Match Analysis

As South Africa look to improve a dismal record in Sri Lanka, their spinners will have to rethink their strategy and find better ways to utilise the helpful conditions

The marginalising of grade and Shield competitions has left a painful legacy for the Test team

England landed a hugely significant blow at Lord's; it will take a miracle for Australia to win the series from here

ESPNcricinfo presents the plays of the day from the fourth day at Lord's

Whatever is he asked, Joe Root has shown the awareness, confidence, range and selflessness to do it.

At 35, a lifetime of learning is propelling Kumar Sangakkara's cricket far further than his innate ability ever could. He is now churning out match-winning innings that have frustratingly eluded him

Australia's penalty for madness with the bat on the second day is pain on the third

ESPNcricinfo presents the plays of the day from the third day at Lord's

Graeme Swann claimed his best Ashes figures of 5 for 44 on the second day and felt his dismissal of Chris Rogers constituted one of the worst pieces of cricket in Test history

The circumstances of the match and the series demanded, beseeched and implored something of the batsmen but they collapsed in a messy heap

Shane Watson's innings was so predictable as to be sad; flattering to deceive then an lbw that was nothing but out yet he still reviewed it

Ian Bell has always had a textbook technique but now he is turning aesthetic perfection into Ashes hundreds

Australia know that Ryan Harris' body is not on his side so save him for when he can have maximum impact, and his opening spell at Lord's was a perfect example

While it was galling for Jonny Bairstow to fall to a Steve Smith full toss, his innings had looked to have ended much earlier but Peter Siddle's overstepping have him a crucial second chance

The first Test in the Investec Ashes can be interpreted differently. It is how England and Australia respond at Lord's that counts

Stats highlights form Afridi's emphatic return to ODIs in the first match of bilateral series between West Indies and Pakistan

Some say he is 24, with time on his side. Others say his Test career is going sideways

Whatever they may say to the contrary, England are increasingly reliant on the skill, fitness and reliability of James Anderson

The first Test ebbed and flowed right up until the moment of uncertainty surrounding Brad Haddin's dismissal before the waters finally closed over Australia

The partnership between Shane Watson and Chris Rogers rattled England and made Australia's target look eminently achievable - but the men that followed could not keep it up