Ali was dropped after a poor performance in the opening Test in Edgbaston
England fast bowler Mark Wood came through their final training session for the fourth Test against Australia with no flare-up of his ankle problem and is poised to replace James Anderson at Trent Bridge on Thursday.
England's gamble to include Anderson in the 1st Ashes Test soon after he had torn his right calf muscle, forcing him to miss the one-off Ireland Test, backfired spectacularly.
After being widely condemned for their lame capitulation at Edgbaston in the first Test, suggesting a once-dominant team had hit rock bottom, this unlikely comeback was a stirring response.
World Cup holders India and South Africa will clash in the opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy, 50-over contest, at Cardiff in Wales on June 6, 2013, tournament hosts the England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Tuesday.
'They have a belief that they can go and win anywhere.'
The fast bowler's beguiling mix of aggression, control and intellect may make him the most feared of the Australian pace trio with the Dukes ball in hand.
The announcement means no fans will be allowed from Saturday at the horse racing in Goodwood as well as the Crucible Theatre for the World Snooker Championships.
Some 17 months on, with his rehabilitation after a one-year ball-tampering ban apparently completed, the 32-year-old will return to the Test arena at Edgbaston on Thursday at the start of his sixth Ashes series.
He has also expressed his thoughts and prayers to all those impacted in the London terror attack.
England will start their defence of the Ashes against Australia at Trent Bridge in July next year with Durham hosting a Test in the series for the first time.
Mashrafe Mortaza has issued a rallying call to his Bangladesh teammates, urging them to drum up the spirit of 2007 in a bid to keep their World Cup dreams alive.
Nasser Hussain feels the hosts should have gone for a win rather than playing sluggish cricket on the final day
A spineless India surrendered their No 1 status to a ruthless England as they slumped to an innings and 242-runs defeat, allowing the hosts clinch the completely lop-sided four-match series by taking a 3-0 lead at Edgbaston.
India are currently placed at the second position in the tournament standings with 13 points from eight matches.
Steve Smith was struck by a Jofra Archer bouncer in the first innings at Lords and was replaced by 'concussion sub' Marnus Labuschagne for the second innings.
England will compete against India, who are the only unbeaten team in the ongoing premier tournament so far, at Edgbaston on June 30.
Images from Day 3 of the 2nd Ashes Test played at Lord's Cricket Ground, London, on Friday.
Alastair Cook was unbeaten on 182, as England, replying to India's first innings of 224, ended Day 2 in the third Test on 456-3.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni marked his return to form with a blistering counterattack before India were bundled out for 224 in their first innings to give England early control in the third Test. In reply, England were 84 for no loss at close.
Warwickshire bowler Stone is suffering with a lower back strain, his club said on Wednesday.
Fan dressed up as Queen Elizabeth was spotted with a replica trophy on Day 2 of the first Ashes Test
As many as 10 decisions by rookie West Indian umpire Joel Wilson and Pakistan's Aleem Dar were overturned by the Decision Review System during last week's Edgbaston Test. There were at least five more errors that went unreviewed.
Cricketing fraternity, on Thursday, applauded Australia batsman Steven Smith for hitting a century against England, on Day 1 of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston, on Thursday.
Rashid signed a white-ball only contract with his county Yorkshire in February but said he 'was not finished' with the longest format of the game.
Broad posted his picture on Instagram, saying the Test match will be glorious at Lord's.
India leg spinner Amit Mishra bowled a whopping eight no-balls on the second day of the third Test, eventually ending up with nine from England's first innings.
Alastair Cook (182 not out off 339 balls) posted his best knock against India, surpassing the 104 not out at Nagpur in 2005-06.
England's total dominance on Day Two of the third Test left India with little chance of even salvaging a draw at Edgbaston and Gambhir dwells on the problem. Bikash Mohapatra reports from Edgbaston.
Azhar Ali's patient century lifted Pakistan to 257 for three and a dominant position on the second day of the third Test against England at Edgbaston on Thursday. Replying to the home team's 297 all out, Azhar shared a second-wicket partnership of 181 with Sami Aslam on the way to an excellent knock of 139 as England endured a frustrating day in the field.
West Indies coach Phil Simmons says his side cannot afford the batting debacles that have often undermined their tours of England when the series starts behind closed doors next week. The first of three Tests begins at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton next Wednesday and Simmons says making sure they are mentally ready is the most important task.
Images from the World Cup second semi-final between England and Australia in Birmingham, on Thursday.
Rohit Sharma's 104 at Edgbaston helped India to secure the win they needed to guarantee a place in the semi-finals of the ICC World Cup.
Changes on cards as no end to India's middle-order woes
Having replaced India as the No 1 Test side in the world after going up 3-0 in the four-match rubber, England pacer Stuart Broad said his team will strive to inflict complete whitewash on MS Dhoni's men.
The pair will face England in their World Cup match at Lord's on June 25 and are also likely to endure hostile reception during the Ashes, which begins at Edgbaston on August 1.
Virat Kohli achieved another personal milestone by becoming the seventh India batsman and first since Sachin Tendulkar in June 2011, to top the MRF Tyres ICC Player Rankings for Test Batsmen.
Talking about Kohli's wicket, Stokes said: "Kohli played a brilliant knock in the first innings, but with the ball swinging he was trying to move across to play for that inswinger but actually the one that I was trying to swing away, he maybe leant over and missed one for a change."
South Africa's attitude, rather than any change in tactics, will determine how well they do at the World Cup, says Quinton de Kock.
The Group B encounter between India and Pakistan at Edgbaston saw quite a few rain breaks, which eventually resulted in the match being a reduced affair.
