A look back at a few memorable showdowns in the last decade and half that had the quintessential crests and troughs of Test cricket.
Jonny Bairstow's composed 89 helped England survive some atrocious top order shot-making and reach 268 for eight at close of play on the first day of the third Test against India on Saturday.
Former ICC elite umpire Simon Taufel said people cite the 'spirit of the game' when they don't like a dismissal under the laws of cricket.
Jonny Bairstow hit a resolute century and put on 156-run partnership with Eoin Morgan to rescue England from a precarious position on the first day of their three-day warm-up game against Mumbai 'A' in Mumbai on Saturday.
Abhishek Sharma opened up about a small but meaningful habit-pulling out a chit from his pocket after scoring a century in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
England batsman Jonny Bairstow was pleased to finally take SunRisers Hyderabad home after scoring an unbeaten 56-ball 63 against Punjab Kings in Chennai on Wednesday.
Punjab Kings need to show up and perform in IPL 2024, erasing the many disappointments of earlier seasons.
Three Just Stop Oil protesters charged after disrupting play at Lord's
Bairstow has returned to training but Root did not say whether he would have been available. British media have reported that he did not take part in any activities that could have aggravated the ankle injury.
Jonny Bairstow and Steven Finn inspired England to a 38-run victory over Pakistan in Dubai on Saturday to level the three-match series of Twenty20 internationals at 1-1.
Jonny Bairstow hit the highest score of the match to lead an England fightback against South Africa on day two of the third and final Test on Friday, keeping alive their hopes of the win they need to square the series.
Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali shared an unbroken partnership of 132 to lift England to 414 for five and a lead of 311 runs over Pakistan on the fourth day of the third test at Edgbaston on Saturday. Bairstow was unbeaten on 82 and Moeen 60 not out at the close with England in a good position to take a 2-1 lead in the four-match series if they can bowl out the touring side on the final day.
'Does the spirit of the game logic apply to you, or is it just for Indians?'
Jonny Bairstow is looking forward to a spot in the England Test team, and is aware that Kevin Pietersen is ahead of him in the pecking order.
Images from the 2nd ODI between England and Ireland in Southampton on Saturday
Jonny Bairstow and Liam Livingstone blasted superb half-centuries to power Punjab Kings to a thumping 54-run win in a must-win match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
'It must be a nightmare for the selectors, but should you have your best side for that first India Test? If the next Test after this series was Brisbane in the Ashes, would we send our best side? So why when it's the first Test against India, one of the great sides, aren't we sending our best team?'
While ever more hostage to Twenty20's global carve-up, cricket will take a breath from next week to indulge its most time-honoured rivalry as Australia and England battle in the Ashes.
Ashwin bagged the wicket of Jonny Bairstow to become the first Indian player to reach the landmark milestone.
Chris Woakes struck a maiden Test century and Jonny Bairstow added 93 as England dominated the third day of the second Test at Lord's on Saturday, reaching 357-6 to open up a significant 250-run lead over India.
'Let's see what you're really made of.'
Images from Thursday's Indian Premier League match between Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kings XI Punjab, in Dubai.
The severity of Ishant's injury and his availability for future matches remain unclear.
Jonny Bairstow, restored to the England side but shorn of his keeping gloves, celebrated his return with a sparkling 110 to help them to 312 for seven on the opening day of the third and final Test against Sri Lanka on Friday.
Bairstow will be a key player for the England in the World Cup starting May 30 in the United Kingdom.
England name their 16-member squad for T20Is against India
Johnny Bairstow scored England's first century of the series as the tourists staged a fightback after a torrid start to the third day of the fourth Ashes Test on Friday, but Australia remained in command with a lead of 158 at the close of play.
Jonny Bairstow fell five runs short of a maiden Test century on Saturday before South Africa took their lead in the match to 139 at the end of day three of the third and final Test against England at Lord's.
Amidst a challenging tour of India, England finds themselves in the serene embrace of Dharamsala for the final Test.
Recalled Jonny Bairstow says he's in 'best form'.
An unbeaten century by England's Jonny Bairstow, his second in as many Tests, lifted the tourists back from the brink of disaster on the first day of their three-Test series against West Indies on Tuesday.
Ben Stokes played another magnificent innings, but the England skipper wasn't able to finish the job as Australian won the second Ashes Test at Lord's.
'It's the most basic stuff, guys. Follow the ball and then leave the crease. Even now in Ranji Trophy and international cricket, the batsman will always look at the 'keeper and slip fielder, ask their permission and only then leave the crease.'
The national selectors have rested Bairstow, Sam Curran, and Mark Wood for the first two Tests in India.
They made a fast start to their innings with Chris Gayle, dropped by Joe Root in the first over, thumping three huge sixes as the visitors reached 45 without loss after five overs.
'James Anderson was unavailable for selection in the Test squad as he continues his rehabilitation from a calf injury,' the ECB said in a statement.
The Champions League Twenty20 suffered a blow on Tuesday when international players Dwayne Bravo and Jonny Bairstow were ruled out because of injuries.
Spinner Adil Rashid returns to both T20 and ODI squads after missing the series against India to make The Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
'Very pleasing. Most importantly the win, cricket has turned to baseball isn't it? We're delighted with the two points.'
Jonny Bairstow struck a sublime unbeaten 60 to lead England to a dominant nine-wicket victory over South Africa in the first Twenty20 international in Southampton on Wednesday.
