Jonny Bairstow led England to within 40 runs of South Africa's first innings total, with seven wickets in hand, on the first day of the second Test at Old Trafford on Thursday.
England's selectors are acutely aware of the impact on players of bio-secure bubbles and with a demanding year ahead, are making sure they protect their key performers.
Conway remained unbeaten 136 as New Zealand finished the first day at a solid 246 for three
And, Shaheen Afridi won the T20I bowling award for his annihilation of India in the 10-wicket win for Pakistan at the T20 World Cup.
'For me, it was a challenge and whenever I get to bat, I have to create such an impact that it opens the door for my team's victory.'
IMAGES from Day 1 of the opening Ashes Test played between England and Australia at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Friday.
The opening Test between India and England ended in a dull draw after rain washed out what had promised to be a humdinger of a final day on Sunday.
'If England are not playing to win then these Ashes Tests are not that important. They are only exhibition matches. They have got it back to front. It is not about entertaining and then winning. It is about winning first.'
The southpaw became the first to score a hundred in a session at the Gabba, propelling Australia to a 196-run lead over England.
Victory for England would see them take the series, which is poised at 1-1.
At stumps on Day Four, New Zealand's second innings score read 62/2 and the visitors have extended their lead to 165 runs. For the Kiwis, Tom Latham (30*) and Neil Wagner (2*) are unbeaten at the crease.
Jasprit Bumrah has galloped 10 slots to return to the top 10 for bowlers with a match haul of 9/110 in the first Test against England at Nottingham.
The 40-year-old Pietersen said a win against India is similar to a victory against arch-rivals Australia and urged the selectors to play both Stuart Broad and James Anderson in the same XI.
Images from Day 2 in the fifth Test between Australia and England, in Hobart, on Saturday.
Rohit Sharma has overtaken captain Virat Kohli to become the top-ranked Test batsman from India.
Plucked from obscurity when called up by selectors on Christmas Eve, the 32-year-old Victoria paceman finished with outrageous innings figures of 6-7 in four overs, sending his home crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground into delirium.
India's pacemen produced a terrific display of swing bowling to crush England by 151 runs in the second Test at Lord's on Monday, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Ravindra Jadeja's batting average of 41.90 in away Tests in the last three years is the highest by an Indian batsman having played 10 innings or more. Rajneesh Gupta presents all the interesting numbers from Day 3 of the India-England Test at Trent Bridge.
Buttler, Morgan's non-participation in remainder of IPL could save KKR, Royals the blushes
IMAGES from Day 2 of the opening Ashes Test played between England and Australia at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham on Saturday.
A homophobic tweet dating back to 2010 from Jimmy Anderson has also emerged.
England pacer James Anderson said the hosts know Virat Kohli can be very "destructive" once he gets going so the wicket of India skipper was "extra special" for him on Wednesday.
England head coach Chris Silverwood on Sunday said "controlled aggression" contributed immensely to their series-levelling win against India in the third Test, days after the players had let their emotions get the better of them at the Lord's.
The legendary Sachin Tendulkar says the current England team is in complete awe of India's world-class seam attack with only its skipper Joe Root looking capable of getting a big hundred.
Images from Day 5 of the first Ashes Test between England and Australia at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham on Tuesday.
Warner has also taken aim at his Ashes nemesis England veteran pacer Stuart Broad, implying that he will not be the force that derailed the opening batter's 2019 trip this time.
IMAGES from Day 3 of the 3rd Ashes Test played between Australia and England at the MCG on Tuesday.
Rohit Sharma slammed his first Test hundred outside India -- a watchful innings 127 off 256 balls -- to put India in control on Day 3 of the fourth Test match against England.
After England dominated the proceedings on Day 1 of the first Test at the Bay Oval, Tom Blundell struck a century to revive New Zealand's chances.
England shot out India for a paltry 78 and cruised to 120 for no loss in their robust reply to take early control of the third Test at Headingley on Wednesday.
IMAGES from the Premier League matches played on Saturday
As the prestigious Ashes gets underway, here's a look at the milestones that can be achieved.
'It's similar to how it was with Sachin Tendulkar when he was playing. Even 95 was considered a failure.'
India skipper Virat Kohli backed under-fire wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, saying the team management will give him all the space that he needs in the last two Tests of the five-match series against England.
'When you bowl someone out for less than 100 you're never quite sure whether you've bowled well or if the wicket is not as good as you think it might be. To see both sides bat on it and see the way our openers went about their business just felt so calm.'
England face a rejuvenated Australian team who have turned day-night cricket into a competitive advantage, winning all eight of their Tests under lights dating back to the format's 2015 debut.
Manchester City and Arsenal closed in on Premier League leaders Liverpool with contrasting victories on Saturday as Manchester United's bubble was burst by Fulham.
England's batting once again disappointed against Australia on Day 2 of the third Test
In all likelihood, vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane would get another chance but over the past two years, his inconsistency has hurt this team badly.
The performance of openers Rohit Sharma and K L Rahul has been the biggest plus for India in the batting department. Both have showed remarkable temperament and technique in testing conditions to give the team a solid start.
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