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I'M not saying Ben Stokes would have won England the Ashes but he certainly would have changed the series score. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

BATTING with the tail is a real skill, especially in a series like this, in which Australia believe they have found a successful formula: hit numbers nine, 10 and 11 with a barrage of short-pitched bowling and watch them fold. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

THE sledging of Jonny Bairstow in the First Test at Brisbane was absolutely pathetic. It is pretty clear nothing serious happened between him and Cameron Bancroft in that Perth bar at the start of the tour, but I believe Australia tried to push the boundary too far. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

BY the time you read this, I will be in South Africa with the England Under-19s. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

THE biggest battle in this Ashes series will be between Steve Smith and Joe Root. Whichever of them can score more runs over the five Tests will go a long way to winning the urn for his team. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

WE have heard so much about the pace of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, but the Australia bowler I expect to cause England the most problems is Josh Hazlewood. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

FORMER England wicketkeeper Matt Prior has warned Australia they will quickly find themselves in the firing line if they do not get off to a good start in the opening day of the Ashes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

AS a professional sportsman, you should know what you need to do to prepare for a game. That does not include staying out until 2.35am on a Monday, when the next match is on a Wednesday. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

EOIN MORGAN praised the character of his one-day side after they dealt with problems on and off the field of play to clinch a series-winning series over West Indies at the Kia Oval. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

FORMER New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond has revealed he was "humbled" to be offered the job as England's fast bowling consultant for the first two Ashes Tests. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

GARY BALLANCE has revealed his surprise at being included in England's Ashes squad. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

THE NEW television deal in the Indian Premier League is a big game-changer for international cricket. Star Sports will pay nearly £2billion for the rights to the tournament for the next five years and there is every chance this will alter the way players look at the game. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

NO England player will admit publicly this week that he is thinking about the Ashes. He will say that he is focusing only on the task ahead — beating West Indies, clinching the series and ending the summer on a high note. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

WE should stop thinking about Jimmy Anderson only as one of England's best cricketers because he is quite clearly one of the best sportsmen we have. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

THE NEW television deal in the Indian Premier League is a big game-changer for international cricket. Star Sports will pay nearly £2billion for the rights to the tournament for the next five years and there is every chance this will alter the way players look at the game. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

ENGLAND head into the Champions Trophy as favourites to win the tournament and finally break their duck in global 50-over competitions. Here is my analysis of the men England hope will deliver the prize. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

ANDY MURRAY is hoping that the extended format of a Grand Slam tournament will help him play his way back into form over the next fortnight. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

ATHLETICS' world governing body today rejected bids from 28 Russians to compete as neutrals — a massive blow to the country's hopes of fielding close to a full team at this summer's World Championships in London. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

PAT CUMMINS believes he has never been in better shape as Australia prepare their assault on the Champions Trophy, writes Tom Collomosse. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

ENGLAND were today seeking to establish whether Ben Stokes would be able to bowl in their Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh tomorrow. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

ENGLAND v IRELAND (Tomorrow, Sky Sports 2, Bristol, 11am) BETWEEN them, England's one-day squad have played in the equivalent of 41 World Cup Finals since the start of April. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

? TOM CURRAN His work for Surrey means he's firmly on the England radar, and he was called up for their one-day tour of West Indies this year. I like how he appears to live and breathe cricket and to think a lot about the game. Although just 22, the all-rounder is an important player for his county in all forms of the game and he'll go from strength to strength. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

YOU can encourage a player all you like to make the changes he needs to improve, but in the end it is up to him. This is something I am learning as I build a career in coaching, working as a consultant with Northamptonshire's white-ball teams. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

I AM really looking forward to the battle between Joe Root and Virat Kohli in this series. The rankings may not say so but many people would agree that these are the two best batsmen in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

IT IS great news that India have finally agreed to use the Decision Review System in this series after years of resisting it. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

HASEEB HAMEED will learn very quickly how much time you have in Test cricket. It is difficult to adjust to it but he will need to do so straightaway if he is to help England get the solid starts they need in this series. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

KNOW exactly what it's like to feel your England place is in danger and let me tell you, it's tough. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

AFTER spending the last eight years playing first-class and international cricket, it has been fascinating for me to have another perspective on the game I love through my work as a pundit. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

I WAS interested to read about the idea for a new Twenty20 competition, but I'd have one question: why do we need two? Under the plans that were reported last week, we could have a city-based T20 event starting in 2018, which would be similar to the Big Bash in Australia. Alongside that, we would have a version of the T20 Blast, with county sides retaining their identities. I fear it would be overkill. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

I KNOW Jake Ball very well from Nottinghamshire and I am certain he is ready for his Test debut. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

NYONE who thinks England will have an easy ride in this Test series against Pakistan is extremely naive. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

IBELIEVE Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad are the best new-ball pair England have ever had. The 781 Test wickets they have taken supports that opinion, and they are a nightmare for batsmen to face, especially if conditions are in their favour. I remember copping a barrage of abuse from Jimmy in a County Championship match in 2012 — my first summer at Nottinghamshire — when he was playing for Lancashire. He has every single delivery in his armoury and he generally knows exactly what the ball will do when he delivers it. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

IKNOW exactly how it feels to make a Test debut at Headingley, having done so at this ground against South Africa four years ago. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A WORD for Pakistan and their coach Mickey Arthur, who is one of the best blokes in the game. He is so passionate and positive and, along with his team of Grant Flower, Steve Rixon and Azhar Mahmood, has prepared the tourists brilliantly. Zimbabwe great Flower — now Pakistan's batting coach — and bowling coach Azhar particularly know county cricket well, and how to win in England. They have drilled the group to nail their basics, stick to a plan and expose England's weaknesses. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

I SAW some suggestions kicking about earlier in the week that England should drop James Anderson or Stuart Broad for tomorrow's Second Test at Leeds. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but for me that would be ludicrous and way over the top. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

ENGLAND need to sort out the fielding, and it starts with settling positions. Take your catches, and the First Test is a totally different game. I would move Alastair Cook (right) from first slip. He has fielded there for years and has decent hands, but the drops are becoming too frequent. I'd get Joe Root in there as he has the best hands in the team. It'll help his captaincy, too, to chat to some trusted lieutenants. Consistency in the cordon is vital, too. For a few Tests it's been erratic, which pretty much sums up where England are now. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

THIS will be the summer that England's Test team truly becomes Joe Root's. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

THIS will be the summer that England's Test team truly becomes Joe Root's. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

I REALLY like Dom Bess. I don't know him well but I've spent a bit of time chatting with him and I have been extremely impressed with how energetic and passionate he is. He lets his love of the game shine through. He's an attacking offspinner but has a good all-round game too. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

JOS BUTTLER is my favourite player in the world to watch, so I was pretty pleased with Ed Smith's first squad as England selector yesterday. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

AN England whitewash is perfectly conceivable now. In fact, the only way I see them losing a match is if, with the series won, they take their foot off the pedal. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

BEFORE the Champions Trophy semi-final last summer, I said in these pages that potentially the best thing that could happen to Jason Roy was for him to be dropped from the England side. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

THE Ben Stokes situation isn't an easy one. As an England fan, you'd want to have him back for what he brings to the side and the sheer spectacle he puts on with bat and ball. He has the absolute X-Factor as a cricketer. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

IT is pretty rare for English players to be chosen for Australian state cricket so if Mason Crane managed to get into the New South Wales team last winter, he must have something about him. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

FORGET Ricky Ponting's criticism of Joe Root. I can tell he is the right man to captain England from the way he has handled his senior bowlers during the Ashes — and the way they have responded to him. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

WE need to reduce the amount of cricket we play in England if the team are to win regularly when they play Test series away from home. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

To be a Test cricketer and earn a cap for your country, you need to be the very best in your position at the time, and right now in county cricket in England I do not see anyone better than Stuart Broad. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

SIX months ago, pouring a beer over someone's head in a bar wouldn't have got the same attention. But Alastair Cook summed it up perfectly in his press conference this week, that life off the field has changed now for England's cricketers. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]