England fell short of victory as West Indies survived for a tense draw despite a top-order collapse on the final day of the first Test in North Sound on Saturday.
Australia fought back with two late wickets to restrict England to 196 for four and leave the Ashes series-opener in Brisbane delicately poised on Thursday after the tourists' unheralded batsmen threatened to dominate an intriguing first day.
Pakistan's spinners handed their team a 2-0 series victory after ripping through England's batting line-up on the fifth day of the third and final Test at Sharjah on Thursday.
With only a day to go for the start of the much-anticipated five-match Test series between India and England, all eyes would be on aggressive skipper Virat Kohli as he readies to motivate his boys and avenge the 2012 home series loss against Alastair Cook's men.
Adil Rashid was, on Tuesday, named as the sole specialist spinner in the England playing XI for the series opener against India, creating more pressure on the leg-spinner after his controversial recall to the Test side.
New England captain Joe Root rode his luck to make a battling unbeaten 184 and lift the hosts to a commanding 357 for five on the opening day of the first Test against South Africa at Lord's in London on Thursday.
Sam Curran's 78 helped England recover from 86 for six to 246 all out against India on the first day of the fourth Test.
England crumbled meekly to 107 for eight in reply to Australia's 481 to put the touring side firmly on course for victory in the final Ashes Test after a dramatic second day at The Oval on Friday.
Steve Smith made a brave unbeaten 78 to lift Australia to 287 for three on the first day of the fifth and final Test against England at The Oval on Thursday.
England skittled out shell-shocked Australia for 60 and piled up 274 for four in reply to take control of the fourth Ashes Test on a dramatic first day at Trent Bridge on Thursday.
Chris Rogers and Steve Smith plundered superb centuries to lead Australia to a commanding 337 for one on the first day of the second Ashes Test against England at Lord's on Thursday.
England recalled troubled left-arm spinner Monty Panesar on Monday and named three uncapped players in a 17-man squad for the return Ashes series in Australia that starts in November.
IMAGES from Day 3 of the 1st Test between England and Pakistan played at Lord's on Saturday
England are being "too nice" and need to "get nasty" against Australia in the Boxing Day Test to fight back in the Ashes series, said former skipper Michael Vaughan.
Dejected after a 133-run loss (D/L method) against India in the second One-dayer in Cardiff on Wednesday, England skipper Alastair Cook said that his team has a lot of improvement to do if it wants to overturn the 1-0 deficit in the five-match series.
Jonathan Trott believes everything is coming together for England a week before they embark on their bid for a fourth successive Ashes triumph in Brisbane.
England coach Trevor Bayliss conceded that his team's fielding has been below par and last three dropped catches in the ongoing Test against India cost them 500 runs.
Jason Holder struck his maiden first-class century to lead the West Indies to a draw in the first Test in Antigua on Friday after James Anderson had become England's leading Test wicket-taker.
England discard Kevin Pietersen led the congratulatory messages for the triumphant England squad, posting his wishes on Twitter.
Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen says he still harbours dreams of turning out for his country despite being controversially axed from the national team.
England openers Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott made a solid start in reply to West Indies' total of 299 by reaching 74 without loss on the second day of the second Test on Wednesday.
England have recalled bowler James Anderson, all-rounder Ben Stokes and leg-spinner Adil Rashid to a 14-man squad for the second Test against Pakistan at Old Trafford starting on Friday.
'So many different emotions are coming out right now, I'm that excited'
Wimbedon, which is considered as the top tennis tournament in the world is drawing to it's business end. Like every year, 2016 also witnessed several celebrities taking centre stage at the SW19 courts. Football icon David Beckham and Hollywood Bradley Cooper were among those watching Roger Federer against Marin Cilic on Wednesday. Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge was seen cheering from the royal box when Serena Williams cruised past Elena Vesnina in the women's semi-final on Thursday.
England's unlikely bowling hero in the Tests, all-rounder Moeen Ali also made an impact with the bat at Edgbaston while playing his first ODI of the series and has admitted that he learnt a lot by watching Indian batsmen from the sidelines.
Rajneesh Gupta presents all the interesting numbers from Day 4 of the India-England Test at Leeds.
Moeen Ali scored a majestic century as England amassed an impressive first-innings total by lunch on Day Two of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Durham.
Pakistan's spinner Yasir Shah had Ian Bell (40) stumped in the third session as England ended the day at 222 for 4 on Day 2 of the 3rd Test in Sharjah on Monday.
England will have to set a record for the highest successful fourth-innings chase if they are to win the third Test against India after the dominant tourists declared at 352 for seven with Virat Kohli making 103.
Rajneesh Gupta presents all the interesting numbers from Day 2 of the India-England Test at Lord's.
England seamer James Anderson claimed his seventh five-wicket haul at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground on Day 2 of the second Test against India, on Friday.
England all-rounder Ben Stokes was named on Wednesday in a 16-man squad for the Ashes tour to Australia despite being arrested earlier in the week for an altercation outside a Bristol nightclub.
Only Alistair Cook and Joe Root from the present English side played the 2012 series which England beat India.
Seven-times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton was awarded a knighthood in the UK New Year's honours list published on Wednesday.
West Indies staged a spirited fightback against England after being skittled for 123 as batsmen suffered a torrid opening day of the series-deciding third Test at Lord's on Thursday.
The ECB will take up the matter with the BCCI as well as the local authorities.
England bowled India out for 184 on Sunday to win the fourth Test by 60 runs and wrap up the series with a match to spare.
England will adopt a positive approach and cast off the shackles at the World Cup under new skipper Eoin Morgan, coach Peter Moores said on Tuesday before the squad flew out to Australia.
Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir, who is set to make his Test return after completing a five-year ban for spot-fixing last year, has agreed that match-fixers should be banned for life. Amir's comments came in the wake of England skipper Alastair Cook's demand to impose a life ban on those caught in match-fixing. The 24-year-old, who served a prison sentence in the UK and a five-year suspension for his role in the 2010 spot-fixing case, will make his return to the Test cricket against England next month at Lord's-- the scene of the fixing scandal.
The 33-year-old has played 118 Tests for England, scoring 7,727 runs and winning five Ashes series since becoming a regular in the side following his debut in 2004, but disappointed in the recently concluded series against Pakistan.
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