England crawled to 286 for 6 at the close on the third day of the first Test. They trail their hosts by 184 runs with two days to play.
England slipped to 87 for two, in reply to New Zealand's 470 all out, at the close of play on the second day of the first Test.
Half centuries from Michael Vaughan, Alastair Cook and Ian Bell allowed England to reach 250 for three at tea before the final session was washed out.
England opener Alastair Cook top-scored with 63 as the tourists three-day practice game against a Sri Lanka Board President's XI petered out into a draw on Thursday.
The left-hander was named as caretaker captain for the first Test against Pakistan while Andrew Flintoff recovers from a heel injury.
He claimed England did not have what it takes to successfully defend the coveted Ashes urn.
'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'
England have replaced South Africa as Australia's nearest rivals after winning six of their last seven Tests.
India deserved their 1-0 series win against England after the third Test ended in a draw at The Oval on Monday, captains Michael Vaughan and Rahul Dravid said.
Ashley Giles has yet to recover from a hip injury.
Trailing 0-1 in the series England captain Michael Vaughan believes his side can once again rise to the occasion and level the three-match contest with a great performance.
Injury-hit England have called up Middlesex batsman Owais Shah as cover for their test series in India starting on Wednesday, a team official said.
Greg Chappell has been studying, literally, how England transformed themselves to steal an Ashes win.
India can move up to second from its present position of fifth in the LG ICC Test Championship with a clean sweep of England in the three-match series.
Was the left-hander the right man for the job or simply in the right place at the right time?
"At this stage of my career... I don't think it's the right time for me yet," the batsman told reporters.
Orissa Steelers beat Imphal Rangers via a golden goal to go to the top of the table with 12 points in Tier II in the Premier Hockey League.
England, set 110 to win, reached 111 for three with captain Michael Vaughan (48 not out) steering England home in his first Test series in 18 months after injury.
Play will begin three hours late because overnight rain delayed the start after the first day was washed out.
The England left-arm spinner exploited a wearing Old Trafford pitch to claim his first 10-wicket haul in a Test match.
West Indies fought back after lunch with four wickets to reduce England to 167 for five at tea on the first day.
Replying to England's 570-7, the West Indies capitulated to 146 all out and were 22 for two at the close on Day 2 after following on.
India could move to second place in ICC Test rankings if they beat Sri Lanka in the Test series
Pakistan produced a fine bowling performance to restrict England to 248 for six despite a battling 71 from Paul Collingwood on the first day of the third Test on Tuesday.
England scored 253 for three against Pakistan after two days of the first Test on Sunday.
England lost the three-day tour match against Pakistan 'A' side by six wickets.
Ricky Ponting was ranked fourth among batsmen while Andrew Flintoff, at 10, is England's highest ranked bowler
Penpix of England's 12-man squad for the first 2005 Ashes Test on July 21.
England scored 242 for eight from 50 overs in the first match of the one-day tri-series against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.
England will use the retired ODI skipper's experience during their upcoming one-day campaigns.
The Australian bowler risked having to wipe egg off his face for a second time.
The England fast bowler failed to find line, length or rhythm at Port Elizabeth as took one for 142, his worst return in 24 Tests.
Cricketing fraternity, on Thursday, applauded Australia batsman Steven Smith for hitting a century against England, on Day 1 of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston, on Thursday.
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