Alastair Cook, who has scored just 246 runs in 10 innings during the Ashes, and was dismissed for four as England were beaten by Australia in the first of five one-day internationals, has been able to retain his place in the squad just because of captaincy.
Alastair Cook did not quite agree his side may have the momentum from the drawn first Test against New Zealand as they head into the second on Thursday though his assertion they were growing in confidence sent an ominous warning to Brendon McCullum's team.
Sri Lanka's openers confidently negotiated an awkward session at the end of a rain-interrupted fourth day at Lord's on Sunday, setting up the prospect of a fascinating finish to the third and final Test against England.
Giving an account of Root's dedication towards become one of the best in the world, his father spoke about his preparation, especially during the pandemic.
The final chapter of the Ashes build-up ended in predictable fashion on Tuesday when opposing captains Alastair Cook and Michael Clarke played the straightest of bats ahead of the first test at Trent Bridge.
Alastair Cook apologised to England fans for letting them down in the Ashes series and said he wanted to stay on as captain to help turn around the team's fortunes.
As a bowler, Stuart Broad recorded his best performance in a Test series, capturing 19 wickets at 11.73 runs apiece. His previous best tally in a Test series was 18 (ave.30.22) in the 2009 Ashes series (five Tests) against Australia.
England have named an unchanged 13-man squad for the second Ashes Test at Lord's next week having thrashed Australia by 169 runs in Cardiff on Saturday to take a 1-0 series lead, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Sunday.
Ian Bell, under enormous pressure after a poor run of form and promoted to number three in the order, answered his critics in emphatic fashion with a composed unbeaten 65 to steer England to victory in the third Ashes Test.
Ravichandran Ashwin claimed four for 60 to reduce England to 285 for nine in 88 overs at stumps on Day 1 of the first Test.
Factbox on England captain Alastair Cook, who became the first English batsman to score 10,000 runs in test matches in the second test against Sri Lanka on Monday. *Born Dec. 25, 1984 in Gloucester, England. *Scored an unbeaten 104 on test debut against India at Nagpur in 2006, and made his one-day international debut against Sri Lanka in the same year. *Scored 766 runs in seven innings during the 2010-2011 Ashes tour, to help England to their first series win in Australia for 24 years. *Scored 294 against India in 2011, his highest test score to date, and was named as International Cricket Council's Test Cricketer of the Year in 2011. *Was appointed MBE in the Queen's birthday honours list.
Warne heaps praise on 'wonderful guy' Cook
England Managing Director Hugh Morris feels India's decision of not allowing the Decision Review System's usage in the just-concluded Test series was disappointing after touring captain Alastair Cook fell victim to a couple of dubious decisions.
A list of top 10 centurions from each Test playing nation.
The England team on Thursday embarked on their gruelling Test tour of India with captain Alastair Cook insisting that Kevin Pietersen's text message scandal was over and he was delighted to have the controversial batsman in the squad for the series.
England skipper Alastair Cook admitted on Tuesday that it's been long since his side won a Test and it will desperately look to change that when the five-match series against India gets underway, in Nottingham, on Wednesday.
Graeme Swann took six wickets and England dodged the rain clouds hovering over Headingley to wrap-up a 247-run second Test victory over New Zealand on Tuesday and secure a 2-0 series triumph.
Alastair Cook closed in on a 25th Test century after deciding not to enforce the follow-on as England, looking to ensure a series victory over New Zealand, built a substantial lead in the second and final Test on Sunday.
Ashwin is the only Indian to score a century and bag a five-wicket in a single Test. He has achieved this feat on three occasions.
Rajneesh Gupta presents all the interesting numbers from Day 4 of the India-England Test at Trent Bridge.
Alastair Cook and Nick Compton made some amends for England's poor first innings by grinding out a 231-run partnership to eat deep into New Zealand's lead of 293 on the fourth day of the first Test on Saturday.
Rediff.com's Manu Shankar points to the factors that led to Team India's downfall in the Kolkata Test.
After beating India at their own game, England skipper Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen said the team will have to guard against complacency in the remaining two matches.
The former England opener says Cook, Bell and Root shouldn't be in the One-day squad and is unimpressed with the team's bowling line-up.
India were staring at an embarrassing defeat in the second cricket Test against a spirited England who rode on Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook's brilliant centuries to gain a vital 86-run lead before the spinners tightened the noose around the hosts in Mumbai on Sunday.
Kevin Pietersen smashed a 94-ball 110 before retiring hurt as England put up 408 for 3 on Day 1 of the tour match against Haryana in Ahmedabad.
Becomes 1st batsman to score a double ton in 100th Test.
Ravichandran Ashwin will become only the 14th Indian player and 77th overall in world cricket to complete the milestone of 100 Test matches.
The Alastair Cook-led English team, which arrived in Hyderabad on Tuesday for a five-match one-day series and Twenty20 game against India, got down to business with a practice session.
Former Australian wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist is anticipating another tight Ashes series between Australia and England, and believes that either team can win the urn.
Photos from Day 3 in the first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge.
Australia captain Michael Clarke said he could not have asked for a better performance from his team following their 405-run mauling of England in the second Ashes Test at Lord's.
England will head into this year's Ashes series against Australia heartened by their performances against New Zealand but with nagging doubts about key areas in the team.
England fought back after losing their first three wickets in the space of half an hour to reach 342 for six on the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's on Friday.
Kevin Pietersen hit his first ODI century for more than three years to steer England to a nine-wicket win over Pakistan Saturday to help them secure an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series.
29-year-old Derbyshire left-arm seamer Mark Footitt, who has taken 32 wickets for his county in Division Two this season, was handed a place at the training camp, which begins on June 27, ahead of Yorkshire all-rounder Adil Rashid.
India captain Virat Kohli remained unbeaten on 49 to deny England victory in an intriguing final session of the opening Test of the five-match series in Rajkot on Sunday.
England captain Alastair Cook has described as "blatant fabrication" the claims that Ashes players have used silicone tape on their bats to confuse Hotspot technology and he wants an apology.
More than the disappointment of missing out on a triple century by just six runs, England opener Alastair Cook is 'thrilled' at scoring 294 against India in the third Test at Edgbaston on Friday.
Images from Day 2 in the third Test between India and England in Birmingham, on Thursday.
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