India will look for the right balance as they aim for a series-levelling victory against a spunky New Zealand in the must-win second Test.
Tottenham Hotspur booked their place in the FA Cup semi-finals but an injury to Harry Kane marred the party as they marked their last tie at their White Hart Lane home with a 6-0 thrashing of third-tier London rivals Millwall on Sunday.
Mainz 05's Lee Jae-sung scored either side of the break as the hosts stunned Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich 2-1 on Saturday.
Abbas also acknowledged the consistency displayed by India across formats and said the Rohit Sharma-led team will be a strong contender for the upcoming Champions Trophy.
IMAGES from the FIFA World Cup match played between England and Tunisia in Volgograd Arena in Volgograd, Russia on Monday
Harry Kane was hailed as 'unbelievable' after the England striker's 21st and 22nd goals of the season inspired Tottenham Hotspur to a routine win at hapless Aston Villa on Sunday that boosted their Premier League title ambitions.
A double from Harry Kane, who scored in his fifth consecutive club match, inspired Tottenham Hotspur to a 4-1 win over London rivals West Ham United in the Premier League at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
Two goals from Luis Diaz and one from Mohamed Salah helped Liverpool stroll to a 3-0 victory at Manchester United.
Southgate's rigidity around substitutions was the most glaring question, particularly the introduction of Ivan Toney in the 94th minute.
England finally faced some resistance from New Zealand in the shape of Tom Blundell's defiant century but dismissed the Black Caps for 259 to wrap up a thumping 323-run victory on the third day of the second Test on Sunday.
Sri Lanka stayed on course for victory against New Zealand in the opening test in Galle despite Rachin Ravindra's unbeaten 91 on Sunday.
Former England captain Alastair Cook believes at the "precise moment in time" the in-form Joe Root is only matched by New Zealand's Kane Williamson.
Harry Brook continued his remarkable form in New Zealand with a second century of the series to drive England to 280 before the tourists reduced the Black Caps to 86 for 5 at the close of play on Friday, the first day of the second Test.
Sri Lanka left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya wreaked havoc with the ball to leave New Zealand on verge of a big defeat in the second Test.
New Zealand have yet to decide on a replacement for Williamson for the white-ball roles but Latham's record in T20s may count against him if selectors opt for a single captain for both the short-format teams.
Will India drop Rohit for the Sydney Test and put Kohli on notice? Or will the team management grant the senior pros a final chance to redeem themselves?
Manchester City came from behind to beat Club Brugge 3-1 and secure their place in the Champions League playoffs
India has only minor concerns, but New Zealand's troubles across batting and bowling departments are more pronounced.
The biggest challenge for the New Zealand batters on their upcoming Test tour of India will be picking the turning ball and more so the odd one that skids through, reckons former Black Caps opener Martin Guptill.
Real, chasing a 15th European Cup, levelled in the 83rd with Vinicius's penalty, after Rodrygo was felled by a clumsy challenge from Kim Min-jae, to set up a mouth-watering return leg in Madrid next week.
Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane's determination to prove his doubters wrong after a slow start to the campaign has driven the England international to the top of the scoring charts in a remarkable season for the player and his club.
Kane Williamson hailed the T20 World Cup's expansion to 20 nations after co-hosts United States beat Pakistan on Thursday
Tim Southee is eyeing the third Test against England as his swan song in the format but will make himself available for selection if the Black Caps make the WTC final next year.
Images from the Euro 2024 Group C match between England and Slovenia at Cologne Stadium, Germany, on Tuesday.
New Zealand on Monday named a strong squad, which includes five spin bowling options
Ronaldo had won his first Ballon d'Or in 2008 while he was playing for Manchester United and still holds the record of the last Premier League player to claim the top prize. Messi won his first in 2009 and was nominated for 16 years.
Stones headed England in front in the eighth minute, losing his marker to angle home a Kieran Trippier corner before captain Kane made it 2-0 in the 22nd minute with his third goal of the tournament, an emphatically struck penalty after Jesse Lingard was pushed over in the box by Fidel Escobar.
Virat Kohli and Steve Smith have indulged in fiery on field exchanges early in their careers but their relationship has evolved in recent times.
The Ballon d'Or, which is awarded annually since 1956, is one of the most prestigious individual honours in football.
Tottenham Hotspur's England duo Harry Kane and Dele Alli fired them to a comfortable 2-0 win over mid-table Watford that cemented their place in the top four at Wembley on Monday.
IMAGES from the UEFA Champions League last 16 first leg matches played across Europe on Tuesday
The tourists will be without batsman Kane Williamson in Bengaluru after the former skipper opted out of the opener due to a groin injury, while paceman Ben Sears was ruled out of the series with a knee injury and replaced by Jacob Duffy.
Croatian forward Ante Budimir scored twice to help Osasuna earn a shock 4-2 home win over leaders Barcelona.
Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane pounced on a piece of comical defending to secure a 1-0 win over Sunderland in the Premier League on Sunday although he was later wheeled away on a stretcher after suffering an ankle injury.
Harry Kane's hat-trick turned Tottenham Hotspur's potentially tricky FA Cup fifth-round tie at Championship side Fulham into a Sunday stroll by the River Thames as they won 3-0 at Craven Cottage.
Former captain Daniel Vettori termed New Zealand's 3-0 Test series win on Indian soil as his country's greatest achievement while ex-batter Ross Taylor said he did not think of a clean sweep even "in our wildest dreams".
England held by Denmark after Hjulmand stunner
Alastair Cook backs Joe Root to surpass Sachin Tendulkar as leading run-getter in Test cricket
Kane Williamson will opt out of a handful of internationals in January to take up a contract in South Africa's Twenty20 league.
Former player Ian Smith questioned New Zealand's preparations for the T20 World Cup.
