The spotlight in the World Test Championship Final is on the electrifying duel between Australia's batting mainstay Steve Smith and South Africa's pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada.
While defending totals of 350 or more in 59 Tests, India have won 42, with their sole defeat coming against England at Edgbaston in 2022.
This series begins a potentially era-defining period for Stokes and England coach Brendon McCullum, having enjoyed plenty of highs and lows over the past few years, with the Ashes series in Australia next up in the Test format, starting in November.
Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood hopes to play in at least three Ashes Tests after declaring himself fit.
Australian wicketkeeper-batsmen Matthew Wade announced his retirement from international cricket and a move into coaching on Tuesday.
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.
Australia finished second in the league table during the 2023-25 WTC cycle, behind South Africa, having claimed 67.54 per cent of the points on offer to them.
The twin retirements mean India will not only have a new captain at the helm but will be without two of their most experienced players.
The five-match Test series against India at home will be a massive Test for England's 'Bazball' brand of cricket under skipper Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum.
A "devastating" omission after below-par performances in the Border-Gavaskar series notwithstanding, opener Nathan McSweeney has not given up hope of returning to Australia's Test setup, saying he will try his luck as a long-term replacement for Usman Khawaja once the batting stalwart retires.
With 10 centuries in just 54 innings over the past two and a half years, Root has gone past Sir Alastair Cook as England's highest Test run-scorer.
Former England captain Kevin Pietersen on Saturday rated Protea opener Aiden Markram's measured hundred against Australia in the World Test Championship final as the "best innings" by a South African batter in Test matches.
The five-match Test series against India at home is a massive test for England's 'Bazball' brand of cricket under skipper Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum.
Former England skipper Alastair Cook backed Ollie Pope to retain the No. 3 spot in the batting line-up ahead of Jacob Bethell during the upcoming five-match Test series against India.
It was crucial for Shubman Gill to score truckload of runs to call the shots as skipper, former India batter Dilip Vengsarkar said in Mumbai on Wednesday.
England have named two uncapped players in Essex duo Sam Cook and Jordan Cox in the squad for the one-off Test match against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge later this month.
India ended an 11-year-long ICC Trophy drought, beating South Africa by seven runs to claim the ICC T20 World Cup title for the second time on June 29 last year, in Barbados.
Limping Bavuma, Markram lead South Africa to brink of history.
'What hurt me was when I met his daughter and I was talking to her with a lot of love and she said, "I don't want to talk to you. You hit my father".'
If history is anything to go by, Leeds always has room for a little magic.
Australia's capitulation in Perth triggered damning assessments of the team's performance in home media.
England pacer Brydon Carse is expecting the transitioning Indian team to put up a strong fight in the five-match Test series despite the recent retirement of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, thanks to their "huge depth".
Pat Cummins could win the Ashes in England if Australia emerge victorious in the second Test, feels pace legend Glenn McGrath.
Cricket back in Olympics after 100 years because of India: Former UK PM Sunak
'We cannot say suddenly that Crawley and Pope have solved the technical and mental issues that have dogged their careers because the Zimbabwe bowling was so average.'
Take a look at the numbers and narratives that made Edgbaston Test one for the ages.
The 33-year-old Stokes had surgery on his left hamstring in December after suffering a tear during the third Test against New Zealand, which ruled him out of action for a prolonged period.
A look back at some of the most painful moments when South Africa came heartbreakingly close -- but always fell short -- before finally breaking the curse at Lord's.
Former England captain Vaughan said Australia should consider having Mitchell Marsh open with Khawaja.
Images from Day 3 of the second Ashes between England and Australia at Lord's.
Australia's mouthwatering clash with India sees the two behemoths of the modern game go head-to-head in five tests over six weeks with the tourists eyeing a third straight series triumph Down Under.
Australia and England will play a day-night Test at MCG to mark the 150th anniversary of the first Test match between them.
Images from Day 1 of the fifth and final Ashes Test between England and Australia at The Oval in London on Thursday.
Australia's Khawaja reins in 'Little Uzzie' to set up Ashes run chase
'When Bumrah is not bowling, we should go on the defensive and keep them all tied up.' 'Just stop the flow of runs and wickets will fall.'
Former opener Justin Langer offered an interesting hypothesis on Australia's Ashes debacle, saying the visitors came a cropper against England because of their pace bowlers' lack of height.
Ex-coach Lehmann unhappy with Australia not playing tour games ahead of WTC final, Ashes
Australia's pacemen Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins ripped out England's top order with a masterclass of textbook bowling to put their side in sight of a 2-0 Ashes lead on Saturday.
England head coach Brendon McCullum feels his players have lacked humility in their recent public utterances and he would like to see them win back respect from fans ahead of the tough home series against India and the Ashes later this year.
Steve Smith scored an unbeaten 85 to guide Australia to 339/5 as England wasted favourable bowling conditions on the first day of the second Ashes Test.
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