England captain Joe Root has urged his team to produce a "ruthless" display in the fourth Test against India at the Oval starting on Thursday (2).
England's innings and 76-run victory at Headingley last week has left the five-match series all square at 1-1.
But with wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler absent to attend the birth of his second child and concerns about the impact a gruelling schedule of three Tests in three weeks will have on their fast bowlers, England could still make as many as three changes to a winning side.
"Now is when the hard work starts," England captain Root told reporters on Tuesday.
"We've got to look to go even further, dig deeper and really start to go through the gears," added Root, who scored his third hundred in as many Tests last week -- his sixth of 2021 -- and is now set to climb to the top of the International Cricket Council Test batting rankings when the points system is updated on Wednesday.
"A world-class side like India, led by Virat Kohli, I expect nothing less than a response. It would be naive to think otherwise. We've just got ourselves back to level and, if we find ourselves ahead of the game at any stage, we must get ruthless again."
Jonny Bairstow will replace Buttler behind the stumps, with either Dan Lawrence or Ollie Pope filling the vacancy in the middle order.
The more awkward issue for England is whether they should rest either or both James Anderson and Ollie Robinson after the new-ball duo starred at Headingley.
England coach Chris Silverwood has spoken of not wanting to "break" his quicks, but the inflexible application of a rotation policy contributed to the team's series loss in India earlier this year.
Both Anderson and Robinson, however, have bowled more than 116 overs each in the first three games of the series, with Robinson -- whose Headingley match haul of 7-81 was his best in Tests -- increasingly influential in an attack missing Stuart Broad, Jofra Archer, Olly Stone and Ben Stokes.
"Trying to manage workloads alongside performance is something in the current climate, with the games coming thick, that is always going to be tricky," said Root.
"You come off a win like last week and there's continuity of confidence and trying to replicate a similar performance, but you're trying to balance that and make sure you don't blow someone out and injure someone."
Alternative bowling options for England could include fast bowler Mark Wood, trying to overcome a shoulder injury and the recalled Chris Woakes, who could yet pay his first Test in a year if England drop fellow all-rounder Sam Curran.
- 'World-class Ashwin' -
Faced with an Oval pitch known to take turn, India must decide if they can continue to omit off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
Ashwin has 413 Test wickets and five hundreds to his credit, but is yet to feature in this series, with left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja supporting a four-man pace attack.
"I think his record speaks for itself, he's a world-class player," said Root of Ashwin, who had a brief spell with Oval-based Surrey earlier this season.
"We've seen him score runs and take wickets against us and we know what he is capable of in the Test arena. Ultimately you can get wrapped up in playing the player but it's important that you just play the delivery, play the situation you find yourself in."
A see-saw series -- a rain-affected draw in Nottingham was followed by India's 151 run-win at Lord's before they collapsed to 78 all out at Leeds -- has left Kohli adamant his side will not be "demoralised" by last week's loss.
"If what happens in one game guarantees you the same thing in the next game, we should have smashed England again," the India captain added.
India were dismissed for just 36 while losing the first Test against Australia in Adelaide in December only for an injury-hit squad to claim a memorable 2-1 series win.
"We like to be in this situation where people start coming at us with doubts and really start questioning the ability of our team," said Kohli. "That is the situation we love best."
Gupta previously served as CEO of JioStar Sports, a role he took up following the $8.5 billion merger between Reliance Industries and Walt Disney’s Indian media assets in November last year. (Photo: X/@HomeOfCricket)
THE International Cricket Council (ICC) has named Sanjog Gupta as its new chief executive officer, replacing Geoff Allardice. The announcement was made on Monday.
Gupta previously served as CEO of JioStar Sports, a role he took up following the $8.5 billion merger between Reliance Industries and Walt Disney’s Indian media assets in November last year. He becomes the ICC’s seventh CEO.
Allardice, who was appointed in November 2021 after serving in an interim capacity for eight months following the suspension of Manu Sawhney, stepped down from the position earlier this year.
Gupta took charge on Monday and said, “These are exciting times for the sport as marquee events grow in stature, commercial avenues widen and opportunities such as the women's game scale in popularity. Cricket’s inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and the rapid acceleration of technology deployment/adoption could act as force-multipliers for the cricket movement around the world.”
ICC chair Jay Shah said Gupta’s experience would support the organisation’s plans. “His deep understanding of the global sports as well as M&E landscape combined with his continued curiosity about the cricket fan’s perspective and passion for technology will prove essential in our ambition to grow the game in the coming years.”
The ICC said over 2,500 applications were received from 25 countries.
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Lisa Nandy, Steve Reed, René Olivieri and Hilary McGrady at a National Trust event marking its 130th anniversary
THE National Trust, which is seeking to broaden its appeal to British Asians, is marking its 130th anniversary with a renewed commitment to restoring nature and widening access under a 10-year strategy.
Its director-general, Hilary McGrady, also aims to inspire more people to get involved in caring for the country’s natural resources.
The National Trust was founded in 1895 by three Victorian philanthropists – Octavia Hill, Sir Robert Hunter and Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley – to “promote the permanent preservation for the benefit of the nation of lands and tenements (including buildings) of beauty or historic interest”. With more than “5.38 million members, 11,000 staff and 61,000 volunteers, it is now Europe’s largest conservation charity, caring for over 250,000 hectares of farmland, 890 miles of coastline and 500 historic properties, gardens and nature reserves, for everyone, for ever”.
It wants more British Asians to apply for jobs with the Trust or offer to become volunteers. Many of its historic properties have Indian connections.
McGrady, who has been with the Trust for 20 years, set out the organisation’s aims: “For 130 years, the National Trust has responded to the crises and challenges of the time. Today, nature is declining before our eyes and climate change is threatening homes and habitats on a colossal scale. Meanwhile, millions of people can’t enjoy the benefits that green space and heritage bring.
“So, we will ramp up our work to restore nature, both on our own land and beyond our boundaries. We’ll work to end inequality of access to green space and cultural heritage. And we will inspire millions more people to take action to protect the things we all need to thrive.
“Our charity’s founders were passionate campaigners who recognised the threats to our natural and cultural heritage, and, against the odds, did something about it. That same boldness is needed today. The Trust is uniquely placed to do something about these challenges and it’s why we are setting ourselves these ambitious but much-needed goals.”
At a recent reception to mark the Trust’s 130th birthday in College Gardens, Westminster, the director general asked guests to close their eyes and imagine their favourite idyllic locations.
“You need to know the National Trust is here to look after it, to support it, to stand up for it, to stand up for the right for everyone to have the kind of access to the beauty and the nature that you’ve been thinking about,” McGrady said.
She was “incredibly proud” of what the Trust had achieved “from the very days where there was just a glint in Octavia’s eyes. But I also want you to think about the legacy – not just what we’ve achieved so far, but the legacy we want to leave for our future, for your children, your children’s children, and far beyond,” she added.
She pointed out: “Our historic fabric in our towns and our cities is under massive threat, because we’ve no money to be able to upkeep them. Local authorities are under real pressure. People living in cities – 40 per cent of them – have no access to green or blue space, and so that connectedness that is so vital for the care of nature is being broken.
“And, of course, climate change is affecting everybody’s life – and anyone who doesn’t think it, please just look at the flooding, look at the heat damage, look at our landscapes. These are new challenges, and the Trust is going to step up and face them again.
” She declared: “We’re going to restore nature. We’re not just going to stop the decline. We’re going to restore it.”
McGrady said: “We’re going to move more and more into cities.” “We’ve just done that at Castlefield,” she added, referring to the transformation of a Victorianera steel viaduct transformed into a green “sky garden” in the heart of Manchester.
She also spoke about a landscape project in Belfast: “We’ve just acquired an amazing bit of divis on the edge of Belfast that will make a massive difference to the north of the city.”
She paid tribute to the people who had built the organisation over 130 years: “I stand on the shoulders of many, many of those giants, and they’re the people who built an institution that is much loved, that is much respected and is really trusted, which in this day and age, is a rare and a precious thing I will fight to protect to the death.
” She concluded: “I hope that Octavia – if she’s looking down on us now – will be pleased to see the spirit of the National Trust remains and that we remain for everyone, forever.”
McGrady was followed by Steve Reed, secretary of state for the environment, food and rural affairs, who waved his National Trust membership card: “We all have a special place we love to visit. For me, it’s Sissinghurst Castle in Kent. I love the beautiful gardens designed by the writer and poet Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson, which remain popular today.”
He expressed the Labour government’s support for the Trust: “I look forward to working with the National Trust to develop this work and open up more of our beautiful countryside for everyone to enjoy.”
He said: “Nature underpins everything: our economy, our communities and our livelihoods. But we have become one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. Restoring nature is a key pillar of the government’s plan for change.
“I’ve just arrived back this afternoon from the UN Oceans Conference in Nice. I was proud to announce a consultation on banning bottom-trawling in our marine protected areas. We can’t go on wiping out precious marine habitats, just because they’re out of sight beneath the sea.
“And yesterday, my colleague Matthew Pennycook announced that the government will update national planning policy to ensure swift bricks are incorporated into new buildings. They make a massive impact on expanding bird populations. We will make sure that now happens in new developments right across the country.
“We will create nine new national river walks, plant three new national forests and support communities to create new parks and green spaces in their neighbourhoods. We’ve already announced the first new national forest between the Cotswolds and the Mendips which will see 20 million trees planted in the coming years.
“It’s a national scandal that our rivers, lakes and seas are choked by record levels of pollution. We’re cleaning them up with new laws to ban bonuses for water bosses who oversee catastrophic pollution incidents, and bringing in over £100 billion of private funding to fix the broken pipes that are the primary cause of sewage leaks.”
The culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, also spoke in support of the Trust, in contrast to some of her predecessors under the Tories who had criticised a report revealing that nearly a hundred of its historic properties were built with money made in India or through the slave trade.
Nandy said she had visited Trust properties with her parents and now, with her 10-year-old son, had been to “hundreds of National Trust properties all over the country”. “What we’ve seen is an organisation that is truly national in the sense that you are rooted locally, standing with communities not just to protect and preserve, but to promote and celebrate the pride, heritage and contribution of those places and their people to our country.”
The volunteers were warmly thanked by the Trust’s chairman, René Olivieri.
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Rishab Shetty battles through flames in new Kantara Chapter 1 poster
Kantara: Chapter 1, the much-awaited prequel to the 2022 blockbuster, releases in cinemas on 2 October 2025.
Poster unveiled on Rishab Shetty’s 42nd birthday shows him in an intense warrior avatar.
The film explores the divine origins of Panjurli and Guliga, expanding the Kantara mythology.
Massive action sequences filmed with 3,000 participants over 50 days make it one of India’s biggest productions.
Rishab Shetty gave fans a fierce first glimpse into Kantara: Chapter 1 on his 42nd birthday, unveiling a new poster that shows him in full warrior mode. The upcoming prequel to the 2022 Kannada hit Kantara is now officially set to release on 2 October 2025. Directed and headlined once again by Shetty, the film is expected to dive deep into the spiritual and mythological roots of the original story.
Shetty returns to direct and lead the Kantara prequel
Following the resounding success of Kantara, Rishab Shetty returns to both direct and star in the film’s prequel. Titled Kantara: Chapter 1, the film will trace the origin story of the forest deity Panjurli and its protector Guliga, diving into the lore that shaped the mystical world introduced in the original. The new poster shows Shetty charging through fire, shield pierced with arrows, eyes blazing, and axe in hand, a visual that has already sparked frenzied reactions online.
Fans have flooded social media with praise and speculation, with hashtags like #KantaraChapter1 trending across platforms. Many described the poster as “goosebump-inducing,” while others celebrated Shetty’s birthday by calling him “the pride of Kannada cinema.”
Kantara poster (Image Source: X) Print-160
Massive battle sequence shot with 3,000 people
The makers have spared no effort in scaling up the cinematic experience. One of the biggest highlights of Kantara: Chapter 1 is an elaborate war sequence shot over 45–50 days on a 25-acre set. The sequence involved more than 500 trained fighters and over 3,000 participants, making it one of the most ambitious action scenes ever filmed in Indian cinema. Both Indian and international stunt experts collaborated on the project, ensuring the sequence lives up to the mythology it portrays.
Todor Lazarov, who choreographed action scenes in RRR, has been roped in to design the stunts. The crew, however, faced challenges during production, including accidents, floods, and even the tragic deaths of two cast members, Kalabhavan Niju and Rakesh Poojary, due to health issues earlier this year.
Hombale Films announces multilingual global release
Produced by Vijay Kiragandur under the Hombale Films banner, the studio behind hits like KGF and Salaar, Kantara: Chapter 1 will release in seven languages: Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali, and English. The team is aiming for a global reach, banking on the spiritual intensity and regional depth that made the first film a crossover success.
The original Kantara won multiple awards, including National Awards for Best Actor and Best Sound Design. It was praised for its storytelling rooted in coastal Karnataka’s Bhoota Kola tradition. The prequel promises to build on that legacy with even greater visual ambition and cultural depth.
While detailed plot points are under wraps, Kantara: Chapter 1 will focus on the spiritual foundations of the first film’s mythology. The teaser and trailer are expected to drop later this year, and with fans already counting down to the 2 October release, anticipation is sky-high.
The film’s music is composed by B. Ajaneesh Loknath, and cinematography is by Arvind S. Kashyap. Actor Jisshu Sengupta also joins the cast in a pivotal role. With its mix of mysticism, action, and cultural storytelling, Kantara: Chapter 1 is poised to be one of the most awaited films of 2025.
Lando Norris wins the British Grand Prix at Silverstone for the first time
Celebrations briefly disrupted after he was hit in the nose by trophy
McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri penalised, costing him potential victory
Norris moves to four wins in 2025, just one behind Piastri
Drivers now head into a two-week summer break before Belgian GP
Lando Norris fulfils dream with British GP victory
Lando Norris described winning his home race at Silverstone as a “very, very special” moment, despite picking up a minor injury during the post-race celebrations. The McLaren driver delivered a brilliant performance in constantly changing weather conditions to secure his first British Grand Prix win and fourth of the season.
The race also highlighted the strength of the McLaren team, with both Norris and Oscar Piastri showing exceptional pace. However, a controversial penalty handed to Piastri during a safety car period ended hopes of a 1-2 finish for the team.
Trophy mishap after win
Norris’s joy was briefly interrupted when a photographer accidentally knocked the winner’s trophy into his face, cutting his nose. The 25-year-old has already sustained a similar scar in 2024 after a glass injury, and now has a second mark to show for his latest victory.
That didn’t stop him from joining fans on stage shortly afterwards, donning medical tape and celebrating with team-mate Piastri and McLaren CEO Zak Brown. The trio took part in multiple ‘shoeys’ – a tradition started by former McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo – in front of an enthusiastic Silverstone crowd.
A childhood dream realised
Lando Norris spoke emotionally about achieving a childhood dream, recalling his early days as a Formula 1 fan when he watched Lewis Hamilton win at Silverstone in 2008.
“Being on top in your home race is very, very special,” he said. “I remember watching Lewis win in the wet, seeing the fans all stand, and I dreamt of that. Today, I got to live that feeling myself.”
Surrounded by family, including his parents and siblings, Norris described the experience as one of the most meaningful moments of his career so far.
McLaren domination, but penalty mars Piastri’s race
Both Norris and Piastri were in a league of their own throughout the race. Their McLaren cars looked strong in both wet and dry phases, but Piastri was hit with a 10-second penalty for braking hard ahead of a safety car restart. Stewards ruled that this forced Max Verstappen behind him to take evasive action.
Norris capitalised on the incident to take the lead and hold on for victory. But the team felt the penalty was undeserved, especially given similar situations in recent races that went unpunished.
Norris capitalised on the incident to take the lead and hold on for victory. Getty Images
Piastri frustrated but cautious in criticism
Oscar Piastri was clearly disappointed but careful with his words after the race, aware of the FIA’s current position on driver comments.
“Apparently you can’t brake behind the safety car any more,” he said. “I did it for five laps before that. I’m not going to say too much in case I get myself in trouble.”
Piastri argued that his actions were consistent throughout the race, and said the safety car’s lights went out unusually late just as he braked, which contributed to the confusion.
Confusion over penalty compared to Canada
Piastri pointed to an incident in Canada involving George Russell and Max Verstappen, where no penalty was issued and a Red Bull protest was dismissed. He said the move in Montreal was arguably more dangerous.
Team principal Andrea Stella echoed the criticism, describing the decision as “very harsh” and suggesting Verstappen might have exaggerated the situation to influence the outcome.
“We know some competitors have the ability to make others look like they are causing severe infringements when they are not,” Stella said.
Even Verstappen expressed surprise: “It’s happened a few times now, and suddenly Oscar is the first to get a 10-second penalty.”
Momentum for Norris, but focus remains on consistency
Lando Norris’s Silverstone win was his second in a row and narrows the gap to Piastri in the championship to just eight points. However, he was careful not to overstate the momentum.
“It’s two wins, but they’ve not come easy. You’re fighting for hundredths and thousandths of a second every session. These are exhausting weekends,” Norris said.
“I’d love to continue this form, but two weekends don’t mean anything unless I stay consistent. I need to keep it up and keep working hard.”
Summer break and a title fight brewing
With both McLaren drivers now firmly in the title mix, the Formula 1 season heads into a two-week summer break. The Belgian Grand Prix will mark the start of the second half of the season, with Norris just one victory behind Piastri.
“I felt like I drove a really strong race,” Piastri reflected. “When you don’t get the result you think you deserve, it hurts. I’ll use the frustration to make sure I win more races later.”
McLaren’s pace has now made them genuine contenders, and with Lando Norris riding high on confidence and form, the championship battle looks set to intensify in the weeks ahead.
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The King said the public should draw on the 'extraordinary courage and compassion' shown in response to the attacks. (Photo credit: X/@RoyalFamily)
PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer and King Charles on Monday paid tribute to the unity shown in the aftermath of the 7 July bombings in London, as the country marked 20 years since the attacks.
On 7 July 2005, four Islamist extremists carried out suicide bombings at Aldgate Station, Edgware Road, King's Cross and Tavistock Square. The attacks killed 52 people and injured hundreds more.
Events are being held across London to commemorate the anniversary. Members of the royal family are expected to join survivors and families of the victims.
The King said the public should draw on the "extraordinary courage and compassion" shown in response to the attacks.
"We remember with profound sadness the 52 innocent people who were killed in senseless acts of evil -- and the enduring grief of their loved ones," he said in a statement published by the Press Association.
"In doing so, we should also remember the countless stories of extraordinary courage and compassion that emerged from the darkness of that day.
"The selfless bravery of our emergency services, transport workers, and fellow citizens who rushed towards danger to help strangers reminds us of the very best of humanity in the face of the very worst."
‘We stood together then, and we stand together now’
Starmer said, "Those who tried to divide us failed."
"We stood together then, and we stand together now -- against hate and for the values that define us of freedom, democracy and the rule of law."
He added, "We honour the courage shown that day -- the bravery of the emergency services, the strength of survivors, and the unity of Londoners in the face of terror."
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will attend a National Service of Commemoration at St Paul’s Cathedral. A separate service will also take place at the memorial in Hyde Park for survivors and families of the victims.
Call for unity and vigilance
Charles said, "While the horrors will never be forgotten", the country "may take comfort from the way such events rally communities together".
"It is this spirit of unity that has helped London, and our nation, to heal," he said.
"Let us therefore use this 20th anniversary to reaffirm our commitment to building a society where people of all faiths and backgrounds can live together with mutual respect and understanding."
Home secretary Yvette Cooper, speaking ahead of the anniversary, said Islamist and right-wing extremism remained the most significant threats to the UK.