky, next to the Arabian Sea, with the 'God of Cricket' in attendance, Mumbai Indians were done in by the brilliance and resilience of Punjab Kings.
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.
For skipper Virat Kohli, the primary aim will be to get an idea of his core group of players going into the ICC T20 World Cup in October.
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
Purnendu Maji and Srinivas Bhogle list IPL 2020's 50 Most Valuable Players after the league phase.
Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who came in at No. 7 in Tuesday's IPL match against Rajasthan Royals, blamed the 14-day quarantine for lack of batting time.
A virgin Motera pitch has become the big talking point as captain Virat Kohli looks to get the combination right with India looking to continue their momentum to trouble England in the day-night third Test match, starting in Ahmedabad, on Wednesday.
'There aren't too many guys... that have averaged higher than Steve in Test cricket. Clearly they are huge shoes to fill and we don't put all that pressure on Marnus'
Starting from where he left off in the opening game against Kolkata Knight Riders, Dave creamed the Rajasthan bowling in all directions of the field, not allowing any bowler to settle down.
Playing only his fourth IPL game, the 17-year-old from Assam showed great resolve and maturity to script Rajasthan Royals's majestic turnaround at Eden Gardens.
Ashwin ended with nine wickets in the ongoing first Test, including 6 for 61
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI in the second T20 International against England on Sunday?
England wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler is hoping for at least a curtailed IPL this season, aware that it would be difficult to conduct the "massive tournament" in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic. The league was originally scheduled to start on March 29 in Mumbai but it was postponed to April 15 to contain the spread of the coronavirus, which has claimed more than 21,000 lives across the globe.
Former West Indies captain, Darren Sammy said that if the world of cricket, even after watching the video of George Floyd's death, did not take a stand, "...you are also part of the problem".
Royals' new Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara is confident that the team's young Indian fast bowlers will rise to the challenge in this year's Indian Premier League.
Australia have their own speedsters in Mitchell Starc, who is level with Archer with 15 wickets, and Pat Cummins (11).
Stars like Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer will miss the season due to injuries.
Wicket-taking is going to play a crucial role in deciding this World Cup.
Mumbai Indians' pace ace Trent Boult was adjudged 'Man of the Final' and 'Power Player of the Season'.
Lungi Ngidi ruled out for 'at least a week to 10 days'; Amla recovering well
Root spoke of his pride in his team after they won the final Test against Australia by 135 runs on Sunday to draw the Ashes series 2-2.
England are an ageing side alright, but few will dare to bet against Jos Buttler's men successfully defending their World Cup title in a few weeks time.
'In the '70s, Vivian Richards used to be the difference between the West Indies and any other side.' 'Similarly, Pant was the difference between India and England.'
Jonny Bairstow has been rested and injured pacer Jofra Archer was left out while spinner Moeen Ali was unavailable for Test selection.
Tendulkar, who was in Sydney for a charity match last week, had called Labuschagne special when asked to name the player who most reminds him of himself.
Rahul Tewatia changed the course of the match with some crucial strikes.
Pick your team for Saturday's fifth T20 International.
Images from Tuesday's IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals, in Abu Dhabi.
Captain Joe Root and Coach Chris Silverwood made a boo-boo when they picked a pace-heavy attack for the pink ball third Test.
ECB England off-spinner Dom Bess described James Anderson as the greatest English player of all time after the 38-year-old moved within two wickets of becoming the first pace bowler to claim 600 Test victims.
Mumbai Indians head coach Mark Boucher lamented that his side allowed Punjab Kings to get away with the game in the final five overs of the first innings, in which they added 96 runs to swell their total to a match-winning 214 for 8 at the Wankhede stadium, in Mumbai, on Saturday.
After England's loss in the 2nd Test against India on Wednesday, Root had told the media that Moeen Ali 'has chosen to go home.'
'We often in England, talk about express pace, but that's not what I'm seeing. It's relentlessness with the ball. It's (Glenn) McGrath-like that you do for a long period of time. It's not bowling bad balls and releasing the pressure.'
'He (Smith) will be so excited to turn up and play cricket. That's what he loves doing and that's what he is very, very good at. Smith and Warner are two of the best players in world cricket, I think Smith will be giving a lot and integrate with the team'
'Were there thoughts of retirement going round my head? One hundred per cent. Because I was so down'
England will have to be at their 'absolute best' to challenge them at home, said England captain Joe Root.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances