Mark Craig

Kolkata Test: Patel last played a Test more than three-and-a-half ago and will fly to India to bolster New Zealand's squad following news that Mark Craig will play no further part in the ongoing series.

"I don't think there is any intrigue left. The challenge is to adapt to the conditions as quickly as possible. Equally the same for the home team. You play so much cricket and it is all about adapting to the challenges that come your way," Anil Kumble said.

“Kohli, Kohli!” has been the often-repeated refrain in the stands here. When Virat Kohli came out to bat in Kanpur, the entire stadium rose to welcome him to the crease.

Mohammed Shami's impeccable work with the old ball was on display on the final day of the Kanpur Test when he removed BJ Watling and Mark Craig off consecutive deliveries and pushed India closer to win.

India's chief coach Anil Kumble asserted that the team has not asked for a rank turner for the first Test beginning on Thursday besides saying that focus this long home season will only be on cricket irrespective of the conditions.

New Zealand spin troika of leg-spinner Ish Sodhi, off-spinner Mark Craig and left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner bowled a lot during their two hour net session at the Kotla on Wednesday.

This Test kick-starts an unusually sumptuous home season of Test cricket where India will host as many as 13 Tests. Thus, a win here will set the tone for a season India are expected to dominate.

Warning the home team against taking New Zealand lightly, out-of-favour India opener Gautam Gambhir said India and New Zealand have fielded good spinners in their squads and they are expected to play key role in the series.

New Zealand coach Mike Hesson is aware of the threat Ravichandran Ashwin could pose to his batsmen in the upcoming Test series in India and hinted at the possibility of fielding three spinners depending on the conditions.

New Zealand team management knows what lies ahead for them during the next six weeks in India and it was no wonder that spin troika of leg-spinner Ish Sodhi, off-spinner Mark Craig and left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner bowled a lot during their two hour nets.

'True Grit' actress Hailee Steinfeld is in negotiations to join STX Entertainment's coming-of-age drama.

Composer Dan Romer will be providing the background score for the latest installment of the Bond franchise.

Ken Rutherford spoke about the technique to be employed for success on Indian wickets, Kane Williamson's leadership skills and more.

Test cricket will return to Green Park stadium after a gap of seven years when India takes on New Zealand from Thursday. The last Test was played here way back in 2009 against Sri Lanka.

On his first visit to India, Mitchell Santner has made a good impression with his all-round performance and that's a huge positive for the New Zealand side from the Kanpur Test, captain Kane Williamson said.

The British director, Sam Mendes who is known for films like 'American Beauty', 'Road To Perdition', 'Revolutionary Road' and '1917', and two Bond films - 2012's 'Skyfall' and 'Skyfall' (2015), has confirmed that he will not be helming the next James Bond movie.

The Indians made most of the sunshine and practised in batches for nearly five hours at the Green Park stadium.

Kane Williamson and Co. fully expect a trial by spin on low, turning tracks in the three-Test series, and the decent amount of green flaunted by the Kotla pitch is not exactly ideal training ground.

Led by skipper Virat Kohli, the Indian Test squad sans opener Lokesh Rahul and coach Anil Kumble arrived along with the New Zealand team ahead of second Test starting on Friday.

Kolkata, Sep 29 () New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson was today hit by a bug, compounding the visiting team's misery, but opener Tom Latham sounded optimistic about the batsman's availability in the second Test against India beginning here tomorrow.

Live Cricket Score: India were bundled out for 318 early on Day 2 of the 1st Test between India vs New Zealand at Green Park Kanpur with Neil Wagner removing the last wicket of Umesh Yadav for nine in the seventh over of the day.

Young Rishabh Pant became the fourth Indian wicket-keeper to take five catches on Test debut during the second day of the third Test against England, on Sunday.

Here's a recap of the key moments from Day 1 of the first Test match between India and New Zealand at Green Park, Kanpur.

Live Cricket Score: It is game time and as Virat Kohli embarks on India's Test heavy cricket season with the historic 500th Test for India, Kohli and Co. have a conducive Green Park pitch on offer at Kanpur.

New Zealand mounted a superb comeback lead by left -arm spinner Mitchell Santner (3/77) and pacer Trent Boult (3/57) to restrict India to 291 for nine at close of play on Day 1.

New Zealand are up against a "powerhouse" in the visiting Indian cricket team, says former all-rounder Craig McMillan who feels the Black Caps will have to win in two out of three formats to be eligible for at least the "pass marks".

Filmmaker Danny Boyle, who made headlines last year over his departure from 'Bond 25', said the key takeaway from the experience is the realisation that he is not cut out for franchise cinema.

A group of fans has petitioned the makers of Daniel Craig's latest James Bond movie "No Time To Die" to delay the release in the wake of coronovirus scare.

"A good beginning is a must to carry forward the momentum. The first Test will be crucial as it will set the tone for the rest of the series. As this is the 500th Test, we want to win here. That will be the biggest celebration for the side" Ajinkya Rahane said.

NZ skipper Williamson says Test pitches in India different from IPL tracks.