Captain Andrew Strauss defied a lively South African attack to steer England to 88 for one on the second day of the first Test on Thursday. South Africa made 418 in their first innings and claimed an early wicket when Friedel de Wet had Alastair Cook caught behind for 15 but the hosts failed to make another breakthrough.
Former England skipper Alastair Cook feels India's pace battery has variety and depth, something that they have lacked as a touring side all these years.
AB de Villiers' sixth Test century put South Africa on the verge of winning the second Test at Headingley after England ended the third day 269 runs behind the visitors on Sunday.
England reached 311 for six in their second innings on the third day of the second Test on Saturday to put themselves in a splendid position to win their first Ashes test at Lord's for 75 years. When rain ended play, England held an overall lead of 521 after captain Andrew Strauss had decided against enforcing the follow-on. Australia were dismissed for 215 in the morning session in reply to the hosts' 425.
Following is a factbox on England's leading Test wicket-taker James Anderson, who became the first pace bowler to claim 600 victims in the game's longest format.
England lost three quick wickets in the last hour to slump to 53 for three in reply to Australia's 602-9 declared on the second day of the first Ashes Test on Friday.
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.
Can the subcontinent giants maintain their 12-year invincibility?
Joe Root has stepped down as England's Test captain, the country's cricket board said on Friday, succumbing to pressure from influential figures within the game following a run of poor results capped by dispiriting tours of Australia and the Caribbean.
The Aussie paceman identified Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss as his two 'bunnies'.
Michael Vaughan (28 not out) and Alastair Cook (19 not out) took England to 48 without loss when bad light stopped play after the Sri Lankans had amassed 548 for 9 declared for a first-innings lead of 197, on Day 4 of the second Test.
England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff flew to Jamaica on Monday for a scan after picking up a side strain in England's opening warm-up game against an invitational team from St Kitts & Nevis. Flintoff pulled out of the match on Sunday and was replaced by Stuart Broad.
England captain Kevin Pietersen on Sunday expressed disappointment over the leg before decision that ended his epic 144-run knock, insisting he played it down the leg side and still got out.
England lost four wickets in the final session and ended Day 1 in the first Test on 229 for 5. Andrew Strauss hit a composed 123 and notched his 13the Test century in the process.
The left-arm pacer claimed three wickets for 50 runs as India reduced England to 169 for 7 by close of the day in the second Test.
The West Indies, chasing an unlikely victory target of 455, were 22 for one at the close after having bowled England out for 313.
England were 85 for no loss at lunch on the opening day of the first Test against West Indies.
Rajneesh Gupta presents the numbers from the Oval Test.
Ross Taylor's scintillating unbeaten 154 put New Zealand in control of the second Test on the second day against England on Saturday. At the close England had limped to 152 for four in reply to New Zealand's 381 for nine after the injured Daniel Flynn did not return to the crease.
Rain ruined the third day of the first Test between England and New Zealand at Lord's on Saturday with only 8.5 overs possible during a frustrating day for players and spectators. In that period, a 40-minute session before lunch, England took their overnight score of 68 for no wicket to 89 without loss in reply to New Zealand's first innings 277.
Root stepped down last week, saying the job had taken a heavy toll on him recently, after dispiriting tours of Australia and the Caribbean capped a string of poor results.
James Anderson claimed a five-wicket haul to help England dismiss New Zealand for 198 in the first innings.
England pacer James Anderson on Thursday surpassed Sachin Tendulkar as the cricketer to play the most number of Test matches on home soil.
Becomes first batter to face most balls against Australia in the last decade.
Half centuries from Michael Vaughan, Alastair Cook and Ian Bell allowed England to reach 250 for three at tea before the final session was washed out.
England were set a victory target of 246 after bowling out Sri Lanka Cricket President's XI for just 81 and chased down the target in 61 overs.
England's build-up to their one-day series in Sri Lanka has been hit by a stomach virus sweeping through the squad.
India brought in left-armer Rudra Pratap Singh in place of Ajit Agarkar for the seventh and final ODI against England.
Injury-hit England have called up Middlesex batsman Owais Shah as cover for their test series in India starting on Wednesday, a team official said.
The West Indies beat England in the third ODI to win the series 2-1.
England fast bowler James Anderson will not play in the final Ashes test against Australia at The Oval due to a side strain, captain Alastair Cook said on Wednesday.
West Indies fought back after lunch with four wickets to reduce England to 167 for five at tea on the first day.
Three English batsmen scored centuries as England Day 2 on 553 for five, in the first Test.
The England opener would be returning home to be with his wife, who is pregnant and close to delivery
Statistical highlights from day one of the fourth cricket Test between India and England in Mumbai on Thursday. # Keaton Jennings became the third England batsman after Bryan Valentine and Alastair Cook and the eighth overall to register a hundred on Test debut in India. # Apart from the three England batsmen, two New Zealanders, Bruce Taylor and Kane Williamson, Australia's Michael Clarke, West Indian, Gordon Greenidge and South Africa's Alviro Petersen have accomplished the feat. # Jennings is the eighth England opener to post a hundred on Test debut.
Hoggard captured seven wickets as England took a 97-run lead over Australia with nine second-innings wickets in hand.
The lanky pacer said Australia are now in firm control of the match and wanted to drive home their advantage on Saturday morning.
Leg-spinner Adil Rashid and paceman Steven Finn were included in England's 13-man squad named on Wednesday for next week's first Ashes Test against Australia.
England's Jonny Bairstow compiled his first century at Lord's -- and his second of the series -- to ensure the hosts completed a satisfactory first day of the final Test against Sri Lanka on Thursday, finishing at 279 for six.
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