The story of England’s tour so far has been one of flashes -- brief moments of belief, quickly swallowed by pressure.

England captain Ben Stokes and off-spinner Will Jacks led a fighting rearguard action to ensure Australia will have to bat again in the day-night second Ashes Test in Brisbane on Sunday.

The team's every move is being scrutinised on the five-Test Ashes tour, with players followed through the airport, on golf courses and on a trip to an aquarium.

England captain Ben Stokes said Saturday that lessons had been learned from their crushing first Test loss to Australia but that the team had moved on, as he defended a decision for players to skip a pink-ball tour game.

"Little bit shell-shocked, it was pretty phenomenal from Head," Stokes said.

Only three England captains have secured the urn in Australia in the last 50 years, with Andrew Strauss the last in 2010/11.

Root arrived in Perth this week to newspaper headlines calling him "Average Joe" as pundits highlighted his supposed shortcomings.

Ben Stokes has been awarded a fresh two-year contract that will take him through to the end of the next home Ashes series in 2027, England cricket chiefs announced on Tuesday.

England cricket supremo Rob Key says captain Ben Stokes will be ready for the heat of the Ashes battle in Australia despite a lack of action following a shoulder injury.

England captain Ben Stokes is "on track" for the Ashes despite a recent shoulder injury, selectors said Tuesday as they handed part-time spinner Will Jacks a surprise place in the squad for the Test series in Australia.

Glenn McGrath has backed Australia to secure a 5-0 clean sweep in the 2025-26 Ashes, predicting another dominant display on home soil when the series begins in November.  

He finished the five-match series in England with a chart-topping 23 wickets, the highest for any bowler.

“You want to get a Test hundred against Harry Brook? If you wanted to score a century, you should have batted like you wanted to get it!”

With Jadeja on 89 not out and Sundar on 80 not out, Stokes approached Gill to offer a draw with 15 overs left, only to be politely declined.

India face a selection dilemma of sorts ahead of the fifth and final Test against England at The Oval as they attempt to square the five-match series.

England face a nervous wait to discover if Ben Stokes will be fit to bowl when they go in search of a series-clinching win over India in the fourth Test at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Stokes brought up 7000 Test runs in style with a splendid six early on Day 3 in Manchester.

Ben Stokes has again criticised over-rate rules after England were docked two World Test Championship points following last week's win against India.

Ben Stokes' lengthy bowling spells against India in the third Test shows the England all-rounder has full confidence in his body after coming through injury layoffs, batter Joe Root said.

The Old Trafford Test starts on July 23.