Wisden Cricketers of the Year

Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur believes his "fearless" side have everything to gain when they face an "under the pump" England in the first Test at Lord's on May 24.

Distraught former Australia cricket captain Steve Smith was in tears March 29 as he accepted full responsibility for a ball-tampering scandal that has shaken the sport, saying he was devastated by his "big mistake."

Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland was rushing to South Africa on March 26 with the sport facing one of the toughest weeks in its history as a backlash grows over a ball-tampering scandal which is likely to cost Steve Smith the Test captaincy.

Injured Black Cap Ross Taylor said on March 8 that he was desperate to play in the one-day series decider against England, as pundits declared his unbeaten 181 the greatest ever limited-overs innings by a Kiwi batsman.

Australia romped to an innings and 123-run victory over England after dismissing the tourists for 180 on the final day of the fifth test on Jan. 8 to complete a 4-0 Ashes triumph that fell short of a whitewash but was little less emphatic.

Alastair Cook hit a long-awaited century and Stuart Broad snapped up four wickets as England’s much-maligned old guard finally enjoyed a day to remember in the Ashes series on Dec. 27.

England has lost paceman Craig Overton and may make a further change as it tries to restore some pride in Dec. 26’s fourth Melbourne Test after surrendering the Ashes to Australia.

England coach Trevor Bayliss says his team left “a few scars” on Australia in the Adelaide Test, suggesting the home side’s second innings batting performance will have some players feeling “nervous.”

A defiant Joe Root insisted the Ashes series was by no means over despite England falling to a 120-run defeat in the second test at Adelaide Oval on Dec. 6 to go 2-0 down with three matches to play.

Two of the world’s best batsmen will be in opposition when Australia’s Steve Smith and England’s Joe Root both lead their countries for the first time in an Ashes Test at Brisbane on Nov. 23.