LEICESTER, England -- There is a reason why Jurgen Klopp regretted publicly doubting Liverpool's confidence: it is completely shot. Nothing else can adequately explain the seven-minute capitulation against Leicester City that saw the Reds surrender a 1-0 lead to lose 3-1 at the King Power Stadium and leave them facing a major fight to finish in the top four.

Klopp once labelled his team "mentality monsters." They left the Leicester pitch on Saturday as tortured souls, with the Liverpool boss pausing briefly in his postmatch news conference before answering whether he was conceding defeat in the Premier League title race.

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"Yes, I can't believe it but yes," he said, looking utterly crestfallen, with his team now 10 points behind leaders Manchester City having played two games more.

Leicester enhanced their own credentials for Champions League qualification with another impressive display, despite missing three of their first-choice back four. They must be considered strong candidates given this was no fluke, adding to wins against Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal this term. But, in a sense, that was what made Liverpool's collapse all the more astounding.

For 78 minutes, they were the better team. Leicester had threatened on the counter-attack essentially on almost any occasion they could get Jamie Vardy into the game, but Liverpool pressed the home side superbly throughout, dominated the ball and were in a degree of control.

They scored a sumptuous goal, too. Youri Tielemans under-hit a cross-field pass that Trent Alexander-Arnold intercepted. The Liverpool full-back drove forward and found Roberto Firmino in the box. His sublime double drag-back evaded Wilfred Ndidi and set up Mohamed Salah in one fluid motion and the Egyptian curled a fine shot past Kasper Schmeichel. It was a goal oozing with the mixture of arrogance and class that has often permeated Klopp's team at their best, making what followed an even starker contrast.

Leicester had a penalty overturned when VAR adjudged Thiago's tackle on Harvey Barnes to be outside the box. James Maddison delivered the resulting free-kick, which Daniel Amartey poked into the net, a goal that survived another lengthy VAR check.

On a bitterly cold afternoon, Liverpool then froze. A hopeful ball forward from Tielemans caused panic at the back as centre-back Ozan Kabak, making his debut after joining the club from Schalke on an initial six-month loan, tried to hook the ball clear. Little did he know that goalkeeper Alisson was rushing 30 yards out of his goal to try to clear it as well. The pair collided and the loose ball fell to Vardy, who ran the ball into the empty net and scampered off to celebrate, plucking the corner flag from the turf and playing it like a guitar.

There was time for an encore as Barnes raced clear to slot home a third, leaving Klopp apoplectic on the touchline and short of an explanation for a stunning spell that began with a degree of controversy.

"I was sure [the first goal] was offside," Klopp said. "Accepting something like this with a smile or 'OK, it might have been a mistake' is not easy.

"So in our situation, for sure not. We worked really hard for being 1-0 up and then it's gone with a really tough decision, especially for Ali who had three players in front of him. That's not a problem. The 2-1 had nothing to do with it.

"The 2-1 can happen, but when we conceded and the manner we conceded, that was a knock. The reaction for that I didn't like. The reaction after the equaliser, I don't know exactly because it was too quick. It was a long ball kicked up front and we made it dangerous ourselves."

There was a reluctance to unduly criticise Alisson after his mistakes in last weekend's 4-1 loss against Manchester City, given how consistent the Brazil international's performances had previously been. But he was unduly rash here, even if Klopp sought to highlight Kabak's lack of time on the training ground with his new teammates.

"Before the game, we all knew Ozan is a really good player and after the game we know that as well, but before the game we also knew he is not really used to all the things we usually do," Klopp said. "If he'd played with Ali, he would know he is quite offensive-minded and comes out of his goal and this situation was a misunderstanding. When you are new together, usually these things happen in preseason but we don't have that."

To underline Liverpool's defensive issues, Kabak was the seventh player to play as a centre-back in the league this season after Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Nathaniel Phillips and Rhys Williams.

But Liverpool's problems run deeper, having morphed from physical issues to mental ones. The Alisson error was an abdication of the assurance with which he -- and Liverpool -- have played for the last couple of years. Rediscovering that poise is Klopp's biggest challenge now as the damage inflicted gets worse.

"The only way out of the situation is to play good football, fight and work hard," he said. "We have to and we will get the results and see where we end up. The situation is not easy, that's clear, but it is our situation and as always with your situation, you have to solve it yourself. That is what we will do."

Stumps West Indies 296 and 41 for 3 (Bonner 8*, Warrican 2*) lead Bangladesh 296 (Liton 71, Mehidy 57, Rahim 54, Cornwall 5-74, Gabriel 3-70) by 154 runs

Liton Das and Mehidy Hasan starred with the bat for Bangladesh, while Rahkeem Cornwall earned his second Test five-wicket haul as the third day of the Dhaka Test see-sawed right until the close of play. At stumps, West Indies were 41 for 3 in their second innings, leading by 154 runs. While they do hold the advantage, Bangladesh have enjoyed the greater success in the last two sessions of the day.

Starting the day on 105 for 4 in their first innings, well behind West Indies' 409, Bangladesh's overnight batsmen Mohammad Mithun and Mushfiqur Rahim had to survive a barrage of short balls from Shannon Gabriel first up. But when Gabriel - who overstepped thrice in his first three overs - went fuller, he was put away by the two for fours through the covers. Jomel Warrican, the left-arm spinner, had his opening spell cut short as he drifted too often to the leg, allowing easy runs on the on side.

Cornwall then replaced Warrican and created the first chance of the morning when Mithun mistimed a whip off his toes that went just beyond midwicket. But, in his next over, Cornwall got Mithun's wicket with an unorthodox field placement. Trying to flick off his boots, Mithun - on 15 - was through his shot too early and the ball went in the air. Kraigg Brathwaite - lurking at short midwicket, where he had placed himself for that very shot - dived to his right to take the catch at full length.

Mushfiqur Rahim, meanwhile, reached his 22nd half-century in Cornwall's first over. He tried not to let the offspinner settle in from the first ball he faced, but was almost caught at short leg soon after his half-century. He then survived a close lbw call off Cornwall after missing a sweep, but soon paid the price of being overly aggressive - on 54, he tried a reverse sweep, only to toe-end a simple catch to cover.

At 155 for 6, and still over fifty short of avoiding the follow-on, Das and Mehidy got together for 12 overs before lunch. After the session break - and against the older ball - they displayed exemplary concentration to block, leave and duck. The balls that were wide on either side of the stumps were punished for the occasional boundary.

While Cornwall's turn from the rough outside off kept both batsmen in two minds, Warrican failed to build pressure like his partner. Mehidy often rocked back against Warrican to cut - with the turn - while Das eyed the midwicket boundary. That period of play took the stand past fifty and ensured Bangladesh had avoided following-on, which had seemed like a distinct possibility at the start of the session.

When Alzarri Joseph came into the attack, he preferred the shorter lengths. Both Das and Mehidy were happy to duck through that challenge and when Joseph bowled full, they punished him down the V. With Joseph and Gabriel failing to get any purchase with the older ball, Brathwaite went to part-time spin to count the overs down so that the pacers could return fresh with the new ball. But that's when Das and Mehidy pounced. Nkrumah Bonner's legspin was struck by Das for consecutive fours to reach his seventh Test fifty. Brathwaite's offbreak, too, allowed easy singles. And when the new ball was taken, both Das and Mehidy looked to go on the offensive.

The first over with the new ball, from Gabriel, was wayward, conceding six including four byes, and brought up the hundred stand. They went for their shots, often successfully, which made Gabriel impatient. The fast bowler showed it too, by saying a few words to the batsmen on his follow through, which forced the umpires to have a chat with him. Mehidy then got his own fifty, to back up the century in Chattogram. Having lost no wickets in the session, the period after lunch belonged completely to Bangladesh. It was the first session - since the first one on the first day - that they could call theirs, as they added 91 for no loss.

The post-tea session started with both batsmen looking to attack the tired West Indian bowling attack that had not gone wicketless for over 40 overs. But Cornwall put the brakes on soon after, when he removed Das for 71 for his fourth scalp after the batsman got an edge off a paddle sweep.

Trying to play fine, Das went across the stumps to sweep, but Jermaine Blackwood - at first slip - anticipated the shot and ran around behind the wicketkeeper. The ball took an inside edge, hit the back leg and popped in the air for Blackwood to take a simple catch. A few balls later, Cornwall removed No. 9 Nayeem Hasan after the batsman edged a defensive shot to Blackwood at slip, earning him the five-wicket haul.

From the other end, Gabriel had the last laugh over Mehidy. The allrounder fell for 57 when his attempt to drive through the off side went straight to cover for a catch. Gabriel earned another wicket to end the Bangladesh innings on 296 when he rapped No. 11 Abu Jayed on the glove, for a simple catch to gully. Bangladesh lost their last four wickets for only 15 runs in under six overs.

With 21 overs to go in the day, Bangladesh started with spin and struck thrice before stumps. Brathwaite was first to go, when he tried to flick Nayeem, only for it to go to wicketkeeper Das off the gloves. Mehidy then entered the record books when he became the fastest (and youngest) Bangladesh bowler to 100 Test wickets with Shayne Moseley edging to second slip. Mehidy reached the mark in 24 Tests, beating the previous record of 25, set by Taijul Islam.

Islam then removed the other opener, John Campbell, late in the day in an unusual manner. As Campbell played defensively, the ball appeared to spin back after dropping on the pitch and turned back to hit the stumps.

The final few minutes saw Bonner and nightwatchman Warrican trying to survive with soft hands. Bangladesh surrounded the batsmen with as many players as they could, but there was no further damage.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

Shahriar Nafees and Abdur Razzak have announced their retirements from all forms of cricket, making public their decisions after being employed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board. Razzak, the 38-year-old former left-arm spinner, has been appointed as a senior selector alongside chief selector Minhajul Abedin and Habibul Bashar, while 35-year-old Nafees, a top-order batsman, has taken up a position in the board's cricket operations department.

A reception was organised to honour the two cricketers at the Shere Bangla National Stadium on Saturday, during the lunch interval on the third day of the Dhaka Test against West Indies, where they were presented with crests by the BCB and the players' association.

"It is only natural that someone else will take my place because everything comes to an end. I would like to thank my childhood coaches Sarwar Imran and Nazmul Abedeen Fahim. I met them when I was 13 years old, and they changed my life," Razzak said, while Nafees recalled the time when he was ten years old and would be taken for training by his parents: "They supported me so I must thank them. I would like to thank my wife and kids, my in-laws, as well my first coach Wahidul Gani."

Razzak was the first Bangladesh player to pick up 200 ODI wickets, and also holds the record (joint with Mohammad Ashraful) for the fastest half-century by a Bangladeshi in ODIs - off 21 balls. Among players from his country, Razzak also has the second-most ODI five-wicket hauls and the most wickets in a bilateral ODI series.

Over the years, Razzah has been a domestic giant, with 137 first-class appearances. He has taken 634 wickets in those games, including 41 five-fors. He is also the first Bangladeshi bowler to bag 600 first-class wickets and has won nine domestic first-class titles with Khulna Division and South Zone. After a four-year hiatus, Razzak made an international comeback at the age of 35 when he played the Dhaka Test against Sri Lanka in 2018, which turned out to be his last international outing.

Nafees will always be best remembered for his 138 against an Australian Test attack that had Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Jason Gillespie, Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill. The sight of a strokeful left-handed opener taking on some of the best bowlers the world, who had just conquered South Africa, was a breath of fresh air for Bangladesh. Nafees' dominance of Warne, in particular, where he hit the legspinner for ten fours in a couple of sessions, remains an iconic image in Bangladesh cricket.

Nafees had a strong 2006 thereafter, finishing with 1000-plus ODI runs, including three centuries. Later in the year, he became Bangladesh's first T20I captain, but that remained his only appearance in the then-new format. After a low-scoring 2007 World Cup, Nafees lost his place in the team and in mid-2008, he joined the now-defunct Indian Cricket League. The BCB banned the Bangladeshi players for ten years for taking part in the tournament, but they were relieved less than a year later, and returned to the fold.

Nafees would return to the Bangladesh team during a Test against India in early 2010, and went on to play 23 more times for his country, including at the 2011 World Cup, before his last international outing against Zimbabwe in 2013.

Nafees finished the 2019-20 first-class season with a century and two fifties, having been one of the top run-getters in the seven seasons following his last Test match. During the 2015-16 season, he crossed 1000 runs for the first time in first-class cricket, with three centuries and a 62.05 average. He is also Bangladesh's first batsman to hit a T20 century, when he made an unbeaten 102 for Khulna Royal Bengals in the 2013 Bangladesh Premier League.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

Welcome to day one of our live report of the second India-England Test from Chennai. Join us for updates, analysis and colour. You can find our traditional ball-by-ball commentary here

*Most recent entry will appear at the top, please refresh your page for the latest updates. All times are local

Stumps - India 300 for 6 (Rohit Sharma 161, Rahane 67) vs England

A majestic innings in capricious conditions from India opener Rohit Sharma gave the hosts a strong platform at the outset of the second Chennai Test. Rohit counterattacked during a harum-scarum morning session and then settled in to grind England into the dry, cracked clay of the MA Chidambaram Stadium, converting his fourth Test hundred as an opener into a dominant 161.

After Virat Kohli had voiced his dissatisfaction with the pitch produced at Chepauk for the first Test against England, it was no surprise to see the ball turn and spit for the spinners on day one of the rematch. Kohli himself was done in by it, bowled for a fifth-ball duck by the returning Moeen Ali before lunch. But that was the high point of the day for Moeen and England, as Rohit and Ajinkya Rahane produced a bustling partnership that threatened to be decisive even at such an early stage.

England claimed three early wickets - including one for Olly Stone with his third ball on only his second Test appearance - but were effectively shut out by Rohit and Rahane during the afternoon session, despite regular half-chances coming and going. Again Joe Root was left to rue a lack of control from his spinners: Jack Leach was the more consistent, asking questions throughout the day, while Moeen went at more than four an over, despite picking up the wickets of Kohli and Rahane.

Rohit rode his luck at times, gloving Leach short of slip on 41 and enduring some nervy moments against Moeen in the 90s, but he picked his moments to attack with judicious care to ensure that India would not squander their advantage after winning the toss. He skipped along briskly during the early exchanges, scoring 80 from 78 balls before lunch, and kept England toiling long into the day. Such was his dominance that he was visibly frustrated after slog-sweeping Leach to deep backward square leg, having scored almost exactly two-thirds of his side's 248 for 4.

More to follow

4.45pm: England inroads

The debate about the umpiring in this Test will doubtless rumble on, with Rishabh Pant surviving on review after being given out caught behind, immediately after hitting Moeen Ali for a couple more boundaries. But England are quietly making inroads with the old ball, with Joe Root's round-arm offbreaks accounting for R Ashwin, caught at short leg, leaving India six down. This should still be a very handy first-innings score on a pitch that has offered turn for the spinners throughout, and the game is moving forward at some pace.

Enjoy this while you can, it is going to be over inside three days. #INDvENG

— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) February 13, 2021

4.35pm: Pant vs Leach - Round II

Here we go again! Jack Leach probably isn't ever going to earn an IPL contract, but he's being given another taste of what it's like to be tonked around a stadium - this time complete with baying Indian crowd. Having just walked out, and seeing a couple from offspinner Moeen Ali fizz, Rishabh Pant decided to, well, just play his natural game, really. His first ball from Leach was short and cut for four, and then his fifth disappeared over long-on. This game is moving on!

4.30pm: Vote! Vote! Vote!

4.15pm: DRS fail

England have their fifth wicket of the day, but not after a moment of umpiring controversy. The incident came in the 75th over, with Ajinkya Rahane on 66, as England reviewed for a catch at short leg. But the third umpire, Anil Chaudhary, did not wind the replay through fully after using the technology to determine there had been no inside edge - meaning that a deflection off the glove as the ball ballooned up to Ollie Pope was not checked for. Joe Root could be seen gesturing to Virender Sharma that England felt it had come off the glove after hitting the pad and sure enough, after England's review had been struck down and Rahane allowed to continue, the host broadcaster then showed a replay that confirmed he should have been given out. A few balls later, Rahane was going, bowled sweeping at Moeen, and England then had their review reinstated... but that might not be the last we hear of it.

3rd (class) umpire?

— George Dobell (@GeorgeDobell1) February 13, 2021

3.55pm: Rohit holes out

A wicket! A wicket had fallen on this complete minefield road! England thought they might have had Rohit in Leach's previous over, when a smart bit of work from Ben Foakes saw the back foot balanced precariously on the crease (or just over, in the view of third umpire, Anil Chaudhary). But there's no doubt this time, as a slog-sweep picks out deep backward square. Rohit signals his frustration, swishing his bat and throwing back his head - he was having fun out there. Leach breaks the partnership at 162, but India still well placed.

3.35pm: 150 for Rohit

Who's the daddy? On this day, on this pitch, no doubt that it's India's opener. This is Rohit's fourth Test score above 150 - and he's only once been dismissed for fewer after reaching three figures. England aren't all that far from the second new ball, but they are flagging in the afternoon heat here.

3.30pm: In the dirt

Without trying to state the obvious, England need a wicket. Urgently.#INDvENG

— Ian Bell (@Ian_Bell) February 13, 2021

Belly's not wrong... This stand is swelling towards the 150 mark, and Joe Root has brought himself on to bowl as the Chennai crowd, who love their cinema, settle in for the Roh-Rah matinee.

3.15pm: India's approach on a turner

Psst. Two of ESPNcricinfo's sharpest minds, Nagraj Gollapudi and Shiva Jayaraman, are having a chat about this Rohit-Rahane partnership down in the stats bunker. Come on, let's listen in...

Nagraj: The bounce is still very good. I was told it would be firm in the centre and dust will be on the fuller length. Will become difficult from the third session, but have enjoyed the way both Rohit and Rahane have mostly done well by stepping out and playing off back foot - something so key to playing spin on such pitches, other than sweeping

Shiva: Yeah, the head has to go all over the place for a batsman to play sweep IMHO. You have to gauge the dip while the head is going down, which is more difficult; not a percentage shot in my opinion, especially for tall batsmen. That's why Root playing it so well is amazing.

Nagraj: True. But what Root had in his favour in the first two days of the first Test was the ball was not spinning on a flat surface, so unless the spinner was doing it in the air, which barring Ashwin to an extent, Nadeem couldn't. So Root just had to pick the right line, and sweep. The sweep to me has always been to take the rough out of the equation, so it is a weapon used judiciously.

Shiva: True. But those with dip are harder to sweep I feel. Length is very tough to judge.

Nagraj: Yes, definitely, especially on this pitch. Like the one Rohit tried in the 90s. He tried paddling, but that was premeditated.

Shiva: Take Jadeja for example - bowl arrows, doesn't get dip. He must be easier to sweep, as against Leach.

Nagraj: Yes, correct. You can verify that with numbers.

Shiva: Two wickets at 72.00 for Jadeja against batsman sweeping, according to ESPNcricinfo's ball-by-ball data; Leach has 10 at 27.40.

Nagraj: Rahane has played a few sweeps - how many compared to Rohit?

Shiva: Rahane: four sweeps, three singles today. Rohit has five fours and 24 runs from 12 sweep shots.

Nagraj: So while Rahane has used it to rotate strike, Rohit, at least early on, used it as an attacking shot. In fact, the way Kohli dealt with the drift from Moeen and the way Rohit swept or charged the spinners portrays when the batsman struggles and how he can be in command.

Shiva: You thought it drifted that much? Again, I feel that the spectacle of the dismissal and the quality of batsman is playing on our mind. Bess' was a better ball first Test. Dipped a whole lot more, whereas, Kohli would've hit the ball here if it hadn't spun that much.

Nagraj: Yes, but this was well flighted, outside off, and had drift, causing Kohli to move into play. But he messed it up as he is not usually a good player of spin from the crease, for me.

Shiva: Kohli doesn't like to leave the crease.

Nagraj: Yes, he is not confident. And that is because he has not played domestic cricket so much.

Shiva: Correct.

Nagraj: Which both Rohit and Rahane have and understand better what works. Hence Kohli never learned the sweep, does not come naturally and struggles to read spin.

2.58pm: Half-century for Rahane

Clipped through mid-on, hustle the one, and that's Ajinkya Rahane's half-century - a fine, fighting knock in tough conditions, after coming into the match with a few question marks over his batting. It's the first time he's reached 50 since that pivotal innings at the MCG in December, and only his second half-century in 15 Test innings going back to 2019. That over from Moeen demonstrated some of the difficulties he had had to negotiate, with one ball stopping as he flicked towards midwicket and another ripping back from a length past an attempted cut. But he has kept his composure, reset after every testing moment, and carried the fight for India.

2.35pm: Spotlight on Moeen

He arguably bowled the ball of the day (certainly if measured by its outcome) to dismiss Virat Kohli during the morning session, but it's been a bit of a mixed bag from Moeen Ali so far on his Test comeback. With Moeen beginning a new spell after tea from the Anna Pavilion End, as England search for a way of separating this India pair, here's George Dobell on how his day has gone:

You had to laugh when Moeen Ali started with a full-toss. Brought in to replace Dom Bess, who bowled a truckload of them in the first Test, Moeen's first ball continued an unwelcome trend among England's offspinners.

He settled in pretty quickly after that, though. He's certainly gaining some drift and dip, which means he's threatening both sides of the bat. And the ball which dismissed Virat, drawing him wide and turning sharply to beat the drive, was a thing of beauty. It wasn't just the batsman who couldn't believe what had happened: the umpire called for a review.

In a perfect world, he would have liked to string a few maidens together; a run rate of 4.66 an over in what may be a low scoring game is a worry. But while there have been an annoying couple of short balls in there, which have been cut away comfortably, the majority of that run rate is due to an outstanding innings from Rohit Sharma. The sweeps, the six over long-off… that's just good batting. You wonder if we've already seen the defining innings of this match.

So, in an ideal world, England would have liked their offspinner to provide more control. But when your offspinner hasn't played a first-class game for five-months… well, you probably have to be a bit realistic with your expectations. Decent start, I think.

2.10pm: Tea

India 189 for 3 (Rohit 132*, Rahane 36*) vs England
Rohit Sharma's unbeaten hundred led India towards a position of strength at tea on the first day in Chennai. After signs that the Chepauk track would deteriorate much more quickly than in the first Test, Rohit and Ajinkya Rahane played with composure, and a little luck, to take the hosts through a wicketless session and keep England at bay.

Having scored at more than a run a ball during the morning session, Rohit settled down - as did the pitch - to bring up his seventh Test hundred shortly after the midpoint of the day, from 130 balls. There were a couple of nervous moments against Moeen Ali in the 90s, but he eventually got to the landmark with a paddled sweep, a shot which was a feature of his innings, and continued to contribute more than two-third of India's runs.

Joe Root rotated his bowlers in search of a breakthrough but, with turn still on offer, only Leach came close to adding to the three wickets England claimed during the morning. He was able to unsettle Rohit on occasion and found Rahane's outside edge in the over before tea only for the ball to die in front of slip.

2pm: India take charge

Whether it's the pitch being brought heel by Rohit and Rahane, or the older, softer ball making life more comfortable, India are cruising towards the tea break. Having replaced Dom Bess in order to bring more experience and control to England's spin-bowling department, Moeen Ali has continued to struggle for consistency, despite a switch of ends, going at more than four-and-half an over. Rohit has used the sweep - a shot India barely played in the first Test - judiciously against him, scoring 49 off 51 balls faced, while Rahane has been largely content to work singles. Leach has continued to ask questions, but Rohit cut him for a couple to bring up the 100 stand with 10 minutes to go until tea.

1.40pm: Rohit's all-round game

Shiva Jayaraman writes: The likes of Virat Kohli, Babar Azam, David Warner and Kane Williamson have built a reputation of being all-format batsmen in the last few years. While Kohli and Azam rank among the ICC's top ten batsmen in all three formats, Warner and Williamson currently rank among the top ten in Tests and ODIs. Rohit Sharma ranks in the top ten in only ODIs. He ranks outside the top 20 in Tests and is 14th in T20Is.

However, he has numbers to back his claim to be counted amongst the elite all-format batsmen based on his recent performance. This is Sharma's 19th hundred in 106 innings in international cricket since 2018. No other batsman has hit more hundreds in that period and none of them has got multiple hundreds in all three formats like he has.

Sharma has made 19 hundreds in 106 innings in international cricket since 2018 (four Test centuries in 21 innings, 13 in 49 innings in ODIs and two in 36 T20I innings). In comparison Kohli has 18 hundreds in 120 international innings (no hundreds in T20Is), and Azam ten in 103 innings (no hundreds in T20Is) during this period. Warner is the only one among the four mentioned above to hit a century in all three formats like Sharma since 2018.

1.30pm: Pitch forks out?

The action has quietened down since lunch, but our experts were pretty damning after their first look at the surface for the second Test in Chennai.

Sanjay Manjrekar: "When you have the pitch exploding in the first of 25-30 minutes of the Test match, you've got to say that's a very, very poor pitch, it's substandard. If you want Test-standard performances then you've got to have Test-standard pitches as well. This is by no stretch of the imagination anywhere close to being a Test pitch."

Ian Bell: "I have some sympathy in terms of [limited preparation] but I agree you don't want to see the ball turning and bouncing like it has done so far. It doesn't look to me as if this could go five days, if the course of the action goes on the same in the next session and the ones to follow today. Let's see how both teams bat on it, but at the moment it doesn't look to be a great wicket."

1.20pm: Hundred up for Rohit

Rohit Sharma delights the Chennai crowd with an incredible !

He's scored 100 out of India's 147 so far https://t.co/nrcjLuMBkX #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/hiWYgWkHUC

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) February 13, 2021

This time the paddle sweep does the job, scooped over his left shoulder to bring up a high-class century from 130 balls. Nice to hear the applause of the crowd for that effort... and not for the first time today Rohit's wife is picked out by the TV cameras. He's scored more than two-thirds of India's runs so far (101 out of 148) and is right up there in Bannerman territory.

1.15pm: Rohit in the 90s

Having bedded down since the break, Rohit Sharma is within touching distance of a seventh Test hundred at drinks, having just played out a maiden over from Stuart Broad. A drilled six over long-off against Moeen Ali a couple of overs before had taken him to 97, but he then experienced a couple of nervy moments against England's offspinner: a skip down the track was dragged to the leg side, and then his attempt to paddle sweep saw the ball pop up off the toe of the bat, but land short of midwicket. In that hour, he has scored 18 off 51 balls, having had a strike rate above 100 during the morning.

12.50pm: Battle is met

Far more watchful from the India pair after 40 minutes of the afternoon session. Ajinkya Rahane stroked a couple of pristine boundaries off Olly Stone - one off the back foot, one leaning forwards - and Rohit has rolled out the sweep once again to Moeen, but there haven't been too many dramas. Leach has found a nice groove, and did entice Rohit into a forcing shot that went high and plugged out towards the cover boundary - since lunch, notes our stats man Shiva Jayaraman, Rohit has scored 3 off 20 balls (and two came from playing a false shot); before lunch, he had 18 off 32 from Leach, with three fours.

12.25pm: Surface tension

Sidharth Monga writes: Puffs of dust and the odd explosion off the surface, and it is natural we are talking about the pitch. While it is hazardous to judge a pitch until both teams have batted, it doesn't seem as extreme as Nagpur 2015-16. Might this be closer to Pune 2016-17? We will know soon.

It is worth noting that India haven't rolled out such a pitch since Pune. I have always believed such a pitch once or twice a season is great entertainment, so once in four years is hardly anything to complain about. It's interesting to see when India opt for such a surface. Pune was the ninth Test of the season for India. This is the sixth Test but add the IPL and the limited-overs leg of the Australia tour just before this. Add Ravindra Jadeja's absence. Add the defeat in the first Test.

So despite still holding a better spin attack, India have gone for what might seem a desperate gambit. The risk of playing on such a pitch is that you bring less-excellent bowlers into play because the pitch assists them unreasonably. While the toss is crucial on both the Chennai tracks we have seen, I suspect the Indian team believes it can - given its resources right now - overturn the toss disadvantage on this surface more than the one last week. Also winning the toss on that pitch doesn't rule out a draw, which India can ill afford given the WTC final scenarios.

Having said that, it doesn't take away from the importance of the toss on such a surface. It is not difficult to imagine India watching on nervously as Virat Kohli went for the toss. And after winning the toss, Rohit Sharma has played the perfect hand you need on such surfaces. Runs in the first innings are extremely crucial, and more so before it gets into the unplayable category. Rohit has been positive without being reckless, he has picked his areas, he has played the sweep (which is not the only way to play spin, but if you do it well, you annoy the bowlers a lot), and he has put the bowlers under pressure. He went at a healthy strike rate even before he got some loose balls from Moeen Ali.

Eighty off 78 in a score of 106 for 3 is an absolute gamechanger. If what has happened at the other end is any indicator of how the batting is likely to go, this might well be a match-winning innings.

12.15pm: Plenty to chew on

Back underway in Chennai, with Jack Leach resuming his little battle with Rohit Sharma. Why not catch up with what the Match Day boys had to say during lunch while we settle in again?

11.35am: Lunch

India 106 for 3 (Rohit 80*, Rahane 5*) vs England
A sparkling innings from Rohit Sharma held India together during a harum-scarum first session on day one of the second Test in Chennai. The India opener rattled off an unbeaten 80 from 78 balls, an innings full of aggressive intent on what appeared to be a dicey Chepauk surface, as England claimed three wickets - including that of Virat Kohli for a five-ball duck, bowled through the gate by Moeen Ali on the latter's comeback to Test cricket.

England, whose attack featured three changes from the one that bowled them to victory in the first Test, made a good start after losing the toss, with Olly Stone claiming a wicket with his third ball of the morning, Shubman Gill pinned lbw offering no shot. Rohit and Cheteshwar Pujara then played positively during an 85-run partnership at more than four an over, with the former latching on anytime England's bowlers missed their lengths. Rohit hooked Ben Stokes for six, twice swept Jack Leach for fours to bring up a 47-ball fifty and drilled another boundary to long-on to take India to 100 shortly before the break.

There were early signs of turn and the ball disturbing the surface, though, and it was Leach who broke the second-wicket stand when Pujara tamely steered to slip. That brought cheers from the crowd, with Chepauk back at 50% capacity for this game, as Kohli walked out to bat - but they were silenced a few moments later when Moeen tossed up an inviting delivery that ragged back inside Kohli's expansive drive to ping the off bail.

11.25am: Kohli moly

That Kohli wicket - and his reaction - has already got plenty of people talking, griping and gawping...

Art Artist pic.twitter.com/0gxquM3dxy

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) February 13, 2021

It was a very good ball from Moeen, but not as good as the one Vaughan bowled Tendulkar with. When Kohli watches the replay, he might not be happy with the stroke he played

— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) February 13, 2021

#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/fnyFyndDD9

— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) February 13, 2021

11.14am: ...and Moeen bowls Kohli!

Kohli is dumbfounded, but he's been knocked over for a fifth-ball duck by Moeen Ali! Silence at Chepauk, and Kohli needs convincing that he's been done through the gate by a big-turning offie, hanging around as the umpires check the replays (which quickly confirm that the ball crashed into the off bail). Huge blow, thought somewhat self-inflicted, as Kohli aimed a booming cover drive that turned sharply from wide of off stump. Moeen, celebrating his first wicket since getting Tim Paine at Edgbaston in 2019, was off immediately towards cover, arm raised in celebration. Only the fourth time Kohli has been bowled by a spinner in Tests.

Virat wants DRS for the bowled; aka Gatting's reaction had it existed in 1993 #INDvENG

— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) February 13, 2021

11.10am: Leach extracts Puj

Cheers around the ground, because England have taken their second wicket Virat Kohli is walking to the middle! Slightly strange shot from Pujara, dabbing late at a turning delivery in the channel outside off and steering it straight to slip. England get some succour after a tough hour or so.

11am: Mo show

Moeen Ali is back in England's Test team for the first time since the 2019 Ashes, and England will be hoping that he can bring the experience of his 60 caps to bear after replacing Dom Bess. His first ball was a full toss (the crime for which Dom Bess was dropped) and there have been one or two four balls, mixed in with some nicely flighted fare, in his opening spell so far. The India run rate is hovering around four an over, and England need to tighten up.

10.45am: Fifty for Rohit

Rohit Sharma needs just 47 deliveries to get to his fifty!https://t.co/nrcjLuMBkX #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/qVO6IbuX3p

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) February 13, 2021

Two Leach full tosses dispatched for hard-swept fours and Rohit Sharma has a 47-ball half-century for the Chepauk crowd to lap up. Virat Kohli said previously that his team know how to play in these conditions and Rohit is providing proof of that, making light of any encouragement for the bowlers by taking them on whenever an opportunity arises. Leach did get one to turn and bounce to take the glove when Rohit had 41, but it didn't quite carry to Stokes at slip. With spin at both ends, after the introduction of the returning Moeen Ali, this could be an entertaining passage of play.

10.30am: Polished Stone, Rohits the spot

Olly Stone has only played one first-class match since his Test debut in 2019, but his opening spell on his return to England whites could barely have gone better. Wicket from his third ball, Pujara hurried and hit, pace up to 150kph/92mph, figures of 4-2-8-1. He provided both wicket-taking threat and economy, even as Rohit was latching on to anything overpitched by Broad at the other end. England's opening pair stuck diligently to their lines and when Stone did finally deliver a short, wide ball that Rohit cut to the boundary in his fourth over, it was the first ball not pitching outside off or within the stumps, according to ESPNcricinfo's ball-by-ball data (41 outside off, 6 within the stumps). Rohit, meanwhile, has looked to be positive at every opportunity, hooking Ben Stokes for six and scoring 41 out of India's 48 for 1 after the first hour.

10.15am: Make your pitch

Early signs that this Chepauk deck is going to give a little more comfort to the bowlers, with puffs of dust and the ball stopping in the surface. Rohit, having stroked a couple of classy boundaries off Broad, saw one checked drive loop up and over mid-on, while Stone hit Cheteshwar Pujara on the hand with a well-directed short ball - more punches for Puj to absorb. Jack Leach then saw his first ball go through the top, and England lost a review in the same over after a leg-side lbw shout against Rohit. Plenty going on so far, and you can see whether that tallies with what our Match Day team were expecting before the start.

9.45am: Stone's perfect start

Much debate about England's policy of rotating their bowlers throughout this six-Test tour of the subcontinent, but a fresh new-ball pair of Stuart Broad and Olly Stone started right on the money. After Broad's maiden to Rohit Sharma, Stone then claimed his first Test wicket since July 2019 with his third ball of the morning, as Shubman Gill padded up to one that would have toppled off stump. An easy decision for the umpire, as our own Andrew Miller called it:

Stone dead #INDvENG

— Andrew Miller (@miller_cricket) February 13, 2021

9.30am: Let's play!

What a moment for @akshar2026

How will he fare on Test debut? #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/PwaYJLhYRV

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) February 13, 2021

Here's Axar Patel getting his cap on debut. He'll now be hoping to put his feet up and leave his bowling boots in the changing room for the rest of the day... Time to get going out at Chepauk, where the crowds are back and Rohit Sharma is facing up to Broad, headband in place, with the new ball. Three slips and a gully watching on.

9.20am: Rotation situation

England, of course, have made four changes to a winning team, partly due to injury but also because of preconceived plans about rest and rotation. Here's Stuart Broad, back in the side in place of James Anderson, on his preparation having sat out the last two Tests: "[It's gone] as well as can be expected, it's been nearly a month since I had any form of match practice, but you've got to get what you can get in nets but that's just part of the current situation we're in. We saw how well the India bowlers came out in Australia after not much match practice and we're in a similar boat today but we've had great facilities to train on, get the full run-up in the nets and I feel as ready as can be. It is quite hard to replicate match conditions in the nets, you just have to try and up your intensity as much as you can. That's where experience [comes in], I've played a lot of cricket, I can fall back on knowledge and feel calm at the crease knowing that I've been there before."

9am: India win the toss, make three changes

Plenty of changes for both teams from their first Test!

Who's going to win this one? https://t.co/nrcjLuMBkX #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/ubtNKd1RkT

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) February 13, 2021

Hello and welcome to Chennai II: Payback. That, at least, is the script Virat Kohli is working from - and having won the toss and chosen to bat, his side should get to dictate terms on what is expected to be a much livelier track. India have given a debut to Axar Patel, whose absence through injury last week had a knock-on effect for the rest of the XI. With Patel fit, they have recalled Kuldeep Yadav for the first time in two years, while Mohammed Siraj replaces Jasprit Bumrah, who is rested after bowling 42 overs in his first Test on home soil. England had named their XII on the eve of the match, with Stuart Broad, Ben Foakes and Moeen Ali all coming in. The final spot came down to Olly Stone's pace versus the experience (and batting) of Chris Woakes, with Stone getting the nod. He'll play his second Test, having debuted against Ireland at Lord's in 2019.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl v Pakistan

South Africa will chase for the second successive match in Lahore as they looked to break a five-match losing streak in T20Is and stay in the series. Unless they win today's match, South Africa will concede both trophies available on their trip to Pakistan and the hosts can claim victory in series across both formats played.

South Africa made three changes to the XI that lost by three runs on Thursday, and handed a debut to medium-pacer Glenton Stuurman, who had been considered for the home Tests against Sri Lanka. Talked up as being in the mould of Vernon Philander, Stuurman's ability to move the ball of the seam, and his accuracy, was preferred over Junior Dala, whose two overs cost 25 runs in the first match.

South Africa also added a batsman, Pite van Biljon, to the line-up at the expense of Bjorn Fortuin and replaced No.3 Jacques Snyman with allrounder Jon-Jon Smuts, who will offer left-arm spin. The addition will push David Miller down to No.6, although he could come in earlier if the situation demands.

Pakistan opted for an unchanged team and continued with their opening combination of Babar Azam and the centurion from the first match, Mohammed Rizwan. They stuck to two allrounders in Mohammed Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf with no room for Asif Ali just yet.

Pakistan: 1 Babar Azam (capt), 2 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 3 Haider Ali 4 Hussain Talat, 5 Iftikhar Ahmed 6 Khushdil Shah, 7 Mohammad Nawaz, 8 Faheem Ashraf, 9 Usman Qadir, 10 Shaheen Shah Afridi, 11 Haris Rauf

South Africa:: 1 Janneman Malan, 2 Reeza Hendricks, 3 Jon-Jon Smuts, 4 Pite van Biljon, 5 Heinrich Klaasen (capt &wk), 6 David Miller, 7 Dwaine Pretorius, 8 Andile Phehlukwayo, 9 Glenton Stuurman, 10 Lutho Sipamla 11 Tabraiz Shamsi

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

Rohit Sharma knew he needed to be proactive on the turning pitch rolled out for the second Test, and he prepared accordingly. Having been beaten in the first Test on a pitch that began to turn towards the end of the third day, India won the toss on one that turned from the first session and ended the day at 300 for 6 thanks largely to Sharma, who scored 161 of those runs.

"Look we knew about how the pitch was prepared," Sharma said at the end of the day's play. "We knew it was going to turn. So we had a good few training sessions before today. We trained according to what we were expecting in the middle. Basically using your feet much more, making sure you sweep the ball, and those kind of things.

"When you play on turning pitches, you have got to be proactive. You can't be reactive. So getting on top of the bowler. Making sure you are ahead of him was very very crucial. So little adjustments based on that. And understanding if it is turning, how much it is turning, whether it is bouncing, whether it is keeping low. Those were the things I was thinking about before making any shot-making decisions. Mentally before the game I was prepared for what I was facing once I get in. The preparation really helped in terms of getting out there and playing the shot I want to play."

He elaborated why he chose to play the sweep liberally, a shot he played only four times against Nathan Lyon in Australia.

"It was important to be proactive on a pitch like that when you know the ball is going to turn and the odd ball is going to keep low or it is going to bounce extra," Rohit said. "Making sure that, before it is too late, you start doing what you want to do. And be clear in your mind. You can't be tentative. You can't have two thoughts. If you want to sweep, you sweep it. If you want to use your feet and play with the turn, you should be able to do that as well.

"What helped me is the preparation I had before the game. All I was trying to do is using the feet, playing with the turn, making sure I sweep the ball, understanding the line they are bowling. Moeen Ali especially, who was trying to bowl in the rough. There is little chance you get lbw [if you sweep from there]. Because I saw the fielder deep square leg was also back. Even if I top-edged it, it was going to land in a safe place. Those were the ideas and thoughts behind the plan I had today.

"Jack Leach was bowling stump to stump so it was important for me to use my feet, play with the turn, not with a straight bat facing towards him, but with the turn, slightly angled, making sure I pushed the ball between covers and point. And rotating the strike was also important, which I think we did really well."

In fact, Sharma suggested to Ajinkya Rahane that he too play the sweep to counter the extravagant turn from outside off.

"When we were playing the qucks, Ajju told me to stand outside the crease," Sharma said. "I also told him it is a good option to sweep because he had played a couple of balls in the air towards short midwicket. It is a percentage shot on this pitch with the bowler bowling wide outside off."

There was a time when despite winning the toss India were in the danger of handing the advantage over, but from 86 for 3, Sharma and the under-fire Rahane added 162 for the fourth wicket to take India to what Sharma believes is an imposing total.

"Ajinkya is one of our top players," Sharma said. "He has done extremely well. Played some crucial knocks. He has proved his worth time and again when the team has needed him. Even today our partnership was crucial. We had lost three wickets before lunch. When he came out to bat, it was a crucial time. We had to build a partnership.

"We have seen often that when the team needs runs, he has shown his batsmanship and scored difficult runs. I don't understand why there is debate around him. Anyway, the knock was important for the team as was our partnership. We have brought the team into a comfortable position: 350 on this wicket will be a very good score. We still have four wickets in hand. We hope we get more from Pant and Axar. We know this pitch will take a lot of turn from second day onwards. There are a lot of rough patches too."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jacksonville Jaguars director of sports performance Chris Doyle, the former strength coach at the University of Iowa who was accused of making racist remarks and belittling and bullying players while there, resigned late Friday night just hours after the organization was criticized for the hire by the Fritz Pollard Alliance.

Jaguars coach Urban Meyer and general manager Trent Baalke released a statement that said the team failed to properly consider the impact of hiring Doyle, who had reached a separation agreement from Iowa in June as a result of allegations made by multiple Black players.

"Chris Doyle came to us this evening to submit his resignation and we have accepted," the statement read. "Chris did not want to be a distraction to what we are building in Jacksonville. We are responsible for all aspects of our program and, in retrospect, should have given greater consideration to how his appointment may have affected all involved. We wish him the best as he moves forward in his career."

The move came hours after Fritz Pollard Alliance executive director Rod Graves blasted the Jaguars and Meyer for hiring Doyle.

"At a time when the NFL has failed to solve its problem with racial hiring practices, it is simply unacceptable to welcome Chris Doyle into the ranks of NFL coaches," Graves' statement read. "Doyle's departure from the University of Iowa reflected a tenure riddled with poor judgment and mistreatment of Black players. His conduct should be as disqualifying for the NFL as it was for University of Iowa.

"Urban Meyer's statement, 'I've known Chris for close to 20 years' reflects the good ol' boy network that is precisely the reason there is such a disparity in employment opportunities for Black coaches."

The Fritz Pollard Alliance is an organization devoted to championing diversity in the NFL. It is comprised of scouts, coaches and front-office personnel in the NFL as well as other sports professionals.

Doyle's hiring drew immediate backlash on Thursday, when the team announced the move as part of Meyer's complete coaching staff.

A number of the allegations came from Black players and concerned the way Doyle treated them and his use of racist language. Meyer said on Thursday he researched Doyle, had some intense conversations with him and was confident that there would not be problems in the future.

"I vet everyone on our staff, and like I said the relationship goes back close to 20 years and a lot of hard questions asked, a lot of vetting involved with all our staff," Meyer said. "We did a very good job vetting that one.

"... I met with our staff and I'm going to be very transparent with all the players like I am with everything. I'll listen closely and learn and also there's going to have to be some trust in their head coach that we're going to give them the very best of the best and time will tell. ... The allegations that took place, I will say [to the players] I vetted him. I know the person for close to 20 years and I can assure them there will be nothing of any sort in the Jaguar facility."

Some of the issues raised by the numerous former Iowa players who spoke out on social media last year were: Black and white players were held to different standards, Black players were mistreated, Doyle and other assistants made racist remarks, and Black players felt they had to conform to specific ways of dress and behavior. Their complaints sparked the university to hire a Kansas City law firm to conduct an external investigation into the football program.

The issues were not strictly related to race.

Former Iowa offensive lineman Jack Kallenberger said last June on Twitter that he retired from football in January 2019 after he became despondent because of what he described as bullying related to a learning disability. Doyle was among the coaches he named who harassed him.

The university placed Doyle on administrative leave on June 6 in the wake of those allegations. One day later Doyle defended himself in a statement posted to Twitter that read, in part: "At no time have I ever crossed the line of unethical behavior or bias based upon race. I do not make racist comments and I don't tolerate people who do."

On June 14, it was announced that Doyle, who had been with the program since 1999, was out at Iowa. Doyle, who was the nation's highest-paid strength coach at $800,000 annually, received 15 months' salary (roughly $1.1 million), and he and his family were awarded benefits from Iowa for 15 months, or until he found employment elsewhere, which he did this month with the Jaguars.

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo certainly didn't enjoy suffering a 129-115 road loss to the Utah Jazz at Vivint Arena on Friday night, but he couldn't help but admire how "simple" the game looked to them.

More important, the Jazz earned his respect: Antetokounmpo said they're the "best team in the West."

Antetokounmpo, the reigning NBA MVP, finished with 29 points, 15 rebounds and six assists, after being held to two first-half points -- his fewest in any half this season.

And after witnessing the Jazz have four 25-point scorers for the first time in franchise history, Antetokounmpo felt a personal connection to what was happening before his eyes.

Inside the Golden State Warriors' practice facility in Oakland, California, Kevin Durant sat at the podium and responded to the first question of the 2018-19 season: How would he handle all the attention focused on his looming free agency that coming offseason?

"Wake up in the morning, come to practice and go home," Durant said.

The tenor of the defending champions' final season in the Bay Area was set.

Durant didn't want the focus to be on his impending decision -- yet his deal that included a player option in 2019-2020 made it difficult to avoid speculation. It was speculation that the other Warriors stars quashed: Stephen Curry signed a $201 million, five-year max extension in 2017, and Draymond Green was in the midst of a five-year, $85 million extension. And while Klay Thompson was also set to become a free agent at season's end, there was never a question about whether he'd leave.

"It's one of those things where you're just confident in your skills and you just kind of want to take it year by year," Durant said then. "And I think to keep my options up, it was the best thing for me. ...

"This whole year is going to be a fun, exciting year for us all, and I'm looking forward to just focusing on that, and we'll see what happens after the year."

As hard as Durant and the Warriors tried to keep the focus on what they were doing on the floor, the uncertainty surrounding his free-agency decision hovered over everything the organization did in that final season -- all through the regular season, all through the postseason and, ultimately, through the unraveling in the Finals as both Durant and Thompson fell to injuries.

Now a member of the Brooklyn Nets, Durant is set to face the Warriors for the first time at Chase Center (8:30 p.m. ET on ABC) in San Francisco. Here is a look back at the final year of his Warriors tenure and the fraying of the Golden State dynasty -- through the words of Durant and the Warriors.

Nov. 9, 2018: Durant tours the future site of Chase Center

Durant: "My imagination is going wild right now with possibilities."

• The organization tried hard for the tour not to come across as a recruiting pitch, but it quickly became clear which way all the attention was going during a walk through the unfinished arena that was originally organized for media and team sponsors. After some of the construction workers told him that he was the first player to tour the premises, Durant, who attended the building's original groundbreaking in 2017, walked around and asked a few questions as the tour progressed. He chuckled when a reporter asked if he wanted to commit to the Warriors on the spot. "What are we doing?" Durant asked, as Warriors staffers tried to move things along.

• At the beginning of the 2018-19 season, the Warriors held out hope that Durant would re-sign after the season. Many inside the organization felt as long as the Warriors secured a third straight title, there'd be little reason the superstar wouldn't want to transition into the state-of-the-art, $1.4 billion arena in San Francisco.

• As he left the site, a Warriors official had Durant sign the construction boots specially ordered for him to wear that day. Stephen Collins, then the head of Chase Center's construction, proudly carried the boots away. The Warriors were hoping to eventually display them once the new building opened and Durant signed a new deal. Now the boots are a reminder of what might have been. Officials know the boots made it to Chase Center, but no one knows exactly where they landed after the move.

• At that point in the season, the Warriors were continuing the dominance that defined Durant's tenure. The group won 10 of its first 11 games, including an Oct. 29 blowout over the Chicago Bulls during which Thompson set an NBA record with 14 3-pointers, breaking Curry's previous mark of 13 set in Durant's first season with Golden State. "It's only fitting that those two hold the records," Durant said.

Nov. 12, 2018: Durant and Green have words at Staples Center

Shaun Livingston: "Guys wanted a different outcome than what happened. Obviously, Dray had the turnover; guys might have thought they were open or wanted the basketball, didn't get it. Things happen like that in sports. But it was good to see some fire, some emotion."

Green, via Uninterrupted on April 20, 2020: "[Durant's contract] was kind of the elephant in the room, and although [coach] Steve [Kerr] would kind of hit on it, [saying], 'Let's just enjoy this year for what it is because we don't know what next year holds,' it didn't necessarily carry the same weight because what should have happened was Kevin come out and say, 'Hey, man, this is it, so let's do this,' or, 'This isn't it.'"

• With Stephen Curry home nursing a groin injury, the Warriors traveled to face the LA Clippers in a game that framed the rest of Golden State's season. With the game tied and just a few seconds left in regulation, Green caught a pass and raced up the floor. Durant trailed, clapping at Green to pass him the ball. An ensuing turnover by Green led to a shouting match between the teammates on the bench shortly after. The Warriors lost in overtime, and the argument spilled into the locker room. Neither Durant nor Green addressed the media postgame.

• Details emerged that several of Green's teammates challenged his late-game decision-making and that Green verbally pushed back in an expletive-filled tirade, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and The Undefeated's Marc J. Spears. According to sources, Green also questioned Durant's loyalty with his free agency on the horizon. The Warriors suspended Green one game for conduct detrimental to the team.

Kerr, on Nov. 13, 2018: "Nobody ever talks about Kevin's free agency. It doesn't bother any of us. This is the NBA. There's guys either under contract, they're upcoming free agents. It's the business. We're focused on this year."

• The day after the locker room fireworks, Kerr tried to push the narrative that Durant's decision wasn't weighing on the organization. The reality was that the uncomfortable back-and-forth between Green and Durant at Staples only exacerbated everything.

• While Green's words warranted a suspension from the organization's perspective, sources said that the general feeling was that the final play in regulation against the Clippers was a tipping point for all the tension centering around Durant and his future.

• The Warriors went into an immediate tailspin, losing four straight games for the first time in the Kerr era. When asked where the relationship with Green stood following his return game on Nov. 15, Durant responded, "Don't ask me about that again."

Feb. 5, 2019: Durant rips the media

Durant: "I have nothing to do with the Knicks. I don't know who traded [Kristaps] Porzingis. They got nothing to do with me. I'm trying to play basketball. Y'all come in here every day, ask me about free agency, ask my teammates, my coaches. You rile up the fans about it. Let us play basketball. That's all I'm saying. And now when I don't wanna talk to y'all, it's a problem with me. I just don't trust none of y'all. Every time I say something, it's getting twisted up and thrown out and in so many different publications, trying to tear me down with my words that I say. So when I don't say nothing, it's a problem. I just wanna play ball. I wanna go to the gym and go home. That's all. Is that a problem? All right then."

Kerr, Feb. 8, 2019: "We're all actors in a soap opera. We really are. So we have to deal with that part of it. And also understand that that's a big part of the revenue stream. The intense interest and passion that fans have for who's going where, what team's doing what. It'd be nice if everyone could just pay attention to pick-and-roll coverage, but gossip is more interesting sometimes."

• The iciness between Green and Durant thawed as evidenced by a more congenial relationship on and off the floor, but the tension that appeared to be simmering around Durant ramped back up after he declined to speak to beat reporters for over a week.

• Eventually, Durant chastised coverage of his impending free agency, pointing to a story speculating his move to New York at season's end. One week prior, the New York Knicks traded star big man Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks, giving the Knicks enough salary-cap space to sign two max free agents that summer.

• Privately, there was a subtle shift inside the organization, according to sources, from hoping that he might decide to stay to trying to enjoy one last ride together.

Andre Iguodala, April 4, 2019: "It's something all the time. And especially with how there's a microscope on [us], it's always something. So I wouldn't say this year is anymore than last year. All it is is just chatter. It's more chatter about the future. And I think we've done a good job of not letting it seep inside."

• The focus that had defined much of the Warriors' past two seasons was showing cracks: an uncharacteristic 33-point defeat at home to the Boston Celtics, a 35-point loss to the Mavericks in March. One particular loss to the Phoenix Suns, who to that point had not defeated a Western Conference team on the road, made Thompson so frustrated that he called out Oracle Arena fans for not showing up with more energy.

• The Warriors went 57-25 -- their worst record in the Kerr era to that point -- and headed into the postseason as the Western Conference's No. 1 seed, still emboldened by the belief that despite the slog of the season, they could still turn it on when it mattered.

June 10, 2019: KD tears his Achilles in the NBA Finals

Kerr: "There's going to be finger-pointing, and we understand that. And we accept that. This is kind of what you sign up for when you get into coaching, general management in the NBA. There's all kinds of coverage, judgment, criticism, and it's all part of it, so we accept that. The main thing is our concern for Kevin and these last couple of days just checking on him. Obviously, everybody feels horrible for what happened."

General manager Bob Myers: "[Durant is] one of the most misunderstood people. He's a good teammate, he's a good person. It's not fair."

• Durant missed over a month after injuring a calf in Game 5 of the 2019 Western Conference semifinals against the Houston Rockets, but the Warriors managed to hold on without him in six games, which included an epic 33-point second-half Game 6 performance from Curry to seal the win. The Warriors joyously celebrated in the visitors' locker room as Durant, who was away from the team rehabbing, posted a picture on Instagram commemorating the win. A four-game sweep of Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers followed as the Warriors became the first team to go to five straight Finals since the Boston Celtics went to 10 from 1957 to 1966.

• Much of the chatter centering around whether Durant should return in the NBA Finals if he wasn't fully healthy. With Golden State trailing the Toronto Raptors 3-1, the Warriors' medical staff and Durant's inner circle signed off on him playing in Game 5. He looked unencumbered by injury, pouring in 11 points in 12 minutes. But with 9 minutes, 51 seconds left in the second quarter, Durant fell to the ground clutching the same right calf. The Warriors completed a last-second comeback to force Game 6, but the locker room was eerily quiet after the game. Myers tried to hold back tears at the podium and players dressed quietly in front of their lockers. Three days later, Thompson tore his ACL and the Raptors took Game 6 and the title.

June 30, 2019 KD signs with Nets

Owner Joe Lacob: "Today, as he starts a new chapter in his incredible career, we thank KD for all of his contributions, for being an integral part to one of the most prolific runs in NBA history and wish him well as he continues his Hall of Fame journey. As long as I am Co-Chairman of this team, no player will ever wear #35 for the Warriors again."

Durant, on ESPN's First Take on Oct. 31, 2019: "I felt like a lot of stuff in Golden State had reared its head. I felt like it was going to be the end no matter what, especially for that group. Shaun Livingston was retiring. Andre Iguodala was getting older. Our contracts were going to start for the team and put us in a hole to get other players. It was time for all of us to separate."

• Durant signed with the Nets on the first night of free agency. His decision forced Myers, who had flown to New York in a last-ditch attempt to convince Durant to stay, to quickly change course. The Warriors worked out a sign-and-trade with Brooklyn that sent D'Angelo Russell to the Bay Area in hopes that he could form a new dynamic backcourt with Curry as Thompson recovered. To make room for Russell's max deal, Iguodala was sent to the Memphis Grizzlies in a corresponding move. Livingston retired. So did veteran center Andrew Bogut, who had been added just before the playoffs. As the Warriors got set to finally open Chase Center, they did so with an entirely different team taking shape behind Curry and Green.

Kerr, on Sept. 30, 2019: "We want to maintain the culture that we've built, but we want to make sure our players are put in the best position to succeed. And the last four years we pretty much knew exactly what that meant. We don't really know what it means this year. So that's why we have a lot of work ahead, but it's exciting, I'm looking forward to it.

• The excitement Kerr displayed on Warriors media day faded quickly. Curry broke his left hand in the fourth game of the year. Now, on both coasts, Curry, Thompson and Durant were all rehabbing serious injuries.

KD, Warriors share insight on the end of an era:

Durant, via the Wall Street Journal on Sept. 10, 2019: "As time went on, I started to realize I'm just different from the rest of the guys. It's not a bad thing. Just my circumstances and how I came up in the league. And on top of that, the media always looked at it like KD and the Warriors. So it's like nobody could get a full acceptance of me there. ... I came in there wanting to be part of a group, wanting to be part of a family, and definitely felt accepted. But I'll never be one of those guys."

Kerr, via All the Smoke on Oct. 15, 2020: "We all had a sense that Kevin was probably looking to move on and take on a new challenge. ... You helped bring us two championships and almost another one. And you brought an incredible amount of joy to Oracle every night, and our fans got to watch one of the best basketball teams on earth. My feeling was, 'Thank you and good luck and get healthy.'"

• This was a transition point for both Durant and the Warriors. Curry played just one game before the rest of the 2019-20 season was suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Durant, who was still rehabbing the 2019 Finals Achilles injury that forced him to miss the entire 2019-20 season, was one of the first NBA players to disclose that he tested positive for the virus.

• Prior to the 2020 trade deadline, the Warriors sent Russell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for a package that included Andrew Wiggins and a lightly protected future first-round pick. Thanks to a league-worst 15-50 record, the Warriors landed the second pick in the 2020 draft, selecting Memphis big man James Wiseman. The excitement surrounding Wiseman's arrival was tempered -- just a few hours before the pick was made, Thompson tore an Achilles in a pickup game in Los Angeles and was ruled out for the entire 2020-21 season.

Dec. 22, 2020: Durant returns to the court; Nets host Warriors on opening night

Kerr: "I didn't know what to expect given that it's been really a year and a half since his last game. But I could not tell one difference between seeing him 18 months ago and seeing him the other night."

Durant, on Dec. 21, 2020: "I don't need this game or for me to play well or win this game to feel like I have closure on that situation. If winning a basketball game is gonna give me closure for three years, then I really didn't have a good time there, I guess."

• When asked what it was like to face Durant again as an opponent, after having three years with him as a teammate, Curry offered a terse response: "Awful." Durant and the Nets steamrollered the Warriors by 26 points, and Durant easily dropped 25 points in his first game in a year and a half. Before the game, Durant shared a few warm words with Curry.

Kerr, on Feb 8: "When we played Brooklyn on opening night, I talked to Klay a few days later. We talked about how great Kevin looked and how inspiring that was. And Klay noticed, and he definitely feels good about watching Kevin and his performance and how well he's playing and how good he looks physically."

• Five days before the Warriors host Durant and the Nets, Kerr was asked if Thompson is using Durant's strong recovery from his own Achilles injury as motivation that he can still return to an All-Star level. Durant's reemergence as one of the game's elite players made the Warriors happy on two fronts: proud to see him have success in his own career and hopeful that Thompson would follow in a similar path back to stardom.

• Both the Warriors and Nets go into Saturday's game in the midst of up-and-down starts. Curry has quickly regained his old form, averaging 30.0 points per game on 42.9% shooting from beyond the arc, but he hasn't gotten the consistent help from his supporting cast the way he did when Thompson was healthy and Durant was still a teammate. The Nets are in the midst of their own roller-coaster season, trying to find a rhythm -- most notably on defense -- after acquiring former Rockets star James Harden in a Jan. 13 blockbuster. Durant enters the game averaging 29.5 points but missed time because of the league's health and safety protocols. And Kyrie Irving has played well but missed a two-week stretch in the middle of January for personal reasons. Both teams still have high-powered talent, but each team has shown its flaws over the first two months of the season.

New York Mets reliever Seth Lugo will have surgery Tuesday to remove a bone spur in his right elbow and will be shut down for at least six weeks, the team announced Saturday.

The team said a bone spur had broken off in his elbow, causing inflammation. The Mets determined Lugo would have the procedure at HSS Florida after an MRI revealed the problem.

Lugo, who was 3-4 with a 5.15 ERA in 16 appearances last season, will not throw for six weeks before being re-evaluated and starting a throwing program.