World Test Championship table
1 India 71 per cent
2 New Zealand 70 per cent
3 Australia 69.2 per cent
4 England 64.1 per cent
5 Pakistan 43.3 per cent
6 West Indies 33.3 per cent
7 South Africa 30 per cent
8 Sri Lanka 16.7 per cent
9 Bangladesh 0
The fourth Test of the series between India and England starts in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
The home side’s remarkable win within two days at the same ground last week mean’s they hold a 2-1 advantage ahead of the last match.
They therefore have an unassailable lead in this series, but there is still plenty riding on the outcome of the game at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Permutations
New Zealand are guaranteed a place in the inaugural final of the World Test Championship, which is set to be played at Lord’s later this year.
India will join them if they avoid defeat in the fourth Test against England.
If England beat India, then they will be doing a favour for their age-old rivals Australia.
After defeat in the third Test, England are now unable to qualify for the final, but victory for them would send Australia above India in the table.
Pitch issues
England’s epic implosion on the dusty track in Ahmedabad brought with it a rash of memes lampooning the pitch.
Logic suggests the conditions for the second match on the same wicket block should be similarly tricky.
With a short turnaround between matches, it would be a surprise if the pitch is better any better prepared than it was for last week’s game. Although at least the early finish meant there were three more days than planned to prep.
India view
Virat Kohli, India’s captain, was nonplussed about all the attention surrounding the facilities.
“I believe there is too much noise about spinning tracks,” Kohli said. “The reason behind our success as a team is that we haven't cribbed about any surface we have played on. We have always tried to improve.
“I am sure if our media is in a space to contradict those views or present views which say that it is unfair to criticise only spin tracks, then it will be a balanced a conversation.
“But the unfortunate bit is everyone plays along with that narrative and keeps making it news till the time it is relevant.
“And then a Test match happens, if you win on day four or five, no one says anything but if it finishes in two days, everyone pounces on the same issue.”
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Gallery: India win third Test
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England view
A number of England players have been laid low by a sickness bug in the lead up to the final Test.
But captain Joe Root is urging them to be positive about squaring the series, which he believes would be a fine achievement, even if qualification for the WTC final remains beyond them.
“Being fearless means not having that tentative mentality of being trapped on the crease or caught in two minds,” Root said.
“It's having confidence to play the ball in front of you, not having baggage from what has happened before, not overthinking the pitch and trying to see things as they are.
“It is all still there for us. We've got all the ingredients, all the pieces and all the skills to exploit and succeed in these conditions. It's important we harness that and have it in the front of our minds. We need to be braver and play with a bit more freedom.”
Babumoshai Bandookbaaz
Director: Kushan Nandy
Starring: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bidita Bag, Jatin Goswami
Three stars
'My Son'
Director: Christian Carion
Starring: James McAvoy, Claire Foy, Tom Cullen, Gary Lewis
Rating: 2/5
Dubai Women's Tour teams
Agolico BMC
Andy Schleck Cycles-Immo Losch
Aromitalia Basso Bikes Vaiano
Cogeas Mettler Look
Doltcini-Van Eyck Sport
Hitec Products – Birk Sport
Kazakhstan National Team
Kuwait Cycling Team
Macogep Tornatech Girondins de Bordeaux
Minsk Cycling Club
Pannonia Regional Team (Fehérvár)
Team Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Team Ciclotel
UAE Women’s Team
Under 23 Kazakhstan Team
Wheel Divas Cycling Team
Brief scoreline:
Liverpool 2
Keita 5', Firmino 26'
Porto 0
Virtuzone GCC Sixes
Date and venue Friday and Saturday, ICC Academy, Dubai Sports City
Time Matches start at 9am
Groups
A Blighty Ducks, Darjeeling Colts, Darjeeling Social, Dubai Wombats; B Darjeeling Veterans, Kuwait Casuals, Loose Cannons, Savannah Lions; C Awali Taverners, Darjeeling, Dromedary, Darjeeling Good Eggs
'Laal Kaptaan'
Director: Navdeep Singh
Stars: Saif Ali Khan, Manav Vij, Deepak Dobriyal, Zoya Hussain
Rating: 2/5
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
The specs: 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn
Price, base / as tested: Dhxxx
Engine: 5.7L V8
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 395hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 556Nm @ 3,950rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
The biog
First Job: Abu Dhabi Department of Petroleum in 1974
Current role: Chairperson of Al Maskari Holding since 2008
Career high: Regularly cited on Forbes list of 100 most powerful Arab Businesswomen
Achievement: Helped establish Al Maskari Medical Centre in 1969 in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region
Future plan: Will now concentrate on her charitable work
Your Guide to the Home
- Level 1 has a valet service if you choose not to park in the basement level. This level houses all the kitchenware, including covetable brand French Bull, along with a wide array of outdoor furnishings, lamps and lighting solutions, textiles like curtains, towels, cushions and bedding, and plenty of other home accessories.
- Level 2 features curated inspiration zones and solutions for bedrooms, living rooms and dining spaces. This is also where you’d go to customise your sofas and beds, and pick and choose from more than a dozen mattress options.
- Level 3 features The Home’s “man cave” set-up and a display of industrial and rustic furnishings. This level also has a mother’s room, a play area for children with staff to watch over the kids, furniture for nurseries and children’s rooms, and the store’s design studio.
Revival
Eminem
Interscope
World Test Championship table
1 India 71 per cent
2 New Zealand 70 per cent
3 Australia 69.2 per cent
4 England 64.1 per cent
5 Pakistan 43.3 per cent
6 West Indies 33.3 per cent
7 South Africa 30 per cent
8 Sri Lanka 16.7 per cent
9 Bangladesh 0
