All-rounder Chris Woakes is still processing the shock after England fell agonisingly short of a "fairytale" series victory despite his remarkable act of bravery in the fifth and final Test against India.

If Test cricket is the sporting equivalent of a literary epic, the five-match Test series between England and India was its Iliad -- a battle of two groups of warriors which will go down in history as a tale of valour, heroism and sheer audacity.

When it comes to doing the impossible, millions around the globe, especially avid sports fans, turn to inspiration from one man who probably did it more than anyone in the sports fraternity -- Cristiano Ronaldo.

"People keep asking if Test cricket will survive, but what we saw over these five games is the answer."

How Test cricket can be saved is a question that has been pondered upon for over a century, and since 2016, the ICC has seemingly made up its mind on the solution: dividing the teams into two tiers.

India star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the fifth and deciding Test at the Oval on Thursday as stand-in England captain Ollie Pope won the toss and elected to field.

England and India head to The Oval today for the fifth and decisive Test of a tightly contested series.

Ricky Ponting is convinced there is "absolutely no reason" why Joe Root cannot surpass India's Sachin Tendulkar as Test cricket's all-time leading run-scorer after the England star leapfrogged the Australian into second place on Friday.

There are games that thrill, and then there are Test matches that sear themselves into memory.

The marginal decisions added another layer of intrigue to an already absorbing Test match.

Ultimately, while it is commendable to honour the legacy of the frontliners, the contributions of those who laid the foundational groundwork 25 years ago should ideally not have been overlooked.

On June 26, 2000, Bangladesh became the 10th nation to gain Test status from the ICC -- a historic milestone that sparked hope and pride across the country.

On the silver jubilee of realising the Test dream, the former Bangladesh Cricket Board and Asian Cricket Council official talked to The Daily Star's Samsul Arefin Khan about how they achieved the Test status.

“There is no way that Bangladesh cricket, with the present system, can operate at the Test match level in less than 10 years. I give you that and I stand the challenge on that. To push forward will be suicidal as far as our cricket is concerned.”

On the occasion of Bangladesh’s 25 years in Test cricket, former national opener Biddut spoke to The Daily Star, reflecting on the historic phase and what transpired afterwards, and more.

For Bangladesh, the 2023–25 cycle marked a step forward.

Tickets for the Ashes series were snapped up at a record rate when they went on sale on Tuesday with the allocations for the first three days of the Brisbane and Sydney Tests as well as day one of the Melbourne Test all exhausted.

In-form Sai Sudharsan will draw on county cricket experience as he switches from the IPL to the five-day game for his first Test tour with India when they travel to England.

Bob Cowper, the first batsman to score a Test triple-century on Australian soil, has died at the age of 84 after a prolonged battle with illness, Cricket Australia said on Sunday.

What does the latest 400-plus score really mean for Bangladesh? A flash of competence. A suggestion of potential. Never a guarantee, though.