ICC clause scraps ball tampering allegations against Virat Kohli

Kohli, who kept England at bay with an unbeaten 49-run knock in the second innings of the first Test, scored 248 runs and was adjudged Man of the Match in the second Test of the series.

Stokes now has two demerit points on his record, the first of which he incurred during England’s second Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka last month after admitting to verbally engaging Tigers batsman Sabbir Rahman and ignoring repeated requests and instructions from the umpires to stop.

Pujara though was dropped on 35 after wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow failed to hold on to an edge from the batsman as a disappointed Ben Stokes looked on.

To generate reverse swing – when the ball deviates in the air towards the shiny side – one side must be rough and dry, the other side shiny and smooth. I don’t read newspapers so I’m not aware of these things, someone told me and I laughed it off.

“This is something that we made pretty clear when we lost the game in Galle and after that we had a pretty clear chat that we are going to play people that we think are suitable for different venues”.

England are expected to make at least two changes for the third Test, where a renewed emphasis on seam over spin may be in the offing for both teams – at this venue only.

The release added, “For his efforts in Visakhapatnam, Kohli has earned 97 points”. “Yes, we would have liked him to have a hit-out at some stage, but it is what it is these days”.

Kohli is also one of the most fittest cricketers in world cricket. In the interactions that I have had, he comes across as a very balanced person.

Chris Woakes says England’s bowling attack has discussed how to deal with the menace of Viral Kohli’s runs as they strive to square the series in Mohali.

“It gets harder and harder, and the step is bigger”. I think that’s absolutely fine.

In the absence of match practice for a player who has made his name with his brilliant striking of the white ball, the simulation has consisted of a 10-over scenario against squad bowlers Jake Ball and Gareth Batty to recreate the difficulty of starting and sustaining a Test innings.

“One of the things I would love is for this team to win series outside India, not just in one place but everywhere we go”.

“(I am) very impressed.

England resumed this morning on 268/8 in 90.0 overs (Rashid 4, Batty 0) and there were outside hopes that they might get over 300 and at least put a veneer over their day one work.

Either way, though, Bayliss believes they have shown already that they are a match for India. This is really poor stuff and we need to start concentrating on the important things, ‘ said Hussain.