Joe Root dismissed Australian century-maker Marnus Labuschagne but rain returned to Old Trafford to frustrate England's hopes of forcing a series-levelling win in the fourth Test on Saturday.

England's unwavering commitment to playing attacking cricket without fear under captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendan McCullum was once again vindicated on Thursday when the hosts took control of the fourth Ashes test against Australia.

Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey underarmed the ball at the stumps after Bairstow had left his crease at the end of an over on the final day of the second Test, which Australia won by 43 runs to go 2-0 up in the five-match series.

England batter Joe Root has shot up four places to reclaim the top position in the MRF Tyres ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings after scores of 118 not out and 46 in the first Test in Birmingham, which the visiting Australia side won by two wickets in a thrilling finish on Tuesday.

England were 393-8 at Edgbaston, with Joe Root unbeaten on 118 and in superb touch after leading a revival from a mid-innings slump, when Stokes called a halt

Brendon McCullum has promised that England will keep faith with their attacking game during the Ashes despite Tuesday's extraordinary one-run loss to New Zealand in Wellington.

Red-hot Harry Brook made a majestic 184 not out while Joe Root was unbeaten on a classy 101

England's aggressive approach to Test cricket under skipper Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum has paid rich dividends at home and batsman Joe Root is keen to see how it fares abroad in different conditions.

Joe Root has warned England's rivals they are no "one-trick pony" after the team wrapped up a sixth Test victory in seven matches with their new hyper-aggressive brand of cricket.

England Test captain Ben Stokes set an example and showed great leadership by opening up about his struggles with mental health, former skipper Joe Root said on Tuesday.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam stood firm amid a batting collapse to compile his seventh Test hundred on Sunday, leading his side's fightback against hosts Sri Lanka on the second day of the opening Test in Galle.

Joe Root said England captain Ben Stokes had urged the side to play like "rock stars" following a record-breaking win over India.

England are out to rewrite how Test cricket is played in the country, skipper Ben Stokes said after leading the side to a memorable seven-wicket victory in the fifth Test against India on Tuesday.

England rode unbeaten hundreds by Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow to pull off their highest successful chase, coasting to a series-levelling seven-wicket victory in the rearranged fifth Test against India at Edgbaston on Tuesday.

Marnus Labuschagne's reign as the highest-ranked Test batter in the world is over as England right-hander Joe Root claimed top spot on the latest ICC MRF Tyres Men's Test Batter rankings.

"It started to really take a bad toll on my own personal health. I couldn't leave it at the ground any more; it was coming home. It wasn't fair on my family, on people close to me, and it wasn't fair on myself either."

England’s Joe Root came off a match-winning innings yesterday, having scaled the 10,000-run mark in his Test career during an incredible unbeaten 115 in the fourth innings against New Zealand.

Former Australia captain Mark Taylor has backed Joe Root to surpass Sachin Tendulkar as Test cricket's leading run scorer even though the England batter is still nearly 6,000 short of the Indian great's haul.

Joe Root scored an unbeaten century as England capped a dramatic fightback to win the first Test against New Zealand by five wickets at Lord's on Sunday.

Joe Root became the 14th player in cricket history and the second England player to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket.