England pacer Brydon Carse is expecting the transitioning Indian team to put up a strong fight in the five-match Test series despite the recent retirement of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, thanks to their "huge depth".
Rajasthan skipper Smith hailed Stokes as "exceptional" and said he hoped his team was peaking at the right time.
To say the least, a relatively inexperienced batting line up led by Shubman Gill would be relieved to see the name of James Anderson
Brydon Carse took six for 42 before England comfortably chased down their 104-run victory target in the first Test against New Zealand
New Zealand made a strong start to their bid for a consolation victory in the third and final Test against England at Hamilton's Seddon Park on Saturday, reaching lunch on the opening day on 93 without loss.
"There has always been one point in the three games were we haven't been a better team. Losing the first three games you probably would say we can't (take positives), but we are trying to and there is no point in looking back...Because if we lose 4-5, it's going to be really tough to come back from that," he said.
Kane Williamson scored a magisterial 156 at his most productive venue to drive New Zealand to the brink of a consolation victory over England at the end of the third day of the third Test.
England batted with positive intent to take control of the final Ashes Test at The Oval on Saturday, moving on to 389-9 at the close on the third day with a 377-run lead over Australia.
'I've been a firm believer in that if you want Test cricket to survive and be alive and thriving, I think that's the way to go.'
England's style validated despite defeat to Australia, says McCullum
No one expected Australia to win after they lost 8 wickets, but they didn't reckon with Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon.
An fine all-round display by Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler's late assault with the bat ended England's long losing streak against Australia as the visitors won the fourth One-Day International by 57 runs in Perth.
England all-rounder Sam Curran but said being in the same 'bracket' as someone like Ben Stokes and a few others like Cameron Green might affect his chances.
Ben Stokes hit his 11th ODI half century as he guided England to a six-wicket win over New Zealand in the second game of their five-match series at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Wednesday.
IMAGES from Day 2 of the opening Ashes Test played between England and Australia at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham on Saturday.
'Whether it was air quality or what, it was definitely an experience I've not had before.'
Zak Crawley, Tom Hartley, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Gus Atkinson and assistant coach Marcus Trescothick met the Dalai Lama at his residence.
India will be looking for another favorable result to extend their lead in the World Test Championships standings.
Two wickets from successive balls in Ben Stokes's third over removed Quinton de Kock (5) and Faf du Plessis (0) and ended faint South Africa hopes of mounting a rearguard action in pursuit of their nominal target of 492.
England skipper Ben Stokes on Wednesday expressed relief after young leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed's visa issue was sorted in quick time due to the intervention of the Indian government and the BCCI.
After Stokes's heroics with the bat had helped England score 330 for six in their 50 overs, South Africa needed 10 runs from the last 10 balls of their innings with five wickets remaining, but an excellent final over from Wood that cost just four runs sealed victory.
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.
Ben Stokes is expected to make his long-awaited England return in a one-day international against New Zealand on Sunday.
England skipper Root has said he could miss the series opener believes the side would still be in good hands, with vice-captain Stokes well-equipped to take the reins.
With over 500 runs, six crucial catches, the most by an Indian on the tour, Rahul led by example and lived up to his wiseman tag.
India were without several frontline players and fielded five debutants in the series.
England batter Joe Root advocated for more flexibility in playing regulations and questioned for stopping the game early in the evening.
'I am very excited for him to put the England shirt on again. It's something he has worked very hard for and thoroughly deserves.'
Ben Stokes played another magnificent innings, but the England skipper wasn't able to finish the job as Australian won the second Ashes Test at Lord's.
The British media's 'no love lost' attitude towards Virat Kohli was evident once again as they questioned the Indian captain's exchange of words with Ben Stokes after the latter's dismissal but performer of the day Jonny Bairstow was in no mood to fan the fire.
Ben Stokes' first big decision as captain will be to name his team along with coach Chris Silverwood and there are tricky choices to be made with his bowling attack.
His duel with India stalwart Virat Kohli will be an interesting sub-plot of the match.
From England's fiery all-rounder Ben Stokes to India's rising star Shubman Gill, and the ever-reliable Babar Azam from Pakistan, these cricketing maestros are ready to redefine the game.
England's Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow struck half centuries to guide the hosts to a four-wicket victory over Pakistan in the fourth one-day international in Leeds on Thursday as they went 4-0 ahead in the five-match series.
England spinner Rehan Ahmed has been added to the Ashes squad for the second Test against Australia.
Can the subcontinent giants maintain their 12-year invincibility?
Images from Day 3 of the second Ashes between England and Australia at Lord's.
