Joe Root is willing to bat anywhere in the order to help England claw their way back from a 1-0 deficit in the Ashes series against Australia, the youngster said on Sunday.
England were 46 for two wickets against Pakistan at the close of the fourth day in Sharjah on Wednesday, chasing a target of 284 to win the third and final Test and draw the series.
A dominant Australia were five wickets away from reclaiming the Ashes after hammering England with the bat and reducing them to 251 for five with the ball at the end of the fourth day of the third test at the WACA on Monday.
Stuart Broad's five-wicket burst after David Warner's counter-punched put England in sight of victory on the fourth day of the fourth Ashes Test against Australia in County Durham on Monday.
Only Alistair Cook and Joe Root from the present English side played the 2012 series which England beat India.
India's slow bowlers tormented England again to claim a six-wicket victory in the third one-day international in Nottingham on Saturday to go 2-0 up in the five-match series.
Wicketkeeper Jos Buttler is set to make his Test debut after being named to replace Matt Prior in England's 13-man squad to play India in the third Test starting at Southampton on Sunday.
Ian Bell joined an elite trio on Thursday with his third Ashes century in successive Tests after England had lost three cheap wickets on the opening day of the second Test against Australia at Lord's.
Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor mastered a lifeless England attack to lift New Zealand to 303 for two at the close on the second day of the first Test at Lord's on Friday.
Sri Lanka held their nerve after a brilliant century by Jos Buttler to beat England by seven runs in the fourth one-day international at Lord's on Saturday and level the series at 2-2.
Eoin Morgan vowed not to make too many changes from Alastair Cook's tenure as captain.
England start as the favourites but India have a golden chance to reverse the trend and get into gear just before the World Cup.
Captain Steve Smith smashed his way to a brilliant century to guide Australia to a thrilling three-wicket victory over England with just one delivery to spare in the One-Day International tri-series match in Hobart on Friday.
England were left to reflect on a tough day in the field after Australia piled up 337 for one at the start of the second Ashes Test at Lord's on Thursday.
England's predicted line-up for the first Test in Brisbane includes Mark Stoneman, James Vince and Dawid Malan, who will walk out without a Test century to their names.
Sri Lanka's bowlers ripped through a fragile England batting line-up to win the second one day international at Chester-le Street by 157 runs to tie the five match series 1-1.
World champions Sri Lanka held off an England fightback to win by nine runs in a Twenty20 international at the Oval on Tuesday helped by an explosive innings from Thisara Perera and superb bowling from Lasith Malinga.
England captain Alastair Cook is still hurting after the Test series defeat by Pakistan but believes his side are equipped to strike back against the world's number one team in South Africa. As he prepared to fly out with his team to South Africa on Thursday, Cook, who has never won a Test series against the Proteas, described just how important a victory will be."It would mean a huge amount to beat the world number one nation in their backyard," the 30-year-old, leading the current fifth-ranked Test nation, told a news conference. "That's the challenge we've got ahead of us.
Kumar Sangakkara and Lahiru Thirimanne slammed unbeaten centuries to steer Sri Lanka to a convincing nine-wicket victory against England in the ICC World Cup.
Here are the statistical highlights from the third day's play of the fifth and final cricket Test between India and England in Chennai.
England trail New Zealand's first innings by 69 runs but need to survive the remaining 31 overs in the final session to stop the hosts from taking a 1-0 lead in the two match series.
World champions India suffered a humiliating nine-wicket defeat against England after a flop show by their batsmen in the third One-Day International of the Carlton Mid Tri-Series, in Brisbane.
David Warner struck a scintillating hundred to guide Australia to a comfortable three-wicket victory over England in the opening match of the tri-nation One-day series in Sydney. Images the match.
Former captain Andrew Flintoff believes Ben Stokes can become one of England's greats and rates the all-rounder as a more talented player than he was.
Clarke hopeful of Australia finding right mix between youth and experience after the team was described as a "Dad's Army" by former fast bowler and present Yorkshire coach, Jason Gillespie.
England have rested Alastair Cook, James Anderson, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann for the five-match One-Day International series against Australia next month.
Uncapped Test duo Simon Kerrigan and Chris Woakes have been named in England's 14-man squad for the fifth and final Ashes contest against Australia, starting at The Oval on Wednesday.
Jonathan Trott followed Graeme Swann, Kevin Pietersen and Matt Prior into the international wilderness on Monday to leave England desperately short of experience ahead of this year's Ashes series against Australia.
Opener Sam Robson hit his maiden Test century before Sri Lanka fought back with four late wickets on the second day of the second Test at Headingley, on Saturday.
The South Africa-born 33-year-old has not played for the senior England team since the first Test in Brisbane 18 months ago, after which he returned home with stress-related problems.
Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq scored a majestic 91 not out to lead Pakistan to a thrilling four-wicket victory over England in their final World Cup warmup at Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
Chris Woakes took 5 for 19 as England claimed a comfortable nine-wicket victory in their first official World Cup warm-up match after dismissing a hapless West Indies for 122 in 29.3 overs on Monday.
Moeen Ali, the England all-rounder, with a batting strike-rate of 82.1 and an economy rate of 4.2, was tops.
An fine all-round display by Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler's late assault with the bat ended England's long losing streak against Australia as the visitors won the fourth One-Day International by 57 runs in Perth.
"There could be up to eight guys who might not ever play Test cricket again in this touring squad. That's a big number... half the squad," Ponting was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.com.
Aaron Finch struck his second 50-over hundred as Australia maintained their dominance over England with a six-wicket victory in the first one-day international on Sunday.
England want to bounce back from a disastrous showing at Lord's by playing well enough to get a special Edgbaston crowd on their side in the third Ashes Test against Australia, said captain Alastair Cook.
England still blinking after perfect Ashes start.
England have rested batsman Kevin Pietersen and bowling pair Graeme Swann and James Anderson from their limited-overs squads for the series in Australia starting next month.
Joe Root plundered a superb century to defy Australia as England recovered from a poor start to post 343 for seven on the first day of the first Ashes Test on Wednesday.
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