England has announced their 12-player squad for the first Test against New Zealand, which begins at Lord's on Thursday. The squad includes two uncapped players and sees the return of Ollie Robinson, while Zak Crawley and Jofra Archer are notable omissions.
England opener Zak Crawley said Australia had shown why they were favourites coming into the Ashes after a tough day four at Adelaide Oval left the tourists staring down the barrel of a series defeat on Saturday.
England have dropped opener Zak Crawley and selected Emilio Gay as Ben Duckett's opening partner in a reshaped squad for the first Test against New Zealand.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has significantly expanded its central contract list to 30 players, alongside nine development contracts, for the 2026/27 season, introducing several new faces and extending deals for key players.
It was a dramatic end to day three of the third Test with opener Zak Crawley using the delaying tactic to ensure England only played one over
'We cannot say suddenly that Crawley and Pope have solved the technical and mental issues that have dogged their careers because the Zimbabwe bowling was so average.'
He also had encouraging words for young leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed, who picked up only two wickets in Hyderabad.
24-year-old Zak Crawley faces he axe after scores of 9 and 13 at Lord's, where South Africa triumphed by an innings and 12 runs inside three days to grab a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
After a cautious start, Crawley and Duckett punished the straying Indian bowlers with an array of crisp boundaries. The pair blunted the new ball and raced to 77 without loss at tea.
England's Joe Root conquered his final frontier with a first Ashes century in Australia as the tourists pushed past 300 on day one of the second Test in Brisbane on Thursday despite a six-wicket haul from pace spearhead Mitchell Starc.
Cricketer-turned-commentator Vaughan has expressed his thoughts regarding the fourth Test. The former cricketer praised England's win but added that cricket fans should not celebrate after seeing a Test match ending in two days.
'The tailenders should have looked to bat with Jamie Smith. Really poor from the batters towards the end. The plan should have been to give him the strike and let him do the heavy lifting.'
Former England captain Michael Vaughan feels Zak Crawley's time-wasting tactics at the end of the third day in the ongoing third Test was "as good a piece" he has ever seen, but said India can't complain as the visitors employed the same approach on the second day at Lord's.
England on Wednesday announced their playing XI for the opening Test of the five-match series against India, which will kickstart at Headingley on Friday.
Zak Crawley had slipped on the marble floor of the Chepauk dressing room, thereby injuring his wrist.
IMAGES from Day 2 of the fourth Ashes Test between England and Australia at Old Trafford in Manchester on Thursday.
Zak Crawley said most of his teammates have become better players since embracing the ultra-aggressive 'Bazball' approach
Taking his 17th Test five-wicket haul, he finished with 7 for 58 off 12.5 overs.
England started the day at 97-0 needing another 33 to win and picked them up in 27 minutes for the loss of Alex Lees for 39. Crawley finished on 69 not out, with Pope unbeaten on 11.
England were comfortably placed at 225 for two at stumps after bowling out India for 358 on the second day of the fourth Test in Manchester on Thursday.
Vaughan slams Crawley for failing to pounce on opportunities
Reddy, brought into the attack just after the first hour of play in the 14th over, struck twice in his very first over by removing both England openers.
England are desperate to win the final Ashes Test against Australia despite a series victory no longer being possible.
Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope scored centuries to take England to a massive 498/3 at the close on the first day of their one-off Test against Zimbabwe.
England lost both matches by eight wickets and will relinquish all hopes of regaining the Ashes if they are unable to win the third Test, which begins at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday.
Zak Crawley and Jos Buttler shared a record partnership and James Anderson grabbed three wickets to put England in total control at the close on the second day of the third and final Test against Pakistan on Saturday. Images from Day 2 of the third and final Test.
Chasing a world record 435 runs to win, England were reduced to 207 for six at stumps on Day 4 of the third Test, still 228 runs short of victory
Spin-bowling all-rounder Will Jacks will replace paceman Mark Wood in an otherwise unchanged England side for the second Ashes Test against Australia in Brisbane.
India are favourites to secure victory and draw the series, but England will still fancy their chances of completing what would be by far the highest successful Test run chase at The Oval.
Images from Day 2 of the fifth Test between England and India at The Oval, London, on Friday.
England called up spinner Shoaib Bashir and seamer Matthew Potts for the final Ashes Test against Australia beginning on Sunday with one of them set to fill the void created by Gus Atkinson's injury-induced absence.
Gill clashed with England openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, accusing them of deliberately wasting time.
Stokes, who sustained a hamstring tear in English domestic tournament The Hundred last month, is continuing his recovery along with Zak Crawley who fractured his right little finger at Edgbaston in July.
Zak Crawley is aiming to secure a more regular role in England's white-ball teams after establishing himself in the Test side under skipper Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum.
England on Tuesday named a 16-man squad for the Ashes series starting in Australia in November with Ben Stokes, who is currently nursing a shoulder injury, set to return to lead the side.
Joe Root and Harry Brook hit half-centuries to put England in control before bad light ended play early on the opening day of the fifth Ashes Test.
'If we had got a few more runs it might have helped our bowlers out a lot more. At the moment we are probably behind the game but there is plenty of time to fight back with our bowling line-up.'
Despite England securing their first Test victory on Australian soil since 2011, Australia have already retained the Ashes by winning the first three Tests to take an unassailable 3-1 lead.
Jonny Bairstow supports Liam Livingstone's criticism of the England cricket hierarchy's level of care for players, highlighting concerns about the system's support for those outside the core group and the need to rebuild connections with county cricket.
All-rounder Jamie Overton, who played the only Test match of his career back in 2022, has been recalled to the 15-member England squad
