India’s Ravichandran Ashwin reclaimed the top spot in the test bowler’s rankings on Wednesday following his nine-wicket haul in the fifth and final test against England last week.

India maintained their aura of invincibility at home after completing a 4-1 series triumph against England, and the ease of their final win may well subject the visitors’ much-hyped “Bazball” approach to fresh scrutiny.

India were all out for 477 in reply to England’s first innings total of 218 on day three of the fifth and final test on Saturday.

Spinner Nathan Lyon took six for 65 as Australia dismissed New Zealand for 196 before lunch on the fourth day of the first test at Wellington’s Basin Reserve on Sunday to win the match by 172 runs and go 1-0 up in the series.

Ireland claimed their first test victory when they beat fellow minnows Afghanistan by six wickets on Friday in a one-off match in Abu Dhabi after skipper Andy Balbirnie took charge in the run chase with an unbeaten half-century.

India have remained test cricket’s most tourist-unfriendly destination for over a decade and even England’s gung-ho ‘Bazball’ approach could not change that reality on Monday.

India seamer Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for the fourth test against England, while wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul remains out due to fitness issues, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said on Tuesday.

India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and home hero Ravindra Jadeja combined to fashion a 434-run romp to victory against England in the third test, exposing holes in the touring side’s high-risk approach in the process.

Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed a rapid hundred before retiring hurt as India stretched their overall lead to 322 with eight wickets in hand to take control of the third test against England on Saturday.

India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has withdrawn from the ongoing third test against England due to a family emergency, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) said on Friday.

Kane Williamson hit an unbeaten century as New Zealand chased down a victory target of 267 to beat South Africa by seven wickets on the fourth day of the second test on Friday and clinch a first ever series win over the Proteas.

Captain Rohit Sharma and middle-order batter Ravindra Jadeja smashed defiant hundreds to drag India out of the doldrums and into a comfortable 326 for five on the opening day of the third test against England on Thursday.