Cricket

Root: Decision to recall Ballance rests solely on my shoulders

The second Test is at Trent Bridge - where England haven't lost in seven Tests

Cook sleeping much easier without the England captaincy

South Africa can save series but du Plessis has decisions to make

How can South African cricket solve its talent crisis?

Several separate factors, from a weak currency to Brexit, have combined to undermine the sport

England book semi-final spot courtesy of Sciver century

Cricketer denies he quit Essex because of acid attack on family

Meet the man who made Moeen - an interview with Munir Ali

The Englishman's dad discusses how his bowling suggestion changed the then-15-year-old's future

Bayliss' psychological tools key in turning Moeen world-class again

Moeen looked a shadow of the player who struggled in India as he took 10 wickets at Lord's

Root showed authority and conviction in captaining England to victory

Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith will be writing exclusively for The Independent this summer. Here he reflects on the first Test...

In Ali and Stokes do England have the best all-rounders in the world?

The updated ICC Rankings underline Ali’s progress - he has now moved up to two places to fourth among all-rounders in Test cricket, with teammate Stokes only one place behind in fifth

Soft and vulnerable South Africa offer no positives in capitulation

Former Proteas captain Graeme Smith thought the tourists' defeat was never in doubt once openers Heino Kuhn and Dean Elgar were dismissed

Moeen revels in finest performance of his England career

England will head into Friday’s second Test at Trent Bridge with a 1-0 lead in the four-match series

England finally claim World Cup win over Australia

Majestic Moeen spins England to victory over South Africa

Anderson surprised about state of the Lord's pitch

The Lancashire seamer did not expect the pitch to show as much turn as it has

Cook puts England in commanding position at Lord's

England 458, 119-1; South Africa 361: The hosts are on course to push for victory, thanks in part to a typically sensible half-century from their former skipper

South Africa's Rabada to miss second Test after swearing at Stokes

A stump microphone caught the 22-year-old telling Ben Stokes to 'f*** off'

South Africa making England work hard but hosts in control

Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith will be writing exclusively for The Independent this summer. Here he reflects on day two of the first Test...

Moeen and Broad ensure England have the upper hand

Root in 'dreamworld' after century on debut as Test captain

Root unawed and played with balance to drag England back

Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith will be writing exclusively for The Independent this summer. Here he reflects on day one of the first Test

Root marks debut as captain with heroic century on day one at Lord's

Close of play: England 357-5 (Root 184, Moeen 61)

Taylor and Beaumont share record-breaking stand in England victory

Root eager to hit the ground running with his new-look England

Broad confident of maintaining new-ball partnership with Anderson

Speaking to The Independent, Broad backs his England teammate to fight of injury concerns and deliver this summer

England and South Africa face fair share of questions this summer

Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith is writing exclusively for The Independent this summer. Here, he previews the Test series between England and his former side

If Ballance doesn’t fire swiftly, Westley must be given a shot

England ease past Sri Lanka to claim consecutive World Cup wins

Hales hits record score as Notts beat Surrey in One-Day Cup final

England and Nottinghamshire opener Hales notched up the highest individual one-day score at Lord's, 187 off just 167 balls, as Surrey lost in the final for a third season in a row