England made a bright start to their second Test against Pakistan at Headingley on Friday, after being hammered at Lord's last week, with Stuart Broad taking two early wickets and the visitors reduced to 68-4 at lunchtime.
Senior India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Tuesday described the Test rubber against England in 2012 as the turning point of his illustrious career as the humbling series defeat at home helped him "correct" his flaws.
The 26-year-old Stokes was charged last week after a lengthy investigation into an incident outside a Bristol nightclub last September.
James Anderson claimed four wickets as England made an excellent start to the third and final Test in Sharjah by bowling out Pakistan for 234 on Sunday.
England pacer James Anderson on Thursday surpassed Sachin Tendulkar as the cricketer to play the most number of Test matches on home soil.
The batting was a big letdown for the Indians with Virat Kohli, Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer failing in both innings, while Shardul Thakur's selection over Ravichandran Ashwin turned out to be a big mistake.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the third Test against England?
Images from Day 1 of the 5th Test at the Oval in London on Friday
Jos Buttler concedes 'incredibly difficult' for England to progress to semi-final
With just one win, Sri Lanka are currently at the sixth spot with four points and will have to win rest of their four matches to stay in contention for the semi-final.
A virgin Motera pitch has become the big talking point as captain Virat Kohli looks to get the combination right with India looking to continue their momentum to trouble England in the day-night third Test match, starting in Ahmedabad, on Wednesday.
Uncapped Surrey all-rounder Zafar Ansari was named in England's squad on Tuesday for the forthcoming three Test series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.
Du Plessis admitted that although it all depends upon the conditions, he is hopeful England would head into this summer's Ashes series against the Steve Smith-led side as favourites.
Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu won her maiden women's ODI Cricketer of the Year award, becoming the first female cricketer from the country to win an ICC award.
Nottinghamshire seam bowler Broad was not considered for selection, with his partner expecting their first child towards the end of November.
Kohli, who made 0 and 62 in Chennai, stayed in fifth spot among batsmen with 838 points. Kane Williamson (919) of New Zealand retained the top position with Steve Smith (891) of Australia in second spot.
England coach Brendon McCullum said his side's aggressive performances in their 3-0 series win over New Zealand set the alarm bells ringing around world cricket and that there would be no change of approach against India in their rearranged Test.
Australia ripped out England's top order to take a vice-like grip on the second Ashes Test after completely dominating the second day at Lord's on Friday.
Images from Day 3 of the first Test between India and England, at the M A Chidambaram stadium, in Chennai.
Joe Root blasted a 44-ball 83 to help England pull off a record run chase in a thrilling last-over finish against South Africa in the ICC World T20 Super 10 Group 1 match at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai, on Friday.
Australian spin legend Shane Warne considers Indian captain Virat Kohli the best batsmen in world cricket currently.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the first Test against England?
Batsman Jonny Bairstow will replace Yorkshire team mate Gary Ballance as England made one change to their squad for the third Ashes Test against Australia beginning next Wednesday at Edgbaston, the England Cricket Board said on Tuesday.
'For me, it was a challenge and whenever I get to bat, I have to create such an impact that it opens the door for my team's victory.'
England beat Pakistan by 330 runs to win the 2nd Test at Old Trafford to level the four-match series 1-1 on Monday.
West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite was again a gigantic roadblock that England could not dislodge as the second Test ended in a tense draw in Barbados on Sunday.
Images from the England-Afghanistan World Cup match in Manchester, on Tuesday.
Ravindra Jadeja struck a career-best 70 not out as he and his lower order colleagues earned India a substantial 71-run first innings lead by lunch on the third day of the third Test against England on Monday. - Scorecard: The hosts were 354 for seven at the break with Jayant Yadav batting on 26, the pair having already amassed 53 runs for their flourishing eighth-wicket partnership.
The 28-year-old is expected to open the batting with Surrey team mate Rory Burns for the one-off match against Ireland starting at Lord's next Wednesday.
Instead of enforcing the follow-on, however, England captain Joe Root decided to set India a target in the first match of the four-Test series
New Zealand were in trouble at 37 for 3 at stumps in reply to England's declared first innings total of 325 for 9 at Bay Oval, with seven wickets tumbling in a frantic evening session.
James Anderson claimed his fifth wicket as England enforced the follow-on against Pakistan on the third day of the third and final Test at the Rose Bowl on Sunday, despite a battling century by visiting skipper Azhar Ali.
Jos Buttler hit a half-century to put England in a strong position on Day 3 of the fourth Test against India at Southampton on Saturday.
Limited overs stalwarts Yuvraj Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni smashed scintillating centuries to help India secure a series-clinching 15-run victory in the second one-day international against England.
England were 7-1 at stumps with Ben Duckett (4) and Ollie Pope (3) batting together
The Test batting chart is headed by Australia's Marnus Labuschagne (915 points), followed by England captain Joe Root (900) while New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson (879) dislodged Steve Smith (877) from the No. 3 slot.
Ravichandran Ashwin, who was left out of the first Test, is back in the mix as Shardul Thakur seems to have done his hamstring some damage during the training session at Lord's on Monday.
Those three wickets for six runs, in a manic final 15 minutes of the day's play, undid all the good work that had gone before, asserts Prem Panicker.
IMAGES from Day 1 of the 2nd Test played between England and New Zealand at Trent Bridge on Friday.
Reducing Rajasthan Royals to 28/5 in the Powerplay sealed the fate of the hosts as Royal Challengers Bangalore bowled RR out for 59 in Jaipur.
