London, May 24 (ANI): England captain Alastair Cook has said that star batsman Kevin Pietersen is 'progressing well' during his recovery from knee injury for returning to the team in time for the Ashes.

Sydney, May 24 (ANI): Australian bowler Ryan Harris has singled out his pace counterpart Mitchell Starc as the team's potentially ' chief weapon' for the Ashes series in England.

London, May 24 (ANI): Former England captain Ray Illingworth has said that although bowling star James Anderson is the best swing bowler in the world now, but his former teammate and Yorkshire legend Fred Trueman was far better.

Headingly (Yorkshire, UK), May 23 (ANI): All signs are pointing to veteran left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori playing his first test for New Zealand after a gap of ten months.

Sydney, May 23 (ANI): Australia's much-vaunted pace attack had to sit up straight and take notice of England's prowess with the swing and seam bowling at the first day of the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's.

Sydney, May 23 (ANI): Australian captain Michael Clarke has said that he is not worried by the fact that England's highly rated swing and seam bowlers demolished New Zealand for just 68 this week.

Sydney, May 23 (ANI): New Zealand wicketkeeper BJ Watling has been ruled out of the second and final Test against England at Headingley starting from Friday because of a knee injury.

London, May 23 (ANI): Upcoming England batsman Joe Root has been warned to expect a fiery attack by the New Zealand side in the middle as they look to ruin his first homecoming at Headingley.

Sydney, May 22 (ANI): England coach Andy Flower has prohibited England's cricketers from public discussions about the Ashes until next month.

London, May 22 (ANI): Australia's ace spearhead Peter Siddle kick started an Ashes war of words by targeting England opener Nick Compton.

London, May 21(ANI): England's bowling coach David Saker has described Jimmy Anderson as the most skillful bowler in the world, following the latter's astounding display during the Lord's Test against New Zealand.

Sydney, May 21 (ANI): New Zealand spinner Daniel Vettori is set to return to action in the second Test against England this week after Bruce Martin was ruled out of the rest of the tour with a calf injury.

London, May 21(ANI): England middle order batsman Ian Bell is expected to recover from tonsillitis and play against New Zealand in the second test match starting from Friday.

London, May 18 (ANI): English legend Sir Ian Botham has said that he is confident that James Anderson will surpass him as England's leading Test wicket-taker after the fast bowler took three more Test wickets against New Zealand to reach 301, 82 short of Botham's England record.

London, May 16 (ANI): England has won the toss and has decided to bat first in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's today.

Sydney, May 16 (ANI): The English bowling attack will be focusing more on swing in the Tests against New Zealand starting at Lord's on Thursday, according to England's bowlers.

Wellington, May 16 (ANI): Former England captain Geoffrey Boycott has said that the prospect of losing to New Zealand in the Test series is unthinkable for England, especially in the backdrop of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy and the five-Test Ashes in a packed summer of cricket.

Johannesburg, May 16 (ANI): England captain Alastair Cook has said that there is no chance that his team will underestimate New Zealand in the Test series which starts at Lord's on Thursday.

London, May 16 (ANI): Former England Test captain Sir Ian Botham has warned England not to underestimate New Zealand during the Tests series starting on Thursday, saying that the English can count themselves lucky that they did not have slink away with their tail tucked between their legs in the last Test series against the Kiwis.

Sydney, May 15 (ANI): England plans to use the raised seam of the Duke Ball to challenge New Zealand batsmen during the two-Test series beginning this month.

Wellington, May 15 (ANI): New Zealand cricketer Peter Fulton is finally set to make his debut at Lord's at the grand old age of 34, during the first Test against England on Thursday.

London, May 15 (ANI): Tall English paceman Stuart Broad is set to cut down to size his equally towering New Zealand counterpart Peter Fulton during the first Test at Lord's on Thursday.

London, May 14 (ANI): England pace bowler Stuart Broad has said that it is important for their team to win the back-to-back Ashes series this year seeing that England has not won four back-to-back Ashes in 120 years, adding that they have a big chance this year to make history.

London, May 14 (ANI): English wicketkeeper Matt Prior has confessed that he felt uncomfortable at being singled out as the player of the year for the 2012-13 season.

Sydney, May 14 (ANI): New Zealand bowler Tim Southee has been cleared to play against England in the first Test at Lord's on Thursday, after he was withdrawn midway through the drawn four-day match against the England Lions following a pain in his left-foot.