India Cricket News

It's been another wonderful year for British sport. But how much of the past 12 months of highs, lows and everything in between do you really remember?

It pains Matt Prior to say it, but say it he does. England's former wicketkeeper is ticking about the performance that left Ben Stokes's side two down in the Ashes with three to play.

As if making a good impression with Andrew Flintoff's Lions in Australia was not enough, Durham's Emilio Gay has lined up an unusual route to further his England ambitions.

A break in play was required for the playing area to be fumigated as India batted first in the grudge clash, but even that only proved a temporary respite.

Suryakumar Yadav's side refused to collect their silverware because it would have meant interacting with Mohsin Naqvi, who is chair of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

I spent a lot of time with Dickie Bird, one of the game's great characters, and in all those years I never once heard him swear. He got on so well with everyone that there was no need to get angry.

What's in a handshake? Oh, not a lot really. Only the financial wellbeing of international cricket, and the future of the game as we know it.

LAWRENCE BOOTH: With every blow of his pulsating 82-ball 110 against South Africa in Southampton, Jacob Bethell reinforced what should already have been obvious.

A recurrent grumble during the recent England-India series concerned the state of the Dukes ball. But another equipment-related headache has been raging. The 'cricket bat emergency'.

Here, we list the next 10 great talents, across the globe and across sports - it's time to get to know them now, because they'll be household names before you know it.

After a rollercoaster month, who were the heroes and the villains, who provided the shocks and who didn't? Here are Inside Cricket's awards for this epic series.

RICHARD GIBSON: The next challenge against Australia begins in Perth on November 21, and McCullum has no concerns about captain Ben Stokes returning from a torn shoulder muscle.

A series that has given us everything was never going to end any other way. With England needing seven to win Gus Atkinson swung for glory and lost his off stump to Mohammed Siraj.

Mail Sport's David Lloyd - AKA Bumble - was among those left gripped by the action on the final day. He offers his thoughts on some of the key talking points following the match and the series itself.

NASSER HUSSAIN: India ended up winning the two games that their premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah didn't play, and the reason for that was because of one man, really - Mohammed Siraj.

DAVID COVERDALE: Ben Stokes saluted the 'unbelievable' bravery of Chris Woakes for coming out to bat with his arm in a sling - despite England falling to defeat to draw the series with India.

India completed one of the most dramatic Test match victories ever seen on British soil, squaring the series with a stunning six-run victory after Chris Woakes attempted to carry England over the line.

What a fabulous series for Mohammed Siraj. Whole-hearted, no-nonsense and a highly skilled bowler. He's been the best in this series by a distance, writes DAVID LLOYD.

NASSER HUSSAIN: I still can't shake the feeling that cricket shot itself in the foot by playing by the rules. In situations like that, I just wish there was some flexibility.

LAWRENCE BOOTH AT THE OVAL: This magnificent series will get the conclusion it deserves, even if it is a day later than expected. When bad light, soon followed by torrential rain, stopped play at 5.30.

LAWRENCE BOOTH AT THE OVAL: While England have been all mouth and no trousers, India have played with a sense of purpose and pre-destiny.

RICHARD GIBSON AT THE OVAL: Only finishing as they started will do for England now. Just as in Leeds six weeks ago, they are required to complete their second biggest Test chase in history.

NASSER HUSSAIN: The Gus Atkinson we have witnessed in this Test match is the version we saw when he first broke into the England side last summer - and one that should be in the Ashes XI.

The 55-year-old died on the morning of August 4, 2024, after being struck by a train at a railway station in Surrey, with a coroner ruling the death a suicide.

SponsoredSky Bet are offering three Price Boosts for the fifth and final Test between England and India - as day two gets underway at The Oval today.

The latest serving of Test Match Breakfast comes after India made 204 for six against England on the opening day of the fifth Test. AADAM PATEL was at The Oval on Thursday.

DAVID COVERDALE AT THE KIA OVAL: He left the Oval pitch with his left arm in a sling after landing awkwardly by the boundary towards the end of a rain-affected first day of the fifth Test.

LAWRENCE BOOTH AT THE OVAL: England's seamers were handed the best bowling conditions of the summer, but only Gus Atkinson made an unanswerable case for a trip to Australia.

LAWRENCE BOOTH: These days, the cricket communities of India and England need little excuse to get under each other's skin. And that skin, on both sides, can be surprisingly thin.

RICHARD GIBSON: Stokes, 34, has bowled more overs in this series than any across his 12-year Test career.

Shubman Gill insists India's treatment while assessing the Oval pitch was 'absolutely unnecessary' after tempers frayed once again on the eve of the Test series finale.

LAWRENCE BOOTH: It says everything about a packed schedule, and even more about the state of England's Test pitches, that Ben Stokes and his team were lying low at their hotel on Tuesday.

LAWRENCE BOOTH: India coach Gautam Gambhir was involved in a finger-wagging spat with Surrey head groundsman Lee Fortis this morning as tensions spilled over at The Oval.

England's opponents have never needed an excuse to dislike them - and on Sunday evening Ben Stokes's team gift-wrapped another exhibit for the prosecution.

DAVID LLOYD AT OLD TRAFFORD:: England found it hard-going on the final day of the fourth Test against India, toiling away but failing to find the wickets needed to win the game.

OLIVER HOLT AT OLD TRAFFORD: Stokes paid an affectionate tribute to his dad when he reached his century here on Saturday, looking to the sky and folding his middle finger under his palm.

LAWRENCE BOOTH AT OLD TRAFFORD: England huffed and they puffed, but they could not blow India's house down in Manchester. Hell, they barely even blew their doors off.

NASSER HUSSAIN: After lunch on the fifth day, Archer didn't hit the top of off stump enough, and Dawson didn't hit the rough enough.

NASSER HUSSAIN: India will have a tricky decision to make if they continue to dig in on the final day at Old Trafford and come away with a creditable draw.

RICHARD GIBSON: Off came the helmet, then with a look heavenwards he bent the middle finger of his left hand in tribute to his late father Ged.

RICHARD GIBSON AT OLD TRAFFORD: Joe Root's historic moment came at 3.35pm in poetic fashion when he opened the face of the bat and guided a single backward of point off Anshul Kamboj.

DAVID LLOYD AT OLD TRAFFORD: England are in a commanding position at the end of day three of the fourth Test against India , leading by 186 runs and wickets still in hand.

OLIVER HOLT AT OLD TRAFFORD: After falling on day three, the England skipper hauled himself back to his feet. One way or another, Stokes always hauls himself back to his feet.

NASSER HUSSAIN AT OLD TRAFFORD: They were hampered by injuries, forcing their hand in selection and Rishabh Pant has fractured his foot - but they haven't helped themselves.

LAWRENCE BOOTH AT OLD TRAFFORD: Root began the day fifth on the list. By lunch, he had clambered above Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis. By tea, he had elbowed aside Ricky Ponting.

RICHARD GIBSON AT OLD TRAFFORD: Crawley pleaded innocence in response to a pre-match accusation from India captain Gill that he had gone against the spirit of the game.

NASSER HUSSAIN: Against India, I cannot remember Stokes bowling a bad spell. He has been England's best bowler in the series. He now has 16 wickets, the most he has taken in a series.

In the latest edition of Bumble at the Test, he looks at some of the key talking points on the second day of the fourth Test between England and India, as well as notable items across cricket.

OLIVER HOLT AT OLD TRAFFORD: Change the system and you deprive the spectators who crowded into Old Trafford on the second day of the fourth Test of a spectacle they will never forget.

LAWRENCE BOOTH AT OLD TRAFFORD: India have pushed all the way and may yet do so again over the next three days. But as Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett responded, the crack at last opened.

RICHARD GIBSON AT OLD TRAFFORD: A star was dispatched to play for County title challengers Nottinghamshire against Hampshire at Southampton just before the start.

NASSER HUSSAIN: To come into the team mid-series is not easy, especially when you have been out of it for eight years and a lot of people have been calling for your return.

BUMBLE ON THE TEST: England's enthralling five-match Test series returned for its fourth installation at Old Trafford, with the hosts leading the way by two Tests to one. 

RICHARD GIBSON: In the eight years since his previous appearance, England had played 102 matches, but the spinner wasted little time in settling down after replacing the injured Shoaib Bashir

LAWRENCE BOOTH AT OLD TRAFFORD: It was quarter to six on a slow-moving day in Manchester when Ben Stokes did what he has done so often, and gave England the pick-me-up they craved.

Lines of people were snaking down Talbot Road and Brian Statham Way when play between England and India began at 11am, with ticket holders venting their frustration.

MAN UNITED CONFIDENTIAL: Man United managed to push through Bryan Mbeumo's £71million move to Old Trafford from Brentford just in time for the Cameroon star to join their US tour.

RICHARD GIBSON: Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim was the subject of a tactical interrogation when India 's cricketers dropped into the club's Carrington training base.

By accusing England on Tuesday of contravening the 'spirit of the game' during the ill-tempered third Test at Lord's, India 's captain Shubman Gill has paved the way for more incendiary exchanges.

RICHARD GIBSON: Gill was at the centre of a third evening flashpoint in England's 22-run win at Lord's last week, firing expletives at opener Zak Crawley after medical treatment.

RICHARD GIBSON: India legend Ravi Shastri reckons that despite its 143-year history, the Ashes is no longer Australia's biggest rivalry in cricket.

INSIDE CRICKET: But two divisions would allow the Big Three to shorten their four-year cycle to three, and further cement their exclusivity.

RICHARD GIBSON AT OLD TRAFFORD: All of Archer's five victims on his comeback at Lord's last week were lefties and after twice dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal cheaply, he has changed the dynamic.

RICHARD GIBSON: On-field relations between the teams soured when India captain Shubman Gill was at the centre of a foul-mouthed flashpoint during England's 22-run win at Lord's.

There's no hysteria or venom in the voice of Brydon Carse as he reflects on England's striking change of attitude midway through their series against India.

Dawson, 35, has not appeared at Test level for eight years, and told Mail Sport last May that he was prioritising winning trophies with Hampshire.

RICHARD GIBSON: England's win over India at Lord's this week has come at a cost after they were docked World Test Championship points for a slow over rate.

RICHARD GIBSON: Stokes sent down 56 and 60-ball spells on the final day of the energy-sapping 22-run victory, which saw England go 2-1 up in the series.

I've always thought that Liam Dawson is a tough cricketer, as well as a talented one. He's got 18 first-class hundreds, 15 five-fors and knows his game inside out.

Archer had impressive match figures of 39.2-7-107-5 in his first Test for four and a half years, taking the key wickets of Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (twice) and Rishabh Pant.

AADAM PATEL AT LORD'S: Ben Stokes admitted that he is 'looking forward to lying in bed for four days' after inspiring England to a stunning 22-run victory over India at a packed Lord's.

NASSER HUSSAIN: it wasn't the tactics that got England across the line but the character of the bowling attack. In addition to Ben Stokes, Carse and Woakes have played three Tests on the bounce,

LAWRENCE BOOTH AT LORD'S: Ben Stokes's team now take a 2-1 lead to Manchester, but before that they may like to take refuge in a darkened room. Games like this are good for business.

Broad, the former England fast bowler, responded to the ICC's decision to fine Mohammed Siraj 15% of his match fee after he gave Ben Duckett a send-off upon dismissing the English opener.

TEST MATCH BREAKFAST: Before the fifth day of the third Test, RICHARD GIBSON discusses Pietersen's Lord's reminder and the quirky stat surrounding Ben Stokes.

OLIVER HOLT AT LORD'S: Brook, who had been thrilling the crowd with some extravagant shot-making, dropped to one knee and tried to slog-sweep the ball towards the Mound Stand. He missed.

AADAM PATEL AT LORD'S: After England were bowled out for 192, a late burst from Brydon Carse helped leave India 58 for four at close, still 135 runs behind their target to set up

DAVID LLOYD: Bryson Carse impressed late on as England kept their hopes of overcoming India alive. India need 135 runs to win following a captivating conclusion to the fourth day.

NASSER HUSSAIN: The leather ball has gone soft throughout the history of the game, and out of shape, it's just doing it quicker because Dukes have a serious problem with their production.