West Indies ended the fourth day of the unexpectedly enthralling second test requiring 317 more runs to win after England turned the contest firmly in their favour.
England's bowlers dragged their side back into the third and deciding Test against New Zealand as they reduced the hosts to 35 for three in their second innings at the close of play on the third day at Eden Park on Sunday.
Coach Sanjay Bharadwaj tells Manu Shankar that more than technical, it's the mental aspect that's troubling the opener most.
'I'm definitely hungry and keen to keep playing for England. This summer I have been bowling as well as I ever have. I bowled quite a lot for Lancashire at the start of the season and was in really good form before I got injured at an annoying time'
England finished day two on 111-2 and trail New Zealand by 267 runs in the first innings of the first Test after Devon Conway's double ton took the game away from the home side on Thursday.
The International Cricket Council appointed Gordon Lewis AM as the Judicial Commissioner to hear the misconduct case against England paceman James Anderson and the preliminary hearing will be conducted on July 22, a day after the Lord's Test concludes.
Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor mastered a lifeless England attack to lift New Zealand to 303 for two at the close on the second day of the first Test at Lord's on Friday.
Eoin Morgan and Joe Root ensured England completed a comfortable five-wicket victory over New Zealand in the third and final One Day International match at EdenPark in Auckland on Saturday to wrap up the series.
India captain Virat Kohli remained in second spot behind Steve Smith while Alastair Cook jumped nine places to be eighth in the latest ICC Test rankings after his unbeaten double century in the ongoing Ashes.
Alastair Cook's patient knock of 78 anchored a well-executed England run chase of 270 to beat New Zealand by eight wickets in the second One-day International at McLeanPark, levelling the three-match series at 1-1 on Wednesday.
Pacer Mitchell Starc feels that since Indian batsmen play spin well and Australia's strength is their pace attack, they should "try to maximise" their strengths.
Pakistan are scheduled to play three Tests and as many Twenty20 matches against England. The first Test will begin at Lord's on July 30.
England ended a well contested first day of the fourth and final Test against South Africa on 260 for six with the late loss of Ben Stokes giving heart to the tourists.
Alastair Cook gave the credit for Saturday's second-Test win over West Indies to James Anderson.
'I can from outside say criticism is unnecessary but I know for a fact that Pujara doesn't care and criticism is as relevant as you want it to be.'
Panesar also expects the ICC to prepare a neutral wicket and not a green top as the WTC is supposed to be a good advert for the five-day game.
But the 32-year-old with 302 Test wickets didn't deny that it was indeed a great opportunity to gear up for the big battle against India.
The touring side reached 75-1 in their second innings at the close, a lead of 205, with Dean Elgar (38 not out) and Hashim Amla (23 not out) bringing some order to the final hour and ensuring their team are well-placed to force the victory that would level the four-match series at 1-1.
England have rested fast bowler James Anderson and batsman Jonathan Trott from the next month's One-day series against India and replaced them with Chris Woakes and Jos Buttler.
After posting 330 in the first innings, England exploited the slow and uneven bounce of the track to leave the home side gasping at a precarious 87 for 4 at close on Day 2 of the fourth Test.
The overhaul of South Africa's coaching structure has given the team a major boost as they get ready to take on England in a four-Test series which begins on Thursday, captain Faf du Plessis said. Meanwhile, veteran pacer James Anderson will be back on the frontline for England, for what will be his 150th Test.
In reply to India's first innings score of 316, England cruised to 216 for one at close on the second day to take firm control of the third Test match.
England seamer James Anderson on Wednesday revealed that he started practising the art of reverse swing after watching Zaheer Khan's stupendous success during India's tour of England back in 2007.
England's bowlers struck at regular intervals to restrict India to 273 for 7 on the first day of the third Test at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday.
India's off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has managed to retain his second spot in the latest ICC player rankings for Test bowlers issued on Sunday.
England's hard-earned Test series wins over the summer with a blend of youth and experience show the side's drive to be the number one team in the world, according to captain Joe Root. England beat the West Indies 2-1 and Pakistan 1-0 in a rain-hit series which, coupled with their success in South Africa at the start of the year, continue an upward trajectory with new players in the team.
Root said rotation policy is the best they could have asked for under the current circumstances, brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Former captain Geoffrey Boycott questioned England's ability to play spin on the turning sub-continent pitches after they lost three quick wickets in the first Test against India in Ahmedabad.
The Test series is still a few days away but England have started the mind games with pacer James Anderson saying that his team needs to make sure that it does not treat senior Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar "with too much respect in the middle".
Bowlers Steven Finn and Stuart Broad were left out of England's final warm-up match on Thursday as the pace duo race against time to be fit for the first test against India starting on November 15.
At stumps on Day 3, India were 125/3 in their second innings to extend their lead to 257 runs with Cheteshwar Pujara (50 not out) hitting a gutsy half-century.
A "distraught" James Anderson apologised to his England team mates after pulling up injured on day one of the opening Ashes Test against Australia, fellow quick Stuart Broad revealed.
Australia batsman George Bailey equalled Brian Lara's Test record for most runs off an over against England at the WACA in Perth on Monday.
England will rest fast bowler James Anderson for the third and final Test against West Indies starting at Edgbaston on Thursday.
England fast bowler James Anderson said he felt a huge sense of relief after claiming his 300th Test wicket in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's on Friday. The 30-year-old had New Zealand opener Peter Fulton caught at second slip by Graeme Swann to become only the fourth Englishman to reach the milestone.
Australian bowling coach David Saker has compared England paceman James Anderson and spinner Graeme Swann to legendary Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne.
James Anderson claimed four wickets as England made an excellent start to the third and final Test in Sharjah by bowling out Pakistan for 234 on Sunday.
Tendulkar also felt that Leach doesn't vary his pace a lot which will be required on tracks offer turn.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul defied England once again with a tenacious unbeaten 87 to lead West Indies to 243 for nine on the first day of the opening Test at Lord's on Thursday.
England will not look to play for a draw on the final day of the fourth test against India but would rather try to score quickly to set the hosts a target and keep alive the series, fast bowler James Anderson said on Sunday. The touring side, down 2-0 in the five-match series, trail India by 49 runs with four second-innings wickets remaining at the close of the fourth day. On a turning Wankhede Stadium pitch, batting fourth will not be easy for the hosts, who made 631 in their first innings.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances