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.

There are games that thrill, and then there are Test matches that sear themselves into memory.

The all-rounder was named player of the match after scoring 77 runs and taking five wickets across the Test, in addition to an important first-innings run out of Rishabh Pant, as England went 2-1 up in a five-match series.

Heated exchanges between England and India players made the Lord's test more exciting and challenging, India captain Shubman Gill said after England took a 2-1 lead in the series with a dramatic 22-run win on Monday.

England beat India by 22 runs in a thrilling third Test at Lord's on Monday to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

The 34-year-old Stokes's career has been blighted by injuries.

Former West Indies captain Chris Gayle has launched a scathing critique of South Africa’s stand-in skipper Wiaan Mulder for opting not to chase Brian Lara’s iconic 400 not out in Test cricket, after declaring, with Mulder himself unbeaten on 367 against Zimbabwe earlier this week.

"Really exciting. I think it's great for English fans but also for Jof," England captain Ben Stokes.

England were second-best in all departments in a heavy test loss to India at Edgbaston after they misread the pitch and made the wrong decision at the toss, coach Brendon McCullum said after his team lost by 336 runs on Sunday.