England on Tuesday rested IPL stars including Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow for the upcoming two-Test series against New Zealand while Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes were not considered for selection due to injuries.
Ireland attack ruthlessly exposed the cracks in England's batting as the hosts posted their lowest home total since scoring 77 against Australia in 1997.
Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin returned impressive figures of five for 59 to help Nottinghamshire bowl out Somerset for 169 in the second innings of the County Championship Division One match n Taunton on Tuesday.
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.
Australia, fuelled by hundreds from Travis Head and David Warner, crushed England by 221 runs in the third One-Day International to sweep the series in front of largely empty stands at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday.
Images from Day 1 of the 2nd Test between England and New Zealand played on Thursday
The 29-year-old, who got married this week, received a warm welcome from an unusually large crowd at the Glenn McGrath Oval and looked his usual twitchy self at the crease as he rattled off a half century in 62 balls.
The hosts finished day two on 54-1 for an overall lead of 249 runs on a deteriorating track.
England coach Chris Silverwood said England may need to consider using the Barbadian-born quick in short bursts.
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 3 of the 2nd Test between England and New Zealand played at Edgbaston on Saturday
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Images from Day 1 of the second Test between India and England, at the M A Chidambaram stadium, in Chennai.
Who do you think should be part of England's playing XI for the first Test?
Images from Day 2 of the second Test between India and England, at the M A Chidambaram stadium, in Chennai.
Rohit's 162-run partnership with Ajinkya Rahane dragged the hosts back into the contest, before England dismissed both in the final session.
As expected, fast bowler Jofra Archer was included in the 12 and looks poised to make his Test debut in the absence of England's record wicket taker James Anderson.
Fast bowler Jofra Archer got his maiden Test call up as he was included in England's squad for the Ashes series opener against Australia.
'We often in England, talk about express pace, but that's not what I'm seeing. It's relentlessness with the ball. It's (Glenn) McGrath-like that you do for a long period of time. It's not bowling bad balls and releasing the pressure.'
Sri Lanka's top-order batsmen put up a solid display and were ably aided by their bowlers to help their side thump England by 219 runs for the touring side's worst one-day international loss by runs.
England pace bowler Jofra Archer has been omitted from the side for the first Ashes Test against Australia starting at Edgbaston on Thursday
While England boast a formidable attacking threat, there are concerns about their defence which is perhaps why Southgate is prepared to look at new candidates before he has to make his final call for the tournament.
Images from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday.
Images from Day 4 of the second Test between India and England, at the M A Chidambaram stadium, in Chennai.
'It was good fun to be out there. It was great to bat with Roy. He gave me a lot of confidence and allowed me to just play the way I wanted to play'
Along with Jonny Bairstow, Wood joined the England squad ahead of the third Test.
A virgin Motera pitch has become the big talking point as captain Virat Kohli looks to get the combination right with India looking to continue their momentum to trouble England in the day-night third Test match, starting in Ahmedabad, on Wednesday.
Factbox on the five-Test Ashes series between England and Australia
Led by Saharan, who is leading the batting charts with 389 runs, the team's performance got better with each match and the only time it has been pushed to a corner in the tournament is the semifinal where it pipped hosts South Africa by a solitary wicket.
While a draw always seems a safe option in a game like this but Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri wouldn't like to play a defensive game which at times can be counter-productive.
It is an perfect stage for India's mercurial skipper Virat Kohli, who loves to bring his A game to the fore when the chips are down.
A look at the newly-laid dark coloured Chepauk track is an indication that unlike the strip used during the first Test, this one will offer turn earlier than expected.
India will aim to soar higher with the return of Virat Kohli against Joe Root's England
With pacer Jofra Archer, opener Rory Burns and star all-rounder Ben Stokes back in the England squad, the visitors are likely to have some competition for spots in the team for the 1st Test against India.
Ireland's dream of pulling off one of the biggest shocks in the history of Test cricket by beating England at Lord's were shattered as they collapsed to 38 all out to lose by 143 runs.
Captain Dean Elgar said he always believed his young South African side could become a formidable team after they beat England by an innings and 12 runs within three days in the first Test at Lord's on Friday.
Battle commences at Edgbaston on Thursday and the last time Australia won there was the opening match of the 2001 series which they ended up dominating 4-1.
A lot of Indian cricketers have been doing their bit, ranging from making financial donations to helping people procure essential medical care.
Images from Day 3 of the second Test between India and England, at the M A Chidambaram stadium, in Chennai.
Images from Saturday's action in the Premier League.
