India vs England Highlights, 3rd Test Day 3: Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill take IND’s lead by 317 runs in Rajkot

On the day's summary: "It was one of those days. Credit to India. They didn't make it easy to score, their plans were better than last evening. Jaiswal played an incredible innings. Looks an incredible player."

"We honestly played well yesterday. We had so much work to do today. It happened a bit fast. Stokes wanted us to get out there today and bowl at them but it happened a bit earlier than what we planned. When you take always positive options, sometimes days like today can happen."

The Joe Root shot: "I would be interested to see..he played the same shot to Pat Cummins. Next time he will hit it over second slip. It's obviously something he has practiced a lot."

Facing Ashwin on the 2016 tour: "It was a long time ago. I was very young and I wasn't the only left hander to struggle against him. He is one of the best if not the best off-spinner to have played. I have worked on my defence..sweeps, reverse sweeps. I have probably gone too defensive against off spinners in the last 2 years, only recently have I changed that. I would much rather get out playing shot trying to put the bowler under pressure, rather than defending."

Contest against Kuldeep more challenging? "Not challenging as they had everybody at the boundary. Kuldeep plans were different, I knew he was going to bowl wider. You have to ask him if this was how he wanted to get me out (smiles).I am happy that a high-class bowler had to bowl wider and negative."

On Jaiswal: "When you see players from opposition playing like this I feel we should get some credit for it (smiles). Exciting to see him play aggressive cricket. He looks an incredible player and unfortunately, he is in great form!"

On state of wicket and bowling strategy: "It is a flat wicket and the ball goes so slowly, you have to plan. Try Yorkers, slower ones, bouncers to confuse batsmen. I went for yorkers, executed it well, and seized momentum."

"The ball was reversing a bit but it wasn't going to carry to slips. So I went for bowled or lbw, and we placed 2 short mid-wickets. I can't say what will happen on this pitch but you have to bowl at stumps here. Not outside off. Ball keeps a bit low - and it is reversing a bit, bowling stumps is the way to go."

On handling Ashwin's absence last night: "We hadn't bowled badly yesterday also. They were bazballing and hitting even good balls. We were told in the morning that Ashwin bhai won't be there and we have to bowl longer spells. We had plans and got success." (No information on if he'll come back for the 4th innings)

Joe Root shot turning point: " Haan Haan..a partnership was developing and it could have got difficult for us. Achanak, pata nahi...and it was good for us. Stokes also played that big shot just two overs or so after lunch. It was good for us."

4th innings spinner needed: "Yes, the ball is turning. Now, not every ball is turning - one in an over. We didn't try too much..kept things simple."

On Jaiswal's innings: "Jaiswal is very high on confidence. He has already hit a double hundred. Peeche nahi dekh raha hai..aage chal raha hai. Medical team is looking after him now."

Did you see the phase when Jaiswal attacked a lot? "Sorry sir. I didn't see as I was taking a massage then (smiles). Will go now and see that!"

That's the day done. It has been India's day through and through. If not for that wicket of Patidar at the end as an Indian fan you would have a huge smile on the face at how things have gone. It will take something truly remarkable for England to at least get close to what India will ask them to chase. The only positive thing for the visitors is the wicket is still good. It has not crumbled or broken yet. But losing eight wickets for 112 runs in the morning has hurt them big time and Jaiswal just took the game away from them in the final session. That's it from our side for the day we will be back with PC from Sriram Veera in Rajkot in few minutes.

Kuldeep has walked into the middle. It would be interesting to know if Patidar walking in was his call or if was it the team's call because, with just 20 minutes left, it would have been better to send in Kuldeep Yadav.

Important innings for Rajat Patidar. With KL Rahul expected to come back in the next game and Sarfaraz doing well in the first innings it might be his place in the side under threat. He would look to get some runs here not only for the team but for his only good. As soon as Jaiswal walked back Stokes threw the ball to Rehan Ahmed. We are at that stage of day's play where it feels like Indian batters just wants to go back and have good rest. As we update Patidar departs and he walks the slowest walk ever to dressing room. 

This partnership has delivered the killer blow for England in this Test match. As we update Jaiswal is walking back. Despite the treatment,, he has looked in discomfort. He did the job though for now if he is well and fit he can come tomorrow again and continue his innings. There is an applause from the crowd and handshakes from England players. Rajat Patidar has walked into the middle with 20 minutes left in the day could India have sent Kuldeep Yadav again? It is something to ponder upon. 

Jaiswal is down holding his back and Phyiso is having a look at him Ravi Shastri in commentary reckons it might be the jump as part of the celebration after scoring his 100 which might be the cause of the back issue. Physio is giving some fluids too and seems like he is alright and good to go. Mark Wood continues with the ball for England. These fluids generally tend to take a bit of time before kicking. so now short balls might not only be a test for him mentally but because of the back also physically. As we update Gill gets to his 50 with a crisp pull shot which went for six. 

The ploy of Wood bowling bouncers has not worked so far. The Indian batters have been happy to just sit back and push the ball for singles. He has bowled four overs in this spell we might see a change from that end. But Stokes would be aware that the moment there will be a change in bowling the batters will climb at the bowlers. The England skipper might be better off going to Anderson who has a bit of experience in these situations or Hartley who has significant experience in white ball cricket hence might counter this attacking approach from Indians. 

Mark Wood tried to bowl a bumper and Jaiswal cut it and the ball went through covers the left-hander removed his helmet and raised his bat for the second time in the series. What a magnificent inning this has been from Jaiswal. This is some batting display from both the youngsters here. Who would have thought England would be in the situation they are in after last evening and the news that Ashwin won't be part of the Test match? India is destroying Bazball with 10 men.

We are seeing Stokes use short ball tactics which they have used in the first innings to pick Rohit. Both the batters need to be wary of that this not going to be a long spell from Wood. It might be a bust 3-4 overs. Nevertheless, it will be an interesting passage of play. While it may or may not get a wicket it will dry up the runs. Good move by Ben Stokes. It might be not a bad ploy for England skipper to put a close-in fielder as well. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill has quietly moved into his 30s and he too has not got himself to a start here. 

Some batting this has been from Jaiswal in the last 40 minutes or so. Now drinks have been called on feel it might be time for everyone in the middle to reflect and absorb what has just happened here. This has been brutal hitting. He has shown the full range of shots and also showed why he is the player who can take that opening spot for India for years to come. Meanwhile,it is also important for Gill to keep batting the way he is doing and make a substantial score as well. 

The partnership has gone past 100 now. Not long they have gone past 50. This is some hitting from Jaiswal. The shots he is playing will not only push England out of the game but also demoralize the England bowlers. Once again this is a test to Stokes as a captain. Way behind the game in testing conditions against someone who is having a got at the bowlers for fun. The game is just drifting away from England. As we update Jaiswal is near his century in no time. 

Yashasvi Jaiswal has flicked the switch here out of the blue. While everything was going at a slower tempo Jaiswal suddenly released enough is enough let me have a go. With that assault,, all of a sudden England are looking a bit shell-shocked. And as soon as those big overs came Stokes has brought in a double change. Rehan Ahmed has been brought into attack from one end it will be a crucial spell for him as he takes a bit of time to get into his rhythm and with already momentum against him and team now he cannot afford to take that time. 

With the ball reversing we can see Stokes put a similar field to Shubman Gill as Rohit did to Foakes when Siraj was bowling. But the question is yes Anderson has the control does he have the pace to force the batter to make that error? Along with reversing it was also Siraj's sheer pace that was troubling the batters as they were caught in two minds. Anderson needs to chip in a slower one from time to time so that Gill needs to be wary of his bottom hand taking over complete control of the shot which might loop the ball in the air for those leg-side close-in fielders to catch.

There is more puff of dust which is coming out of the surface. There are clear signs of pitch deteriorating but the question is whether will it be enough to produce a result. Given the way England plays, they will push for a result but we have to wait and see. Gill and Jaiswal are also getting stuck at ends from time to time which is a dangerous thing to do. As it gives the bowlers a chance to plan for the dismissal of the batter. It might be better for them to take those quick singles and let the batters play the other bowler as well. 

The ball is reversing a bit early in the piece for Mark Wood. That might be the probable reason why Stokes is using him and Gill though has faced over 30 balls is still playing unconvincingly and to make matters worse we could have Anderson warming up who picks Gill regularly. Meanwhile,, at the other end, Hartley continues to pitch it in around that rough from time to time and Jaiswal is looking to play a shot when that is happening. Stokes has also removed a boundary fielder in the long-on region encouraging Jaiswal to have a go at hartley. 

Hartley tried to use the rough and Jaiswal showed first signs of aggression as he stepped down the track and creamed the ball through covers. We might see this happening from time to time when Jaiswal tries to upset the rhythm of Hartley and not let the bowler bowl into that rough. Also, this Indian line up has only three left-handers in it compared to previous games. Also, we are seeing Stokes putting conventional fields and no funky fields yet. In fact we have not seen him being as experimentative as he was in the Ashes last year. 

Suryakumar Yadav has posted an emotional message for R Ashwin, after the off-spinner completed his 500 Test wickets on Day 2 of the third Test at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot.

“Ash bhai yaar rula diya aapke smile ne (Your smile has made me cry),” Surya wrote on his Instagram story. (Read more)

Mark Wood and Hartley have started after the break. We might see Wood bowling a few shorter ones and surprise with a fuller one like he did in the first innings. Hartley on the other hand has a rough to operate with. He is coming as the same end Kuldeep and Jadeja did well for India in the morning. We have to see how Jaiswal will deal with those deliveries. Stokes does have the advantage of using five bowlers unlike India where despite not having Ashwin none of the top-order bowls so Rohit has to stick to his four.

We are back for the final session of play today and this might be the most crucial session of the series. While India cannot win the series in this session England can lose it. Also a crucial session for Shubman Gill and his Test career coming up.

Against two of the best fast bowlers of his era, Jasprit Bumrah and Pat Cummins, Joe Root has been poor. Cummins has seen him off 11 times for an average of 26, Bumrah 9 times for 28.2, and it raises the question — can Root be considered a great in the true sense of the word? One of the best among his contemporaries, certainly, but greatness requires something more than that.

This isn’t just about his dismissals in the Vizag chase and in Rajkot but over and beyond that. He did throw his wicket on the third morning, opening the door for Ashwin-less India by reverse lapping Bumrah to second slip where Yashasvi Jaiswal hung on to a sharp chance. For a batsman and former captain with game awareness, it wasn’t ideal. In the chase at Vizag, he had turned almost manic, scything and swishing and fell to a slog off Ashwin. That turned the game, along with Ben Stokes’s brain fade of a run out. Now potentially, this dismissal can do the same in Rajkot. And Kuldeep Yadav gatecrashed in to take out Jonny Bairstow with a ripper to trap him lbw and England were on the wobble. (Read more)

That's Tea. Though England would be happy with the wicket of Rohit they are still way behind in this game. And the way the pitch is behaving unless there is a brain fade from Indian batters it is hard to see how England will get back in this game. It was also strange for Stokes not to use Anderson against Gill. We might see that after the break. All in all it has been another session dominated by India in this Test match. We will be right back after a short break do join us for all the analysis.

It is an important inning for Gill yet again and needs some runs. Despite having a decent game in Vizag. Though there is not much experience in the line once Kohli and Rahul come back the way Sarfaraz has started going forward things might get complicated for Gill.

Rohit tried to sweep and missed it. The decision was not given on the field and was sent upstairs to the third umpire by Stokes where there were three reds on ball tracking. England will be mighty pleased with it as Rohit made a fabulous ton in the first innings.  Something to celebrate for England at this point. Shubman Gill has walked into the middle. As we update Stokes has brought in Mark Wood immediately into the attack. It seems like a tactic that they want to use against Gill. Anderson too did trouble Gill a lot in the past. 

Things are going at a sedate pace at the moment. It feels like India wants to bat as long as possible tire the English bowlers and wait for the pitch to get bad. As of now, this pitch is still good and it might be doing a lot more by tomorrow noon. Jaiswal though for India has been surprisingly more watchful in this innings than he has been in the series before. As of now, there have been no signs of Mark Wood who has been the best bowler for England in the first innings. 

India too has started it circumspectively. Usually,, batting tends to get difficult as the ball gets older in Rajkot. While it was true in the way England batted we did not see much of that when India where playing in the first innings. More than Rohit it has been Jaiswal who is being watchful. He needs to be careful not to get into his shell here. As per the skipper, the first innings would have done a world of good to his confidence and there should not be a problem concerning the tempo he wants to maintain in this innings. 

The body language of England fielders is looking a bit off at the moment. They are way behind this game. They do need a moment of inspiration here from someone. Like Stokes doing his fielding tantrums or Indian batters losing their heads and playing a few ugly shots and getting out. Also, the tactic of using Root with the new ball felt forward-thinking in the first Test but as the series is progressing it is becoming more and more ineffective. Stokes would have been better off opening with Hartley today instead of Root. 

Credit must be given to India the way they have performed today. It has been a trait of this modern Indian team. They were looking shell-shocked after what happened last evening and added that Ashwin had to withdraw immediately. However, the team made an excellent comeback today. Yes, England did play some poor cricket but India did bowl tight lines and lengths and kept the pressure through the morning session. As of now Stokes is on the defensive. It is hot and the wicket is still reasonably good for batting. It will be a test for him as a leader like he has never dealt with before. 

James Anderson has taken the new ball for England and Mark Wood is off the field hence presumably it will be Root from the other end. In that first over Anderson pitched one short and Rohit pulled it for a boundary as the ball took the bottom edge later in the over he played a lovely square drive which ran for a boundary as well. This is where England needs to be very careful. When things are going well these passages of play are where Rohit plays thosee quick-fire knocks which takes the game away from opposition.

Siraj initially bowled a magnificent yorker to Rehan and cleaned the stumps. The following ball it was Hartley who came down the track to Jadeja and missed the ball completely and Jurel did the rest by stumping him. This has been a magnificent passage of play for India they have picked up four wickets in no time. Also, credit to Rohit Sharma for realizing the rough end and giving the spinners a bowl from that end to keep the pace going from the other end. As we update Siraj cleans up James Anderson.

England would be kicking themselves for the way things have gone today. Yes, they can still get to where India is but they were coming in with a significant advantage today. However, India cannot get complacent either as Hartley and Rehan are more than capable batters. It might not be a bad ploy for Rohit to bring in Bumrah for a couple of overs back into the attack from Siraj's end. Yes, they can bat but Rehan did have his fair share of troubles against Bumrah. As we update Siraj picks Rehan Ahmed.

Well as Stokes fell the very next ball Foakes departed to Siraj. The England skipper tried to hit the ball through cow corner and could not get the middle and Bumrah at long-on took a good running catch. Foakes the following ball from Siraj and chipped it with hard hands to the fielder placed next to the pitch exactly for that. It feels like the pitch has gone a tad bit slow or it is the ball which nearing 70 overs. But at the moment it does feel like the odd ball is stopping and kudos to Rohit Sharma for having that field recognize there is some slowness in the wicket. 

It is Siraj and Jadeja who have started after the break. Siraj is looking to exploit reverse swing if it is on offer while Jadeja will be looking to pitch the around that rough which is there to the left-hander and when Kuldeep Yadav bowled from this end whenever he could get the ball there it kicked up. Though Jadeja will relatively pose less threat compared to Kuldeep as Jadeja can somewhat be dealt with based on length. However, the left-arm spinner does pose a threat. As we update Jadeja picks Ben Stoke's massive wicket.

In the second innings of the first Test, Bumrah did the early Cummins trick of the nipbacker and Root stumbled across a touch as he tried to work it to the on side and missed. Trapped lbw. In the first innings of the second Test, Bumrah worked him over the on off stump line, making him worry about the nipbacker, and getting him with a straightener outside off.  (Read more from Sriram Veera in Rajkot)

We are back to update you about all the action that is going to come up in the afternoon. We have had some moisture on the surface in the morning which helped India and now things will be better for batting and it will be the right session to judge if the wicket has deteriorated or not. 

Fast bowler James Anderson is at top of his run-up and ready to run in. The India batsmen R Ashwin and Dhruv Jurel, who have been dead batting for a while, are ready. But captain Ben Stokes isn’t. Not many would venture to the vastly experienced Anderson about field positions but Stokes repeatedly does. Perhaps the long leg can be moved to backward square-leg position. That man on the off side moved to leg slip perhaps? More often than not, even Anderson has been lured by his captain’s imagination. The other bowlers have been wilfully moulded by the most visibly involved captain on a cricket field in world cricket right now.

The Bazball when bowling, let’s call it Bazbaiting, is as fascinating to watch as their batting as Stokes doesn’t let the game drift even an inch. (Read more)

Ben Duckett’s school coach in his formative years isn’t one bit surprised at the events unfolding in Rajkot where his ward almost threatened Gilbert Jessop’s long-standing English record for the fastest Test hundred. Playing hockey and excelling in reverse hits in that sport is the reason Duckett sweeps as well as he has done this series, says the coach James Knott.

R Ashwin was on a high after taking his 500th Test wicket, and the evening’s contest had resolved into Ashwin vs Ben Duckett. Ashwin has had experience of four innings against Bazball, the last of which he had won in the chase at Vizag. He has also had prior success against Duckett in 2016 when the left-hander was dropped after eking out just 18 runs from three innings. When he had returned to his school coach in England after that trip, his “confidence was hit” but he was determined to plot his comeback. (Read more)

Well, that is the morning session done. It has been India it has been Kuldeep Yadav. The pressure from him and Bumrah in the first hour has been brilliant for India. Once again India did the basics right they have dried up the scoring rate and England played some funky shots and got themselves out. Rohit Sharma too has been excellent with his captaincy today. He has got his fields right by maintaining the right balance between attack and defence. More promising cricket to follow after the break do stay with us for all the live action.

Kuldeep Yadav had a lengthy spell this morning that read: 12 -1-35-2 reports Sriram Veera from Rajkot

Looks like we might not probably Jadeja before the break and he will pick an end after lunch and keep bowling. This has been good for India in the absence of Ashwin they have managed to maintain the pressure and have also been successful in picking wickets.

Both batters are not able to pick Kuldeep Yadav at the moment. The longer he is bowling the better he is getting. It has been a masterclass of leg-spin bowling from the Indian wristy. Every ball he is pitching in around that rough the ball is just jumping. Stokes trying to pick the ball of the length is struggling that is where Kuldeep is different compared to finger spinners where you need to pick him through the hand rather than picking it through the length. However, one thing is clear it will be very difficult for Rohit to take the ball out of his hand.

Kuldeep continues to bowl those unplayable deliveries from time to time. The ball is gripping the surface and a few roughs have formed outside the off-stump of the left-hander. Also, the amount of energy with which Kuldeep has been bowling is a joy to watch. Though he has picked a couple of wickets this morning anyone who would have seen this spell would feel he is hard done by and luck did not go his way. Both times Kuldeep bowled a jaffer which beat the batter Dhruv Jurel behind the stumps too could not read it and it went for a boundary.

Ben Stokes while is aware that his wickets have fallen and there needs to be some caution but it is also important they do get to the Indian total as close as possible. As of now, the game is right in the balance. It is hard to put your money on a team. Ben Foakes will be a key player. Every time he has walked in the series he contributed and if he could replicate it today England would be more than happy. Also now that there is one right-hander in the middle we might see Ravindra Jadeja come into bowl as well. 

A short wide ball from Kuldeep and Duckett hits it straight to the mid-wicket fielder. After all the good balls he dealt with and hit them for boundaries the least you would expect him to get out for that sort of delivery. What a session this is turning out to be for the Indians. A bit of blame needs to be pinned on Ben Stokes as well where he tends to just get struck at one end and stop the rotation of strike and wait till the tail comes in. Having said that though it was not the greatest ball Kuldeep deserved the wicket for all the good ones he bowled before.

We have reached the first water break and it has been India's session so far. Bumrah and Kuldeep have been fabulous with their lines and lengths. England though looked like favorites in the game the couple of wickets early in the piece have leveled the playing field. If India can pick one more wicket before the Lunch it will be cherry on top. As we update we are seeing Siraj brought back into attack. And Stokes has also shown signs of aggression in the last couple of hours.

It will be interesting to when Rohit turns to change bowler. There are two left-handers in the middle and everyone is probably aware by now there is no Ashwin available hence the only other spin option is Ravindra Jadeja. Given the way Duckett has been batting it might be a risky call but since two wickets have fallen in quick succession it might be carrot dangling ploy as well. As per Bumrah he has been bowling for an hour or so and post drinks break we might see Siraj replacing him.

Kuldeep Yadav is getting bitten off the surface. He is putting that extra effort into every ball. One of the deliveries he bowled has beaten Stokes all ends up and it is a surprise that it did not hit the stumps. Both Bumrah and Kuldeep are bowling exceptionally well here. This is superb from India. One more wicket here will pull the hosts right back into it. Rohit has been pro-active with the fields and the bowlers have backed him. The scoring rate too has gone down significantly.

This has been a good passage of play for India. Once again it is the morning session and the moisture which is helping the bowlers. But having said that it was quite an odd shot from Root, to say the least. Yes, it is important to put pressure on bowlers but given the situation of the game, it was not required. The bowlers were already under pressure. His wicket has opened the floodgates and as expected one brought two. The Indian fielders are a lot more chirpy now and seems like one more might fall soon. 

Joe Root tried to play a reverse scoop and Yashasvi Jaiswal took a brilliant catch at slip. Yes, you heard it right it was a stunning catch the presence of mind to see the ball getting the edge of the bat. As we update we have another wicket fall. Kuldeep Yadav early in the piece bowled an incoming delivery to Jonny Bairstow who trying to push the ball through covers missed it completely and got trapped in front of the wicket. Though he did review the decision once he saw there was no edge he walked back without even caring to watch ball tracking. Two wickets in quick succession. 

Joe Root played a lovely square drive of Joe Root which ran away for a boundary. It is a shot when he plays it indicates he is in good touch. He did not have a series that he would have expected but today his team is in a comfortable position and the wicket is flatter he can get a few runs. Meanwhile Duckett at the other end unleashed his first slog sweep of the day and it did run away for a boundary. This is were India needs to be careful as the run flow has not stopped even today morning. 

Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav have taken the new ball. The ball is about 35 overs old we might see Bumrah get a bit of reverse now. Also both the pacer and spinner would look to make use of moisture in the pitch. So far no ball has misbehaved it has been pretty flat. Another challenge for Rohit today morning is to exercise some control. As yesterday we have seen it was not only picking wickets that was a challenge but also stemming the flow of runs from Duckett's bat. 

With a bowler a short and England playing the way they are this might be a challenge for India. All eyes will be on Rohit Sharma and his captaincy today. Duckett who looked excellent yesterday will have to deal with the moisture in the surface.

More of the same here today. Still got a bit of colour, still a green tinge that suggests there's some moisture. The cracks haven't gotten bigger though. Just a little bit of disintegration on the edges of some of the cracks and that's what the spinners will be looking at, still very little for the bowlers though. Reverse swing might be the only thing that encourages the bowlers but that doesn't have much to do with the surface.

“Not bad. Not a bad achievement. I was an accidental spinner.” R Ashwin offered the big-picture assessment of his milestone of 500 Test wickets, an assessment he has himself made a mockery of by his ambition, skill, passion, and making the fans expect a lot from him.

Like the way he has tackled the Bazball challenge. One match-turning spell in the chase at Vizag and four other innings (three completed) has seen him come off second-best. “It depends on what the yardsticks are,” Ashwin put matters in perspective. (Read more)

Though it was England that was trailing by 238 runs in the first innings and will be batting in the fourth innings, at the end of the second day, the pressure seemed to be on India. England had blitzed to 207/2 in 35 overs and threateningly for India, opener Ben Duckett was still out there on 133 with 21 fours and 2 sixes. The day and the game couldn’t have captured the stark contrast between the two teams’ approach any better.

One team wanted to win, the other wanted to hang in there, stretch the game, see where it takes. Usually that would play out in reverse: the foreign team would take the second approach, the home team would show who the boss was. Here, England walloped, India dawdled with the bat. England attacked with Bazbaiting on field with innovative tactics, India tried but were reduced to being mute witnesses to Duckett’s destruction. (Read more)

A content smile spread on Ravichandran Ashwin’s face, when he grabbed his 500th Test scalp and waved the ball towards the audience on the stands. The smile captured both the sheer joy and satisfaction that seized Ashwin when he reached a significant milestone of a spectacular career. He is now the ninth highest wicket-taker in Tests and the fifth highest among the spinners. Filter the achievement further and he is India’s second-most successful bowler ever. Anil Kumble with 619 wickets sits at the top of the pile.

A more illuminating number in Ashwins’s career is 25714, the number of balls he has bowled to complete his 500th. Only the Australian Glenn McGrath has brought wickets at a faster clip. The more you dissect his numbers, the more head-spinning an experience it would be, and the more convinced you would be of his place among the all-time greats of the game. (Read more)

Ben Duckett’s school coach in his formative years isn’t one bit surprised at the events unfolding in Rajkot where his ward almost threatened Gilbert Jessop’s long-standing English record for the fastest Test hundred. Playing hockey and excelling in reverse hits in that sport is the reason Duckett sweeps as well as he has done this series, says the coach James Knott.

R Ashwin was on a high after taking his 500th Test wicket, and the evening’s contest had resolved into Ashwin vs Ben Duckett. Ashwin has had experience of four innings against Bazball, the last of which he had won in the chase at Vizag. He has also had prior success against Duckett in 2016 when the left-hander was dropped after eking out just 18 runs from three innings. When he had returned to his school coach in England after that trip, his “confidence was hit” but he was determined to plot his comeback. (Read more)

Ravichandran Ashwin has withdrawn from the Indian Test squad due to family emergency, effective immediately which means he’ll miss the remainder of the ongoing 3rd Test at Rajkot, the BCCI announced late Friday night.

“Ravichandran Ashwin has withdrawn from the Test squad, effective immediately due to a family medical emergency. In these challenging times, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the team fully supports Ashwin,” the BCCI statement read. (Read more)

BOARD OF Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah on Friday wrote to top cricketers — centrally contracted as well as India A — warning them that domestic cricket remains a “critical yardstick for selection” to the national team and non-participation in it will have “severe implications”.

The reason for the communication, according to the letter, was “the concerning trend of players prioritising the IPL over domestic red-ball cricket”. (Read more from Devendra Pandey)