All-rounder Ben Stokes returns to England's squad for the first two Tests against India next month after he missed the two-match series against New Zealand in June following a finger injury he sustained during the Indian Premier League earlier this year.
IMAGES from Day 1 of the 3rd Ashes Test played in Melbourne on Sunday.
The competition at the top promises to gain momentum as World No 2 Ben Stokes has also made huge gains to attain a career-best tally of 431 points, narrowing the lead from 66 to 54 points.
England captain Joe Root defended his decision to bat first in the opening Ashes Test against Australia and stood by the selections in their bowling unit despite going down to a heavy nine-wicket defeat at the Gabba on Saturday.
The four-match series will mark England's first away games in the ICC World Test Championship.
India finished the penultimate day on 39-1, still 381 behind the target
Images from Day 5 of the first Ashes Test between England and Australia, at Edgbaston, on Monday.
In other developments in cricket, England opener Rory Burns has been rendered a doubtful starter for the tour of Sri Lanka.
Steve Smith stayed top with 937 rating points, an incredible effort since he started the series in fourth position with 857 points before his surge that came courtesy 774 runs in four Tests.
Mitchell Santner scored his maiden Test century and then grabbed three quick wickets to reduce England to 55-3 at the close of play on the fourth day of the first Test at Bay Oval on Sunday.
Adil Rashid and Ben Stokes scripted a spectacular turnaround to earn England a handy first-innings lead after skittling out Sri Lanka for 240 on day two of the third and final Test on Saturday.
'I think our bowlers' efforts were really good. If they can do the same thing tomorrow, get a couple edges first up, it could be totally different'
Buoyed by their crushing 157-run victory in the fourth Test at The Oval on Monday, a confident Indian team will seek to continue their winning momentum in the fifth and final Test against England at Manchester.
England captain Joe Root hit a brilliant century to put his team in a strong position in their quest for a series-clinching victory on the third day of the second Test against Sri Lanka on Friday.
Images from Day 3 of the fourth Test between England and India, at The Oval, on Saturday.
Images from Day 1 of the fourth Test between England and India, at The Oval, on Thursday.
Who do you think should be part of England's playing XI for the first Test?
Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler compiled an unbeaten fifth-wicket stand of 124 to guide England to 231 for four at the close on Day 1 of the third Test against the West Indies in St Lucia.
Pujara believes that a talent like Pant will learn from his mistakes as he has the ability to rectify and play for the team's cause.
Captain Joe Root's defiance gave England hope of saving the Ashes series as his unbeaten 75 helped the hosts to 156-3 in their second innings on day three of the third Test at Headingley.
Kohli is now five points clear after Smith's knock of 36 in the Adelaide Test
'I think the ECB has been very forward-thinking,' Buttler said, praising the board for recognising the challenges of living in bio-bubbles
India 21 for no loss at stumps on Day 1 after bowling out England for 183 in the first Test, in Nottingham, on Wednesday.
Captain Joe Root said conditions at Old Trafford should suit the 6 foot five tall Craig Overton.
Images from Day 3 of the 2nd Test between England and New Zealand played at Edgbaston on Saturday
England finished day two on 111-2 and trail New Zealand by 267 runs in the first innings of the first Test after Devon Conway's double ton took the game away from the home side on Thursday.
Steve Smith has scored almost half of Australia's runs himself in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston; how he performs on day four is likely to have a big say in who gains the early advantage in the series.
It will also be a milestone in the career of England's talisman Ben Stokes as he captains the side for the first time.
Murtagh produced one of the best spells of bowling ever seen at the old ground, taking five wickets for 13 runs in nine overs as England were skittled for 85.
Denly fell six runs short of his maiden Test century and Ben Stokes made a sparkling 67 in bright sunshine at The Oval to put England in a strong position to level the series at 2-2.
Ben Foakes marked his Test debut with a century and impressed with his glovework, too, as England bowled out Sri Lanka for 203 before stretching their lead to 177 runs on the second day of the opening Test in Galle.
Joe Root's England will have to step up their game against the turning ball to escape that fate in the test series beginning at Galle on Tuesday.
Kagiso Rabada proved the destroyer-in-chief with 4-103, assisted by Anrich Nortje who took three wickets for 56 runs as England fell short by 107 runs.
New Zealand head into the final day still facing a five-run deficit after England were dismissed in their first innings for 476
'England do not make enough runs when it is flat and played poor strokes through lapses in concentration.'
England crushed India by an innings and 76 runs in the third Test which gave Joe Root his 27th win as captain in 55 Tests.
Rajneesh Gupta presents the interesting numbers from Day 5 of the India-England Test at Lord's.
Travis Head smashed a T20-style century to put Australia firmly in control of the first Ashes Test on Thursday as England were hit by an injury crisis during a miserable day two in the field at the Gabba.
England are aiming to avoid their first series defeat at home to the visitors since 2001 when they lost 4-1 to an Australian side led by Steve Waugh.
England were struggling at 53 for 3 in pursuit of an improbable 482 to win at the end of the third day
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