Sri Lanka stayed on course for victory against New Zealand in the opening test in Galle despite Rachin Ravindra's unbeaten 91 on Sunday.
Captain Kane Williamson led from the front with a superb century before his bowlers held their nerves in a close finish to help New Zealand edge past India by six runs in the second One-Day International in New Delhi, on Thursday.
Jacob Duffy, Blair Tickner, Rachin Ravindra and Hamish Rutherford were released from the initial 20 player squad.
Coming into the series at the back of a convincing series win over Pakistan, Australia will look to seal their seventh day-night Test win when they face New Zealand in the opening Test beginning in Perth on Thursday.
After a comfortable outing in the tournament-opener against Bangladesh, title favourites England are set to face a much stiffer test against New Zealand in a crucial ICC Champions Trophy Group A fixture in Cardiff, on Tuesday.
Alastair Cook backs Joe Root to surpass Sachin Tendulkar as leading run-getter in Test cricket
New Zealand cricket captain Tim Southee said they were outplayed by an "ever-improving" Bangladesh in the opening Test in Sylhet and refused to blame the defeat on any fatigue from their one-day World Cup campaign in India last month.
Kane Williamson said the Kiwis will be going back to their style of patient cricket which has yielded results at home since 2017.
Chapman, Astle picked in New Zealand T20 World Cup squad; Veteran Ross Taylor ignored.
New Zealand eye consolatory win over PNG
'It's not really a surprise (the rule was changed). I genuinely think that no one ever thought that was going to happen and it did'
After captain Kane Williamson and Michael Bracewell, New Zealand batter Devon Conway has also tested positive for COVID-19, New Zealand Cricket said on Thursday.
'Kane and few others from New Zealand were not feeling safe in Delhi because of the COVID situation there'
Skipper Kane Williamson and fellow opener Martin Guptill forged the highest partnership in Twenty20 Internationals to secure New Zealand a series-levelling 10-wicket victory against Pakistan in the second match in Hamilton on Sunday.
With Kane Williamson likely to miss the Test, New Zealand will have a lot of work to do in the 3rd Test in Sydney.
India's cricketers face one of their biggest tests in recent times, when they take on New Zealand with their T20 World Cup hopes on the line.
Since his comeback after an injury lay-off in August 2023, Jasprit Bumrah has been a key figure in India's success.
The ICC is set to start a nine-team Test league and a 13-team ODI league in 2019 and 2020 respectively, aiming to bring "context and meaning to bilateral cricket".
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson on Thursday described his hamstring injury a 'minor' one but admitted that an elbow niggle is affecting his grip.
Tamilians and Keralites believe he is one of them, and people from Karnataka also consider him their hero.
New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson has been reported for a suspect bowling action, the International Cricket Council has said.
Axar also patted fellow spinner Varun Chakravarthy (5/42) for coming up with a match-winning spell.
Stead also revealed that former paceman Bond has been hired by his country's cricket board to "work specifically" with the national team's spinners ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Images from the T20 World Cup final between New Zealand and Australia, in Dubai, on Sunday.
Hoping to be fully fit for the series-ending third and final Test against India, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson on Friday said that although the conditions have been tough his team should have put up a better show. "I am feeling better now. I am certainly very hopeful of playing on Saturday. I can say I am getting better each day," said Williamson whose viral infection-induced absence weakened the visitors' batting significantly in the second game at Kolkata.
Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and persistent light rain on Sunday ensured that New Zealand's second Test against England at the Basin Reserve is most likely to end in a damp draw on Monday.
Kane Williamson is due to leave, on Thursday, to link up with the Hyderabad Sunrisers in the United Arab Emirates, which is hosting the tournament this year due to the growing number of infections in India.
Rachin Ravindra becomes youngest recipient of Sir Richard Hadlee Medal
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has released veteran opener Martin Guptill from his central contract
In-form Sri Lanka right-hander Kamindu Mendis is another player on the move, with the 26-year-old improving five places to 11th and reaching a new career-high rating after he scored another century in the second Test of his side's recent series with New Zealand.
Out-of-form New Zealand opener Devon Conway will miss the third Test against England in Hamilton to remain at home for the birth of his first child this week
New Zealand opener Rachin Ravindra believes adapting to the conditions will be key to success in the Champions Trophy final against India in Dubai.
Pakistan will have 'revenge' on their mind for a recent off-field snub when they take on New Zealand in the T20 World Cup in Sharjah on Tuesday.
His side's passage to the final was in large due to the work put in both in the field and at the crease, with few players reading conditions quite like the Kiwi skipper.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is excited to face India in the ICC World Test Championships (WTC) final next month as he considers showdowns against Virat Kohli's men to be a 'fantastic challenge'.
Tim Southee will captain the T20 side.
New Zealand on Monday named a strong squad, which includes five spin bowling options
Captain Kane Williamson struck a composed unbeaten century as New Zealand edged past South Africa by four wickets in a thrilling last-over finish.
With the IPL season set to roll on Friday, one captain who has 100 Tests under his belt is willing and ready to mentor a newbie captain who will be taking over a leadership role for the first time.
Kane Williamson seized New Zealand's run chase by the scruff of the neck to lead his side to an improbable seven-wicket victory against Bangladesh on the final day of the first Test at the Basin Reserve on Monday.
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