Asad Shafiq and Younus Khan made gritty centuries to lift Pakistan to 340 for six as England's bowlers toiled in perfect batting conditions on the second day of the final Test at The Oval on Friday.
Right from the moment England captain Alastair Cook won the toss, his team did no wrong. The hosts humiliated South Africa as they handed them a crushing seven-wicket-defeat with 75 balls to spare in the first semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy, in London, on Wednesday.
Wicketkeeper Matt Prior and struggling batsman Jonathan Trott have lost their central contacts with England, though all-rounder Ben Stokes has been rewarded despite a poor home series against India.
England have recalled Yorkshire batsman Gary Ballance for the first Test against Pakistan at Lord's next week, but paceman Jimmy Anderson misses out with a shoulder injury. Uncapped Middlesex seamer Roland-Jones Ball was named in their 12-man squad, announced on Thursday.
England have named uncapped Surrey batsman Jason Roy in their 14-man squad for next Sunday's one-off Twenty20 international at home to India.
Ben Stokes is poised to lead the team in the first Test against West Indies on July 8 with captain Joe Root likely to miss the game to attend the birth of his second child.
Sri Lanka's openers confidently negotiated an awkward session at the end of a rain-interrupted fourth day at Lord's on Sunday, setting up the prospect of a fascinating finish to the third and final Test against England.
Yuvraj Singh played pivotal roles in India winning the 2011 World Cup and the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007.
India registered just three victories in 11 Tests, worse than even Zimbabwe and the West Indies...
Curran (78) scored his second Test half-century as England recovered from 86-6 to finish with 246 runs. The left-hander put up crucial lower-order partnerships with Moeen Ali and Stuart Broad to frustrate the Indian bowlers.
Sri Lanka beat England with just one ball to spare to win the second Test at Headingley by 100 runs on Tuesday and take the two-match series 1-0.
Former Australia skipper Greg Chappell has said that the saliva ban will not favour batsmen as much as people are expecting it too.
James Anderson marked his 150th Test and return to the England attack with the first-ball wicket of home opener Dean Elgar, and Sam Curran also grabbed four wickets before Quinton de Kock rallied the Proteas. Images from Day 1 of the opening Test played between South Africa and England at Centurion on Thursday.
'In cold weather conditions, when you are not sweating at all, how do you use sweat?'
A magnificent partnership between Chris Woakes and Jos Buttler helped propel England to an unlikely three-wicket victory over Pakistan in a topsy-turvy first Test at Old Trafford on Saturday. Images from Day 4 of the first Test between England and Pakistan in Manchester on Saturday.
Rajneesh Gupta gives us all the numbers that matter from Day 1 of the fourth Test between England and India at The Oval, on Thursday, September 2, 2021.
Kohli trails Smith by 26 points and will have to produce a string of strong performances to leapfrog the Australian.
Rohit Sharma won the prestigious Maruti Suzuki ESPN Cricinfo award for the third year in a row.
Who do you think should be part of England's playing XI for the first Test?
South Africa will seek to exploit any weaknesses England may display when they go into the opening test at Lord's under a new captain and with some injury concerns, the tourists' stand-in skipper Dean Elgar has said.
Australia's dramatic collapse against South Africa at the weekend has drawn inevitable comparisons with their previous Test defeat but vanquished coach Darren Lehmann says the two losses were vastly different.
Tendulkar also felt that Leach doesn't vary his pace a lot which will be required on tracks offer turn.
IMAGES from Day 2 of the 3rd Test played between England and New Zealand at Headingley on Friday.
England picked up three early wickets as Sri Lanka struggled to 218 for six at lunch on the third day of the third and final Test at Lord's on Saturday.
Pat Cummins took a five-wicket haul in a dream start to his Australia captaincy as England were skittled for 147 by tea at the Gabba before rain brought the opening day of the Ashes to an early close.
Virat Kohli battled hard in difficult circumstances, scoring 43 not out to guide India to 110 for five in 36 overs. The visitors need another 84 runs for victory with two day's play still left in the match.
India 21 for no loss at stumps on Day 1 after bowling out England for 183 in the first Test, in Nottingham, on Wednesday.
Statistical highlights of the tri-series match between India and England at the WACA on Friday.
India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin surged to the top of the MRF Tyres ICC Player Rankings for Test Bowlers after a superb outing in the first Test against the West Indies in Antigua which the visiting side won by an innings and 92 runs.
Chris Woakes and rookie pacer Olly Stone will be vying for a final spot in the playing eleven.
Indians dominated the limited-over teams by having three and four players in the ODI and T20I respectively
A draw in the fifth and final Test of Ashes series helped England leapfrog India to move into second position in the latest ICC Test Team Ranking chart, which is still headed by South Africa.
Talented opener K L Rahul displayed superb temperament but missed out on a well-deserved double century as he helped put India in a commanding position at 391 for 4 on the third day of the fifth cricket Test against England in Chennai on Sunday.
'You have to be careful how you use an advantage because, with Root not being there, you have some youngster who wants to make a name for himself.'
India suffered a heartbreaking 31-run loss to England as skipper Virat Kohli's heroics went in vain amid yet another abject batting capitulation in a riveting opening Test in Birmingham.
Captain Joe Root said conditions at Old Trafford should suit the 6 foot five tall Craig Overton.
Aus coach Darren Lehmann refused to blame selection errors and concedes being outplayed by England
Bowling at a slightly slower pace than he did at Lord's, Archer said his style reflected the conditions.
Jofra Archer's first five-wicket haul in Test cricket put England in command on a weather-affected opening day of the third Ashes Test at Headingley on Thursday as they bowled Australia out for 179.
England battled to 96 for four in their second innings by the end of a dramatic fourth day at Lord's to lead Australia by 104 runs and leave the second Ashes Test on a knife-edge.
