Gus Atkinson took a hat-trick as England stayed on course for a dominant victory in the second Test against New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday, reaching 378 for 5 at the close of play on Day 2 with an imposing lead of 533.
Harry Brook continued his remarkable form in New Zealand with a second century of the series to drive England to 280 before the tourists reduced the Black Caps to 86 for 5 at the close of play on Friday, the first day of the second Test.
Smith needs just 315 runs to become the fourth Australian batter after Ricky Ponting (13378), Allan Border (11174), and Steve Waugh (10927) to reach the landmark of 10,000 Test runs.
'Rooty has got 11,500 Test runs, he's brilliant, but he's so desperate to fit in to what Ben (Stokes) and Brendon (McCullum) are doing that sometimes I don't think he gets his balance of attack and defence right.'
Batting at No. 8, Gus Atkinson smashed an unbeaten 74 off 81 balls, including four sixes and five fours, punishing the Sri Lankan bowlers in the final session.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has moved up a spot to seventh.
2024 saw some of the most competitive and captivating cricket being played on the field.
Himself known for his delightful cover drivers, Bell thinks Virat Kohli plays his favourite shot the best among his peers.
Saud Shakeel's crafty 134 fetched Pakistan a handy first-innings lead before their spinners blew away England's top order to boost their hopes of a memorable series victory on day two of the deciding third Test in Rawalpindi on Friday.
Will India drop Rohit for the Sydney Test and put Kohli on notice? Or will the team management grant the senior pros a final chance to redeem themselves?
Former England captain Nasser Hussain hailed "magical" Jasprit Bumrah for his remarkable spell against England and felt that India pacer ended up being the difference between both sides in Vizag Test.
Woakes returned to the test squad for the first time since July 2023 in what will be England pace great James Anderson's farewell series.
'So whatever runs he might not have gotten (against Ireland), you know, he wants to score double the runs.'
Kumble said that he does not feel that Jaiswal will change his aggressive approach in Australia, where India has won two back-to-back series.
Ravichandran Ashwin said on Tuesday that star Pakistan batter Babar Azam "should not be mentioned in the same line" as Indian icon Virat Kohli
Jamie Smith smashed a counter-attacking 89 before England's bowlers made early inroads into the Pakistan line-up to drag the touring side back into the deciding third and final Test.
IMAGES from Day 1 of the 2nd Test played between Pakistan and England in Multan on Tuesday.
As Ashwin nears his 500th Test wicket, here are some of the batters who have been unable to read him and have been his victims one time too many.
Star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is in contention for the prestigious title of Test Cricketer of the Year
England star Joe Root is cementing his status as one of the greatest players as he achieved new career-high rating in the latest ICC Men's Test Batter Rankings.
Ollie Pope reckons England can make 600 Test runs in a day's play
Brook's average of 62.54 is the second highest in Test history among players with a minimum of 20 Test innings. His average is only second to the incpmparable Australian batter Sir Don Bradman, who scored 6,996 runs in 52 Tests at an average of 99.94, with 29 centuries and 13 fifties.
Root played just three matches for Rajasthan Royals in his IPL debut this year, and Rob Key, managing director of England's men's cricket, had said the 32-year-old "needs a break" after the 50-overs World Cup in India.
'We felt like we had a lot of different wicket-taking opportunities. The odd ball was staying low, we got the ball reversing a little bit, and got the odd ball to spin as well. It's never an easy position.'
England became the first team to win a Test by an innings after conceding more than 500 runs in their first innings.
England coach hopes Josh Hazlewood's comments were tongue in cheek
Ahead of the fifth and final Test match between India and England in Dharamsala, star English batter Joe Root said that he has "high expectations" from himself.
'He has not played in Australia, or at least he has not played in Perth in a Test match on a wicket that bounces.'
Rohit remarked that Jadeja rarely bowls this many no-balls in the IPL.
Former Australia skipper Ian Chappell feels England under Ben Stokes will give India tough competition.
England captain Ollie Pope returned to form with a classy unbeaten 103 to guide his team to 221/3 on a weather-affected first day of the third and final Test.
Images from Day 4 of the second Test between India and England in Visakhapatnam on Monday.
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.
IMAGES from Day 1 of the 4th Test played between India and England in Ranchi on Friday.
Patel lauded Joe Root for supporting the three main spinners with a fine spell.
Travis Head scored his second successive hundred while veteran Steve Smith wore the opposition down with a statement century to put Australia in control
Saud Shakeel missed out on a hundred but Salman Agha smashed a brisk 79 not out to propel Pakistan to a commanding 515 for eight at tea on the second day of the contest on Tuesday.
Jonny Bairstow is the 17th England player to complete the landmark of 100 Test matches.
IMAGES from the third Test played between England and Sri Lanka at the Oval on Sunday
Indian batters are not known for their sweeping skills but they made a conscious effort to practise that shot in their opening net session ahead of the second Test against England beginning in Visakhapatnam on Friday.
