The usually mobbed Indian cricket team likes training in a relaxed atmosphere and that was evident in their body language as the players went about their business in their only practice session at the Kent County Cricket Ground before the fourth Test in Manchester.
Under the shimmering floodlights and in front of a roaring partisan crowd, Virat Kohli unleashed his latest masterclass, blasting a 42-ball 70 to guide Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a sensational 11-run win over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Wanindu Hasaranga, who grabbed four prized wickets, was the pick of the bowlers for Rajasthan Royals.
Both teams have struggled in the ODI format recently. World champions Australia lost to Sri Lanka (0-2) and Pakistan (1-2) in their last two series, while England, now coached by Brendon McCullum in all formats, haven't won an ODI series since their disastrous 2023 World Cup campaign.
England captain Ben Stokes broke his own record for the most overs bowled by himself during a Test series.
ECB will review his progress next month
England pacer Jofra Archer, who bowled a match-winning spell in the first T20 International against India in Ahmedabad on Friday, shared the secret to his success with the ball in T20 cricket.
England paceman Jofra Archer escaped being banned from bowling for the rest of the first Test against South Africa after delivering two successive beamers late in the twilight at the end of a frustrating day for his team on Friday. Archer bowled two full tosses at South Africa nightwatchman Anrich Nortje in the penultimate over of the day which were both no-balled by umpire Paul Reiffel, only for his decision on the second no-ball to be rescinded.
England fast bowler Jofra Archer on Monday claimed he was subjected to "racial insults" by a spectator during the fifth and final day of the first Test against New Zealand, in Mount Maunganui.
Teenager Eddie Jack's call-up comes at a time when England's pace stocks are depleted with less than 10 days to go for the opening Test.
India's batting faltered under pressure as they suffered a 22-run defeat in the third Test against England, at Lord's.
Indian skipper Shubman Gill confirmed that world's best fast bowler will be back during the third Test starting July 10 and Stokes wasn't amused that he would be asked about the fast bowling talisman for zillionth time.
Broken foot, unbroken in spirit: Pant gives update
'Archer brings excitement and an X-factor to the team'
Earlier, after being 0-2 early in their second innings, India continued to battle on to frustrate England on day five, the tourists doing everything possible to keep the series alive on 322-4 at tea.
Brathwaite sees a leader in Archer and wants England to support him in discovering his leadership qualities so that he can serve English cricket for a long time.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction saw some foreign names earning big bucks, headlined by Aussie all-rounder Cameron Green
West Indies Test captain Jason Holder on Tuesday said his team will treat Barbados-born speedster Jofra Archer as just another English cricketer when the opening Test begins in Southampton on July 8. Archer gained eligibility to represent England in 2018. He had played for West Indies Under-19 side in 2014.
Barbados-born Jofra Archer, who shone for Sussex last season and in Australia's Big Bash for Hobart Hurricanes, is eligible for national selection under new England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) residency rules.
Sai Sudharsan was shadow batting on a covered square at Old Trafford on the eve of the fourth Test, an old habit that keeps the top-order batter mentally ready for the next opportunity that comes his way.
New Zealand Cricket has banned a spectator from attending international and domestic games in the country for two years after he admitted racially abusing England fast bowler Jofra Archer.
Rajasthan Royals face a tough challenge against a marauding Punjab Kings batting lineup, led by in-form Shreyas Iyer.
However, with six back-to-back Tests against the Windies and Pakistan, the rotation policy could be used to keep the paces fresh.
England head coach Brendon McCullum believes India have arrived well-prepared and full of belief for the upcoming five-match Test series
Jofra Archer took six wickets as England's bowlers gave their side a handy lead on the second day of the final Ashes Test, reducing Australia to 225 all out in reply to their own first innings score of 294.
England's Jofra Archer is likely to miss the Indian Premier League as national team coach Chris Silverwood wants the fast bowler to play cricket with Sussex to get up to speed before the home Test series against West Indies in June. Archer, who has a contract with the Rajasthan Royals franchise in the IPL, has been out of action since January with an elbow injury.
Expect some fireworks for the highly-versatile Cameron Green along with Quinton de Kock, Matheesha Pathirana, Venkatesh Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi.
Images from the T20 World Cup Group B match between Australia and England, at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados, on Saturday.
A magnificent fighting 95 from skipper Riyan Parag went in vain as defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) held their nerves to deny Rajasthan Royals (RR) a win, leaving them one run short at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
From Ravindra Jadeja's stoic resistance to Jofra Archer's fire and the emotional collapse of Mohammed Siraj at the end, this was a Test for the ages - one that even veteran voices like Nasser Hussain hailed as the best in recent memory.
Yashasvi Jaiswal wanted to be more consistent on his first tour of England but drew immense satisfaction from his second-innings ton on a "spicy" pitch at The Oval to help India set a massive 374-run target in the fifth Test.
England pacer bowler Jofra Archer finally found his World Cup winner's medal after he had earlier said he was "going mad" as it got misplaced while he moved into a new house.
Rising star Riyan Parag will lead Rajasthan Royals in the first three IPL games, as regular captain Sanju Samson will be playing as a specialist batter cum Impact Substitute.
It took eight years for Karun Nair to don India jersey again but 25 days into his second coming in Test cricket, the Karnataka batter could well have played his last international game
"I think it was going fine until the six ... Stokes told me before the over 'win or lose, today doesn't define you. Everyone believes in you'," Barbados-born Archer, who made his England debut in May, told reporters.
Fired-up England reduced India to 58/4 chasing 193 for victory in a highly-charged final session on day four on Sunday as a gripping third Test at Lord's.
IMAGES from the IPL match between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Sunday
England's leading pacer Jofra Archer, who was bought by Mumbai Indians for a whopping Rs 8 crore despite his unavailability for this year's IPL, said the team's "close-knit, family-oriented" structure makes him feel "safe" as a new entrant.
Boycott defends Jadeja, Sundar for declining draw offer; slams England's bowling
England fast bowler Jofra Archer has been cleared to re-join the squad ahead of the third and final Test against West Indies after a second negative test for COVID-19. The pacer was forced to isolate for five days after he admitted breaking the team's bio-secure protocols ahead of the recently-concluded second Test against West Indies, following which he was withdrawn from the squad.
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