England scored 253 for three against Pakistan after two days of the first Test on Sunday.
Akhtar will join his new team-mates on Monday, after the completion of Pakistan's NatWest Challenge series against England.
England's batting coach Marcus Trescothick was all praise for India's pacers after they shot out the home team for 183 on the opening day of the first Test, in Nottingham, on Wednesday.
Ricky Ponting was ranked fourth among batsmen while Andrew Flintoff, at 10, is England's highest ranked bowler
Dinesh Mongia's three-wicket haul couldn't prevent Leicestershire from losing Somerset in the semi-finals of the Twenty20 Cup.
England opener Marcus Trescothick is the bookmakers' favourite to become Glenn McGrath's 500th wicket
Jayasuriya featured with both bat and ball on Thursday to steer his side to victory in their Twenty20 international in Southampton.
Wisden named Strauss, Giles, Harmison, Trescothick and Robert Key as the five cricketers of the year
His wife Rachael gave birth to a boy in England on Wednesday night. The couple have an 18-month-old daughter.
England beat CCI President's XI by 238 runs in the three-day practice match
England, chasing 198 to win the first Test against Pakistan, were 24 for 1 at close on day 4.
Pakistan, after conceding a 144-run lead, were 125 for 2 in the second innings on day 3 of the first Test against England.
England's only stand-out batting performance in a low-scoring game against the PCB Patron's XI came from opener Marcus Trescothick.
The left-handed opener's unbeaten 124 rallied England to 256 for 9 at close on day 1 of their three-day match against the PCB Patron's XI.
England beat the West Indies by seven wickets in the one-day tri-series.
Pace bowler James Anderson has returned to the 12-man England squad for the third and final Test against New Zealand.
England were 269 for 3 from 48 overs, 165 ahead, after bundling out Bangladesh for 104 on day 1 of the second Test.
Wisden has named its best cricketers for 2004. Now you name yours.
England were left facing a fight for survival on the last day after being set a 368-run target to win the second Test.
An unbeaten 86 by Mahela Jayawardene enabled Sri Lanaka score 226 in their second innings on day 4 of the first Test.
England were 111 without loss at the close of day 2 in reply to Bangladesh's first-innings total of 203 in the first Test.
England opener Marcus Trescothick is happy he missed the tour to Zimbabwe because it allowed him to work on his game.
The opener scored 108 and hit a six to win the match as the hosts scraped home against Pakistan.
England bowled out Pakistan for 185 in 44 overs in the second ODI.
Marcus Trescothick smashed 82 off 57 balls as England eased to a five-wicket victory over West Indies to win the seventh and final one-day international.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances