England need win at the Oval to cement rebound

London: England are on the verge of putting to bed one of the most trying chapters in their Test cricket history.

India could still extend them, however, in the fifth and final Test at the Oval starting on Friday.

A summer for England that began with a first ever Test series defeat on home soil to Sri Lanka worsened when India won the second Test at Lord's to lead this series 1-0. With his captaincy and position on the line, and at risk of losing his main bowler, Alastair Cook led his side's fightback at the Rose Bowl and Old Trafford to be in front 2-1.

Humiliated by an innings and 54-run defeat at Old Trafford, India can still save face by winning the final Test and tying the series. Here are five things to know ahead of the match:

ALI HAS INDIA IN A SPIN: Moeen Ali, again, was the second-innings star for England in the Old Trafford Test, taking 4-39 as India were bowled out for 161. His performance followed match-winning, second-innings figures of 6-67 at the Rose Bowl. The lack of an obvious replacement for the retired Graeme Swann led England at the start of the series to go for an unbalanced all-pace attack and pick Ali as a batsman who could spin a bit. But his offspin has emerged as a major weapon, an unexpected bonus for England, and covered up for his batting weakness against pace bowling. His 19 wickets in the series are second only to Ray Illingworth's 20 in 1967 by an England spinner at home against India.

INDIA TOP ORDER YET TO FIRE: Despite half of day two being lost to rain, the fourth Test was won by England in three days, as they bowled India out for 152 and 161. India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was furious with his side's effort, and hinted he had been unhappy with his vaunted batsmen throughout the series. "To some extent, the performance of No. 8, 9, 10 and 11 so far in the series has camouflaged the question of the top order not performing," Dhoni said. The biggest disappointment has been No. 4 Virat Kohli, who has a career average of 40 but a series average of 14. His shortcomings have been a big factor in India's inability to create scoreboard pressure.

ANDERSON TARGETS BOTHAM RECORD: James Anderson is eight wickets away from overtaking Ian Botham's record haul of 383 and becoming England's leading wicket-taker in Tests. Anderson managed five dismissals in the fourth Test to be on 376, and will back himself at the Oval. It has been a troubled series for Anderson, who at one point was facing a four-Test ban from a charge of pushing and abusing Ravindra Jadeja. He admitted it was a distraction during the second and third Tests, yet still has a series-leading 21 wickets.

WILL INDIA STICK OR TWIST? India made three changes ahead of the third Test, with opening batsman Gautam Gambhir in for Shikhar Dhawan, Ravichandran Ashwin replacing Rohit Sharma to provide a spin option, and Varun Aaron coming in for Mohammed Shami in the bowling attack. Aaron was the most successful, taking 3-97. Ashwin bowled economically, conceding 29 runs from 14 overs but was ultimately wicketless. Gambhir made only 22 runs in his two innings opening the batting, and will undoubtedly be concerned that Dhawan, averaging 20, may regain his position. India will also be praying fast bowler Ishant Sharma is ready to return from a leg injury that saw him miss the two Tests after the victory at Lord's, where Sharma took Test-best figures of 7-74.

BROAD HAS BROKEN NOSE: Stuart Broad is expected to start for England, despite missing training on Tuesday after breaking his nose when a bouncer from Aaron crashed through his helmet and into his face during England's batting innings. Broad, who was unable to collect his man-of-the-match award for his first-innings bowling figures of 6-25, tweeted that he watched his teammates seal victory from hospital, and he would have to wear a mask at the Oval. He did not specify whether it would just be for batting.

Sri Lanka vs Pakistan: Saeed Ajmal reported for suspected illegal bowling action

Dubai: Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has been reported for a suspected illegal bowling action during his side`s seven-wicket loss in the first cricket Test against Sri Lanka at Galle International Stadium Sunday.


The off-spinner must undergo testing within 21 days, an ICC media release said Monday.

The match officials’ report, which was handed over to Pakistan team manager Moin Khan Sunday, cited concerns over a number of deliveries that were considered to be suspect and concluded that the bowler’s action needed to be tested.

Ajmal’s bowling action will now be scrutinised further under the ICC process relating to suspected illegal bowling actions reported in Tests, ODIs and T20Is.

He is required to undergo testing within 21 days, and, during this period, Ajmal is permitted to continue bowling in international cricket until the results of the testing are known.

number one Test all-rounder, Sangakkara top batsman

Dubai: India's Ravichandran Ashwin on Monday became the number one Test all-rounder in ICC rankings following his fine show with the bat in the fourth cricket Test against England in Manchester.

Ashwin scored 40 and 46 not out at the Old Trafford though India lost the Test by an innings and 54 runs. He though was wicketless in his 14 overs in England's first innings.

The Indian off-spinner, who now have 372 rating points to his kitty, has displaced South Africa's Vernon Philander (365) at the top of the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test all-rounders.

Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan was at third spot while Englishman Stuart Broad has moved ahead of Australia's Mitchell Johnson in fourth position.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara has regained the number one Test batsman spot following his 10th double century in Galle against Pakistan while India's Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli slipped down the ladder.

Sangakkara, who won the ICC Cricketer of the Year and ICC Test Cricketer of the Year awards in Colombo in 2012, scored 221 and 21 in the Test, which earned him 31 ratings points that helped him dethrone AB de Villiers from the top pedestal.

The South African had snatched the number one spot from his team-mate Hashim Amla in October 2013 and spent a total stretch of 287 days and 33 Tests at the top.

Sangakkara had first surged to the top of the batting charts in December 2007 when he replaced Ricky Ponting, whilehe last claimed the top spot in November 2012 in Galle before Australia's Michael Clarke dislodged him following his 230 against South Africa in the Adelaide Test.

Sangakkara has now spent a total of 81 Tests and 671 days as the top-ranked Test batsman. ICC Hall of Famer Garry Sobers holds the record for the most Tests spent as number-one with 189 while Viv Richards is second with 179.

Mahela Jayawardena, playing his last Test series, has retained 14th position following his contributions of 59 and 26, but will seek to make his farewell Test a memorable one,

which can potentially help him end higher on the rankings table.

Pujara lost two spots to occupy 12th spot though he remained the highest-ranking Indian while another struggling team-mate Kohli slipped five places to be at 20th.

In the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test bowlers, England's win against India at Old Trafford by an innings and 54 runs has seen its bowlers charge up the rankings table.

James Anderson has climbed two places to grab fifth spot following his three for 46 and two for 18, while man of the match Stuart Broad has propelled four places to ninth spot following his figures of six for 25 in India's first innings.

Broad's movement now means England has two bowlers inside the top 10.

Moeen Ali's four for 39 in India's second innings has allowed him to jump four places to a career-high 33rd spot.

Ashwin remained the highest-ranking Indian bowler though he lost one spot to be at 13th while Pragyan Ojha and Ishant Sharma are at 15th and 20th respectively.