India and New Zealand will lock horns for the inaugural WTC title from June 18-22, four days after the Test series against England
New Zealand wrapped up a record innings and 134-run victory over West Indies before lunch on the fourth day of the first Test in Hamilton on Sunday after finally breaking a rearguard action from Jermaine Blackwood and Alzarri Joseph.
New Zealand conjured up a remarkable victory for the second time in two weeks by chasing down a target of 285 runs on the final ball of the rain-shortened final day to beat Sri Lanka by two wickets.
Wagner said that the crowd was trying to get under Kohli's skin by singing
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.
The 31-year-old Williamson also sat out the two-Test home series against Bangladesh last month due to the niggling elbow issue.
New Zealand were in trouble at 37 for 3 at stumps in reply to England's declared first innings total of 325 for 9 at Bay Oval, with seven wickets tumbling in a frantic evening session.
Images from Day 3 of the ICC World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand, at The Hampshire Bowl, in Southampton, on Saturday.
Trent Boult and Colin de Grandhomme made themselves unavailable for selection due to the prospect of further time in bio-secure bubbles and Managed Isolation.
They pushed themselves hard to win the title and it was only fair that the newly-crowned world Test champions New Zealand pushed the 'boat out a little bit' more while celebrating their momentous triumph before heading back home.
Images from Day 4 of the first Test between England and New Zealand at Lord's in London on Saturday.
Williamson's elbow injury kept him out of a Test match in India in December and home series against South Africa and Bangladesh.
Hanuma Vihari said he won't mind taking up the opener's role if the team management asks after India's inexperienced opening options were technically exposed by a second-string New Zealand XI attack on the opening day of the warm-up game in Hamilton, on Friday. Coming in at No. 6, Vihari scored a hundred but Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw and Shubman Gill were dismissed early, undone by the extra bounce and seam movement during the match against New Zealand XI.
Sehwag took a funny jibe at the ICC for hosting the World Test Championship final in the UK
Pujara's strike-rate has been a constant subject of debate for sometime now
As curtains dropped on the third day of the first Test against New Zealand, England strengthened their stranglehold with Stuart Broad ripping through the Kiwi top-order at the Bay Oval.
Two more failures in two home games could effectively mean end of the road for Ajinkya Rahane, who is leading India in the first Test in Kanpur, starting on Thursday.
Jasprit Bumrah jumped six spots to fourth but struggling star batter Virat Kohli slipped to ninth
Bangladesh skipper Mominul Haque and Liton Das were denied hundreds but their resolute batting helped the tourists eclipse New Zealand's first innings total and move into a handy lead of 73 after finishing Day 3 of the opening Test on 401-6.
New Zealand's pace attack of Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner, however, made life difficult for the visitors
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson (919) continued to lead the batting charts, with the Australian duo of Steve Smith (891) and Marnus Labuschagne (878) rounding up the top three.
IMAGES from Day 2 of the 3rd Test played between England and New Zealand at Headingley on Friday.
New Zealand pace spearhead Trent Boult has recovered from a broken hand to be included in the 13-player squad to face India in the two-Test series, as selectors swung the axe following the dismal tour of Australia. Left-armer Boult broke his right hand in the Boxing Day Test against Australia in December but is fit for the first Test against India starting at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Friday.
Brook has now scored four centuries in his past five Tests
The inaugural WTC final is scheduled to be held in Southampton from June 18-22.
Skipper Williamson cleared to play; spinner Patel included in 15-man squad
Apart from Kohli, four other Indians who were picked in the ICC's Test and ODI Teams of the Year.
KL Rahul dropped two places to be sixth while Virat Kohli remained static on 10th in the batters' list.
We had to fight really hard to reverse momentum, says Kane Williamson
The opening day of the ICC World Test Championship final between India and New Zealand was called off due to persistent rain, in Southampton, on Friday.
An unbeaten Joe Root century and a bowling masterclass by James Anderson put England in complete control of the second Test on Saturday.
India and New Zealand will lock horns in the finals of WTC at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton
The only selection issue facing New Zealand as they head into the second match against India at Christchurch is likely to be whether pace bowler Kyle Jamieson, so impressive on his Test debut at the Basin Reserve, bats higher in the order. Jamieson made a big impression in the hosts' 10-wicket victory in the opener of the two-Test series, capturing 4-39 in the first innings and then scoring 44 in a rearguard action.
IMAGES from Day 3 of the 3rd Test played between England and New Zealand at Headingley on Saturday.
Pakistan's weakened pace attack in the absence of injured Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah, didn't offer a challenge to Conway and Latham with the new ball as both batters took New Zealand to 41-0 by tea before adding 124 more runs in the final session.
Most of the Test squad and staff had been transferred to hotel quarantine where they will warm up for the two-Test series against England
There is an uncanny resemblance between Wade and Jackson's 'gravity-defying tilt'.
Smith (900 points) is placed second behind New Zealand captain Kane Williamson (919).
Wagner took three wickets in 17 balls for just one run as England collapsed from 132-5 to 138-8 before tea, then broke a 59-run ninth-wicket partnership between Jofra Archer and Sam Curran after they had threatened to thwart the hosts.
Australia, who won the toss and batted in the day-nighter, reached 248 for four at stumps with Labuschagne 110 not out and Travis Head unbeaten on 20.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances