Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Cook and England to unwind before fourth Test

England captain Alastair Cook is looking forward to a rare week-long break in a hectic playing schedule after the heavy third Test defeat against India in Mohali on Tuesday (November 29).

Virat Kohli’s side won by eight wickets to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the five-Test series.


But England’s players are looking to unwind with some welcome down time in Dubai before making the short trip from the Gulf resort city to Mumbai for the fourth Test, which begins on December 8.

“The break comes at a very good time, obviously, after three back-to-back Test matches,” Cook told reporters after the defeat.

Some of the England squad have been on duty since landing in Bangladesh on September 30 for three one-day internationals followed by the 1-1 draw in the Test series there.

Cook himself has spent just 18 hours with his newborn daughter after dashing home from the Bangladesh tour for her birth.

“We have this week off and I think, most people going to Dubai,” said Cook. “Mentally it will be break from cricket. We will come back little bit more refreshed.”

His team has endured tough couple of months after losing a Test to Bangladesh for the first time and are now staring at a series defeat against top-ranked India.

But Cook remembered that four years ago in India England came back from 1-0 down to win the four-Test series 2-1 and said that if they show greater consistency they can still save the series.

“The challenge is try and put in that performance in which consistently, over five days, we play well.

“We have done it in one game (the first Test in Rajkot), we haven’t done it in the other two,” said Cook.

He said it was difficult to compare with the 2012 tour, because the two teams have changed character since.

“The India we played in 2012 was different, probably an ageing team compared to now,” Cook said, adding that his current side were still learning how to tackle unfamiliar subcontinent conditions with low, turning pitches.

“In 2012 we were a lot more experienced and had played a lot more in the subcontinent over the three years before that.

“This side, only two in the top order (Joe Root and Cook himself) have played more than one or two games in the subcontinent before we played in Bangladesh. That’s probably the difference.”

Meanwhile, the uncapped Test pair of opening batsman Keaton Jennings and all-rounder Liam Dawson will join England for the remainder of their tour of India, selectors announced on Wednesday.

South Africa-born Jennings – whose father Ray coached the South African national team – will replace Haseeb Hameed who has a broken left little finger and Dawson fills in for fellow left-arm spinner Zafar Ansari, who is struggling with a back problem, the England and Wales Cricket Board said.

Hameed is returning home for an operation on the back of plaudits for his courageous half century in the second innings of the third Test in Mohali.

Durham star Jennings, who averaged over 60 for Durham in the County Championship last season, is set to be Cook’s 11th opening partner since former skipper Andrew Strauss called it a day four years ago.

Jennings, 24, should get an immediate run-out for England Lions against the United Arab Emirates on Thursday before heading to India.

Ansari is also due to return to England while 26-year-old Dawson, who made his ODI and Twenty20 cricket debut this summer, is expected to arrive in India next week from Bangladesh where he is playing in the Premier League for Rangpur Raiders.

More For You

Diageo eyes £1.6bn sale of Royal Challengers Bengaluru: report

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Virat Kohli (C), along with his teammates, celebrates with the trophy after winning the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 final cricket match against Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on June 4, 2025. (Photo by ARUN SANKAR/AFP via Getty Images)

Diageo eyes £1.6bn sale of Royal Challengers Bengaluru: report

BRITISH giant Diageo is exploring the sale of its controlling stake in India's Royal Challengers Bengaluru cricket team, potentially valuing the newly-crowned champions at up to £1.6 billion ($2bn).

The maker of Guinness and Johnnie Walker whisky is weighing its options for the Indian Premier League franchise, including selling part or all of its ownership through United Spirits, its Indian subsidiary where it holds a 55.9 per cent controlling interest, reported the Bloomberg.

Keep ReadingShow less
WTC-final-AUS-SA

Kagiso Rabada celebrates with teammate Kyle Verreynne after taking the wicket of Alex Carey during day two of the WTC Final 2025 between South Africa and Australia at Lord's on June 12, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

WTC final: South Africa confident despite big target at Lord’s

SOUTH AFRICA remain confident about chasing down a big target in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s, despite the match being dominated by the bowlers so far.

David Bedingham, who top scored with 45 in South Africa’s first innings total of 138, said the team believed they could chase whatever target Australia set.

Keep ReadingShow less
Indian firm and Nadal tie
up to offer digital degree

Rafael Nadal

Indian firm and Nadal tie up to offer digital degree

GRASSROOTS sports education platform Sportzprix last Saturday (7) announced the launch of a digital sports marketing master’s degree for Indian talent in collaboration with UAX Rafa Nadal University School in Spain.

The nine-month course, developed by UAX Rafa Nadal University School, combines global expertise with local insight through an India module co-created by Sportzprix. The online programme will be open to graduates, working professionals and sports entrepreneurs.

Keep ReadingShow less
ICC World Test Championship Final

Marnus Labuschagne is opening the batting for Australia for the first time in his Test career. (Photo: Getty Images)

South Africa bowl first against Australia in WTC final at Lord's

SOUTH AFRICA captain Temba Bavuma won the toss and chose to bowl against Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord's on Wednesday.

The conditions in London were overcast, which could assist South Africa's fast bowlers. Australia, the reigning champions, also have a strong pace attack.

Keep ReadingShow less
Dhoni-Tests-Getty

The ICC described Dhoni as someone who redefined the role of a wicketkeeper-batter, bringing 'brute force and power-hitting' to a position traditionally filled by lower-order players. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

MS Dhoni among seven inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

FORMER India captain MS Dhoni has been inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame for 2025, along with six other cricketers, including South Africa’s Hashim Amla and Graeme Smith, and two women players – former Pakistan captain Sana Mir and England’s Sarah Taylor.

Also inducted were Australia’s Matthew Hayden, New Zealand’s Daniel Vettori, and England’s Taylor, who joins Mir as the only two women recognised this year.

Keep ReadingShow less