India and England players will push their tired bodies on the line with everything to play for in the fifth and final Test starting at The Oval on Thursday
Shubman Gill played a masterful captain's knock with his second century of the series on the opening day of the second Test
Steve Smith is the 15th player to go past the 10,000-run mark in Test cricket.
'I think some people can make it a bigger thing than it is.'
Indicating that he wants to get a good grip on the shortest format, given that all the money now is in domestic leagues, Root hoped he could score big in ILT20 and then take his T20 career further.
'It's always frustrating to miss out. I've got some good things to focus on, so even though I'm not playing I've got a goal in mind.'
Wood injured his thigh during the first Test and has been ruled out for the rest of the series.
Joe Root is a doubtful starter for the first Test in July as he will be required to undergo seven days of self-isolation after attending the birth of his second child.
With the series nicely poised at 1-1 going into the third Test, the narrative built around both the teams has changed significantly following India's 336-run routing of England at Edgbaston.
With just a week to go until the start of the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the UAE, it sets up a tight race for the premier position for batters in 50-over cricket during the eight-team tournament.
Senior spinner Ravichandran Ashwin's five-wicket haul in the second innings has helped him narrow the gap with top-ranked Jasprit Bumrah to 21 rating points at 846 after the fast bowler was rested for the Ranchi Test.
Ashes debutant Joe Denly confirmed that Joe Root had phoned him this week and said he wants to bat at three, dropping Denly to fourth man in.
Coach Brendon McCullum said England will continue with their attacking Bazball approach in the last two Tests.
Images from the first One-Day International between India and England at the Barabati Stadium, in Cuttack, on Sunday.
England captain Joe Root is under no illusions about his batting slump and recognises if his side are going to win the second match in Hamilton and level the two-Test series against New Zealand then he needs to make a substantial contribution.
Led by Shubman Gill, a defiant India put on a mentally strong and technically disciplined response to keep the series alive with England 2-1 up. While there were plenty of positives to take forward, a few concerns continue to linger as the series heads to a decider at The Oval.
Images from Day 2 of the third Test between England and India, at Headingley, Leeds, on Thursday.
The Test series, to be played in a bio-secure environment to counter the COVID-19 threat, is subject to the final approval of the UK government.
Captain Shubman Gill and the ever-dependable K L Rahul gave India a glimmer of hope with resilient half-centuries after a well crafted hundred from Ben Stokes extended England's supremacy in the fourth Test in Manchester on Saturday.
Gill's magnificence. Siraj and Akash's brilliance. Jadeja's class. Jaiswal and Rahul's success. Stokes' toss blunder. Root's failures.
England's Test captain Joe Root on Monday reiterated he did not witness racism at Yorkshire but said he is in touch with Azeem Rafiq since his former team-mate testified at a recent parliamentary hearing about the discrimination that he had faced at the club.
'I would put my money on him at least for a little while to hold to all three but there are some good quality players around who will keep pushing him.'
Denly, who made his Test debut against West Indies last year, has reached double figures 24 times in 28 innings but has managed just six half-centuries.
Joe Root has yet to score a century in Australia and in his two previous away Ashes series averages 38 from nine Tests.
India's mind games played a pivotal role in the dismissal of Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne.
Stokes, the leading wicket-taker of the series with 17 scalps, will be a mere spectator at The Oval, robbing the series finale of his charismatic on-field presence.
Captain Joe Root's defiance gave England hope of saving the Ashes series as his unbeaten 75 helped the hosts to 156-3 in their second innings on day three of the third Test at Headingley.
IMAGES from Day 2 of the second Test played between Pakistan and England in Multan on Wednesday.
Jasprit Bumrah, who captained India in Perth, returned with excellent match figures of 8/72 as India crushed Australia by 295 runs.
An injury-plagued India could be forced to depart from their preferred template when they takes on a reinvigorated England in the fourth Test starting in Manchester on Wednesday.
Jasprit Bumrah was on Monday named ICC men's Test Cricketer of the Year for excelling in both home and away conditions
Root survived the axe following a 4-0 drubbing in Australia even as director of cricket Ashley Giles and head coach Chris Silverwood were sacked
England's highest successful run chase came in 2019 when they reached a 359-run target in an Ashes test against Australia on the back of Stokes's brilliant unbeaten century.
England's Dan Lawrence will open the batting in place of the injured Zak Crawley in the first test against Sri Lanka and seamer Matthew Potts will replace Ben Stokes, the England and Wales Cricket Board said on Monday.
Cricket Australia is negotiating with authorities and England's board over travel conditions and whether players' families can come.
IMAGES from Day 3 of the opening Test between England and New Zealand at Lord's on Saturday.
'I am delighted that he has accepted, and he is ready for the added responsibility and the honour'
England were in a commanding position as they took a 94-run first innings lead over the West Indies on the second day of the third and final Test.
Virat Kohli and Steve Smith will be "dangerous" and "hungry" for runs in the remaining two Tests
'The Ashes are on the line here, if that is not motivation, I don't know what is.'
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