It's considered impolite to talk about the Ashes while a blockbuster series is raging against India - but the plight of England's bowlers has left little option.

South Africa captain Wiaan Mulder explained declaring on 367, the fifth-highest score in Test history, instead of chasing Brian Lara's record 400 not out.

Brendon McCullum has called for Lord's to produce a more seam-friendly surface for Thursday's crucial third Test against India after England were thrashed at Edgbaston.

Mail Sport's Richard Gibson rates both sets of players after England crashed to a 336-run defeat in the second Test against India at Edgbaston.

While India piled up 1,014 runs - fuelled by captain Shubman Gill's scores of 269 and 161 - England slumped to 84 for five in their first innings and then lost half their side for 83 in the second.

The most glaring thing about this Test was that the India bowling attack managed to get so much more out of the Edgbaston pitch than England's did.

DAVID LLOYD: The hosts went into the final day knowing that a draw was the best they could hope for after being set a huge target of 608 to chase and came up way short.

LAWRENCE BOOTH AT EDGBASTON: After the heist at Headingley, the evisceration at Edgbaston. England arrived in Birmingham with a spring in their step, but will limp to Lord's this week.

AADAM PATEL AT EDGBASTON: England will resume on day five still needing 536 runs to pull off a world-record run chase of 608 but with just seven wickets intact.

AADAM PATEL AT EDGBASTON: Just down the road, another Indian batter was taking England to the cleaners. Heslammed a 52-ball ton for India Under-19s against England.

An enterprising knock from the returning Steve Smith and a breakthrough fifty at No.3 for Cameron Green have boosted Australia's lead to 254 in the second Test against the West Indies.