Kevin Pietersen criticises England after their Ashes loss in Adelaide
Fast bowler Jacob Duffy and spinner Ajaz Patel routed West Indies as New Zealand won the third and final Test by 323 runs to complete a 2-0 series victory
England had moved to within 35 runs of securing a famous victory over India when bad light and torrential rain ended an extraordinary fourth day of the final Test at The Oval on Sunday.
As England and India gear up for the final Test of the fiercely fought five-match series starting at The Oval on Thursday, a number of individuals on either side will be on the cusp of major individual milestones.
Australia stormed to an eight-wicket victory in the second Ashes Test on Sunday to take a 2-0 series lead as England succumbed on day four to a pace blitz from unlikely hero Michael Neser.
The last time two specialist keepers played together in a Test was in 1986, when Kiran More and Chandrakant Pandit featured in the same XI, with Pandit playing as a batter.
For their next assignment in the ICC World Test Championship cycle, the two-time WTC runners up will aim to grab maximum points across those four home clashes. Here are five key questions the side must answer prior to their next Test match-up.
How will the 4th Test end? A Draw? An England Win? An Indian Win?
'Special mention to Siraj, who will put everything on the line for the team. Extremely happy for him.'
The International Cricket Council (ICC) should never have changed the result of the controversial 2006 Oval Test between England and Pakistan to a draw, the custodians of the game's laws said on Sunday. The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) called for the ICC to reinstate the original result that Pakistan had forfeited the Test and said it had set a dangerous precedent by altering the result.
India captain Shubman Gill threw his weight behind Gautam Gambhir following the latter's fiery exchange with The Oval's chief curator Lee Fortis, firmly asserting that the India coach was well within his rights to inspect the square.
Lyon's lack of recent action has left him stalled on 562 wickets, one shy of Glenn McGrath's tally in the list of most prolific Australian test wicket-takers.
The cricket fraternity lavished praise on Yashasvi Jaiswal after the young opener produced a masterful century on Day 3 of the fifth and final Test against England at the Oval on Saturday.
'He has responded extraordinarily well since coming out of the coma to the point where his family feels it's like some sort of miracle.'
Jonny Bairstow will keep wicket for England in the fifth and final Test against India after recovering from a broken middle finger.
Chasing a world record 435 runs to win, England were reduced to 207 for six at stumps on Day 4 of the third Test, still 228 runs short of victory
Australia head coach and selector Andrew McDonald has confirmed Usman Khawaja will play in the fifth Ashes Test against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground amid media speculation it could be his last international.
With three centuries already in the series, Gill could join Don Bradman and Gavaskar in the elite club of captains who've hit the most hundreds in a single Test series, if he converts his current innings into a fourth on Day 5.
A look at India's narrowest victories by run margin -- games that tested nerves, showcased grit, and etched unforgettable drama into Test history.
Kavem Hodge's unbeaten hundred helped the West Indies avoid the follow-on and reach 381-6 on Day 3 of the third and final Test against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui on Saturday.
He said he might have reviewed the caught-behind decision himself had he been given out -- but not with great confidence.
Labuschagne underlined the cricket adage that "catches win matches", while England counted the cost of dropped chances in Adelaide.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir hinted pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah could play in the must-win fifth and final Test against England.
A large group of players, including Mohammed Siraj, the hero of the victory, boarded an Emirates flight early Tuesday morning, heading to Dubai en route to their respective home cities in India.
Mohammed Siraj's superb match-winning effort on the final day of the Test series against England that helped win The Oval Test match by six runs helped him clinch the award.
India's hopes of drawing the series at The Oval may hinge on one question: will Jasprit Bumrah play?
IMAGES from Day 1 of the 3rd Ashes Test played in Adelaide on Wednesday
The 31-year-old Hyderabad pacer was instrumental in India's victory in the second Test at Edgbaston, where he blew away the English team with a fiery spell of 6/70.
'To be able to take over or equal Glenn, or however you want to put it, it's pretty humbling to be honest with you, and it's something that I'll look back at the end of my career, or even tonight, and sit back and try and have a moment.'
Kasprowicz recalls being thanked "for saving Test cricket" for his Ashes 2005 Birmingham dismissal
While the young Indian team showed great resolve to earn a creditable draw in England, the series exposed several weaknesses that need urgent attention.
Images from Day 2 of the 3rd Ashes Test in Adelaide on Thursday
Former England captain Hussain won the toss in the first Ashes Test of the 2002/03 series, electing to field first at the Gabba in a decision that dumbfounded some of his teammates.
Captain Ben Stokes believes England can build on the positives from their loss in the third Ashes Test to Australia in Adelaide as they look to claim the country's first win Down Under in almost 15 years in the series' two remaining tests.
'We haven't got everything right. I haven't got everything right as a coach and I put my hand up for that.'
Starc also pointed out that the wicket did not assist pacers that much with the new ball and expressed concerns over Nathan Lyon's injury on the final day of the Test and the setback to Hazlewood.
Justin Greaves struck an epic unbeaten 202 against a depleted New Zealand attack to help the West Indies snatch a memorable draw in the opening Test at Christchurch's Hagley Oval on Saturday.
'Tomorrow we can just focus on doing a good warm-up, get the boys ready to hopefully get the ball in the right area and create a little bit of excitement again.'
Rachin Ravindra smashed 176, while skipper Tom Latham ended his three-year wait for a Test hundred as the New Zealanders combined for a 279-run stand to effectively bat West Indies out of the opening test at Christchurch's Hagley Oval on Thursday.
India A skipper Rishabh Pant will look to build on the gains from the first match, while the likes of Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav will aim for crucial red-ball game time in the second four-day match against a Temba Bavuma-led South Africa A in Bengaluru from Thursday.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances