England's selectors are acutely aware of the impact on players of bio-secure bubbles and with a demanding year ahead, are making sure they protect their key performers.
Former captain Nasser Hussain feels incumbent Joe Root is arguably' England's best ever player of spin and will end up breaking all their Test batting records.
India captain Virat Kohli and off-spinner R Ashwin put on splendid performances to put the hosts in the driver's seat on Day 3 of the 2nd Test. Here are the statistical highlights from the day's play from the match played between India and England in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah took five wickets to help Pakistan crush England by 10 wickets in the final Test at The Oval on Sunday and level a fluctuating series 2-2.
Joe Root admitted that Pant was a big factor in his side not declaring in their second innings even after the lead crossed the 400-run mark.
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.
Virat Kohli is the lone Indian batsman to be figuring in the top-10 in the ICC Test batsmen rankings.
Images from Day 4 of the second Test between England and Pakistan at the Rose Bowl, in Southampton, on Sunday.
Jasprit Bumrah blitzed England with the bat and then blew away their top order with the ball to put India in a strong position in the rescheduled fifth and final Test at Edgbaston on Saturday.
Ben Stokes took two wickets in two balls to inspire England to victory over New Zealand in the first Test at Lord's.
Fast bowler Jofra Archer got his maiden Test call up as he was included in England's squad for the Ashes series opener against Australia.
England have already announced their 11-man team for the match against Ireland. Pacer James Anderson has been ruled out of the match as he was unable to recover from his calf injury.
Rajneesh Gupta presents all the interesting numbers from the opening day of the Lord's Test.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain believes skipper Virat Kohli has instilled a fighting attitude in the current Indian team, which does not get bullied by adversities, whether on or off the field.
Ganguly is hopeful that Virat Kohli's men will bring the World Test Championship trophy home
Joe Root was named on Monday as England's cricketer of the year for 2014-15, the England and Wales Cricket Board said.
'I think, the Test probably shifted in their favour when we batted in the first innings. We were looking to bat better but I don't think there was enough application shown by us as a batting unit'
England fast bowler Stuart Broad has defended his team's verbal attack on West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels during their second Test in Grenada.
England have called up uncapped batsman Ollie Pope to replace out of form David Malan while paceman Chris Woakes comes in for all-rounder Ben Stokes for the second Test against India, which begins on Thursday at Lord's.
One of the architects of West Indies' victory in the first Test at Southampton, batsman Jermaine Blackwood said England's players tried to verbally distract him during his match-winning innings of 95 with stand-in skipper Ben Stokes leading the act.
England's decision to go with James Anderson, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood for the first Test in Southampton snapped Stuart Broad's run of 51 consecutive home Tests.
Ben Stokes' first big decision as captain will be to name his team along with coach Chris Silverwood and there are tricky choices to be made with his bowling attack.
All-rounder Ben Stokes has been recalled to the England squad for the first Test against India, starting at TrentBridge next Wednesday.
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah marks his return to the national men's team as Pakistan on Wednesday announced an 18-member squad for next month's two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.
England will head into this year's Ashes series against Australia heartened by their performances against New Zealand but with nagging doubts about key areas in the team.
'It has impressed me immensely, because the way Virat has converted those unplayable balls into playable ones'
Jofra Archer's World Cup debut, where he picked up three wickets in England's 104-run victory over South Africa, was among the early tournament highlights after he was fast-tracked into the hosts' one-day international setup.
James Anderson set the tone for England's win with a wicket in the very first over of the match.
England vice-captain Jos Buttler on Thursday said he expects the fifth and final Test against India to proceed as scheduled despite a fresh COVID-19 case in the visiting camp.
Pakistan beat England by nine wickets in the first Test at Lord's on Sunday.
The loss to Sri Lanka has left England's quarter-final chances hanging in the balance and reliant on them beating Bangladesh in Adelaide on March 9. A wash-out would end their hopes.
