Manchester United stayed in fifth place, one point above West Ham, but it was another depressingly dull day at Old Trafford where United were booed off after losing 1-0 to Southampton.
Juergen Klopp expressed disappointment at the officiating and his Liverpool side's poor finishing in the second leg of their League Cup semi-final at Anfield on Wednesday after Southampton claimed a late 1-0 victory to book a spot in the final.
Former captain Ricky Ponting felt Cricket Australia left the door ajar for Smith but any move to reinstate him in that role would need to take account of public opinion.
Runners-up to get $ 2 million, incentives for winning each of the 45 league matches.
India's white-ball team will be arriving in Sri Lanka on July 5 and they will head back home on July 28.
The ECB said that after the conclusion of play on the first day, the match referee, groundstaff and ECB Match Manager would discuss the start times for the next day and if the forecast looked good, play could begin at 1030.
New Zealand have now secured a first Test series win in England since 1999 and only their third overall in the country.
With Liverpool still to visit Chelsea, who trail them by nine points with two games in hand, Juergen Klopp's side may have to beat Brighton & Hove Albion on May 13 and rely on their superior goal difference to qualify for the Champions League, assuming they do not secure it by winning this year's trophy.
Fit again Ravindra Jadeja and Hanuma Vihari made their way back into the Indian Test squad, while all-rounder Hardik Pandya was left out for next month's IIC World Test Championship final against New Zealand and the five-match series against England.
Rain and bad light have combined to limit action in the second Test between England and Pakistan in Southampton, frustrating players and television viewers hoping for live cricket amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
A dispirited Arsene Wenger lamented his team's recent goal drought as Arsenal.
Khawaja suffers injury scare in warm-up game against Sri Lanka
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Wednesday that all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez will self-isolate until he tests negative for COVID-19 after breaching a bio-security protocol by posing for a photograph with a member of the public in England.
Mumbai Indians batsman Chris Lynn had recently requested Cricket Australia to arrange for a charter flight for Australia players after the tournament concludes on May 30.
Spinner Dom Bess was named in England's 13-man squad for the first Test against West Indies and there was no place for Moeen Ali among nine reserves, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Saturday.All-rounder Ben Stokes will lead England in the match, which will begin at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on Wednesday in a bio-secure environment amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
'I do believe India is very strong because lately we have been winning outside the country. I think our batting is stronger, in bowling they are at par.'
'I want to assure West Indies cricket fans that Phil Simmons still has the full backing of CWI, no matter what has been said'
One of New Zealand's most successful coaches who is now currently director of cricket at the Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mike Hesson expects Rohit and Gill to open but wants Agarwal, who lost his spot in the eleven after two Tests in Australia, to be given a chance.
India pacer Jasprit Bumrah hasn't done any special preparation for the ongoing Test series against England, but admitted that a little bit of mindset adjustments, and staying in the present moment, worked wonders for him after a disappointing World Test Championship final against New Zealand.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Monday gave the go-ahead for professional men's county cricket to start its season on August 1. The men's County Championship was initially scheduled to begin on April 12, but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Champions Manchester United will travel to Swansea City for their first English Premier League match under new manager David Moyes, while Manuel Pellegrini's Manchester City are at home to Newcastle United on August 17.
New Zealand pacer Kyle Jamieson says leaving the IPL amid the raging COVID-19 pandemic in India was an "interesting" experience but he remained confident that the BCCI would ensure a safe passage to England for his first UK tour.
Jadeja grabbed the opportunity with both hands in the fifth and the final Test during India's tour of England in 2018.
Brathwaite showed his displeasure after he was adjudged caught behind off England fast bowler Jofra Archer during the 44th over of the West Indies innings on Friday.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Last week, Team India roared into the final of the inaugural edition of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) following an emphatic 3-1 series win over England.
Substitute Dusan Tadic fired the only goal as Southampton recorded a first league win over Manchester United for 27 years on Sunday, climbing above them into third in the Premier League.
Williamson agreed that getting Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara out early did set it up nicely for them.
Rediff.com encapsulates all the sporting action from the past week in this eye-catching photo feature.
Whatever happens, there will be no shortage of drama between now and May 12.
Leicester are third in the table after nine games -- eight points adrift of leaders Liverpool and two behind City. The two teams above them are the only sides to win more points since Rodgers was appointed in March.
Images from EPL matches played on Saturday.
Mohammed Shami inspired India's fightback with a superb showing with the ball, on Day 5 of the World Test Championship Final.
Pace legend Michael Holding questioned the England and Wales Cricket Board's bio-secure protocol to tackle the COVID-19 threat after England pacer Jofra Archer breached it ahead of the ongoing second Test against the West Indies in Manchester.
Louis Van Gaal said it would take him three years to transform Manchester United into a potential title-winning team when he became manager last summer, but judged by Sunday's loss to Southampton, he might have to wait a lot longer than that.
Doull said New Zealand were definitely benefited by the two games against England ahead of the marquee clash.
India and New Zealand will lock horns for the inaugural WTC title from June 18-22, four days after the Test series against England
India were 146 for 3 against New Zealand before bad light stopped play in the weather-marred World Test Championship final, in Southampton, on Saturday.
English Premier League leaders Liverpool will need to maintain their excellent recent record against Everton in Sunday's Merseyside derby if they are to hold their advantage over second-placed Manchester City.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is discussing the possibility of introducing substitutes if a player tests positive for COVID-19 during a Test match, England and Wales Cricket Board director of special projects Steve Elworthy said. Last year, the ICC approved "like for like" substitutes across all formats of international cricket to replace concussed players during matches and Elworthy said the same rule would have to be applied for COVID-19 substitutes.
