Gerard Pique and Antoine Griezmann's frustration boiled over into an on-pitch argument as Barcelona were beaten 4-1 by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Pique, making his first appearance since injuring his knee ligaments in November, screamed at his teammates to "keep the f------ ball longer" as they prepared to defend a corner. Griezmann responded by telling him to calm down.

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"F------ hell, Grizi," Pique shot back. "No. M-----------. We're suffering. We've been [pinned] back for five minutes. F------ hell, we're running like crazy."

Griezmann replied: "Don't shout at me, m-----------! I am suffering as well and I am running like crazy."

In this chat conducted by bcci.tv immediately after India's series-levelling victory in the second Test against England in Chennai, Virat Kohli tells R Ashwin that he has seen a kind of metamorphosis in his lead spinner.

According to Kohli Ashwin, who is closing in fast on 400 Test wickets, has naturally been strike bowler, not just at home but also during India's triumph in Australia recently. Ashwin explains to Kohli what has helped him reach a "balance" state of mind where he is not desperate.

Virat Kohli: I know you've done very well in Test cricket and you take a lot of pride in doing well for the team. This collective performance, which you've been working very hard for, coming in front of your home fans and your family as well, how does it feel?

R Ashwin: For the first time in my career, I feel blank. When I went out to bat [on Tuesday] as well [in the second innings of the second Test], I was blank when I came and asked you "can I start sweeping?", "can I reverse sweep?". So that's exactly how I feel: zero feelings or emotions inside. Very rarely I find myself in such situations.

"One thing I've noticed from a distance, and when I see people who do well through the year is how balanced they are in terms of not wanting to be desperate."

R Ashwin on his success formula

You know me very well, my mind is always ticking, but for a change it's really, really blank. And out there, especially being 1-0 down, what I did was something incredible. Yes, I had things go my way, but that partnership (96 runs for the seventh wicket) between us set the tone and I'm really pleased for that.

Kohli: Before you came to Australia, I saw a different body language, different mindset. What did you change about your approach towards the game which changed the way you approached situations on the field, and which is making a massive difference, not just in India but in Australia as well. Guys [Australians] were really very nervous to take you on. To be very honest, that body language I've seen away from home from you after a very long time. So I wanted to know at this stage of your career, what did you do and how did you manage to do it?

Ashwin: The whole pandemic, where we shut off and locked ourselves down, it made me think "what is going to happen?". For me, if you take the game away, I'm literally lost. Even if I'm not playing some formats of the game for the country, I'm putting the TV on, watching some preview, what's happening, what's not happening….I'm that sort of a person. Suddenly, the game's not happening and we're all sitting at home, so I was reflecting upon myself and trying to understand how I can learn from people, what people were perceiving of me.

That perception really made sure that I was playing a game that is completely different to who I was. In the past when I toured [overseas], there was more of a desperation trying to prove others wrong. But this time when I went out there, it was more about proving to myself what I'm capable of. One thing I've noticed from a distance, and when I see people who do well through the year is how balanced they are in terms of not wanting to be desperate. Jinks, yourself when you came back to England the second time and wanted to do well, but really within yourself, within your crease, within your space, which is something I wanted to embrace.

Kohli: We had a special partnership. The game was tentatively poised. Ash came out and changed the whole momentum of the game. That partnerships was special I want you to touch upon our partnership?

Ashwin: This didn't happen today. It happened at Blacktown (Sydney, during the first practice match). We were practising, and I was looking on how to take the short ball. I was a trying to set a base, trying to pull, trying to give myself options when you came up to me and said, "Ash, your big strength is to watch the ball and hit it, and play your natural game."

After that, when I went into the Adelaide day-night game, I sort of hit a few balls off the middle and something started to click. I said [to myself], 'I've been too worried about technically getting things right. I'm just going to watch the ball and give myself space and also time, that extra bit of time to react to what's in front of me.

For me that had been missing in the whole puzzle of wanting to be excellent. Even this game, I'm sure you've been noticing, about how we wanted to sweep, try and be a little proactive. So (when) I walked out there (second innings) the first question I asked you was: "I want to try and sweep, what do you think?" And you just said "just go ahead". For instance, if you had told me "thoda time lele, dekh le (take some time)," then things might have been different, because for me the right trigger has always helped. That's what I have noticed in the last year or so.

Kane Richardson believes the Power Surge fielding restrictions, which were introduced in the BBL this season, could have a place at the T20I level, but from a selfish point of view will be happy if that moment waits until he retires.

The Surge regulations modified the traditional six-over powerplay into a two-over block that could be taken by the batting side any time from the 11th over onwards, leaving just four at the beginning of the innings. It was generally viewed as the most successful of the three innovations tried in the BBL and did bring a new dynamic with innings both losing and gaining momentum in the two overs.

Richardson was the third-most expensive bowler in the Surge (bowlers who operated during it in at least five innings), going at 12.11 - 109 runs off 54 balls - and picked up just two wickets, and admitted he enjoyed it more as a spectator, but could see the value it brought to the game.

"It's a good discussion. I enjoyed watching it as a fan," he said. "There was games I didn't particularly enjoy bowling in it, but as a fan it made games interesting where you thought the game was decided, especially in the second innings then teams would catch up.

"Think Trent [Woodhill] and the BBL did a really good job with that, whether or not it goes to international cricket I'm not sure. It probably has a place to be fair, I think it was successful this year and guys who found a niche in the team in the middle-order, who can play that role really well and vice-versa with the ball, were almost first picks.

"It's interesting, it's tactical, it's good to watch, so there's nothing but positives for that. But as a bowler, if we could probably steer clear of it at international and IPL level until I'm maybe too old to be playing I'll happily sit back in my old rocking chair and watch."

Richardson won't have to concern himself with the Surge over the next few weeks in New Zealand where he will be one of the more experienced members of an Australia attack without some key names, who were due to be in South Africa for the now-postponed Test series.

Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins are certain starters in Australia's first-choice T20I side with Josh Hazlewood also in the mix, while Sean Abbott would be another option and Richardson believes there are others outside of the two squads who would be worthy of selection.

"You look at a pool of ten or so bowlers, it does seem like there is a big group of players who could play in that World Cup," he said. "There's guys back home who could easily have been picked in this team - Wes Agar had a great Big Bash, Nathan Ellis was impressive again - so there's almost a group of 20 bowlers to pick from.

"It's great for Australian cricket because in T20 cricket if you have a good bowling attack you are a very good chance of winning. Even yesterday at training, bowling alongside some of these guys, we all do it a bit differently, there's a separate indemnity to each person so it's great to be around. If I was an Australian selector I'd be pretty excited about what lies ahead."

Richardson missed the tail-end of the BBL with the Melbourne Renegades because of a quad injury but is now fully recovered. He did not face India in the white-ball matches during the summer having opted to stay at home with his new-born son.

Umesh Yadav has been drafted into India's Test squad for the Ahmedabad leg of the England series, replacing Shardul Thakur, who has been released to play for Mumbai in the domestic 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy. Yadav, who will undergo a fitness assessment at the NCA before linking up with the Virat Kohli-led squad, is returning to competitive cricket after recovering from the calf injury he picked up during the Boxing Day Test against Australia.

If cleared, Yadav will join the fast-bowling group comprising Ishant Sharma, who is one short of 100 Test appearances, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.

Meanwhile, Shubman Gill's presence in the squad might serve as an indication that the forearm injury that didn't allow him to take the field on the fourth day of the second Test isn't too serious. As such, India have a stand-by in the form of Mayank Agarwal, who is the third opener. And KL Rahul, who was drafted in for the second Test as a batting reserve, has retained his place.

Two members in India's squad - Bumrah and Axar Patel - could potentially feature in front of their home supporters at the revamped Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera. A third Gujarat cricketer, Priyank Panchal, who was part of the reserves, has been released to play in the domestic 50-over competition alongside fellow opener Abhimanyu Easwaran, left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem and Thakur. Quicks Sandeep Warrier, Avesh Khan and Ankit Rajpoot, and spin twins K Gowtham and Saurabh Kumar now complete the net-bowlers' contingent, while wicketkeeper KS Bharat and legspinner Rahul Chahar are stand-bys.

Hardik Pandya, who hasn't played Tests since September 2018, is slowly progressing to bowling at full tilt after recovering from a shoulder surgery, which has forced him play much of his cricket in recent times as a specialist batsman.

The four-Test series is currently tied at 1-1 after two games, both in Chennai. England won the first Test by 227 runs, and India bounced back to win the second by 317 runs.

The result of the next two Tests are of great significance not just for the ongoing series, but the race to take on New Zealand in the final of the inaugural World Test Championship at Lord's in June. Both the teams are trying to get past Australia's points percentage of 69.17. India need to win the series, by any margin, so a win and a draw (or two wins) serve them fine. The loss in the second Test, meanwhile, has hurt England, because they can only make the final if they won both the remaining Tests. Australia are in with a shot too - they would be hoping England don't win both the remaining Tests; a 1-1 or 2-2 draw or a 2-1 England win work great for them.

The third Test of the ongoing series, a pink-ball affair, will start on February 24, and the final one on March 4.

There has been a sense of excitement and buzz among the New Zealand public around Kyle Jamieson's potential IPL call-up after he headlined the international home summer both with ball and bat. The 6'8" quick made his T20I debut against West Indies in November 2020 and proceeded to bag 27 wickets in four Tests at a sensational average of 12.25 to go with 131 runs at a batting average of 66.50.

Gary Stead, the current New Zealand head coach who has overseen Jamieson's rise from Canterbury, reckoned last month that Jamieson will be on the radar of the New Zealand coaches in the IPL.

A day before the IPL 2021 auction, however, Jamieson played down the hype after returning to the New Zealand nets at the Bay Oval in the lead-up to the five-T20I series against Australia, which will kick off on February 22.

"To be fair, I haven't paid too much attention to it and for me I've been focused on what I can control here and I think things will pan out the way they are going to tomorrow night - whether that means I get picked up and go great and if not there's still a lot of cricket to be played across the winter," Jamieson said. "I try not to pay too much attention. Things like that tend to take care of themselves."

Jamieson hasn't played competitive cricket in India previously, but he's looking forward to picking up new tricks and becoming a well-rounded bowler if he gets an IPL gig.

"That experience, if it comes, I'm not sure what's going to happen, but it's certainly a different experience and a lot of new learnings to come from," he said. "The probably most exciting thing is that when you get to play in these different environments, there's a lot of learning and ways to upskill and try to add strings to your bow."

While allrounder Jimmy Neesham, who is also in the auction after being released by the Punjab franchise, said that his New Zealand team-mates are "really excited" for Jamieson, he won't be up in the night to watch the auction unfold.

"I think I won't be watching and a couple of young guys who are in the auction for the first couple times will probably watch - these are things that you can't really control," Neesham said. "So, I'll wake up in the morning - what is it Friday morning our time? - and will see what has happened. The focus currently is certainly on playing as well as I can for New Zealand - that's sort of down the track a little bit."

Devon Conway, who won the Super Smash title with Neesham on Saturday, isn't too fussed about the auction either.

"It was a wild shot, really, my agent thought it was a good idea to get my name in the conversations," Conway had said after winning the domestic T20 title last week. "You know, I think, my understanding is that it's a small auction and for me to get into the sort of first little cut to where I am around is pretty awesome. But, I'm not really thinking too far ahead. If it happens, it happens, if it doesn't it's just pretty cool to go through the process of applying and putting your name in the hat."

Finn Allen, Conway's opening partner at Wellington Firebirds, is part of the IPL shortlist as well, having dominated the Super Smash with his down-the-track biffs and audacious switch-hits, including one off New Zealand's premier spinner Mitchell Santner. Allen emerged as the top scorer in this season's Super Smash with 512 runs in 11 innings at an average of 56.88 and strike rate of 193.93. The golden run vaulted him into the T20I squad, although only as cover for Martin Guptill who is nursing a hamstring injury. Has Allen done enough to force his way into the IPL as well?

"For me, there are no expectations," Allen had told ESPNcricinfo a day out of the Super Smash final. "It's kind of always been that way for me - I'm just going out there and enjoying what I am doing. Just trying to win the title for Wellington, and if more than that comes out of it, it would be awesome. Obviously going to the IPL would be pretty amazing - that's almost my dream for a long time now, so yeah hopefully get lucky and get picked up. But, obviously no expectations, and if it doesn't happen, there's always the future."

Joe Root has apologised to Moeen Ali for comments made in a press conference following England's defeat in the second Test against India.

Root, the England captain, appeared to suggest Moeen had unilaterally decided to leave the tour with two Tests of the series remaining.

"Moeen has chosen to go home," Root said at the time. "It's obviously been a very tricky tour for him. As mentioned at the start, if players feel like they need to get out of the bubble, then that's been an option. With Moeen it wasn't more asking if he wanted to stay, it was a decision he had chosen."

In truth, Moeen's break from the tour had been arranged by the selectors several weeks previously and was consistent with the team management's policy of giving all their all-format players a break from the bio-bubble at some stage on the trip. Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow and Mark Wood have all had similar breaks.

Root's comments sparked something of a backlash across the media. Although some defended Moeen, others latched onto the words to express their dissatisfaction on the incorrect assumption that he had left the tour on something of a whim having been recalled just a week previously.

Realising he had expressed himself somewhat clumsily, Root sought out Moeen when the team returned to the hotel after the game on Tuesday. He explained that he had not expressed himself clearly and reiterated Moeen's value to the team. He also clarified his support for the rotation policy and his appreciation of the need for players to balance their family lives alongside their professional commitments.

Moeen is understood to have accepted the apology and departs the tour on good terms with the team, its captain and coaches. He returns to India at the end of the month as part of England's T20I squad and retains hopes of being picked up in the IPL auction.

A further clarification on the matter is anticipated from the England team management later on Wednesday.

Gerard Pique and Antoine Griezmann's frustration boiled over into an on-pitch argument as Barcelona were beaten 4-1 by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Pique, making his first appearance since injuring his knee ligaments in November, screamed at his teammates to "keep the f------ ball longer" as they prepared to defend a corner. Griezmann responded by telling him to calm down.

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"F------ hell, Grizi," Pique shot back. "No. M-----------. We're suffering. We've been [pinned] back for five minutes. F------ hell, we're running like crazy."

Griezmann replied: "Don't shout at me, m-----------! I am suffering as well and I am running like crazy."

Britain's Alfie Hewett narrowly missed out on a first Australian Open wheelchair singles title as he lost to Joachim Gerard in the final.

Hewett had won the doubles title with compatriot Gordon Reid on Tuesday.

"I am really proud of not tanking at six love, four love down so I am proud of myself for that comeback and for making it a final," Hewett said.

"It's been a long five weeks and I am ready to go home now."

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has lodged a formal complaint with the ICC over Cricket Australia's (CA) decision to indefinitely postpone next month's three-Test series. Last week, CSA wrote to both the ICC and CA expressing its dissatisfaction at the tour being pushed back, also asking for means of redress after CA cited an "unacceptable" level of Covid-19 risk in South Africa as the reason for not travelling. But now, CSA has escalated the matter and asked for it to be heard at the ICC's dispute-resolution council.

In a letter sent by acting CEO Pholetsi Moseki, seen by ESPNcricinfo, CSA is invoking both the World Test Championship (WTC) and the FTP agreement terms in search of points on the WTC table, as well as financial compensation from CA. It has asked the ICC to look into whether CA's cancellation amounts to acceptable or unacceptable non-compliance as per the WTC terms, bearing in mind that the series cannot be rescheduled before the end of the WTC window, which is April 30, 2021. It also wants the ICC to obtain a report on the health situation in South Africa to determine if Australia breached the terms by not travelling.

According to the ICC's FTP agreement, which has been in place since 2004, member countries are obliged to fulfil their fixtures unless there are circumstances which prevent them from doing so, including government instruction. In 2007, when the Australian government instructed their men's team not to tour Zimbabwe on political grounds, the ICC adjudged that decision to be acceptable non-compliance. Similarly, in 2008, the ICC found that India's decision not to tour Pakistan on government advice constituted acceptable non-compliance. Neither Australia nor India faced sanctions at that time.

CA has maintained that its decision not to travel to South Africa on this occasion was made on "overwhelming" medical advice.

Moseki cited a clause from WTC competition terms that calls for independent experts to determine whether the health risks are severe enough to prevent Australia from touring, and asked for those experts to come from within South Africa. "It would seem inappropriate to appoint a health and safety consultant outside of South Africa given that such an expert consultant would be unlikely to properly and accurately comprehend the Covid-19 related risks within South Africa and how they may be adequately managed," Moseki wrote. "Given the nature of the pandemic, it will inevitably require location-specific advice."

South Africa has passed the second-wave peak of the coronavirus pandemic, and although the country remains on level-3 lockdown (with level-5 being the most strict) restrictions were eased on February 1, the day before Australia announced their decision to pull out. South Africa's infection rate is falling, although it is still recording more than 1,000 positive cases of Covid-19 each day in the last few days compared to Australia, which is registering cases in single digits daily.

India opener Rohit Sharma, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant and allrounder R Ashwin all made significant gains in the ICC Test Player Rankings for batsmen, following the hosts' 317-run victory against England in Chennai.

Sharma, whose 161 in the first innings gave India the early advantage, jumped nine places to 14th on the list, his best since November 2019 when he was 10th. Ashwin's century in the second innings, meanwhile, lifted him 14 places to 81st in the batting list, while his eight-wicket match haul - including a five-for in the first innings - meant he occupied the seventh position in the bowlers rankings, just three points behind Stuart Broad at sixth.

Pant, who has struck at least one fifty in each of his last four Tests, was also rewarded for the rich vein of form with a career-best 11th rank in the batting list. Left-arm spinner Axar Patel, who marked his Test debut with a five-wicket haul in the second innings, entered the bowlers rankings in the 68th place.

For England, Jack Leach was the only player to make any notable jump, gaining six places to reach the 31st position in the bowlers rankings. Ben Stokes, who made a paltry return of just 26 across both innings in Chennai, lost his top spot in the Test Allrounder Rankings, falling to third behind Jason Holder and Ravindra Jadeja.

Meanwhile, West Indies, who sealed a memorable series win against Bangladesh, saw several of their players get a boost in the rankings, most notably offspinner Rahkeem Cornwall, whose nine-wicket match haul in the second Test in Dhaka put him in the top 50 among bowlers for the first time in his career.

Among the Bangladesh batsmen, Tamim Iqbal (32nd) and Liton Das (54th) were the only two to make any step up in the rankings, while left-arm spinner Taijul Islam gained five places to take the 22nd position on the bowlers list.