India captain Virat Kohli remained in second spot behind Steve Smith while Alastair Cook jumped nine places to be eighth in the latest ICC Test rankings after his unbeaten double century in the ongoing Ashes.
The Test series is still a few days away but England have started the mind games with pacer James Anderson saying that his team needs to make sure that it does not treat senior Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar "with too much respect in the middle".
England ended a well contested first day of the fourth and final Test against South Africa on 260 for six with the late loss of Ben Stokes giving heart to the tourists.
Bowlers Steven Finn and Stuart Broad were left out of England's final warm-up match on Thursday as the pace duo race against time to be fit for the first test against India starting on November 15.
The batting was a big letdown for the Indians with Virat Kohli, Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer failing in both innings, while Shardul Thakur's selection over Ravichandran Ashwin turned out to be a big mistake.
In its 'back to cricket' guidelines issued for resumption of the game, the ICC has effectively barred players from handing over their personal equipments (cap, towel, sunglasses, jumpers) to the umpire or his teammates as part of maintaining social distance.
India 21 for no loss at stumps on Day 1 after bowling out England for 183 in the first Test, in Nottingham, on Wednesday.
England will rest fast bowler James Anderson for the third and final Test against West Indies starting at Edgbaston on Thursday.
Former skipper Michael Vaughan is convinced that Jonny Bairstow's days are numbered in the England Test team after his dismal show in the recently-concluded Test series against India.
Australian bowling coach David Saker has compared England paceman James Anderson and spinner Graeme Swann to legendary Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne.
Australia batsman George Bailey equalled Brian Lara's Test record for most runs off an over against England at the WACA in Perth on Monday.
The touring side reached 75-1 in their second innings at the close, a lead of 205, with Dean Elgar (38 not out) and Hashim Amla (23 not out) bringing some order to the final hour and ensuring their team are well-placed to force the victory that would level the four-match series at 1-1.
India's off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has managed to retain his second spot in the latest ICC player rankings for Test bowlers issued on Sunday.
England fast bowler James Anderson said he felt a huge sense of relief after claiming his 300th Test wicket in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's on Friday. The 30-year-old had New Zealand opener Peter Fulton caught at second slip by Graeme Swann to become only the fourth Englishman to reach the milestone.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul defied England once again with a tenacious unbeaten 87 to lead West Indies to 243 for nine on the first day of the opening Test at Lord's on Thursday.
James Anderson claimed four wickets as England made an excellent start to the third and final Test in Sharjah by bowling out Pakistan for 234 on Sunday.
England pacer James Anderson believes they were completely out bowled by South Africa in their 2-0 Test series loss, which also ended their reign as the world's number one Test team.
Yuvraj took to Twitter to ask his fans to applaud the Englishman's hard work and achievement.
'I'm definitely hungry and keen to keep playing for England. This summer I have been bowling as well as I ever have. I bowled quite a lot for Lancashire at the start of the season and was in really good form before I got injured at an annoying time'
South Africa fought back against England on the second day of the first Test on Friday, first with the ball and then the bat, to close on 86 for one after bowling England out for 385. Captain Graeme Smith, playing his 100th Test match, was 37 not out and Hashim Amla was on 47 after being dropped on 40 by first slip Andrew Strauss off Ravi Bopara.
Top England cricketers are in line for million-dollar deals in the next auction of the Indian Premier League after their side's dominating performance against India in the recent series, according to a report.
England will not look to play for a draw on the final day of the fourth test against India but would rather try to score quickly to set the hosts a target and keep alive the series, fast bowler James Anderson said on Sunday. The touring side, down 2-0 in the five-match series, trail India by 49 runs with four second-innings wickets remaining at the close of the fourth day. On a turning Wankhede Stadium pitch, batting fourth will not be easy for the hosts, who made 631 in their first innings.
England's bowlers backed up Ian Bell's impressive century to lead the hosts to a 114-run victory over West Indies in the first One-day international in Southampton on Saturday
Rohit's 162-run partnership with Ajinkya Rahane dragged the hosts back into the contest, before England dismissed both in the final session.
Amidst talks that he may be rested for the third Test against the West Indies, young England paceman Stuart Broad has said categorically that he does not want to be rested since he is in the 'best nick' of his life.
Denly, who made his Test debut against West Indies last year, has reached double figures 24 times in 28 innings but has managed just six half-centuries.
Stuart Broad, fresh from his 11-wicket haul at Lord's, and James Anderson will again lead England's attack in the second Test at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, on Friday with the third pace slot up for grabs.
England finally bowled out a determined West Indies for 345 and limped to 10 for two in the evening gloom chasing 191 for victory after an absorbing fourth day of the first Test at Lord's on Sunday.
James Anderson, England's bowling spearhead and one of their key performers with 18 wickets (@ 24.27) from the three Tests played in the series, is likely to be fit for the final Test at The Oval, beginning Thursday.
England pace spearhead James Anderson says he is hopeful of being declared match fit to play in the second Test against India starting on November 17 in the port city of Visakhapatnam.
England fast bowler James Anderson lauded fellow pacer Stuart Broad for answering his critics by taking four wickets, including the prized scalp of Sachin Tendulkar, during the first Test at Lord's.
England pacer James Anderson has revealed that social networking site facebook has become the latest tool in the hands of illegal bookmakers to approach players, a danger that the ICC is keeping a close eye on.
England fast bowler James Anderson may sit out some of the Test matches on their tours of Bangladesh and India, he said on Wednesday. The 34-year-old, England's leading Test wicket-taker with 463 victims, was named in the squad for the tour to Bangladesh where they play two Tests next month. England travel to India in early November for a five-Test series.
India will welcome back regular skipper Virat Kohli, who missed the last three Tests in Australia to attend the birth of his daughter.
Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene once again led from the front, hitting his second century in as many Tests to steer his side to 238 for six on the opening day of the second and final match against England on Tuesday.
Meticulous preparation, thorough professionalism and unprecedented fitness levels underpinned England's 3-1 Ashes triumph in Australia.
The overhaul of South Africa's coaching structure has given the team a major boost as they get ready to take on England in a four-Test series which begins on Thursday, captain Faf du Plessis said. Meanwhile, veteran pacer James Anderson will be back on the frontline for England, for what will be his 150th Test.
Pakistan are scheduled to play three Tests and as many Twenty20 matches against England. The first Test will begin at Lord's on July 30.
A "distraught" James Anderson apologised to his England team mates after pulling up injured on day one of the opening Ashes Test against Australia, fellow quick Stuart Broad revealed.
England resumed their first innings on 491 for nine but Cook was unable to add to his overnight total, with Pat Cummins dismissing tail-ender James Anderson for a duck with the first ball of the morning.
