India went into the first Test with one spinner in Anil Kumble, while Yuvraj Singh lost the battle for a No 6 or 7 slot to VVS Laxman and M S Dhoni.
Pakistan dominated the first day of the opening Test after bowling out England for 184 and battling to 50 for one in overcast conditions at Lord's in London on Thursday.
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.
Paul Collingwood, without a Test century in more than a year, was recalled to the England side along with fit-again bowler Ryan Sidebottom for the third Test against South Africa starting on Wednesday.
Ian Bell came of age as an England batsman on Friday with a monumental 199 on the second day of the first Test against South Africa at Lord's.
England name their 16-member squad for T20Is against India
England eased to a six-wicket victory over the West Indies in the second one-day international in Bristol on Sunday. Fast bowler Stuart Broad took four wickets and medium-pacer Paul Collingwood three as West Indies struggled to 160 all out in 38.3 overs after being put into bat. Owais Shah struck 38 and Collingwood made an unbeaten 47 to see England home with 14 overs to spare.
New Zealand finished day four on 222 for five, needing another 331 to win the third Test against England.
A "gut feeling" choice made by Michael Vaughan to drop his bowling spearheads Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard paid enormous dividends for the England captain during the second Test win against New Zealand.
Along with Jonny Bairstow, Wood joined the England squad ahead of the third Test.
The England fast bowler will miss the one-day series starting next week against Pakistan through injury.
Both Stokes and Archer were rested for the ongoing two-match Test series in Sri Lanka
Root survived the axe following a 4-0 drubbing in Australia even as director of cricket Ashley Giles and head coach Chris Silverwood were sacked
West Indies edged into a lead of 34 runs with three first innings wickets in hand on an attritional third day of the first Test against England at Sabina Park on Friday. The hosts had hoped to create an imposing total from the foundations built by centurions Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan, who shared a 202-run partnership for the second wicket. West Indies finished the day on 352 for seven in reply to England's first innings total of 318.
England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff flew to Jamaica on Monday for a scan after picking up a side strain in England's opening warm-up game against an invitational team from St Kitts & Nevis. Flintoff pulled out of the match on Sunday and was replaced by Stuart Broad.
Opener Gautam Gambhir hit his third century in four Tests as India scored 179 for 1 on the first day of the second and final test against England on Friday.
Indian team manager Lalchand Rajput said both players' fitness would be assessed on Saturday before the Twenty20 World Cup semi-final against Australia.
The Indian captain said his team has the resilience to come back from 1-3 series deficit.
England should not be overly reliant on express pace in the next two Tests against West Indies and must consider alternating Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, former quick Darren Gough said. England opted for the express speed of Archer and Wood and the experience of James Anderson in Southampton but lost by four wickets in the series opener.
Stuart Broad claimed a career-best five for 23 to help England thrash South Africa by 10 wickets in the second one-day international in Nottingham on Tuesday.
England's "Bazball" revolution continued apace on Sunday when the tourists wrapped up a thumping 267-run victory over New Zealand in the opening session of the fourth day of the first Test.
IMAGES from Day 1 of the 2nd Ashes Test played in Adelaide on Thursday.
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.
England extended their lead to 176 runs at the close of play on the second day of the deciding Third test after Ryan Sidebottom ripped through New Zealand's batting lineup on Sunday. Sidebottom finished with career-best figures of seven for 47 and took his series tally to 23 wickets.
Kevin Pietersen scored a fine century as England ended Day 1 in the third Test against New Zealand on 240 for 7. New Zealand debutant pace bowler Tim Southee had made a dream start, taking two wickets in his first spell as England slumped to 58 for four at lunch and 150 for six at tea.
'I really hope we've inspired a new generation.'
England have dropped experienced fast bowlers Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard for the second test against New Zealand starting on Thursday.
Anderson, who is recuperating from a right calf injury, will feature against Leicestershire in a three-day friendly match starting on Tuesday.
Scott Boland will become the first indigenous Australian Test player since Jason Gillespie played his last match in 2006 when he receives his baggy green cap on Sunday.
Younis Khan scored 101 as Pakistan beat England by two wickets in the third ODI.
Pakistan were set 159 runs to win from 32 overs according to the Duckworth-Lewis calculation.
England fast bowler Matthew Hoggard was included in a 12-man squad for the third and final Test against Sri Lanka, starting in Galle on Tuesday. Fast bowler Stuart Broad, who made his debut in the drawn second Test, was left out to accommodate the possible return of oggard, who missed the second Test with a back injury.
Since 2011, England have managed to eke out just a single draw in 13 Ashes Tests over three tours and their last two Tests in Sydney have resulted in humiliating defeats.
The veteran fast bowler was named in a 30-man provisional squad for the ICC Champions Trophy in India but there was no place for Monty Panesar
The dashing left-hander believes that till he does not perform in Test cricket, he cannot be considered as a top player.
England's build-up to their one-day series in Sri Lanka has been hit by a stomach virus sweeping through the squad.
With Australia wobbling at 76 for four on day two, Smith dragged his side back from the brink over eight-and-a-half hours of gut-busting graft and strode off the Gabba after tea on day three with an unbeaten 141 from 326 balls.
Pakistan overcame belligerent resistance from England's tail-enders to win the second Test by 178 runs on Monday after bowling out the visitors for 312 with 6.3 overs remaining on the final day.
England Lions finished the opening day of the three-day tour match on a commanding 379 for 8 against India at Chelmsford on Friday.
England skipper Root has said he could miss the series opener believes the side would still be in good hands, with vice-captain Stokes well-equipped to take the reins.
