Series already in their pocket, a rampaging India would look to keep the foot on the pedal and press for a clean sweep when they take on England in the fifth and final cricket one-dayer in Leeds on Friday.

After taking an unassailable 3-0 lead following the nine-wicket victory in the fourth One-Day International against England, India is likely to give a break to some of their key players in the inconsequential fifth and final match at Headingley, Leeds, on Friday.

Suresh Raina, whose century in the second ODI helped India regain its confidence back after successive defeats in Tests against England, has extensively worked hard on tackling short pitch deliveries in the hockey turf.

The Delhi batsman said winning the series so convincingly is a huge confidence booster for India with around six months left for the 2015 World Cup to be played in Australia-New Zealand.

'Before Shastri's induction, things were sketchy and it was not known who was responsible for taking cricketing decisions around the team. The selectors chose a squad of players, the captain ran the show on the field and the coaches helped draft plans, or sort of tried to. There needed to be one man who could coordinate all elements around the squad -- someone who had the backing of the Board, the respect of the players and that of the support staff.'

Raina is much experienced now, fully mature and he could unfold his true genius at the World Cup in Australia-New Zealand next year, writes Haresh Pandya

An unassailable lead in their pocket, India would look to clinch the one-day series against England by putting up another dominating display when the two sides square off in the fourth one-dayer in Birmingham on Tuesday.

Having scored a match-winning 75-ball-100 against England in the second One-Day International on Wednesday, Suresh Raina attributed his success to Team Director Ravi Shastri's pre-match pep talk.

During his tenure as captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has gone from being extremely cautious to trying something fancy, hoping to catch the opponent by surprise. However, mostly, he's ended up with egg on the face, especially overseas.

Hit by controversies right through their troubled England tour, the Indian team management sought to steer clear of the media by not sending any player for the mandatory pre-match press conference ahead of the second ODI against the hosts.

Rocked by one controversy after another, India will be looking to hope that the spotlight shifts to the cricketing action as they take on an upbeat England side in the second One-Day International in Cardiff, on Wednesday.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's statement that coach Duncan Fletcher continues to be the 'boss' of the team and will stay till the 2015 World Cup has prompted the Board of Control for Cricket in India to take up the matter at its next Working Committee meeting.

The Board Of Control For Cricket In India (BCCI) has labelled Mahendra Singh Dhoni's comments as 'personal opinion' after the national team's captain said beleaguered coach Duncan Fletcher still called the shots and would lead them into next year's World Cup.

Ending speculation about coach Duncan Fletcher's role in the five one-dayers against England, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said that the Zimbabwean will stay as "boss" of the team until the 2015 World Cup.

Former New Zealand captain and Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming offers his take on India's Test debacle in England and suggests remedial measures. Harish Kotian reports.

Handed the task of overseeing a struggling Indian team, newly-appointed team director Ravi Shastri refuted suggestions that his role would undermine the position of beleaguered coach Duncan Fletcher.

Two days ahead of their practice game versus Middlesex at Lord's, Team India regrouped with a net-session here with under-fire coach Duncan Fletcher and bowling coach Joe Dawes overseeing proceedings ahead of the five-match ODI series starting August 25.

Former England captain Alec Stewart batted for under-fire coach Duncan Fletcher, saying the Zimbabwean cannot be held responsible for India's pathetic show in England since a coach can only guide and execution on the field was players' job.

Cheteshwar Pujara, who was among the top-order batsmen who failed to click in the five-Test series against England that India lost 1-3, has sought permission to play in the remainder of the English county season and will be allowed to do so by the Board.

With Ravi Shastri being appointed as the Director of the Indian cricket team, the days of current chief coach Duncan Fletcher seems to be numbered as there is a question mark about his presence during the upcoming home series against the West Indies.

Instead of sidelining coach Duncan Fletcher, the BCCI should have sacked him, says Harish Kotian/Rediff.com

The last time he took charge, Ravi Shastri gave the Indian team a new josh after the 2007 World Cup debacle. Can he do so this time as well?

Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar has demanded the immediate sacking of coach Duncan Fletcher and other support staff in the wake of the team's humiliating Test series loss in England. He also came down heavily on captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni for making 'glaring mistakes'.

The 19-year-old Samson and 26-year-old Karn were rewarded for consistent performances in the domestic circuit as well as India 'A' engagements.

Seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar's swollen ankle has the Indian team management worried ahead of the fourth Test against England, starting at Old Trafford on August 7.

England's James Anderson and Ravindra Jadeja of India were found not guilty of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct by Gordon Lewis AM, the Judicial Commissioner.

England skipper Alastair Cook admitted on Tuesday that it's been long since his side won a Test and it will desperately look to change that when the five-match series against India gets underway, in Nottingham, on Wednesday.

Former captain Rahul Dravid will have a few sessions with the Indian batsmen ahead of their first Test against England starting at Nottingham on July 9, although he has not been appointed in any capacity, BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said on Sunday.

The San Antonio Spurs delivered a decisive end to LeBron James's two-year reign atop the basketball world by routing the Miami Heat 104-87 on Sunday to win the NBA Finals four games to one.

Danny Green scored 11 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter to spark the San Antonio Spurs to a 110-95 come-from-behind victory over the Miami Heat in the opening game of the NBA Finals on Thursday.

Australian researchers on Wednesday said they have detected a low-frequency underwater noise off India's southern tip at about the time MH370 mysteriously disappeared, as a British woman sailing from Kochi to Phuket in March claimed that she may have seen the plane on fire.

From data analysts to financial firms, everyone has their views on who could win the FIFA World Cup, starting in Brazil next month. Here are some interesting predictions by two international firms -- Opta and Goldman Sachs -- about the how tournament could pan out. Read on...

India's Cricket Board has finalised a short three-match ODI series in Bangladesh next month before the Indian team embarks on its lengthy tour of England lasting for over two months.

United States President Barack Obama last week announced his intent to name three Indian Americans among 14 new members to the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Former captain Sourav Ganguly has said the expertise of former Indian cricketers can surely be utilised for bringing improvements in the team but was not sure if they will have enough time for the challenging job.

Under-fire coach Duncan Fletcher on Saturday joined the Indian team for the World T20 after having had discussions about his future with BCCI president N Srinivasan and secretary Sanjay Patel.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made it clear that under-fire coach of the Indian team Duncan Fletcher has its "full backing and support" and has no immediate plans to remove him despite calls for his ouster from batting icon like Sunil Gavaskar.

'I would love to work with the Under-19s or India 'A' on shorter tours, but, really, the Indian coaching job, unfortunately at this point of time, is something I cannot do,' says former India captain Rahul Dravid. Harish Kotian reports

The under-fire Indian cricket team, which lost the disastrous tours of South Africa and New Zealand, left for Bangladesh to participate in the ICC World Twenty20 Championships on Friday without holding the customary pre-departure press conference.

India was beaten in the Tests and ODIs in South Africa and New Zealand. It never made it past the league stage in the Asia Cup. Rajaneesh Gupta and Harish Kotian investigate the Team India coach's three years in charge.