2012 has proved to be the year of the batsman. Australia's Michael Clarke is on the top among the leading batsmen in Test cricket. The Australian captain has 1358 runs to his credit this year. Hashim Amla and Alastair Cook are the others crossing the 1000 run-mark.
England had more of such 'impact' players and that explains why they retained the urn for a third straight time, winning the five-match series 3-0, despite being way below their best. Here's a look at the top performers for England in the series.
Five cricketers, including India's World Cup winning skipper M S Dhoni, were on Thursday shortlisted for the second edition of ICC's 'People's Choice Awards'.
Alastair Cook scored his 20th Test century as England emerged on top on day one of the first Test against South Africa, finishing on 267 for three at close at The Oval on Thursday. Cook was 114 not out, his chanceless effort coming after he lost captain and opening partner Andrew Strauss to the fourth ball of the morning, following an impressive second-wicket stand of 170 with Jonathan Trott, who scored 71.
The all-rounder took to Twitter to tell his followers how he was lucky to have the support of his family, friends and employers during his recovery.
South African spinner Imran Tahir's participation in the high-profile World Cup match against co-hosts India hangs in the balance after he suffered a thumb fracture, Cricket South Africa said on Wednesday.
Thrown into Jonathan Trott's vacant number three position, Joe Root led from the front to restore some pride for a wounded England on day four of the second Ashes test on Sunday, savouring a war of words with Australia's frustrated fielders.
Prolific batsman Kevin Pietersen has been left out of England's limited-overs squad for next year's New Zealand tour as part of a policy to better manage the workload of players.
Images from Day 1 of the 4th Test between India and England, at the VCA stadium, in Nagpur, on Thursday.
Statistical highlights of the third day's play of the third cricket Test between India and England at the Eden Gardens.
Pragyan Ojha struck twice in the second session to help India take the upper-hand after England batted resolutely in reply to India's first innings total of 327 on the second afternoon of the second Test on Saturday.
Australia chiselled out four key England wickets to take control of the fifth and final Ashes Test on an absorbing third day at the Oval on Friday.
Images from Day 2 of the second Ashes Test between Australia and England in London, on Thursday.
A rampant England team brimming with confidence go into the third Test against India on Wednesday primed to claim the victory that would secure the world number one ranking from their opponents.
The opportunity to play Test cricket for England again may not have come the way he would have expected, but for Ravi Bopara it is an opportunity nonetheless.
Images from the Champions Trophy match played between Australia and England in Birmingham on Saturday.
Martin Guptill blasted a majestic unbeaten 189, the equal fifth highest score in one-day international cricket, to propel New Zealand to a 86-run win over England at the Rose Bowl on Sunday.
Alastair Cook closed in on a 25th Test century after deciding not to enforce the follow-on as England, looking to ensure a series victory over New Zealand, built a substantial lead in the second and final Test on Sunday.
Tim Southee claimed three late wickets as New Zealand reduced England to 180 for six on a dramatic third day of the first Test at Lord's on Saturday.
The New Zealand pace attack bowled with great discipline as England crawled to 160 for four on a tense and absorbing opening day of the first Test at Lord's on Thursday.
Trent Boult grabbed two wickets as New Zealand reduced England to 50 for two and seized the advantage at the end of the second day of the deciding third Test at Eden Park on Saturday.
The Wisden Cricketers' Almanack has broken with tradition and named only four cricketers of the year for its 2011 edition because of the Pakistan spot-fixing scandal, editor Scyld Berry said on Friday.
Quinton de Kock tied a One-day International record as South Africa beat Zimbabwe by 61 runs on Tuesday to take a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Eoin Morgan and Joe Root ensured England completed a comfortable five-wicket victory over New Zealand in the third and final One Day International match at EdenPark in Auckland on Saturday to wrap up the series.
England named batter Harry Brook at the expense of Jason Roy on Sunday in the squad for their 50-over World Cup title defence.
England broke a 28-year-old jinx on Monday, achieving a historic Test series triumph on Indian soil and leaving the hosts embarrassed with a 2-1 verdict after the fourth and final match ended in a draw in Nagpur. The last time an English side defeated India in their own backyard was way back in 1984-85, under the captaincy of David Gower.
A desperate India's push for a series-levelling win was met with a dogged resistance from England who rode on Jonathan Trott's gritty half-century to overcome a nervous phase as the fourth and final cricket Test seemed headed for a draw in Nagpur on Sunday.
Statistical highlights of the first day's play in the fourth Test between India and England in Nagpur, on Thursday.
Images from the 3rd day's play of the 3rd Test in Kolkata played between England and India on Friday.
England were 509 for 6 in their first essay, a lead of 193 runs, at close on Day 3 of the third Test.
Former captain Geoffrey Boycott questioned England's ability to play spin on the turning sub-continent pitches after they lost three quick wickets in the first Test against India in Ahmedabad.
Jonathan Trott notched up a hundred before England knocked out six Haryana wickets but their third and final practice match ahead of the Test series against India ended in a tame draw on the last day in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
Rahul Dewan struck an impressive unbeaten 143 but England managed to budle Haryana out for 333 to extended their lead to 306 runs in Ahmdedabad on Saturday.
Rain forced the abandonment of the first One-Dayer between India and England. The match was called off 7.2 overs into the home side's run chase in Chester-le-Street on Saturday. Chasing 275 for a win, England were 27 for two in 7.2 overs.
South Africa replaced England at the top of the world Test rankings on Monday after defeating the home side by 51 runs at Lord's to win their three-Test series 2-0.
South Africa beat England by 51 runs in the third Test at Lord's on Monday to win the series 2-0 and become the world's top-ranked side in place of the hosts.
England lost early wickets to slump to 16 for two at close of play against South Africa at Lord's on Sunday, as their pursuit of 346 to win the third and final Test and square the series started badly.
England have ruled batsman Kevin Pietersen out of the three-match one day series against Bangladesh starting on Thursday after he picked up a thigh injury against Australia at Lord's.
England named an unchanged squad on Sunday for the fourth Test against India starting on Thursday at The Oval.
England rounded off a comprehensive One-Day International series defeat of four-times World Cup winners Australia with an eight-wicket win in the fourth one-day international at Chester-le-Street on Saturday.
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