WATERBURY, Vt. — The American-Canadian Tour has revealed the early-entry list for the Hickory 125 and Easter Bunny 125 on April 2-3 at Hickory Motor Speedway.

Twenty-eight teams have made the early commitment to open their season by running at least one event at North Carolina’s legendary Hickory Motor Speedway.

The entry list contains a highly-decorated mix of ACT Late Model Tour regulars, weekly late model champions, and top drivers who can be found at any big event. Five different states and numerous tracks/series are represented. The events are the first time ever that the ACT Late Models will race at Hickory Motor Speedway.

Vermont leads the way with a whopping 14 drivers that have registered for the Hickory doubleheader. Former Thunder Road Late Model champions Jason Corliss and Bobby Therrien are on the list of drivers heading to North Carolina. So are former Riverside Speedway Champion Jeff Marshall; former Governor’s Cup winner Brooks Clark; and defending White Mountain Motorsports Park Rookie of the Year Andy Hill.

Multi-time weekly racing winners Jim Morris, Stephen Donahue, Tyler Cahoon, Chip Grenier, and Derek Ming are working on their travel plans. Venerable veteran Joey Laquerre has entered the Saturday portion of the doubleheader. Lanphear sisters Reilly and Peyton and ACT regular Jesse Switser round out the Vermont brigade.

New Hampshire, meanwhile, currently has seven Hickory representatives. They include eight-time White Mountain Champion Quinny Welch; Riverside Speedway champions Shawn Swallow and Mike Kenison; and multi-track champion Aaron Fellows.

Three-time ACT Champion Wayne Helliwell Jr. is already on the short list of contenders. Helliwell is a factor in almost every race he enters and undoubtedly will get up to speed fast. Eight-cylinder Street Stock legend Alby Ovitt and his teammate Jimmy Renfrew Jr. complete the list of New Hampshire racers.

Five drivers from the state of Massachusetts have entered the Hickory 125 and Easter Bunny 125. Tom Carey III and Derek Gluchacki are using the events as a tune-up for their sophomore ACT Tour seasons after both finished in the top-10 in points last year.

Jake Johnson, the recent Snowflake 100 winner at Florida’s Five Flags Speedway, is planning double-duty with the Pro All Stars Series Super Late Models. Trenton Goodrow is looking for a strong showing in his first ACT events since double-ACL surgery last year. They’ll be joined from the Bay State by Star Speedway regular Randy Cole Jr.

Maine and Rhode Island each have one ACT driver heading to Hickory. The Mainer is one of the biggest Northeast racing names of all: Ben Rowe is a multi-time Hickory winner in PASS Super Late Model competition. Rowe, like Johnson, plans to compete in all four combined ACT and PASS events, making it a busy trip for the many-time champion. Mike Mitchell, who can be found at race tracks throughout the region on any given weekend, rounds out the field.

Arsenal lost further ground in their bid to qualify for the Champions League with an eventful 1-1 draw against Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put Mikel Arteta's men in front on five minutes but Chris Wood equalised before half time following an awful mistake by Granit Xhaka.

Arsenal thought they should have had a penalty in the final 15 minutes when Erik Pieters appeared to handle in the area but referee Andre Marriner did not give it and his decision was ratified by Kevin Friend, the VAR. There was further drama in the final six minutes when Pieters was then sent off for handling Nicolas Pepe's goalbound effort and a penalty was awarded, only for the red card to be rescinded and the penalty withdrawn following another VAR review that showed Pieters had used his shoulder.

- Ratings: Xhaka 4/10 for ghastly error
- VAR: How your club has been affected

The draw means Arsenal failed to make progress in their attempt to finish in the top four, with Arteta's side nine points off Chelsea in fourth.

Burnley manager Sean Dyche said the VAR decision was an example of the value of the system.

"That is what VAR is for, those exact moments. That is when it [VAR] is worth its weight in gold because it clearly hits him on the shoulder," he said.

"The only thing I would say about the referee is that he couldn't wait to get the red card and I don't know why that is. Just take a moment and absorb it and then make a decision, in my opinion."

Arteta made five changes to his side ahead of a trip to Greece to play Olympiakos in the Europa League next Thursday before the North London derby with Tottenham next Sunday. And his side got off to the perfect start when Willian found Aubameyang early on, and his low shot squirmed past Nick Pope and into the bottom corner to put the visitors ahead. Pope would not have wanted to see a replay of that one, especially with England manager Gareth Southgate in attendance ahead of the upcoming international break.

Burnley, looking to complete a first league double over Arsenal since 1963, were flat in the first half and should have fallen further behind mid-way through when Bukayo Saka, on his 50th league appearance for Arsenal, sent a gilt-edged opportunity wide from close range.

- Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)

Dyche's men had played twice since Arsenal's win at Leicester last time out for Arteta's men and it showed, with the home side looking lethargic against an energised visiting attack. Thomas Partey was the next player to threaten a shaky Pope but his effort sailed over.

The home side needed a moment of fortune to get back into the match and it duly arrived seven minutes before the break in comical style. Xhaka received a pass from Bernd Leno and looked to find David Luiz, but his ball was weak and cannoned off Wood into an empty net to give Burnley the most unlikely of equalisers.

Martin Odegaard tested Pope with a low drive six minutes into the second half as Arsenal sought to regain their lead, before Saka had an effort blocked inside the area. Arteta then introduced Alexandre Lacazette for Martin Odegaard just after the hour mark in a bid to spark his side into life, and his side were certain they should have had a penalty when Pieters appeared to handle inside the box.

Chris Wood wasted a glorious chance to put Burnley ahead with 10 minutes remaining but Leno stood firm to deny him and at the other end, substitute Pepe fluffed his lines with the goal at his mercy.

In a dramatic finale, Burnley survived two calls for penalties and Arsenal hit the post through Dani Ceballos as the home side clung on.

Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes has dismissed criticism around his performances against the Premier League "Big Six" teams this season.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side have failed to win a league game against England's top clubs this term with Fernandes' only goal coming from the penalty spot in United's 6-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

- Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)
- Notebook: Breaking down top clubs' hopes of signing Haaland
- Ogden: Who makes the Manchester derby combined XI?

The Portugal international has the chance to improve on his record when United face runaway leaders Manchester City on Sunday but said he can handle the pressure in big games.

"I don't know what people mean by 'top six', because the teams are in top six in the table," he told Sky Sports. "I score and assist against some of them. I score this season against Tottenham. But some people say penalties don't count!

"I know people expect Bruno to score or assist in every game because when I arrived, I was playing really well. If you see my stats, everyone is thinking that Bruno has to score in every game, Bruno has to assist in every game.

"And I want to do that - it's the most important thing. But as a player, I don't look for the big six or the rest of the league. I look for every game in the same way. And I think the league is not a sprint, it's a marathon. So you don't have to score or win against the big six -- you have to score and win against everyone.

"I see people talking about Bruno not doing so well against the 'big six.' People have said Bruno gives the ball away too many times when we lose a game.

"Also, in the game against [Istanbul] Basaksehir, I scored two goals and I lost more balls than their team, but people said I was the best player in the game. So, what is the point?"

Fernandes is the club's top scorer this season with 22 goals to his name but criticised the notion that statistics are more important than performances.

"I saw an interview from Luke [Shaw] saying, 'people now care more about stats than the performance.' And this is the truth. Because now they're expecting from me just goals and assists, and not performances.

"They don't care about the performance of Bruno, they don't care about ball recovery or how many chances I create, because I can create 10 chances but if I don't score, people will say Bruno didn't play very well.

"But this is football. Football is in the moment. Some people have said I'm playing bad, and that I have to do better. And I agree, because we always can do better. But for me, it's OK. I can have that pressure on my back."

Arsenal came into their Premier League game against Burnley looking to build on encouraging victories against Leicester City and Benfica.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ensured that momentum continued when he scored within six minutes, though an absolute shocking error from Granit Xhaka -- when he tried to pass the ball sideways in his own six-yard box but only succeeded in rebounding the ball off Chris Wood and into the net -- gifted an equaliser for Burnley before half-time.

Despite both teams creating chances in the second and Arsenal piling on late pressure, the score remained 1-1.

Positives

The Gunners dominated large periods of the first half, playing some brilliant football that was both aesthetically pleasing and effective in creating chances. There was also a lot to be pleased about regarding the team's defensive work and there should be special satisfaction with how Burnley's aerial threat was dealt with. Arsenal showed defensive character to ensure the home side didn't get a second when they were put under pressure in the second half.

Negatives

Even before Xhaka's howler, Arsenal had given the ball away in dangerous areas a couple of times -- something that may have been punished by better opposition -- and there were a few times where the Gunners struggled to overcome Burnley's press.

There was also a chronic wastefulness in front of goal, as Bukayo Saka, Thomas Partey and Nicolas Pepe missed some good chances -- Pepe in particular, when he miskicked from six yards out, was awful. There will certainly be disappointment in the amount of control Arsenal surrendered to Burnley in the second half.

Manager rating out of 10

6 -- Mikel Arteta looked furious after Xhaka's mistake cost them the lead and it is easy to see why considering how well everything had been going before then. Arteta made some changes to turn the tide and get Arsenal back in the lead, but his side couldn't overcome Burnley. There will be so much frustration that the game ended in a draw despite the late pressure.

- Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)
- ESPN+ viewer's guide: Bundesliga, Serie A, MLS, FA Cup and more

Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

GK Bernd Leno, 7 -- Made some great saves, especially one from Wood, and was dominant when claiming balls in the air. Had no chance of doing anything about Burnley's bizarre equaliser -- for which no blame should be attached to the goalkeeper for passing to Xhaka, as he was simply doing what he was instructed to do.

DF Calum Chambers, 7 -- Burnley looked to get the ball behind Chambers a few times early on, but the Englishman was resolute defensively. Also had his moments offensively, getting some good balls into the box.

DF David Luiz, 6 -- Used his body very well when defending and was good with his distribution of the ball. There were moments where he rushed out of defence too much and didn't win the ball, however, and it nearly cost them.

DF Pablo Mari, 7 -- Showed good anticipation and awareness to snuff out danger, while he also did well to largely overcome Wood in physical battles.

DF Kieran Tierney, 7 -- Was typically reliable at left-back, while also getting forward well and putting a chance on a plate for Pepe that should have earned him an assist.

MF Thomas Partey, 7 -- The midfielder was so composed on the ball at all times and he started the move for Arsenal's opening goal before being taken off in the second half after looking tired.

MF Granit Xhaka, 4 -- Having already given the ball away in dangerous areas a few times, Xhaka played an absolute shocker of a pass for Wood's equaliser. Gave a better account of himself in the second half but didn't redeem himself.

MF Bukayo Saka, 6 -- Did show a threat down the right but missed a chance after some good link up play with Aubameyang, while a better touch may have given him another good chance after the striker played him through. Booked for a foul on Charlie Taylor.

MF Martin Odegaard, 5 -- The Norwegian showed some ingenuity in his play at times, including the pass that created a chance for Partey. However, he showed quality in sporadic flashes, rather than making his mark on the game.

MF Willian, 7 -- Has turned his form around in recent times and did well to set up Aubameyang's goal. However, he faded out of the game a bit in the second half.

FW Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 8 -- The Gabon international enjoys playing against Burnley and took his record to eight goals in seven games against the Clarets with his opener. He linked the play brilliantly but did miss a half-chance when the score was 1-0.

Substitutes

Alexandre Lacazette, 6 -- Replaced Odegaard in the 63rd minute and played in the No. 10 role. He drew fouls from Burnley defenders and made a nuisance of himself in the Burnley box at times.

Nicolas Pepe, 5 -- Replaced Willian in the 69th minute and missed a brilliant chance at the end, though will feel aggrieved that he didn't win a penalty when the ball hit Erik Pieters on the arm, while his later effort was cleared off the line by the same player's shoulder, only for the referee to award a penalty and red card, but saw both rescinded when VAR intervened.

Dani Ceballos, N/A -- Replaced Partey in the 81st minute and smashed an effort against the post in the dying seconds.

When India face South Africa in the ODI series opener in Lucknow on Sunday, they would be taking the field after a 364-day gap in international cricket. South Africa, on the other hand, have had two full limited-overs series - of three ODIs and as many T20Is each, against Pakistan - during this period. Mithali Raj, the India ODI captain who is 85 away from 10,000 runs in international cricket, would herself be turning out in India colours after 487 days. With the next ODI World Cup in 12 months, Raj, 38, is hopeful that both she and the team will be able to get in into "rhythm" quick enough to challenge South Africa, whom they have faced more times than they have any other opponent since the 2017 ODI World Cup.

"I am training the same way I do before any international series. But I am looking forward to getting more runs. I was in rhythm in the last series in 2019. Hope to do the same here," Raj, senior-most player in the ODI side, said at a virtual press conference on the eve of the first of the ODI in Lucknow.

In the six games between the two sides, played across two-match bilateral series, since the 2017 50-over World Cup, India, runners-up in that edition, lost only once to South Africa, semi-finalists in that competition. But South Africa have the advantage of more game time under their belt since the 2020 T20 World Cup in March last year, several of their players even playing a domestic T20 tournament in December following the Covid-19-enforced cancellation of the national team's England tour. By contrast, the India cricketers have had the four-match Women's T20 Challenge in November as their only opportunity of playing any top-flight competitive cricket in the whole past year.

"She [Shafali Verma] definitely is in the scheme of things, she is on the radar [for an ODI debut]. We need to have a little bit of patience and we will see her very soon."

India ODI captain Mithali Raj on Verma's absence from the ODI squad

Raj believes that India's preparations in the lead-up to the series, including the three training sessions they've had in Lucknow over four days since completing a five-day quarantine on March 2 - would hold them in good stead.

"Clearly they've had game time, but we are playing after a gap. Having said that we definitely have put in the efforts, trained ourselves, have these short camps, four days of sessions here," Raj said. "It doesn't look like we are rusty or anything. I think the girls clearly are quite excited to get on the field and start putting our best performances because it's time that we start our campaign for the World Cup, and start playing some cricket.

"The girls have been training in their respective places before coming here. During the lockdown, we have all kept in touch and kept up with our routines via Zoom and other apps. We are communicating with the staff. It's no different in that sense. A lot has gone in the mental set-up because it has been a long gap.

From the start of 2017 until November 6, 2019, when India last played the format, they scored 240 runs or more only nine times out of 22 instances while batting first. Among the top eight-ranked ODI teams, India's tally in this regard is only the fifth-best, with South Africa one place above them.

Raj said that while India would look to put on about 250 runs when batting first on the Ekana pitch, the priority for the home team in the first match would be to regain lost momentum.

"Clearly, coming back into the one-dayers after 15 months, we first look forward to developing a rhythm, a momentum," Raj said. "If it's a good batting track, we definitely look forward to around 240-250. It's something we can start aiming at. But if we get a good start may be, you know…

"But again, it all depends on how we take the first game, the wicket. But as on today, the girls seem to be very confident. We've had some very good sessions. So, clearly, I'm looking at a very confident unit to take the field tomorrow.

The South Africa assignment is also the first time since July 2015, when they squared off against New Zealand at home, that India would be playing five ODIs in a bilateral series. Raj said that the length of series might allow her to field the four uncapped players - left-hand batter Yastika Bhatia, legspin-bowling allrounder C Prathyusha, left-arm medium pacer Monica Patel, and wicketkeeper Sweta Verma - named in the 17-member ODI squad.

"[I am] Definitely [considering the possibility of trying them out], because it's a five-ODI series. We have some young players in the side. As captain I would like to give them opportunities to show their talent, so yes, we're definitely looking forward to giving them opportunities in these five ODIs."

She also explained that though 17-year-old Shafali Verma, the batter with the most runs - 163 - for India and the best strike rate - 158 - among those with 50 runs or more across teams in the 2020 T20 World Cup, was picked only for the T20Is against South Africa, a debut in the 50-over format may not be far away.

"She definitely is in the scheme of things, she is on the radar. We need to have a little bit of patience and we will see her very soon," Raj said, smiling.

Additional statistical inputs by Sampath Bandarupalli

India head coach Ravi Shastri was at his expressive best after India completed a 3-1 series win against England, saying his team had been like "zombies" during the first Test and needed a "kick in the backside" to overturn the 0-1 deficit. Shastri also said the 3-1 scoreline didn't necessarily reflect how close the series had actually been.

"I think the first Test in Chennai would have been different if we had a few more days off," Shastri in an interview with broadcaster Star Sports. "It's no excuse; England outplayed us there. The boys were like zombies. They were tired, and the fact that there was no crowds didn't help. Because everything was flat. So was the performance. But then a kick on the backside to re-ignite the pride in the system can make a lot of difference. And it showed in the last three Tests."

India had lost the first Test in Chennai by 227 runs, labouring as the side that bowled first on a flat surface where England put up 578 after batting more than two days. Their win in the second Test by 317 runs - also in Chennai - began a running narrative in the media about the quality of pitch that lasted for the rest of the series. The theme of those discussions, in general, was various players from the Indian team either playing down the topic or taking stern stands as R Ashwin did after the third Test. Shastri took a subtle turn in that direction as well at the end of the fourth Test, using a prompt about his not holding back with the team to bring the pitch - and the curator - into the conversation.

"Why should I hold back? I attribute [this] to the groundsman, since you don't want me to hold back. I think Ashish Bhowmick [BCCI's chief curator] is an outstanding groundsman," Shastri said. "He knows his job, he's learnt the hard way. He's worked with Daljit Singh who was a master curator. And who will complain about tracks like this? I mean it's fantastic entertainment, both teams are in the game. The result 3-1 doesn't suggest how close the series was. It's like our series in England when we lost 4-1, we had our opportunities. England had their opportunities here. Had they grabbed those opportunities, the result could have been different. But we seized on the opportunities that came our way and drove home the advantage. But the scoreline really doesn't suggest how close the series was."

The 3-1 scoreline confirmed India's spot as finalists in the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship, and Shastri said it was a result of two-and-a-half years' efforts, and a further six to set things up before that. India deserved to be in the final after putting 520 points on the board, he said, and was effusive in his praise of the younger players he has had to mentor.

"It's a great feeling. [Mentorship] is something that you've done all your life and it is particularly satisfying in this role when you see youngsters coming through the ranks and performing in situations that are real tough," he said. "Yesterday what Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar pulled off was unreal. Because the pressure was back on us: we were trailing by 50 [59], still had to get runs on the board. And from there to get 360 [365] was an outstanding achievement. Full tribute to them. I think they'll learn a lot from this. And this whole team. I think they've worked hard. This is not something that's come overnight.

"He [Rishabh Pant] was told in no uncertain terms, he's got to respect the game a little more. He's got to lose a bit of weight, he's got to work hard on his keeping."

India head coach Ravi Shastri

"If you look at this Indian side over the last eight Test matches, they've been in every situation. They've been on top, they've driven home the advantage. They've been in the dumps, they've responded after that. They've been in a corner and they fought from there. Not just in Australia, even here. That, for me, makes it special. This side refuses to give up. We were the irrepressibles in Australia. We are irrepressibles here, too."

"Pant's hundred best counterattacking innings I've seen"

Rishabh Pant's first home hundred drew praise from across the world, including from Adam Gilchrist on Twitter on Friday. The 23-year-old's recent surge to become India's first-choice wicketkeeper, alongside what now look like career-defining knocks, came after the team had gone hard on him, Shastri said.

"Simply magnificent. Because we go hard on him. Nothing comes easy. He was told in no uncertain terms, he's got to respect the game a little more. He's got to lose a bit of weight, he's got to work hard on his keeping. We know the talent he has; he's a genuine match winner. And he's responded. He's worked like hell over the last three or four months. And the results are showing.

"I mean yesterday's innings is probably the best Test counterattacking innings I've seen in India by an Indian batsman. Especially at No. 6 where it's not easy. When the ball is turning, the wicket is spicy. From there to respond in the fashion he did - with two separate innings. For me it was fearless all the way. And more fearless in the first half of his innings, because he played against the grain. He played against his nature. That's also a challenge. Every time when you come out, you know this guy's going to play shots but then to go against the grain, build a partnership with Rohit, and then turn it on after 50 - where all hell broke loose - he got a magnificent hundred. And that confidence rubbed on Washington Sundar. Let's not take [away] anything from Washy as well. But since the question is on Rishabh - I think, simply magnificent. His keeping was outstanding."

Joe Root has called on his England team to embrace the realities of a chastening 3-1 series loss in India, and accept that their skills in spinning conditions let them down at key moments of the campaign, rather than the conditions themselves.

After winning the first Test in Chennai by an emphatic 227-run margin, England were put in their place over the course of the next three matches, India turning up the intensity with consecutive wins by 317 runs, 10 wickets and an innings and 25 runs.

Those latter two matches in Ahmedabad spanned less than five days between them, which was a comment for the most part on England's fallible batting, as they managed fewer runs across four innings (533) than they had made in more amenable batting conditions in their decisive first innings of 578 at Chepauk.

However, having won the toss and batted first each of the Ahmedabad matches, England had their opportunities to fight back in spite of their frailties, as they restricted India to 145 in the third Test, a slender deficit of 32, before reducing them to 146 for 6 in the fourth.

On neither occasion could they close out their fightback, with Rishabh Pant's stunning counter-attack in this latest game, in partnership with Washington Sundar, epitomising the gulf in batting prowess between the sides.

Sundar made two ducks and two unbeaten near-centuries in his four innings of the series - 85 not out in Chennai and 96 not out in Ahmedabad - and topped the averages by a distance. But Pant and Rohit Sharma were the consistently outstanding performers in tough conditions, returning averages of 54.00 and 57.50 respectively with their contrastingly aggressive styles.

For England, only Root himself could manage an average above the 20s, and even his returns fell away after his double century in the first game, as he finished with 368 runs at 46.00. Ben Stokes was England's next-most reliable performer, but his 203 runs at 25.37 fell way short of the levels that his side needed to stay in touch.

"It was disappointing," Root said afterwards. "Credit does have to go to India, they've generally outskilled us. They showed us how to bat on that wicket, and similarly today with the ball they were excellent.

"We've just got to keep working together to try and find ways of being better in similar conditions in the future," he added. "There were periods of time throughout when we felt very much in the hunt, but credit to Rishabh and Washington, that partnership was outstanding."

Pant, quite rightly, was named player of the match after an extraordinary performance in Ahmedabad. He battled through a tough start to his innings, when the contest was very much in the balance, before blitzing his way to a maiden home Test century with a fusillade of boundaries against the second new ball - including an unforgettable reverse lap over the slips off James Anderson.

"The way Rishabh bats makes it very, very difficult for bowlers to build pressure and set fields sometimes," Root said. "When he pulls out a reverse sweep to a guy with 600 Test wickets, it's quite a skill and quite a brave move to do."

As the series began to tilt towards India, a narrative emerged - in the media for the most part, though fuelled by some muffled protestations from the England camp after last week's two-day defeat - that the pitches were unfairly weighted towards India's spin strengths.

Their frontline pairing of R Ashwin and Axar Patel certainly thrived in the conditions, claiming 32 wickets at 14.71 and 27 at 10.59 respectively - with Patel's haul matching the best by an Indian bowler in his debut series.

However, in Root's estimation, much of that argument was scotched by the fact that India were able to thrive in between whiles with the bat as well.

"I don't think we reacted to the change in surfaces as well as India did," he said. "They exploited them better and found ways of managing the turn. That's played a factor.

"I do think there have been periods where we've found ourselves at parity and India managed to grab them. Generally, in the lower-scoring Test matches, that is the difference.

"Having India 100-odd for 5 in this game, or when Rishabh Pant walked out at four down, we have a real opportunity to make that count through some wonderful bowling in the early stages. He managed to win that important hour of cricket.

"That partnership with Washington was very good and he's such a difficult player because he hits the ball in unusual areas. Their experience of these conditions as a whole probably just outweighed us and was a big difference in this series.

"I think the guys have to embrace what's happened," he added. "They have to understand it and be realistic. There are areas we can get better at. We would be stupid to come away from this trip and say: 'it was the extreme conditions, the ball was spinning and skidding on, and it was impossible to bat'.

"That would be the wrong attitude. We need to come away from here and say: 'You know what, there are lots of things that we can get better at.'

"Yes, India have world-class spinners and high performers at home in particular - but we can be better. What can we take away from this trip? I'm going to go away and make sure that if I find myself in this situation again down the line, on the next tour, I will be better equipped to deal with that."

England will have an opportunity to lock horns with India again very soon, with a five-Test series looming in August and September in England. When the sides last met in 2018, England's 4-1 victory looked similarly one-sided, but it too masked the clear competitiveness that the visitors were at times able to exert.

"We're not a bad side just because of these three games," Root said. "We also have to look at this winter as a whole. There have been occasions - and there were three very good performances [in Sri Lanka and in the first Chennai Test] - where the ball has spun and we've dealt with it better. But when we come home and play in our own conditions, we are a completely different side."

The 3-1 victory against England was Virat Kohli's 10th series win in a row at home as India captain. It extended India's dominance at home to 13 straight series wins with their last home defeat coming against Alastair Cook's England in 2012.

The manner in which India dominated England, especially in the last three Tests - they won the pink-ball ball Test in two days and the fourth Test in three days - no doubt pleased Kohli. According to him, the biggest strength India showed was their "comeback" after losing the series opener in Chennai by massive margin of 227 runs. Following are the key men and points Kohli pointed out during the presentation that played a key role in India winning the series and booking a berth in the World Test Championship final.

On the two key match-winners: R Ashwin and Rohit Sharma
"Ashwin has obviously been a banker for us in the past six-seven years in Test cricket. His numbers speak volumes of what he has done in the last few years.

"Rohit's knock was the defining moment in us coming back into the series. Getting 160 (161) on that pitch is as good as getting 250 on any good batting wicket. It is definitely one of his best Test knocks, if not the best. That gave us the kind of momentum we needed as a side and it really got us into the contest. So, yeah, it was an outstanding innings.

"He batted really well at the top of the order throughout the series, he gave us important knocks, important partnerships as well which is unnoticed when you don't get those three figures."

On what pleased him the most after the first Test defeat
"The comeback pleased me the most. The first game was a bit of an aberration in the way that we play as a team - that was just a hiccup. England outplayed us. The toss became very crucial because of the way the pitch played on the first two days; I don't think the bowlers were in the contest at all.

"From the next game onwards it was more exciting cricket and we got into the game early. Even in the second innings (of the first Test) in Chennai we bowled and fielded with a lot more intensity. So for me the comeback was way more pleasing and the way we batted in the second Test match in Chennai."

On Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar making an impact when it mattered
"Our bench strength has been as strong as it has ever been. That's a great sign for Indian cricket. The idea was exactly this: to have youngsters who come in and perform with fearlessness, take the situations on so that when the transition happens eventually it is not difficult for Indian cricket and the standard does not fall below what we have set in the last few years.

"It is up to the individuals as well, like taking the situation on, like Rishabh and Washy did with that game-changing partnership and then Axar as well - a 100-run partnership. These are the kind of situations where individuals stand up and say: 'okay, I'm going to make a mark and be that player who can be counted on.' That is what exactly what they have done."

On India's 13-series winning streak at home
"You obviously are happy when you are winning so many series but there are always things to improve. Like, after the first game in Chennai, we had to pick up our body language. We spoke about the fact that nothing is a given whether you are playing at home or away because every team at international level is a quality side and we need to be at our A game to be able to beat them. And that is exactly what our mindset is. I know in the future as well we'll have hiccups, we'll have a few things that will be a concern, but we will have to keep ironing them out and that's been the hallmark of our team."

Pathum Nissanka has earned a maiden call-up for the two Tests against West Indies for which fit-again Dimuth Karunaratne will lead Sri Lanka's 17-man squad. Dilruwan Perera, Kusal Perera and Lakshan Sandakan were missing from the squad which included allrounder Dhananjaya de Silva, who had missed the two Tests against England in January with a thigh injury.

Nissanka, the 22-year-old top-order batsman, has already impressed in the ongoing T20Is in the West Indies with scores of 39 off 34 and 37 off 23. He has also been a consistent performer in first-class cricket, maintaining an average of 67.54 across the 59 long-format innings he has played so far. In those innings, he has hit 13 hundreds and 13 fifties. Middle-order batsman Roshen Silva has also impressed in domestic cricket, but has not played a Test in over two years.

Karunaratne missed the England Tests with a finger fracture he suffered on the tour of South Africa during his century at the Wanderers, but will now return to lead both the ODI and Test sides.

On the fast-bowling front, Sri Lanka are missing Lahiru Kumara, who tested positive for Covid-19 in the last two weeks, but have the likes of Vishwa Fernando, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera and Asitha Fernando available. Left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya will likely be Sri Lanka's primary spinner following his good performances against England at home. Legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga is also available, in addition to the offspin of de Silva. Ramesh Mendis - if he plays - offers another offspin option.

Sri Lanka lost their last four Tests - two away to South Africa, and two at home to England - but were seriously hampered by injuries through those series. Several important players are missing from this Test squad as well, but the return of captain Karunaratne will be especially heartening. De Silva's return is also significant, particularly as he adds balance to the Test XI with his offspin.

Test squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), Dasun Shanaka, Pathum Nissanka, Oshada Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella, Roshen Silva, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Vishwa Fernando, Suranga Lakmal, Asitha Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Lasith Embuldeniya

The national ballot for the John R. Wooden Award -- awarded to college basketball's top player -- was revealed Saturday, with 15 players including Iowa's Luka Garza and Oklahoma State's Cade Cunningham among those featured on the list.

Garza, who finished as runner-up for the Wooden Award last season, has delivered on his status as the Wooden front-runner throughout the 2020-21 campaign. The 6-foot-11 center enters the final weekend of the regular season averaging 23.9 points per game, best in the Big Ten, to go along with 8.4 rebounds per contest. Garza's fifth-ranked Hawkeyes have spent most of the season in the AP top 10, and are a No. 2 seed in Joe Lunardi's most recent NCAA tournament projection heading into Sunday's regular season finale with Wisconsin.

Also in the mix for the award is Cunningham, whose sensational freshman season has helped establish him as a prime candidate for the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA draft. The 6-foot-8 point guard is averaging 19.7 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game for a 17-7 Cowboys team that appears set on reaching the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2017.

Other notables on the Wooden ballot include Villanova guard Collin Gillespie, who retained his spot on the list despite suffering a season-ending knee injury in a win over Creighton on Wednesday. Gillespie averaged 14.0 points and 4.6 assists for the season for a Villanova team that claimed the Big East regular season title.

Ohio State forward E.J. Liddell was the lone player on the final ballot who did not appear on the previous Wooden Watch list announced in early February. Liddell is averaging 15.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game for an Ohio State squad that is holding down a No. 2 seed in Joe Lunardi's most recent Bracketology update.

Dropped from the list since the February update were UConn's James Bouknight, Minnesota's Marcus Carr, Pittsburgh's Justin Champagnie, Houston's Quentin Grimes, Rutgers' Ron Harper Jr. and Louisville's Carlik Jones.

A look at the complete Wooden Award ballot:

Charles Bassey, Western Kentucky (6-11, Jr., C)

Jared Butler, Baylor (6-3 , Jr., G)

Kofi Cockburn, Illinois (7-0, So., C)

Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma State (6-8, Fr., G)

Hunter Dickinson, Michigan (7-1, Fr., C)

Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois (6-5, Jr., G)

Luka Garza, Iowa (6-11, Sr., C)

Collin Gillespie, Villanova (6-3, Sr., G)

Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana (6-9, So., F)

Corey Kispert, Gonzaga (6-7, Sr., F)

E.J. Liddell, Ohio State (6-7, So., F)

Evan Mobley, USC (7-0, Fr., F)

Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Villanova (6-9, So., F)

Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga (6-4, Fr., G)

Drew Timme, Gonzaga (6-10, So., F)