Travis Head smashed a T20-style century to put Australia firmly in control of the first Ashes Test on Thursday as England were hit by an injury crisis during a miserable day two in the field at the Gabba.
Both teams will be looking to get out of the danger zone as eight teams remain in the play-off contention.
The Indian team management will try to keep cards close and assess defending champions England's batting depth when the home team takes field for its first World Cup warm-up match game, in Guwahati on Saturday.
England are an ageing side alright, but few will dare to bet against Jos Buttler's men successfully defending their World Cup title in a few weeks time.
India maintained their unbeaten streak at the 2023 World Cup with a 100-run victory in a low-scoring contest against holders England
The bowling of Sam Curran and Wood, with support from Chris Woakes and Ben Stokes, has carried England through.
Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham scored a late opportunist double to secure a 3-0 home win for Chelsea over West Ham United in the English Premier League on Monday.
India and England have played with contrasting approaches in the World Cup so far, producing contrasting results. That is unlikely to change when the teams meet in Lucknow on Sunday.
History is also a bit against India when it comes to results at the business end of the ICC events.
England have been largely rusty and inconsistent despite having a dangerous squad on paper.
Thousands of supporters walked to the stadium from the city centre before the Premier League game, which was preceded by two minutes' silence for the Thai billionaire. Vichai died in a helicopter crash after City's last home match two weeks ago.
IMAGES from the Premier League matches played on Saturday.
A dreadful defensive error from Arsenal's Granit Xhaka gifted Burnley an equaliser as the sides drew 1-1 at Turf Moor in the Premier League on Saturday.
Images from Saturday's action in the English Premier League
England Test skipper Ben Stokes on Wednesday came out of ODI retirement to be included in the provisional squad for the 50-over World Cup
Australia romped to a three-wicket victory in the fourth one-day international at Adelaide Oval on Friday after threatening to dismiss England for the lowest score in the history of the format by reducing the tourists to eight for five inside seven overs.
But just like everyone wants a slice of '92 from Babar's team, the core of this current English team also has a date with history
Ahead of the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023, here's a full list of the final squads of all ten teams.
England will hope that the likes of Joe Root, Harry brook and skipper Jos Buttler also get some runs and end their a disastrous World Cup campaign on a high.
Ben Stokes wants to bombard Australia with express pace, while also banking on typically seaming home conditions, when the arch-rivals clash during the Ashes later this year.
England have added wicketkeeper Jos Buttler and spinner Jack Leach to their squad for the fifth Test against India at Old Trafford, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Tuesday.
United are four points behind fourth-placed Arsenal, with a game in hand, as they search for a way into the top four and a place in next season's Champions League.
New Zealand batter Kane Williamson remains at the top of the list with 883 rating points.
'I've spent a fair bit of time here in Bangladesh and at this ground and it definitely helps to have a little bit of experience.'
However, Curran continued to bamboozle Afghans with his pace, line and length, dismissing Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman for ducks. Curran had got a three-wicket haul, reducing Afghanistan to 109/7.
James Maddison scored a brilliant winner to help Leicester City come from behind and beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in the Premier League on Saturday in a match dominated by VAR drama.
England batted with positive intent to take control of the final Ashes Test at The Oval on Saturday, moving on to 389-9 at the close on the third day with a 377-run lead over Australia.
All-rounder Chris Woakes has been added to England's squad for the fourth Test against India, with wicketkeeper Jos Buttler set to miss the match to attend the birth of his second child, the country's cricket board (ECB) said on Sunday.
To avoid the ignominy of missing the cut for the prestigious Champions Trophy, England must win their remaining two fixtures against the Netherlands and Pakistan.
England face fellow strugglers Sri Lanka in a must-win World Cup match on Thursday.
IMAGES from the T20 World Cup match played between England and Ireland in Melbourne on Wednesday
IMAGES of the T20 World Cup match played between England and Afghanistan at the Perth Stadium on Saturday
England Test captain Joe Root has been left out of the Twenty20 squad for the three-match series against Australia but will return for the three one-day internationals.
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.
Images from the T20 World Cup match between Sri Lanka and England at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday.
IMAGES from the English Premier League matches played on Wednesday
England will rest Jofra Archer, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and Mark Wood for the three-match one-day international series against South Africa starting in Cape Town on February 4. Worcestershire seamer Pat Brown, Somerset batsman Tom Banton and the Lancashire pair of Matthew Parkinson and Saqib Mahmood received their maiden call-ups.
All-rounder Ben Stokes on Thursday was not included in England's 15-man preliminary squad for the Twenty20 World Cup as he continues to take a break from cricket to focus on his mental health, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said.
IMAGES from the 1st Test, Day 1 between India and England played at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad, on Thursday
His 6-0, 6-2 thrashing of Belgium's David Goffin in the O2 Arena followed Monday's tense three-set win over Dominic Thiem when he became the first Bulgarian to take part in the elite tournament for the top eight players in its 48-year history.
