Jonny Bairstow led England to within 40 runs of South Africa's first innings total, with seven wickets in hand, on the first day of the second Test at Old Trafford on Thursday.
Having swept away New Zealand 3-0 in their last series at home, just days earlier, England are favourites to win the Test and draw the series that is level at 2-1.
At stumps on Day 3, India were 125/3 in their second innings to extend their lead to 257 runs with Cheteshwar Pujara (50 not out) hitting a gutsy half-century.
Rain is expected early on Tuesday before drier conditions and, with Australia requiring a further 174 runs and England needing seven wickets, a classic is brewing.
Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow slammed majestic centuries as England pulled off their highest-ever successful run chase in the longest format for a convincing seven-wicket win over India in the rescheduled fifth Test in Birmingham on Tuesday.
Bairstow made Delhi pay for the miss, hitting 48 runs in 28 balls.
Stuart Broad finished on a high as he claimed the final two Australian wickets to bowl England to a series-levelling 49-run victory in the final Ashes Test.
Trent Boult (3 for 28) and Rahul Chahar (3 for 19) helped Mumbai Indians win and go atop the IPL 2021 points table.
Security plans 'uplifted' for Wimbledon, organisers say
Stokes is also among the Test Cricket of the Year nominees alongside compatriot Jonny Bairstow, Australia opener Usman Khawaja and South Africa speedster Kagiso Rabada.
Smarting from their nine-wicket thrashing by New Zealand in the tournament opener, England amassed 364-9 after their top order fired with Malan forging century-plus partnerships with Jonny Bairstow (52) and Joe Root (82).
Stokes ton helps England beat Netherlands, end World Cup losing run
Sent in to bat on a grassy MCG pitch on Sunday, England were skittled for 185
Four interesting images from Day 3 of the India-England Test at Lord's
Images from Day 2 of the fourth Test between England and India, at The Oval, on Friday.
The World Cup opener is set to be another barnstorming meeting between two of the favourites -- and a fitting way to start a cricketing feast.
India maintained their unbeaten streak at the 2023 World Cup with a 100-run victory in a low-scoring contest against holders England
His dismissal off Pat Cummins in the 13th over turned the game in KKR's favour.
IMAGES from Day 3 of the 3rd Test played between England and New Zealand at Headingley on Saturday.
Images from Day 2 of the second Test between India and England at Visakhapatnam.
'We've been playing aggressive cricket throughout since 2015 and done it quite well. Probably the lack of that way of cricket has cost us a little bit in this tournament.'
Australia led England by 12 runs at the end of a tense and fluctuating second day to leave the final Ashes Test at The Oval on a knife-edge on Friday.
Hurt India eye sweeping changes in approach against England's 'Bazball' in second Test
Bairstow further credited their batting depth to play with freedom at the top.
Ben Stokes played another magnificent innings, but the England skipper wasn't able to finish the job as Australian won the second Ashes Test at Lord's.
While Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood had played down the idea that sharing the same flight would be uncomfortable, his English counterpart Mark Wood was nervous with the prospect of flying with an Australian side which has just won its first-ever T20 World Cup just ahead of the Ashes.
England Test skipper Ben Stokes said he will leave the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League early.
Josh Tongue picked up a five-wicket haul as England handed Ireland a crushing defeat in the one-off Test at the Lord's.
Punjab Kings named Mayank Agarwal as their new captain for the upcoming 15th edition of the Indian Premier League, starting next month.
Can the subcontinent giants maintain their 12-year invincibility?
Bairstow fell short of his century by three runs but that was not to be rued as, despite the brief stutter in the Hyderabad innings, he had set the stage well enough for the lower order to take the team past 200.
Will the Indians set the England team an intimidating target?
Head coach Trevor Bayliss said the reason why Kane Williamson was left out of SunRisers Hyderabad's opening match against Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday was because the New Zealand captain needs a bit of extra time to regain his match fitness.
The 40-year-old Pietersen said a win against India is similar to a victory against arch-rivals Australia and urged the selectors to play both Stuart Broad and James Anderson in the same XI.
Jonny Bairstow's half century helped England beat West Indies by four wickets in St Lucia on Tuesday in the opening Twenty20 international of their three-match series.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the first Test against England?
One lucky punter who believed 14 years ago that Josh Tongue would one day play for England and placed a cheeky bet will win 50,000 pounds ($63,000).
Jonny Bairstow was selected to play as a specialist batsman in England's fourth Test against India even though he fractured a finger while keeping wicket in the third-Test loss.
England won the toss and put South Africa in to bat only for a shower to sweep in and put a stop to proceedings
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