Leach, who took four wickets in England's 10-wicket win over Ireland in a one-off test earlier this week, has been an ever-present in England's squad under coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes, claiming 46 test wickets last year

Stokes looked in discomfort when he took a catch to dismiss Ireland's Curtis Campher during England's 10-wicket win in the one-off test at Lord's

Tongue was a late call-up to England's squad for this week's one-off Test with Ireland due to injury concerns over James Anderson (groin) and Ollie Robinson (ankle), although both pacemen are expected to be fit to face Australia at Edgbaston on June 16

The state of Stokes' knee has raised doubts about his ability to perform the all-rounder role and it flared up in the drawn test series in New Zealand in February

England's leading bowler in tests with 685 wickets, Anderson suffered the injury playing for Lancashire last week. He is unlikely to play in the one-off test against Ireland before the Ashes after the uncapped Josh Tongue was added to the squad

"We're optimistic with what Dave's got left, we’ve picked him in the squad and we feel he’ll play a really big part in the Ashes and the World Test Championship," McDonald told Australian radio station SEN

The 40-year-old England great is set to be involved in his ninth series against Australia, although a minor groin strain could rule him out of a one-off encounter with Ireland at Lord's that precedes the Ashes opener in Birmingham starting on June 16

Archer, who has been ruled out "for the rest of the summer", spent 17 months on the sidelines following elbow and back injuries before returning to international cricket in January.

Steve Smith said England's new attacking approach to Test cricket was exciting but expressed doubts over whether it could stand up to the heat of Australian bowling.

Australia ruthlessly extinguish England's resistance to claim an innings victory in the fifth Ashes Test and complete a 4-0 series rout on the final day in Sydney.

Nathan Lyon is spinning Australia toward an emphatic victory in the final Ashes Test as beleaguered England unravelled on a torrid day in Sydney.

Steve Smith racked up another milestone as he continues to torment England and Usman Khawaja nears a century to put Australia in a strong position after day two of the final Ashes Test in Sydney.

England skipper Joe Root again missed out on an elusive first century in the series as Australia fight back with two late wickets on the opening day of the fifth Test.

England pace bowler James Anderson describes accusations that he was involved with the ball tampering during the drawn fourth Ashes test against Australia in Melbourne last week as "ridiculous".

England reject ball-tampering allegations as a "beat-up" as rain frustrated their push for their first victory of the Ashes series against Australia.

Rain hampers England's bid for victory on the fourth day of the fourth Ashes Test on Friday, with David Warner and Steve Smith also offering resistance at the crease.

Alastair Cook hits a double hundred to defy Australian attempts to wrap up England's first innings in the fourth Ashes in Melbourne on Thursday.

England lose paceman Craig Overton and are set to make a further change as they try to restore some pride in Tuesday's fourth Melbourne Test after surrendering the Ashes to Australia.

In-form batsman Dawid Malan says the Ashes may be gone but England must remain aggressive in the final two Tests against Australia.

Steve Smith praises his "exceptional" team as Australia reclaimed the Ashes with an innings win over England in the third Test in Perth on Monday, and set his sights on a series whitewash.