'Bazball' could be the most used term in world cricket over the last month but the inspiration behind it, England Test coach Brendon McCullum, finds the incessant talk around the newly coined word 'silly'.

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'Bazball', which is derived from McCullum's nickname 'Baz', has been associated with England's drastic change in approach towards Test cricket since the arrival of the new head coach.

England, who endured a dismal run over the last 18 months, looks a completely transformed outfit with a 3-0 series over New Zealand last month. Moreover, they made a record chase in the rescheduled fifth Test against India.

Senior Australia batter Steve Smith called England's counter-attacking approach exciting. But, he is not sure about its sustainability, especially till the Ashes in England next summer.

Reacting to Smith's comments, former New Zealand captain McCullum, one of the most aggressive opening batters to have played for the Kiwis, said a lot of thought has gone into England's fresh approach towards the five-day game and acknowledged the Australian challenge in 2023.

"I saw those (bazball comments) flick up on one of the feeds somewhere. It's quite right, it is going to be a big challenge when we take on Australia. It's going to challenge our method and it's going to challenge what we're capable of achieving and that's pretty exciting I reckon.

Brendon McCullum told Adam Gilchrist on the SEN WA Breakfast show

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"Isn't that what the game's all about? It is to sort of reinvigorate yourself and then be confronted against the very best. I do believe that both New Zealand and India are two very, very good cricket sides as well," said McCullum.

He added that their style of play might look straightforward but it is far from that.

"Australia is a different kind of challenge': Brendon McCullum

"Australia is a different kind of challenge because of the history of the Ashes and the rivalry which exists there. I'm sure that our guys will try and still maintain a really positive approach. I think the real key is not just the crash and burn if we look at the approach of how the guys have done it."

McCullum said

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"That's why I don't really like that silly term that people are throwing out there. Because there's actually quite a bit of thought that goes into how the guys manufacture their performances and when they put pressure on bowlers and which bowlers they put pressure on. There are also times where they've absorbed pressure beautifully as well." 

The cricketing world is buzzing with discussions surrounding the upcoming IND vs ENG series, and a voice has highlighted a significant void: the absence of Virat Kohli. England's Test captain, Ben Stokes, has openly expressed his belief that India will feel the lack of Kohli's renowned "fighting spirit" and other things on the field.

Stokes also revealed how he texted Kohli after his decision to retire and term it as a shame he won't be there to play in the field.

This statement from an opponent shows the immense impact Kohli has left and the challenge India faces in a crucial series without one of its finest test players.

Check the full story of Ben Stokes on Virat Kohli's absence in England series:

Ben Stokes on Virat Kohli's absence in England series

Ben Stokes has analysed how Virat Kohli's absence can affect India, 2 days prior the test series against England. When asked about what India will miss in Kohli after he decided to step down from tests, here's how the English skipper replied:

"I think what India will miss, will be his fighting spirit out in the game, his competitiveness, desire to win." He further goes on to add "It will be weird to not see number 18 at the back of any Indian shirt. I did text him saying it's going to be a shame not to play against him because I love playing against Virat."

Stokes also shared how he feels both Kohli and him have the same mindset when out in the field, and addressed the fact that he has done really well against England in his test career.

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Read Also: England vs India Test Series: Here is India's overall test record against England in England

India vs England squads for the upcoming test series

India: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana.

England: Ben Stokes (c), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes

For years, the Board of Control for Crock in India (BCCI) has navigated various challenges. However a recent coury order is set to have a major financial impact on the sport's governing body.

This ruling revisits a past chapter involving a former IPL team and a long-standing dispute with them. The decision has arrived after a decade of the case, and brings a major setback for BCCI as Bombay HC orders to pay ₹538 crore to defunct IPL team Kochi Tuskers Kerala.

Read the full story to know why.

How the BCCI-Kochi Tuskers Kerala dispute began

The root of this major legal battle dates back to 2011, when the BCCI terminated the contract of the IPL team Kochi Tuskers Kerala. The team, managed by Kochi Cricket Private Limited (KCPL), had only played in one IPL season.

The BCCI claimed they ended the contract because Kochi Tuskers failed to provide a required annual bank guarantee by a deadline in March 2011. This was seen by the BCCI as a serious breach of their agreement.

However, the team owners had a different view. They argued that their delay was due to several issues, including problems with the stadium in Kochi and delays in getting necessary approvals. They also stated that the BCCI continued to deal with them and even accepted payments for months after the March deadline.

The team owners believed this showed the BCCI had waived or overlooked the deadline, making their sudden contract termination unfair.

Taking the matter to arbitration:

Because they felt the termination was wrong, the Kochi Tuskers owners took the matter to arbitration in 2012. An independent tribunal looked at all the facts. In June 2015, this tribunal ruled in favor of Kochi Tuskers Kerala.

The tribunal specifically directed the BCCI to pay ₹384.83 crore to Kochi Cricket Private Limited (KCPL) for lost earnings and ₹153.34 crore to Rendezvous Sports World (RSW) for a wrongfully cashed bank guarantee. These amounts also included interest and legal costs.

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The Financial Fallout: Why ₹538 crore to be paid now?

The BCCI challenged the 2015 arbitration award in the Bombay High Court, arguing it was unfair and that the damages were too high. However, the recent Bombay HC ruling upheld the original arbitration decision.

This means the BCCI is now legally required to pay a total of over ₹538 crore, including accumulated interest since 2015, to the KTK owners. This represents a major financial loss and a significant legal defeat for the Indian cricket board.

The BCCI has made a strategic last-minute addition to the India's Test squad for England tour (starts June 20, 2025) which will mark the beginning of Shubman Gill's captaincy era. It is now official that Harshit Rana called up to join India's Test squad for England series as backup.

He has not been officially added to the squad but has travelled to Leeds as an unofficial cover for the team. Check the full story below:

Harshit Rana's inclusion as a backup in India's Test squad against England

Harshit Rana's journey in England has taken a significant turn as he has been asked to stay with the senior Indian Test squad for the upcoming series. He was initially part of the India A team that toured England.

During this time, Rana played two unofficial test matches against England Lions where he contributed with the ball (took an important wicket) and bat (scored 16 runs).

He was also involved in an intra-squad practice match in Beckenham, providing him further opportunities to showcase his skills in front of the senior team.

Following these engagements, the team management have decided to extend his stay and include him as backup. "Please don't count him as an official member of the squad as yet,” a top BCCI official told Cricbuzz to confirm Rana's presence.

The potential reason behind the call-up:

India's pace attack features Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, and Shardul Thakur.

Rana's inclusion (even as a backup) provides crucial depth and flexibility, and gives them diverse options to adapt to various pitch conditions throughout the demanding series.

In the history of Indian Test Cricket, reaching the 2000-run milestone has always been a matter of pride. While many have achieved this feat, only a few have done so with remarkable speed.

Currently, the record for the fastest Indians to score 2000 test runs is jointly held by Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid, both accomplishing it in 40 innings. However, a new name is on the verge of making history: Yashasvi Jaiswal, with 1798 runs from 36 innings, needs only 202 more runs.

If Jaiswal reaches this in 3 or fewer innings, potentially in the upcoming test series against England (starts on June 20, 2025), he will break the legendary record and reach on top!

Now, let's look at the elite list of players who previously set the standard by being the fastest Indians to reach 2000 test runs.

1. Rahul Dravid (40 innings)

Rahul Dravid, famously known as "The Wall" for his brilliant defensive technique and concentration in tests, reached 2000 test runs in just 40 innings. His ability to bat for longer periods and wearing down the opposition was a key aspect for India's Test success.

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2. Virender Sehwag (40 innings)

Virender Sehwag, the aggressive opening batsman, matched Dravid's record by also reaching 2000 test runs in 40 innings. He was known for his fearless approach while batting at the top of the order.

He is also the only Indian to score 2 triple centuries in his test career.

3. Vijay Hazare (43 innings)

An icon of Indian cricket's early era, Vijay Hazare reached 2000 test runs in 43 innings. He was an incredible run-scorer in his time, known for his elegant batting and contributions.

His contributions mattered highly during a period when Indian cricket was finding its status on the international stage.

4. Gautam Gambhir (43 innings)

The bold left-handed opener, Gautam Gambhir, also reached 2000 test runs in 43 innings. He was a crucial part of India's top order in the late 2000s and early 2010s.

Gambhir was known for his mental toughness and ability to play long innings when required, with high determination and focus.

Read Also: India's 2011 World Cup winning squad: Where are they now?

5. Sunil Gavaskar (44 innings)

Sunil Gavaskar, one of the greatest opener in Tests cricket history, scored 2000 test runs in 44 innings. He was known for batting fearlessly and facing West Indian fast bowlers without modern protective gear.

Gavaskar was the first player to reach 10000-run mark in test cricket history, and also holds the 3rd place for most runs for India in tests.

The Indian cricket team will tour England to play a five-match Test series against England from June 20, 2025. The first match of the England vs India Test series will be played at Headingley Stadium, Leeds.

The Test cricket battle between India and England has always been exciting and challenging, especially when the match is played on English soil. The Indian team has played a total of 67 Test matches in England from 1932 to 2022. India's record in these matches has not been so strong. India has won only 9 times, while the English team has defeated the Indians in 36 matches. The remaining 22 matches have been drawn, which tells the story of this historic struggle and how hard the Indian team has to work to win on English soil.

Also Read: England vs India Test Series: Here is India's overall test record against England in England

In this article, we will take a look at those 9 test matches that India won on English soil.

England vs India Test series: 9 test matches India won so far on English soil

1. By 4 Wickets (1971)

India has tamed the British cricket lion in its own den for the first time in 1971. It was a historic day when India beat England in the third and final Test by four wickets with 205 minutes to spare at the Kennington Oval, to clinch the series 1-0.

The victory established at least three firsts. This was the first time India won a Test in England. It was the first time in, 28 Tests since June 1968 that England was defeated and it was also the first time that India triumphed in two series in one year, having defeated the West Indies earlier.

2. By 5 Wickets (1986)

The 1986 win at Lord’s was India’s first at the iconic venue. Under the leadership of Legendary Kapil Dev, Team India went on to win at Headingley. This win also paved the way for Team India to win the historic Test series on English-soil.

In the first Test of the series, India bowled England out for 294 and replied with 341, with Dilip Vengsarkar scoring a superb 126*. Kapil Dev’s all-round performance and Chetan Sharma’s five-wicket haul in the second innings helped India dismiss England for 180. Needing just 134 to win, India achieved the target with 5 wickets to spare, scripting a historic triumph at the "Home of Cricket."

3. By 279 Runs (1986)

The Indian team carried the momentum into the second Test at Leeds where the bowling attack completely blew away England with the visitors winning by 279 runs inside 4 days. Roger Binny took 7 wickets in the match including a five-wicket haul in the first innings and was ably supported by Kapil (3 wickets), Madan Lal (3 wickets) and Maninder Singh (4 wickets).

4. By an innings and 46 Runs (2002)

India's first Test victory in England in the new millennium took place in 2002 when Sourav Ganguly's team thrashed the hosts by an innings and 46 runs in the third Test at Leeds to level the four-match series 1-1.

India crossed the 600-run barrier for the first time against England as Sachin Tendulkar (193), Rahul Dravid (148) and Sourav Ganguly (128) ripped apart the English bowling attack to declare the first innings on 628 for 8. The bowlers then led India to victory with Anil Kumble leading the way with 7 wickets in the match while Harbhajan Singh (4), Zaheer Khan (3) and Ajit Agarkar (2) played the supporting roles. England had won the first match at Lord's while the second and fourth match ended in draws as Ganguly and Nasser Hussain shared the trophy.

5. By 7 Wickets (2007)

Five years after the Leeds victory India repeated history by claiming the series 1-0 under Rahul Dravid by winning the second Test at Nottingham. India took a massive 283-run first innings lead after bowling out the hosts for 198 with Zaheer Khan (4) and Anil Kumble (3) leading the wickets tally.

Captain Michael Vaughan's hundred in the second innings couldn't save England's batting collapse as they got bowled out for 355 thanks to some brilliant bowling by a fired-up Zaheer, who took a five-wicket haul after the jellybean prank which England had played on him during India's first innings.

This meant that India needed just 73 runs to win which they chased down in 24.1 overs with 7 wickets in hand and took a 1-0 lead in the 3-match series. The third Test at The Oval ended in a draw as Sourav Ganguly lifted the Pataudi Trophy, named in honour of former India captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.

6. By 95 Runs (2014)

MS Dhoni led the Indian team in a five-match Test series and delivered the first blow on the hosts by winning at Lord's for the first time after 1986.

The first Test ended in a draw at Nottingham following which the teams locked horns on a green top at Lord's. Ajinkya Rahane scored one of the greatest hundreds in Indian Test history as he negotiated prodigious swing and seam movement against the likes of James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

Such was Rahane's class that none of the other batsmen managed to score over 36 runs, which was the next best score coming from Bhuvneshwar Kumar. India made 295 and then conceded a first innings lead of 24 runs with Gary Ballance scoring a century. Bhuvneshwar took a six-wicket haul as England made 319.

Murali Vijay (95), Ravindra Jadeja (68) and Bhuvneshwar (52) then rose to the occasion with the bat in the second innings to help India set a target of 319 for the hosts. Ishant Sharma then produced one of the most memorable spells by an Indian bowler on English soil and picked up a record 7 wickets in the process as India bowled out England for 223 and registered a historic win at the Mecca of cricket.

7. By 203 Runs (2018)

As team India took the field in Nottingham, Kohli and his men were determined to make amends and they did it in style. After being put in to bat by Root, India were off to a commendable start thanks to KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan and after they departed, Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane put on a 189-run stand for the fourth wicket to take India to a commendable position. Rahane scored 81 and Kohli missed his century by three runs as he fell for 97. India were eventually bowled out for 329 but the stage was set for India to make a comeback in the series.

The bowlers didn't' disappoint as well. Led by Hardik Pandya, India rocked England and bowled them out for a paltry total of 161. Pandya answered his critics in style as he grabbed his maiden five-wicket haul in Tests.

With a lead of 168, India were again provided a solid start by their openers and after they fell, Cheteshwar Pujara and Kohli led the charge as they planned to bat England out of the game. Pujara fell for a gritty 72 but Kohli scored his 23rd Test century and it was followed by a run-a-ball 52 from Pandya as the visitors declared for 352/7, with a lead of 520.

Chasing 521 to win, the England openers somehow managed to play out the nine overs on day four but the nervousness and fear was there in their mammoth chase. Bumrah got the wickets of Buttler and Woakes early and then Pandya got the wicket of Stokes to get England eight down. And finally Ashwin got the wicket of Anderson to earn a 203-run victory for the visitors

8. By 151 Runs (2021)

In one of the most dramatic finishes in recent memory, India defeated England by 151 runs at Lord’s in the second Test of the 2021 series. After setting a target of 272 thanks to a stunning 89-run partnership between Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, India’s bowlers went on the attack.

Led by Mohammed Siraj (4/32), India bowled England out for 120 in just 51.5 overs. The aggressive attitude under Virat Kohli’s captaincy and India’s never-say-die spirit made this a modern classic.

9. By 157 Runs (2021)

India secured a famous win at The Oval in the fourth Test of the 2021 series. Rohit Sharma scored his first overseas Test hundred (127), anchoring a solid second-innings effort.

Shardul Thakur played two impactful cameos with bat and ball, while the pace trio of Bumrah, Siraj, and Umesh Yadav dismantled England in the fourth innings. India won by 157 runs and took a 2-1 lead in the series, reaffirming their dominance on English soil.