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.
Jasprit Bumrah, who captained India in Perth, returned with excellent match figures of 8/72 as India crushed Australia by 295 runs.
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.
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.
'Whenever you lose a series, it hurts. I've to take that on the chin. You have to look at areas you want to get better at, both in yourself and as a team'
Joe Root, who scored his 10th ODI hundred, was thrilled at England getting their Champions Trophy campaign off to an emphatic start.
Jasprit Bumrah was on Monday named ICC men's Test Cricketer of the Year for excelling in both home and away conditions
There was never an iota of doubt over Joe Root's class since his 2012 Test debut against India but the 25-year-old Yorkshireman's latest heroics have left many wondering if he is England's best ever batsman across the three formats of the game.
England lost all 10 wickets in their second innings to spinners, who bowled the lion's share of India's overs.
An unbeaten Joe Root century and a bowling masterclass by James Anderson put England in complete control of the second Test on Saturday.
Root toasts best win as he gets comfortable in leading role
Before heading to Australia for the Ashes in the winter, England play seven Tests at home against New Zealand and India this summer.
Joe Root, who was named full-time Test captain in 2017, scored the last of his 16 centuries in the longest format against West Indies in February.
Images from Day 2 of the second Test between England and India, at Lord's, on Friday.
Pakistan have adjusted their plans for Alastair Cook and Joe Root ahead of Wednesday's third test at Edgbaston, the touring side's coach Mickey Arthur has said, adding he considers the duo as the backbone of England's batting. Root scored 254 and an unbeaten 71 while Cook made 105 and 76 not out as Pakistan were beaten by 330 runs on the fourth day of the second test at Old Trafford last week to level the four-match series at 1-1.
Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow put England on course for a ground-breaking run chase against India despite Jasprit Bumrah's brilliance on day four of the rescheduled fifth Test, setting up a fitting series finale in Birmingham on Monday.
Pakistan beat England by 152 runs in the second Test in Multan on Friday to level the three-match series at 1-1.
IMAGES from Day 3 of the 2nd Test played between Pakistan and England in Multan, on Thursday.
Virat Kohli and Steve Smith will be "dangerous" and "hungry" for runs in the remaining two Tests
'In the past, the likes of Sam Curran and Chris Woakes have managed to come in... Both had a great series against India (at home) last time. We have managed without Ben before and, hopefully, we can do that again.'
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.
England's highly aggressive 'Bazball' approach to Test cricket did not secure the 2023 home Ashes against their arch rivals, Australia.
Gill's magnificence. Siraj and Akash's brilliance. Jadeja's class. Jaiswal and Rahul's success. Stokes' toss blunder. Root's failures.
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.
Jos Buttler and his England team-mate Joe Root, who are part of the Rajasthan Royals team, had a candid chat this week.
Root spoke of his pride in his team after they won the final Test against Australia by 135 runs on Sunday to draw the Ashes series 2-2.
Ravichandran Ashwin has maintained the top spot among bowlers
Joe Root was named as England's Test captain on Monday, replacing Alastair Cook who resigned last week after four and a half years in charge.
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.
'I am pretty sure that Morgan went to the selectors and Ashley Giles and said he wanted his best team at all times this year in Twenty20'
'For 90% of the summer we have. We have shown what a good team we can be.'
With 20 points in their kitty, the Royals are within touching distance of becoming the first team to qualify for the play-offs.
India is facing form concerns and selection dilemmas as they enter the final phase of their Champions Trophy preparations.
Root is also England's best batsman against spin bowling and his duel will Ravichandran Ashwin will be another point of interest in the series.
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.
Australia great Ian Chappell says Virat Kohli is an exceptional captain who has carried the Indian team to a higher level, whereas England's Joe Root is a "fine batter but poor captain".
The major difference between the two sides was the Super Kings' start with du Plessis and Devon Conway (20 off 25 balls) compiling a solid 54-run stand for the first wicket to set up the run chase.
Test cricket would have been a "far blander place" without Kohli: Vaughan
IMAGES from Day 3 of the 1st Ashes Test played at the Gabba in Brisbane on Friday.
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.
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