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  • Stokes looking to the future again
    By Tim Wellock
    After beginning the season with a century, Durham’s Ben Stokes confirmed that he is as determined as ever to play for England.

    06/04/2013 (44 days old) | Read more
  • Monty Panesar: scene stealer
    By Mark Baldwin
    The final day of the Auckland Test had it all: gripping action as Matt Prior, Ian Bell and Stuart Broad fought for England’s survival against the

    27/03/2013 (55 days old) | Read more
  • Finn pips Prior to England MVP award
    Matt Prior'’s match-saving 110 not out may have captured the headlines in Auckland, but it was England team-mate Steven Finn who proved to be

    27/03/2013 (54 days old) | Read more
  • Match drawn - New Zealand v England
    Monty survives with 2* from 5 balls, including a wonderful early dive to get a single off Williamson and give Prior the strike. Panesar also hits 3rd ball of Boult's last over through mid off for 1to allow the heroic Prior (110*) to block the last 3. Epic

    26/03/2013 (56 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    304-9!! Broad's vigil ends with an edged forward defensive at Williamson to Taylor at first slip (6 from 77 balls, 137 mins) and Jimmy Anderson does the same two ball later. 19 balls left - enter Monty Panesar!! Prior 102 not out. Monty almost edges first ball

    26/03/2013 (56 days old) | Read more
  • New Zealand v England
    And now just five overs to go on an extraordinary day.... England are 300-7, Prior has 102 (his 7th Test hundred) but has just almost been caught at mid wicket pulling Southee, and Broad has a 74-ball 2 not out. He was off mark with edged 2 from 62nd ball

    26/03/2013 (56 days old) | Read more
  • New Zealand v England
    12 overs left....Eng 279-7. Prior 87 and Broad a remarkable 57-ball 0 not out. His 50 - balls that is - brought a round of applause from England's supporters. Decent crowd in now, and atmosphere electric. Only Test cricket can do this...

    26/03/2013 (56 days old) | Read more
  • New Zealand v England
    21 overs to go....Eng 264-7. Prior 74 and Broad still on 0 but defending stubbornly. Broad was given lbw to his 23rd ball, a vicious near-yorker from Boult, but successfully asked for review while on his knees, knowing he had inside-edged. Compelling, thrilling

    26/03/2013 (56 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - New Zealand v England
    Drama, on the cusp of tea, as Bell edges Wagner to Southee at 3rd slip and is out for 75 (271 balls, 353 mins). Prior, 45 not out in Eng's 237-7, survived an lbw on review on 16 and, on 20, saw the bails stay on when ball lobbed into his stumps from his shoulder

    26/03/2013 (56 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    159-6: Bairstow, not surprisingly out of form having had just two previous first-class inns since last August, edges Southee to Taylor at first slip and is gone for 6. Prior now joins Bell, and these two are England's last hope

    26/03/2013 (56 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - New Zealand v England
    Root out, to the first ball with the second new ball, a brilliant inswinger from Trent Boult to pin him lbw for 29. He had added a defiant 60 with Bell but the ten remaining minutes before lunch sees both Bell and Bairstow dropped off Boult. Eng 158-5

    25/03/2013 (56 days old) | Read more
  • New Zealand v England
    One hour gone, and Ian Bell and Joe Root still there with England 127-4. Bell has 23 and Root 22

    25/03/2013 (56 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - New Zealand v England
    Nightwatchman Finn, aka The Watford Wall, crumbles in the day's final over - superbly held by Southee at silly point off Williamson for 0. Bell 8 not out from 89 balls but England in the mire at 90-4 at stumps, 390 behind, with a day still to play

    25/03/2013 (57 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    BIG wicket for New Zealand, with less than five overs of the day remaining, as Cook is drawn into a drive at Kane Williamson's occasional off spin and edges to Brownlie at second slip. Cook made 43, England are 90-3 and nightwatchman Finn joins Bell

    25/03/2013 (57 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    Trott goes, for 37, edging a loose drive at a wide one from Neil Wagner, bowling from around the wicket. Poor stroke, and England are 60-2. Cook, 21 not out, is joined by Bell.

    25/03/2013 (57 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - New Zealand v England
    Eng 45-1 at tea, with Cook 19 - dropped low down by keeper Watling off Southee on 1 - and Trott 21

    25/03/2013 (57 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    NZ strike in second over, Tim Southee swinging one away to have Nick Compton ct behind for 2. Eng 2-1, needing 481 from 143 overs after NZ declaration at 241-6. Fulton 110 (5x6, 14x4) and McCullum 67 not out (3x6, 6x4). Fair to say NZ big favourites!

    25/03/2013 (57 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - New Zealand v England
    Carnage at Eden Park as, after Monty Panesar removed Brownlie for 28, Fulton and Brendon McCullum ran amok in the second hour. At lunch they had added 94 in 81 balls and NZ, on 176-4, were 415 runs ahead. Fulton, with 4x6, is 91* and McCullum (2x6, 4x4) 44*

    24/03/2013 (57 days old) | Read more
  • New Zealand v England
    Almost an hour of day four gone and England have already decided to go on to the defensive. NZ are 79-3 - leading by 318 now - having added a further 44 in the day's first 11 overs. Fulton 41*, Brownlie 25*

    24/03/2013 (57 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - New Zealand v England
    NZ steady matters through Peter Fulton and Dean Brownlie to reach 35-3 by stumps. Seven of the last eight overs of the day were maidens. Fulton 14, Brownlie 13, and the NZ lead is 274.

    24/03/2013 (58 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    And now NZ are 8-3 with Ross Taylor lbw to Broad for 3. That's seven wickets for 12 runs and it's terrific, crazy Test cricket. NZ lead by 247 but England still just about alive in the game with two days still to go after this one has finally finished

    24/03/2013 (58 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    We've now had six wickets for just nine runs here at Eden Park! Root was bowled having a heave for 45 to leave Eng 204 all out. NZ did not enforce follow on but are now 5-2 after Broad gets Rutherford for 0 and Anderson bowls Williamson off under edge

    24/03/2013 (58 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    And now Jimmy Anderson goes third ball for 4 (and that a edged boundary) to a catch at the wicket off Boult, who now has a Test-best 6-68. Boult's previous best for NZ was 4-42 and England, at 204-9, are still 239 runs in arrears

    24/03/2013 (58 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    Stuart Broad, after hitting Boult for 2446 from successive balls, then speared the next tamely to cover. Terrible shot, but gone for 16 and, two overs later and without addition to the total, Finn edges Boult to first slip. 200-8, Root still there on 45

    24/03/2013 (58 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - New Zealand v England
    The fall of Prior for 73, ct at cover just before tea - and in the over before the second new ball was taken - took the shine off his gallant 101-run stand in 42 overs with Root, who remains 37 not out. England, at 176 for six, are still 267 runs adrift

    24/03/2013 (58 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - New Zealand v England
    England limp to lunch on 92-5, a deficit still of 351, with Root digging in on 15 and Prior on 11. Prior, though, on 10, would have been run out had a throw from subsitute fielder Doug Bracewell hit the stumps after Root called him for a single to cover

    23/03/2013 (58 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    England in disarray at 72-5. Again on review, after originally being given not out by umpire Rod Tucker, Bairstow has to go for 3, lbw to Neil Wagner's bustling left-arm seam. Matt Prior, for some reason still batting at No 7, joins Root

    23/03/2013 (58 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    Ian Bell lbw for 17, to another off-cutter from Southee, and England are in real trouble at 65-4. NZ know they have a great chance, and it is a tough ask for the two young Yorkies, Root and Bairstow, to rally England from this position

    23/03/2013 (58 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    Bad start to day three for England, with Nick Compton adding just a single to his overnight score before being removed lbw for 13, on review, by a Tim Southee nip-backer. Joe Root now joins Ian Bell with England 61-3 and in a spot of bother

    23/03/2013 (58 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - New Zealand v England
    England struggle to 50-2 from 25 overs in reply to NZ's 443 by the close. Cook strangled down the legside for 4, off Boult, but the left-arm paceman then trapped Trott lbw for 27 with an excellent inswinger. Trott reviewed, to no avail. Compton 12*, Bell 6*

    23/03/2013 (59 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    Finn takes four wickets after tea to finish with 6-125, equalling his Test-best figures. Southee is ct behind for 44, Martin taken at 2nd slip for 10, BJ Watling ct down the legside by Prior, on review, and Boult ct at point, carving, next ball. NZ 443 all out

    23/03/2013 (59 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - New Zealand v England
    NZ 414-6 after five sessions' batting. England have allowed just 164 runs from 56 overs so far on day two, and taken five wickets, although Tim Southee did provide some acceleration with successive sixes off Broad and several other boundaries in 35*

    23/03/2013 (59 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    Two more wickets for hard-working England since lunch. Jonathan Trott has Brendon McCullum well caught by Prior standing up for 38, and then Dean Brownlie cuts Anderson to Nick Compton at point on 36 to give Jimmy his 297th Test wicket. NZ 373-6

    23/03/2013 (59 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - New Zealand v England
    NZ 312-4 with England by lunch also sending back Ross Taylor, who chipped a return catch to Panesar on 19, and Fulton, whose 460-minute 136 was ended by a brilliant diving left-handed catch by Matt Prior from a leg glance at Steven Finn.

    22/03/2013 (59 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    Early wicket for England on day two, with Jimmy Anderson gaining reward for a controlled spell by having Kane Williamson caught at the wicket for 91 with one that shaped away just enough to catch the edge of a defensive bat. NZ 260-2, Fulton still on 124

    22/03/2013 (59 days old) | Read more
  • The Cricketer announces National Village Cup sponsors
    The Cricketer is delighted to unveil its first official sponsors for the 2013 National Village Cup season.

    22/03/2013 (60 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - New Zealand v England
    Tough day for England ends with NZ sitting pretty on 250-1 - after being put in, don't forget. Peter Fulton is on 124*, a maiden Test ton, and Kane Williamson 83*. Their stand is so far 171 and England barely threatened since lunch - even with second new ball

    22/03/2013 (60 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - New Zealand v England
    Another session of toil for England, with NZ's second wicket partnership of Fulton and Williamson batting throughout the afternoon to reach tea at 173-1. Fulton, on 95, is on the cusp of a maiden Test ton and Williamson has 39

    22/03/2013 (60 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - New Zealand v England
    NZ 79-1 at lunch, with Hamish Rutherford edging a cut at Steven Finn to Cook to first slip in the penultimate over of the morning session. Rutherford made 37 and had just driven Monty Panesar for two sixes in an over. Peter Fulton 41*

    21/03/2013 (60 days old) | Read more
  • Team News - New Zealand v England
    NZ: Fulton, Rutherford, Williamson, Taylor, Brownlie, McCullum, Watling, Southee, Martin, Watling, Boult; England: Cook, Compton, Trott, Bell, Root, Bairstow, Prior, Broad, Finn, Anderson, Panesar

    21/03/2013 (60 days old) | Read more
  • England won the toss - New Zealand v England
    Alastair Cook has won the toss at Eden Park, and England will bowl first. NZ unchanged from 2nd Test - England bring in Bairstow for injured Pietersen

    21/03/2013 (60 days old) | Read more
  • Durston fires 73-ball century
    By Dave Bracegirdle
    Wes Durston scored a stunning 73-ball century for Derbyshire against Nottinghamshire in their two-day friendly match at North Stars CC.

    21/03/2013 (60 days old) | Read more
  • Match abandoned as a draw - New Zealand v England
    Rain on the final day eventually led to a call-off at 2pm local time. The series remains at 0-0, with the decider at Auckland starting on Frday March 22

    18/03/2013 (64 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - New Zealand v England
    After a long afternoon's inactivity, due to rain, there were five more overs bowled late on before more rain arrived with NZ moving on to 162-2 - still 49 runs behind. Bad weather is forecast too for the final day

    17/03/2013 (65 days old) | Read more
  • New Zealand v England
    Still no play since lunch - and the covers are still on, though it has not rained hard and there is still a little bit of remaining hope of a resumption

    17/03/2013 (65 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    Light rain in the air at the Basin Reserve, but play away on time and, in the fifth over, Jimmy Anderson - who is rumoured to have a stiff back as well as a sore heel, and did not bowl in warm-ups -has Peter Fulton edging to Cook at first slip on 45. NZ 81-2

    16/03/2013 (65 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - New Zealand v England
    NZ do well to finish the day on 77-1, a deficit still of 134, but in with a fighting chance of avoiding defeat due mainly to a dodgy weather forecast for Monday's scheduled last day and perhaps even late in the day tomorrow. Fulton 41*, Williamson 16*

    16/03/2013 (66 days old) | Read more
  • New Zealand v England
    Well into last hour here, and England only have the wicket of Hamish Rutherford, brilliantly caught by a diving Ian Bell at backward short leg off Panesar for 15, to show for another 20 overs of toil. NZ 64-1

    16/03/2013 (66 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - New Zealand v England
    NZ to follow on 211 runs behind at 254 all out, as Stuart Broad blows away the Kiwi tail with a three-wicket burst with the second new ball to finish with 6-51. Superb performance by Broad, and by England generally in the field.

    16/03/2013 (66 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    A two-wicket burst by Steven Finn, after a brilliant but unlucky spell from Anderson, pegged NZ to 197-7 and raised England hopes of enforcing the follow-on. Finn had McCullum caught at second slip for 69 before Southee mis-hooked to long leg on 3

    16/03/2013 (66 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - New Zealand v England
    Fine resistance now from Brendon McCullum, with six fours and a magnificent pull-hooked six off Broad in an unbeaten 52, and more dogged stuff from BJ Watling, on 19 not out, as NZ reach lunch on 169-5. Another 97 needed to avoid the follow-on, though.

    15/03/2013 (66 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    Brilliant early double-strike by England leaves NZ in deep trouble at 89-5 less than half-an-hour into day three. Broad's superb reflex return catch gets rid of the stubborn Williamson, for 42, and then Anderson has Dean Brownlie lbw for 18 in the next over

    15/03/2013 (66 days old) | Read more
  • Shakor fitness boost
    By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent
    Leicestershire expect their highly-rated England Under-19 all-rounder Shiv Thakor to be fit to resume training when their players report for their pre-season preparations at Grace Road on Monday.

    15/03/2013 (66 days old) | Read more
  • Everton star goes back to his roots
    By Graham Hardcastle
    Everton captain Phil Neville is planning a career in league cricket when he retires from football. 

    15/03/2013 (67 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - New Zealand v England
    NZ 66-3 from 33 tight and largely threatening overs from England's bowlers. Kane Williamson has done well to reach stumps on 32 not out, and Dean Brownlie has 8. England lead by 399

    15/03/2013 (67 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    Stuart Broad 2 wkts in 2 balls, bowling Ross Taylor with a beauty that hit off stump after having Hamish Rutherford ct at 1st slip by Cook swishing at a short one. Peter Fulton earlier fell for a tortured 1 to another catch by Cook off Anderson. NZ 48-3

    15/03/2013 (67 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - New Zealand v England
    Prior's brilliant 99-ball 82, with two straight sixes off Wagner and 10 fours, takes England to 485 all out - the innings ending on the stroke of tea when Panesar was ct at slip for a third-ball 0 after Prior was held at point reverse-sweeping Williamson

    15/03/2013 (67 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    Both Pietersen, for 73, and Broad, for an unconvincing 6, have gone since lunch but Prior is continuing to attack on 33 and Steven Finn - aka the 'Watford Wall' after his nightwatchman heroics in Dunedin - is now with him. Eng 385-7

    15/03/2013 (67 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - New Zealand v England
    England 353-5, with Joe Root a third wicket to fall before lunch. On 10, he tried to square drive Martin and edged one that turned significantly out of the footmarks to the keeper Watling. Matt Prior, though, has started well and Pietersen is 68 not out

    14/03/2013 (67 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    The drinks break claims another wicket as, in the second over after the refreshments, Bell goes down the wicket to slow left-armer Martin and skies to deep mid off. Gone for 11, and shades of Ahmedabad. England now 302-4

    14/03/2013 (67 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    A bad day to day two for England, with Jonathan Trott caught at the wicket from the first ball he faced, from Trent Boult, swishing at one angled across him. Trott, of course, made 121 and Eng are 267-3 with ian Bell joining Kevin Pietersen at the crease

    14/03/2013 (67 days old) | Read more
  • Hughes stakes his claim
    By Andy Wilson
    Chesney Hughes, largely a peripheral figure in Derbyshire’s promotion campaign, staked his first claim for a regular place in the new season with a sparkling century in the opening game of their pre-season tour to Barbados.

    14/03/2013 (67 days old) | Read more
  • Sussex give chance to Miller
    By Bruce Talbot
    Sussex are giving a trial to former Lancashire and Warwickshire seamer Andrew Miller on their pre-season tour to Dubai.

    14/03/2013 (67 days old) | Read more
  • Hughes starts with a hundred
    By Dave Bracegirdle
    Chesney Hughes wasted little time in registering his first Derbyshire century of 2013 when he stroked an elegant 109 on the first day of the two-day county friendly against Northants at North Stars CC.

    14/03/2013 (67 days old) | Read more
  • Riverside development plans boost
    By Tim Wellock
    Cash-strapped Durham are set to secure £5.6m in loans to help them progress their long-delayed ground development plans.

    14/03/2013 (67 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - New Zealand v England
    England finish a dominant day on 267-2, with Trott unbeaten on 121 and Kevin Pietersen battling hard for some form on 18 not out. Trott utterly in control.

    14/03/2013 (68 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    Finally, a wicket for NZ. Compton, having reached a second successive Test hundred (224 balls, 15x4), edges Martin to slip. Eng 236-2, and Compton added 210 with Trott, whose own hundred took 174 balls, with 13x4.

    14/03/2013 (68 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - New Zealand v England
    England sitting pretty on 162-1, with Compton on 73 and Trott looking totally serene on 68 not out. A good toss for Cook to lose

    14/03/2013 (68 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - New Zealand v England
    England 75-1 at the interval, with Compton 34 and Trott on 23. After the loss of Cook the NZ bowlers have huffed and puffed to no avail and England's second wicket pair have been largely untroubled while adding 49 so far

    13/03/2013 (68 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    Cook, aka 'Bradman', goes to a very unDon-like shot - a checked forward prod at Neil Wagner which chips the ball gently to Peter Fulton at mid on. Cook made 17, England are 26-1

    13/03/2013 (68 days old) | Read more
  • Team News - New Zealand v England
    NZ: Fulton, Rutherford, Williamson, Taylor, Brownlie, McCullum, Watling, Martin, Southee, Wagner, Boult; England: Cook, Compton, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Root, Prior, Broad, Finn, Anderson, Panesar

    13/03/2013 (68 days old) | Read more
  • New Zealand won the toss - New Zealand v England
    Brendon McCullum, the New Zealand captain, wins his second toss of the series and again chooses to bowl first. Can England bat better than they did first time around in the opening Test in Dunedin? Both teams are unchanged

    13/03/2013 (68 days old) | Read more
  • Christian's a T20 Gladiator
    By Richard Latham
    Gloucestershire have signed Dan Christian to play in the Friends Life t20 competition this summer.

    14/03/2013 (68 days old) | Read more
  • Warwicks ask for council loan repayment freeze
    By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent
    Warwickshire have asked Birmingham City Council to freeze loan repayments on the £32 million Edgbaston pavilion to ease their financial burden over the next two years.

    13/03/2013 (68 days old) | Read more
  • NFL stars help Yorkshire preparations
    By Graham Hardcastle
    Part of Yorkshire’s pre-season preparations will involve a spot of American football after the club revealed that some of the Minnesota Vikings NFL squad will be coming to Headingley later this month.

    13/03/2013 (68 days old) | Read more
  • Match drawn - New Zealand v England
    England finished on a comfortable 421-6, with Bell on 26 and Prior 23 - a lead of 128. Finn finally fell for 56, from 286 minutes and 203 balls of heroic resistance, and Joe Root was run out for 0 by Southee's direct hit

    10/03/2013 (72 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - New Zealand v England
    England have made the game safe by reaching 382-4, a lead of 89, with just one session to go. Finn, the heroic nightwatchman, scored just 14 runs between lunch and tea to reach 56 not out. Pietersen was ct behind for 12, but Ian Bell is 10*

    10/03/2013 (72 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    Trott falls for 52, c&b by Wagner from one which popped, but Finn also has fifty (from 142 balls) and is still there with Kevin Pietersen, who avoided a king pair by turning Wagner for two through mid wicket. England 358-3, with Finn 52*

    10/03/2013 (72 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - New Zealand v England
    England 329-2, a lead of 36, with the stubborn Finn still there on 42 and Jonathan Trott settling in securely on 37 not out

    09/03/2013 (72 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    Compton's seven-hour vigil ends, trapped lbw by an inswinger from Neil Wagner as he played slightly around his front pad to a ball pitching on leg stump and which would have hit middle and leg. England now 265-2

    09/03/2013 (72 days old) | Read more
  • New Zealand v England
    First hour of final day almost done, and England are 256-1. Slow but sure progress from Compton (112 not out) and nightwatchman Steven Finn (12 not out) so far. The draw looks in the bag for England

    09/03/2013 (72 days old) | Read more
  • Allenby tour withdrawal a precaution
    By Richard Thomas
    All rounder Jim Allenby has been ruled out of Glamorgan’s 10-day pre-season tour to South Africa because of  illness. 

    09/03/2013 (72 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - New Zealand v England
    England 234-1, just 59 behind. Cook fell for 116, ct behind against the second new ball, after reaching his 24th Test ton. Compton remained 102*, his maiden Test hundred. Their stand of 231 is an England 1st wkt record v NZ

    09/03/2013 (73 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - New Zealand v England
    Cook (64*) and Compton (60*) take England safely to 139-0 at tea, Battling through 54 overs, they have given England hope of forcing a draw. Compton has passed his previous Test best of 57. NZ still lead by 154, however

    09/03/2013 (73 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - New Zealand v England
    Cook and Compton see England through to lunch at 58 for no wicket from 22 overs. Both openers have 25, although Compton survived a reviewed claim for a legside catch at the wicket off Tim Southee when he had made 16. NZ are still 235 runs ahead

    08/03/2013 (73 days old) | Read more
  • New Zealand v England
    NZ declared first innings on 460-9, after scoring 58 more runs in 8.4 overs in the first 45 minutes of day four. McCullum goes to 59-ball 74, with three sixes this morning - one pulled off Broad and the other two in three balls off Anderson. NZ lead is 293

    08/03/2013 (73 days old) | Read more
  • Northants start facilities revamp
    By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent
    Northamptonshire have started work on major improvements at their Wantage Road headquarters using the £1 million windfall that the England and Wales Cricket Board has made available to each of the 18 first-class counties.

    08/03/2013 (73 days old) | Read more
  • Stone rewarded with contract extension
    By Paul Bolton
    Northamptonshire have secured the services of England Under-19 seamer Olly Stone on a one-year contract extension that will keep him at Wantage Road until the end of the 2015 season. 

    08/03/2013 (74 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - New Zealand v England
    Play called off for the day, with 32 overs unbowled. NZ 402-7 and lead by 235.

    08/03/2013 (74 days old) | Read more
  • New Zealand v England
    Still no play in Dunedin after players went off for bad light and drizzle 20 minutes after tea with NZ on 402-7. McCullum is on 44, and Bruce martin has 17

    08/03/2013 (74 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - New Zealand v England
    NZ 385-7 with Tim Southee bowled by Broad for a violent 21-ball 25 which included two sixes off him. Brendon McCullum is 35 not out and looking capable of extending the Kiwi lead well beyond the current 218

    08/03/2013 (74 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    Two more wickets in quick succession for England, with Anderson bowling Brownlie for 27 via an inside edge and BJ Watling shouldering arms to his first ball and being bowled by a Stuart Broad off-cutter. NZ, at 326-6, lead by 159

    08/03/2013 (74 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    NZ 310-4, with Ross Taylor caught at second slip prodding at Anderson on 31. A third wicket for Jimmy, who gives Taylor a send-off with a long roar of triumph. He is still grumpy at seeing Dean Brownlie dropped by Root at third slip on 2.

    08/03/2013 (74 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    Rutherford's superb debut innings is finally over, caught at mid-wicket from Jimmy Anderson's first ball with the second new ball, which seemed to 'stop' on him a little. Rutherford's 171 came from 217 balls, in 341 minutes, with 23 fours and 3 sixes. NZ 267-3.

    08/03/2013 (74 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - New Zealand v England
    Kane Williamson, cutting, was bowled by Monty Panesar's skidder for 24, but Rutherford drove the left-arm spinner for two sixes in three balls - the first bringing up his 150 - and was on a magnificent 167* at lunch. NZ, at 255-2, are already 88 runs ahead

    07/03/2013 (74 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    Success at last for England in the 9th over of day 3 at Dunedin, Jimmy Anderson having Peter Fulton ct behind by Matt Prior from an under-edge in his fifth over. Fulton made a stolid but invaluable 55. Hamish Rutherford has reached a debut ton. NZ 167-1

    07/03/2013 (74 days old) | Read more
  • Foakes relishes Lions' exposure
    By Paul Hiscock
    Although England Lions lost all six of their seven one-day matches on the recent trip to Australia, including a 4-0 whitewash by the


    07/03/2013 (74 days old) | Read more
  • England's woes give Australia a lift
    England’s capitulation on the opening day of their Test series in New Zealand has provided Australia’s beleaguered cricket fans with something to cheer at last

    07/03/2013 (74 days old) | Read more
  • Cricket Diary: Warne's warning over Aussie spin worries

    By Richard Gibson
    The dearth of homegrown spinners in Australia has been highlighted just days after their best of all-time Shane Warne published his vision for their future development.



    07/03/2013 (74 days old) | Read more
  • Hampshire encounter familiar foes
    By Dave Bracegirdle
    Hampshire will renew rivalry with some familiar faces when they embark on their pre-season tour of Barbados this week.

    07/03/2013 (75 days old) | Read more
  • Hastings joins Sussex's T20 campaign
    By Bruce Talbot
    Australian all-rounder John Hastings is joining Sussex for this summer's T20 campaign.

    07/03/2013 (75 days old) | Read more
  • Aussie Burns joins Leicestershire
    By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent
    Leicestershire have signed Australia A batsman Joe Burns to deputise for Ramnaresh Sarwan for most of the new season.

    07/03/2013 (75 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - New Zealand v England
    NZ 131-0, with Rutherford on 77 and Fulton on 46. A real horror day for England, summed up when Pietersen dropped Rutherford at gully on 64.

    07/03/2013 (75 days old) | Read more
  • New Zealand v England
    With tea taken after the close of England's first innings, NZ have 41 overs to bat in the final session and are now 80 for 0 (Fulton 29, Rutherford 48) with more than 17 overs still to go

    07/03/2013 (75 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    England 167 all out - Anderson slices an attempted big hit at Martin and slices to short third man for 23. Monty Panesar left high and dry on 1 not out

    07/03/2013 (75 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    The best stand of the England innings so far, 47 between Finn and Jimmy Anderson, ends with Finn pulling to deep mid wicket for a Test-best 20. England 166-9 with Anderson on 23

    07/03/2013 (75 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    The joke is wearing thin now from an English perspective as another wicket, that of Broad, falls to a careless or misjudged stroke - this time a pull to deep square leg off another Martin long hop. Broad made 10, and England are 119-8

    07/03/2013 (75 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    And now it's 109 for 7. Trott, on 45, top edges an attempted sweep at Martin and loops up a simple catch to Boult at short fine leg. Steven Finn now joins Stuart Broad with England in deep trouble

    07/03/2013 (75 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    England 108 for 6 as Prior, who had included two imperious extra cover driven fours off Boult and three other fours in a promising 23, speared a long hop from Bruce Martin, the debutant left-arm spinner, to point.

    07/03/2013 (75 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - New Zealand v England
    England 81-5, with Trott on 40 and Prior 1. New Zealand's morning, and it was a good toss for them to win yesterday - before the first day washout - with the ball doing just enough off the seam and in the air. Bell and Cook's, however, were soft dismissals

    06/03/2013 (75 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    Still 20 minutes to go before lunch and England are 71-5, with Joe Root caught at third slip for 4 from a rising ball from Trent Boult, one of two NZ left-arm quicks. Trott still there on 31, and now joined by Matt Prior

    06/03/2013 (75 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    A stand of 46 between Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell is ended by Wagner in the 25th over when Bell drove the left-arm paceman to cover where Hamish Rutherford held on at the second attempt as he fell to his left. Bell made 24, England 64-4

    06/03/2013 (75 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - New Zealand v England
    England 18-3 after 50 minutes' play. Nick Compton fell for a sad 4-ball duck, playing into his stumps against Tim Southee, and Neil Wagner struck twice in his first over, the 11th, to have Alastair Cook ct at cover and Kevin Pietersen lbw for 0 next ball

    06/03/2013 (75 days old) | Read more
  • It's the Yorkshire Vikings
    By Graham Hardcastle
    Yorkshire have unveiled their new limited overs name as the Vikings. 

    06/03/2013 (75 days old) | Read more
  • Kent capture Haggett
    By Mark Pennell
    Kent have boosted their first-team resources with the capture of 22-year-old all-rounder Calum Haggett from Somerset.

    06/03/2013 (75 days old) | Read more
  • Metters' injury worse than feared
    By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent
    Warwickshire slow left-armer Chris Metters is facing another lengthy absence having suffered a recurrence of the shoulder injury that forced him to miss all of last season.

    06/03/2013 (75 days old) | Read more
  • New Zealand v England
    No play today in the first Test

    06/03/2013 (76 days old) | Read more
  • New Zealand v England
    Still raining in Dunedin, and a decision on whether any play is possible today - which just be extremely doubtful - will be made at tea, which is half-an-hour away

    06/03/2013 (76 days old) | Read more
  • New Zealand v England
    Still no play at Dunedin, after bad light was followed by heavy rain. Forecast is for it to clear up later, but as yet no prospect of a start to the First Test.

    05/03/2013 (76 days old) | Read more
  • Team News - New Zealand v England
    NZ: Fulton, Rutherford, Williamson, Taylor, Brownlie, McCullum, Watling, Southee, Wagner, B Martin, Boult; England: Cook, Compton, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Root, Prior, Broad, Anderson, Finn, Panesar

    05/03/2013 (76 days old) | Read more
  • New Zealand won the toss - New Zealand v England
    Graeme Swann out of Test with elbow injury. Monty Panesar plays instead. New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum wins toss and opts to bowl first

    05/03/2013 (76 days old) | Read more
  • Result - NZ XI beat England by 3 wickets
    BJ Watling's 89 not out, and fine support from Corey Anderson (44), Jimmy Neesham (20) and Neil Wagner (29*), earned the NZ XI a famous win - with eight balls to spare. It is England's first defeat in a first-class tour match since February 2006, in India

    02/03/2013 (80 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - NZ XI v England
    NZ XI 167-5 - so both sides halfway to their victory targets. England look most likely to win in the final session after taking three wickets in the afternoon - Latham ct behind sweeping Swann, Broom lbw Broad and Brownlie ct 2nd slip off Woakes

    02/03/2013 (80 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - NZ XI v England
    And, in the next over, his eighth in a long new ball spell, Broad spreadeagled the stumps of new batsman Carl Cachopa, who failed to score. NZ XI 57-2, and Broad has 1-23

    01/03/2013 (80 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - NZ XI v England
    A breakthrough for England. Replacing Onions (4-0-29-0), Chris Woakes has struck in his third over to have Rutherford caught at gully for 33 by Nick Compton, carving at a full length ball. NZ XI are now 56-1 after 14 overs

    01/03/2013 (80 days old) | Read more
  • NZ XI v England
    England declared their 2nd inns overnight, leaving NZ XI to score 334 to win from 90 overs. And, after nine overs, they are 43-0 with Hamish Rutherford square cutting Stuart Broad over point for six to reach 22 not out

    01/03/2013 (80 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - NZ XI v England
    After Prior's excellent 68, a stand of 60 between Ian Bell (38), batting at No 8, and Graeme Swann, who ended the day unbeaten n 41 from 43 balls. boosted England to 256-9 - an overall lead of 333 going into the final day

    01/03/2013 (81 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - NZ XI v England
    England 115-4 thanks mainly to Matt Prior, who is 50* from 54 balls. Compton gloved a hook in the first over after lunch, Cook was run out for 24, Pietersen out to a legside catch by keeper Watling and Trott ct behind, driving, for 20 in a slide to 63-4

    01/03/2013 (81 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - NZ XI v England
    England 15-0 in second innings, after NZ XI declared on 349-7 soon after Anderson fell for a 63-ball 67 (13x4, 1x6), spearing a grateful Onions to mid on. Onions' six overs cost 56 this morning - 1-131 from 22 overs in all. Watling (66*) put on 105 with Anderson

    28/02/2013 (81 days old) | Read more
  • NZ XI v England
    The second new ball is being thrashed to all parts by Corey Anderson and BJ Watling, with 63 runs taken from 8.5 overs so far bowled with it by Broad, Woakes and Onions, who has just conceded 22 runs in an over and has figures of 19-1-100-0. NZ XI now 305-6

    28/02/2013 (81 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - NZ XI v England
    NZ XI close on 224-6 after Trott and Swann take the wickets of Brownlie (63) and Neesham in the last two overs. Earlier Woakes bowled Rutherford for a fine 90, off an inside edge

    28/02/2013 (82 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - NZ XI v England
    Hamish Rutherford, due to make his Test debut in Dunedin next week, is leading further NZ XI resistance with 77 not out at tea. Dean Brownlie also going well on 30 and the Kiwis are 151-3 in their first innings in reply to England's 426.

    28/02/2013 (82 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - NZ XI v England
    A direct hit on the turn from gully by Kevin Pietersen runs out Neil Broom for 14. NZ XI 94-3. Rutherford, who called the run, is 53 not out. Earlier Swann struck with the first ball after lunch to have Latham lbw for 16 and Cachopa edged Broad to 2nd slip

    28/02/2013 (82 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - NZ XI v England
    NZ XI reply impressively with 56-0 by lunch on day two. Tom Latham and Hamish Rutherford, possible Test openers of the near future, have batted well against the new ball bursts of Broad and Onions

    27/02/2013 (82 days old) | Read more
  • NZ XI v England
    England all out for 426, with Bell last man out - skying to deep mid off - for 158. He faced 233 balls, hitting 23 fours. Graeme Swann also contributed a breezy 17-ball 27. NZ XI have 50 minutes' batting before lunch

    27/02/2013 (82 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - NZ XI v England
    England, batting on into day two of their four-day Test series warm-up match at Queenstown, have lost Stuart Broad - caught at second slip off Gillespie for 14 - while moving to 384-8 in the opening half-hour. Ian Bell remains 146 not out.

    27/02/2013 (82 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - NZ XI v England
    Root, bowled for 49, and Prior, with a powerful 43-ball 41, joined Bell in boosting England's first innings towards comparative riches. Bell, who also lost Woakes for 16 to the second new ball, was 127* at stumps, having guided England to 357-7.

    27/02/2013 (83 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - NZ XI v England
    Ian Bell (42*) and Joe Root (40*), both batting with growing fluency, have added 71 by tea. England, on 195-4, have survived an awkward session and can look to push on after tea in still glorious weather

    27/02/2013 (83 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - NZ XI v England
    Cook, dropped in the slips on 56, is out for 60 - thin-edging a backfoot slash at the left-arm pace of Neil Wagner to the keeper. England 124-4

    27/02/2013 (83 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - NZ XI v England
    England 98-3, with Cook 50 not out (69 balls, 10x4) and Ian Bell on 8

    26/02/2013 (83 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - NZ XI v England
    81-3, and Pietersen is gone for 14, brilliantly caught above his head by Hamish Rutherford at first slip slashing hard at Neesham, who now has 3-30 from seven overs. England 81-3, with Cook still there on 40

    26/02/2013 (83 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - NZ XI v England
    Aiming an expansive extra cover drive, Jonathan Trott edges behind for just 1 - with Neesham again the bowler - and England are 65-2

    26/02/2013 (83 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - NZ XI v England
    Nick Compton caught behind for 21, off Otago all-rounder James Neesham, to one that popped a bit at him. Until then, England had made serene progress. Cook on 22, England 45-1

    26/02/2013 (83 days old) | Read more
  • NZ XI won the toss - NZ XI v England
    England have been asked to bat first in the four-day game against a New Zealand XI. Nick Compton will open with captain Alastair Cook, and both Chris Woakes and Graham Onions have a chance to make an impression with the ball

    26/02/2013 (83 days old) | Read more
  • Team News - NZ XI v England
    England opt to rest both Anderson and Finn for Test series warm-up v NZ XI in Queenstown. Team: Cook, Compton, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Root, Prior, Woakes, Broad, Swann, Onions

    26/02/2013 (83 days old) | Read more
  • Root gets incremental contract
    By Graham Hardcastle
    Joe Root has been awarded an incremental contract by the ECB.

    17/02/2013 (92 days old) | Read more
  • Compton: I need to improve in NZ
    By Richard Latham
    Nick Compton has been back at Taunton this week reflecting on his England performances in India and looking forward to the

    15/02/2013 (94 days old) | Read more
  • Notts clear Patel for South Africa T20
    By Dave Bracegirdle
    Samit Patel has signed up to play for Chevrolet Warriors in South Africa’s forthcoming domestic Twenty20 tournament.

    14/02/2013 (95 days old) | Read more
  • Bresnan targets speedy comeback
    By Graham Hardcastle
    Yorkshire are hopeful that England’s Tim Bresnan will be in their side to face Sussex at Headingley during

    14/02/2013 (95 days old) | Read more
  • Bresnan to have elbow operation in USA
    By Graham Hardcastle
    Yorkshire’s Tim Bresnan is due to have a second operation on his problematic right elbow in America later this month.

    06/02/2013 (103 days old) | Read more
  • Wiggins and Sky team boost Prior
    By Bruce Talbot
    England wicketkeeper Matt Prior is taking tips from Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins as he prepares for a busy 12 months for

    01/02/2013 (108 days old) | Read more
  • Topley ready for Lions challenge
    By Paul Hiscock
    Reece Topley, Essex's fast-emerging young pace bowler, is heading to Australia for the third time in the past twelve months and

    31/01/2013 (110 days old) | Read more
  • Rankings rise consolation for England
    England have drawn level with India at the top of the ICC's ODI rankings after winning the final international at Dharamsala by seven wickets.

    27/01/2013 (113 days old) | Read more
  • Clarke's call-up provides real spur
    By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent
    For Rikki Clarke, a trip to Australia with the England Lions seems more than adequate compensation for having to miss a few Tottenham

    24/01/2013 (116 days old) | Read more
  • England name Test squad for New Zealand
    Tim Bresnan has been left out of England's 15-man Test squad for the New Zealand tour while his elbow is assessed by specialists. Eoin Morgan and Samit Patel also miss out.

    24/01/2013 (116 days old) | Read more
  • Second-best England lose series
    England were forced to accept India's dominance in the 50-over game today, losing the fourth one-day international in Mohali by five wickets to go down 3-1

    23/01/2013 (117 days old) | Read more
  • Big test for Giles after second thrashing
    Ashley Giles is facing an early test of his leadership credentials after England's new one-day international coach saw his players tumble to a second

    19/01/2013 (121 days old) | Read more
  • Sussex cautious about Taylor talk
    By Bruce Talbot
    Sussex insist it is too early to say whether England’s Sarah Taylor will play for their Second XI this season.

    15/01/2013 (125 days old) | Read more
  • India bully England to level at 1-1
    England suffered a sobering experience in Kochi, comprehensively beaten by 127 runs by India as a determined MS Dhoni and his team gave

    15/01/2013 (125 days old) | Read more
  • Tredwell stars in fine England win
    One of the most significant one-day international victories in England's recent history, a thrilling nine-run win in Rajkot, put Alastair Cook's team 1-0 up

    11/01/2013 (129 days old) | Read more
  • Dashing Hales hits ground running
    By Dave Bracegirdle
    Alex Hales completed a hectic 24 hours by starring with a man of the match performance on his Big Bash debut. The Nottinghamshire

    09/01/2013 (131 days old) | Read more
  • Parsons in frame for Warwickshire job
    By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent
    David Parsons, the England and Wales Cricket Board’s performance director, has emerged as a possible candidate to replace Ashley Giles as

    09/01/2013 (132 days old) | Read more
  • Hales called up to Big Bash action
    By Dave Bracegirdle
    England’s Alex Hales has been signed up by the Melbourne Renegades for the closing days of the Big Bash League.

    08/01/2013 (132 days old) | Read more
  • Christopher Martin-Jenkins dies aged 67
    Christopher Martin-Jenkins, the former editor of The Cricketer and legendary commentator on BBC's Test Match Special, has died of cancer aged 67. 

    01/01/2013 (139 days old) | Read more
  • Greig "a giant of a man", says Amiss
    By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent
    Dennis Amiss has paid an affectionate tribute to his close friend and former England captain Tony Greig who has died suddenly aged 66.

    30/12/2012 (141 days old) | Read more
  • Croft "privileged" to receive MBE
    By Richard Thomas
    Former England and Glamorgan all rounder Robert Croft said it was a “privilege” to receive an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s honours list. Both Croft and

    29/12/2012 (142 days old) | Read more
  • Tony Greig dies aged 66
    The former England captain Tony Greig has died at the age of 66 after a battle with lung cancer. Greig, who played in 58 Tests between 1972 and 1977, scored 3599 runs at 40.43 with eight hundreds, and picked up 141 wickets at 32.20, including 13 at Port-of-Spain in 1974.

    29/12/2012 (142 days old) | Read more
  • Bopara plotting way back to England duty
    By Paul Hiscock
    The services of Ravi Bopara are up for grabs, but before Essex supporters get alarmed it should be explained that the all-rounder is not intending to leave

    27/12/2012 (144 days old) | Read more
  • Morgan confirms England's health and depth
    Eoin Morgan set the seal on a triumphant end to the year for England's cricketers when he drove the last ball of the second and final Twenty20 international against

    22/12/2012 (149 days old) | Read more
  • Saker joins scrap for Warwickshire job
    By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent
    England bowling coach David Saker has emerged as a leading candidate to succeed Ashley Giles as director of cricket at county champions Warwickshire.

    19/12/2012 (153 days old) | Read more
  • Cricket Diary: Cook's cow shot debt to 'The Gnome'
    By Richard Gibson
    Alastair Cook’s increasingly positive approach to batting is no surprise to Keith Fletcher, one of his mentors as a schoolboy.

    18/12/2012 (154 days old) | Read more
  • Series clinched 2-1 with Trott and Bell hundreds
    Alastair Cook's England were today celebrating a first series victory in India for almost 28 years as both Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell completed fine hundreds in a

    17/12/2012 (155 days old) | Read more
  • Match drawn - India v England
    There it is... Gambhir bowls a dolly drop to Root, who blocks, and the match is drawn to confirm England as 2-1 series winners. Great achievement, after losing first Test in Ahmedabad. Great start to Alastair Cook's era as Test captain. Eng ended 352-4, Bell 116*

    17/12/2012 (155 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - India v England
    Bell, having batted for six hours and ten minutes, tucks his 293rd ball for three to deep backward square leg, off Ashwin, and completes a deserved 17th Test hundred. England now 336-4 and the end of the game is imminent

    17/12/2012 (155 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - India v England
    England 310-4 - a lead of 314 - with Bell 87 and Joe Root on 7 after slog-sweeping Ashwin for six. Probably only 50 minutes' play left after tea before England can start celebrating their 2-1 series triumph

    17/12/2012 (155 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Trott finally falls, 16 minutes from tea, for a superb 310-ball 143 as he clipped a ball from Ashwin straight to Kohli at leg slip. Bell remains 86 not out, after lofting Jadeja straight for six and four. England 302-4

    17/12/2012 (155 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Trott and Bell still going strong at the mid-point in the afternoon session. Leg spinner Chawla has made one or two turn past the edge, but otherwise no alarms for the excellent Warwickshire pair. Trott 127, Bell 74 and England 274-3. Draw assured

    17/12/2012 (155 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - India v England
    England sure of series victory at lunch on 240-3 - a lead of 244. Trott, on 106, and Bell, who has 61, added 79 in 31 overs in the morning session, taking their fourth wicket stand to 146 and snuffing out any lingering Indian hopes of a last day miracle

    17/12/2012 (155 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - India v England
    Jonathan Trott's 100 arrives soon after Bell's 50, and both players reached their landmarks with fluent on-driven fours. Bell had faced 130 balls while Trott's eighth Test century came from 232 balls, with 14 fours, over more than four and a half hours. 233-3

    17/12/2012 (155 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    The first hour has been safely negotiated by Trott and Bell, who have brought up both England's 200 and their own 100 partnership. Both playing positively too, with some quality strokes on this desperately slow surface. England 206-3, Trott 87, Bell 46

    17/12/2012 (155 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    India took the second new ball as soon as it was due after one over on day five, but Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell initially dealt fluently with it. Drives either side of mid on took Trott to 75 while Bell eased Sharma through extra cover. England 177-3

    17/12/2012 (155 days old) | Read more
  • Trott leads way in batting out time
    England, on 161 for 3 in their second innings in Nagpur, probably need to bat for just one more session to ensure the draw in the fourth and final Test that

    16/12/2012 (155 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - India v England
    Trott, on 66 not out from 153 balls, sees out the day with Bell also playing well for his unbeaten 24 from 67 balls. On 161-3, England are 165 runs ahead with one day of the match remaining. A draw, and a 2-1 series win, is within touching distance

    16/12/2012 (155 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Into the final hour of the day, and both Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell are settling English nerves with a stand approaching the fifty mark. One half-century that has been reached is Trott's own 50, from 106 balls and perhaps the game's most fluent innings

    16/12/2012 (156 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Kevin Pietersen had just leg-glanced Ravindra Jadeja's left-arm spin for four, to go to 6, when he opted to play no stroke at the next ball and saw it drift in with the arm to clip his off stump. Appalling judgement from KP. England now 94-3

    16/12/2012 (156 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET AND TEA - India v England
    On the stroke of tea Compton, playing defensively at Ojha, is given out lbw by umpire Rod Tucker despite TV replays showing an inside edge. Compton made 34 from 135 balls and England are 85 ahead on 81-2

    16/12/2012 (156 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Another poor decision by umpire Dharmasena as Cook, on 13, is adjudged caught at the wicket by keeper Dhoni as he pushes forward to off spinner Ravi Ashwin. England's captain departs shaking his head. England 48-1, midway through the afternoon session

    16/12/2012 (156 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Cook, continuing to concentrate almost exclusively on defence, has taken 74 balls to reach 5 and, with Compton on 19, England are 31-0 - a lead of 35. Cook and Compton doing exactly what they need to do in England's cause

    16/12/2012 (156 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - India v England
    England get through to lunch at 17-0, from 13 overs. Alastair Cook has faced 46 balls for his 1 not out - which is certainly one way of telling his team what he expects from them in terms of determined resistance! Nick Compton has 14

    16/12/2012 (156 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    India declare at 326-9, after an hour's play which brought 29 runs and the wicket of Ojha. Ashwin remained 29 not out. India, however, know they will be able to make up time, in effect, with mainly their spinners in operation. England now need to bat well

    16/12/2012 (156 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    After 47 minutes, and 20 runs with Ashwin and Ojha eventually deciding to take whatever run is on offer, Monty Panesar takes his first wicket of the innings - in his 51st over - when Ojha, on 3 from 32 balls, inside edges on to his stumps. 317-9

    16/12/2012 (156 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Strange start to day four with India, who need to force the pace, turning down runs against England's spread field. Time is just as important as runs at the moment for India, so they need to get on with it - or declare. Seven runs in 25 minutes - India 304-8

    16/12/2012 (156 days old) | Read more
  • Dhoni run out tips Test back towards England
    Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni did their best to turn the fourth and final Test in Nagpur on its head on day three, but England's dramatic fightback in the

    15/12/2012 (156 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket and Close Of Play - India v England
    Piyush Chawla, plunging forward, is bowled off stump for 1 by a beauty from Swann and - suddenly - India finish the day on 297-8, still 33 runs behind, instead of contemplating a first innings lead. Anderson (4-68) and Swann (3-76) superb

    15/12/2012 (156 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    High drama in the day's penultimate over as Dhoni, on 99, tries to reach his hundred with a single off Anderson to Alastair Cook at mid off but is just beaten by Cook's direct hit on the bowlers' stumps. Dhoni faced 246 balls - India are 295-7

    15/12/2012 (156 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Anderson, from around the wicket to the left-handed Jadeja, swings one into his pads to have the debutant lbw for 12, leaving India on 288-6. Dhoni is 98 not out

    15/12/2012 (157 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    At last! The mid-session drinks break strikes again as, in the first over after the restart following a pause in the action nearing an unacceptable 10 minutes, Kohli is lbw for 103 pushing forward to one from Swann from around the wicket that turned. 269-5

    15/12/2012 (157 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - India v England
    Hundred for Virat Kohli, with a slashed cover four off a short ball from Swann, and it has been a highly disciplined and very impressive innings. He faced 289 balls, and India - on 265-4 - are just 65 runs behind. Dhoni, meanwhile, has reached 90

    15/12/2012 (157 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Kohli and Dhoni still going, and both have moved into the 80s. India, on 242-4, are still 88 runs adrift but clearly believe they can achieve enough of a first innings advantage to put England under serious pressure when they bat again. Intriguing

    15/12/2012 (157 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - India v England
    Dhoni and Kohli both had scares just before tea, Dhoni almost giving Bresnan a caught and bowled on 72 and Kohli, on 71, all but being bowled by one that turned from Panesar to shave off stump. At tea, however, the pair had added 156 with India 227-4

    15/12/2012 (157 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    The second new ball has resulted so far only in India's scoring rate moving from very slow to sluggish, although Dhoni has just celebrated the raising of the 200 by swinging Swann for six in an over that cost 11. India now 208-4

    15/12/2012 (157 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    England take the second new ball, almost half an hour after lunch, with India on 163-4, and Dhoni flails Anderson's first delivery with it through the covers for four. Later in the over Anderson twice beats Dhoni but India's captain has 45 and Kohli has 52

    15/12/2012 (157 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - India v England
    Just 59 runs from 32 overs in the morning session, but India will be very happy that Kohli and Dhoni have taken their fifth wicket partnership to 75 in two hours of watchful accumulation. At lunch India are 146-4, still 184 runs behind England

    15/12/2012 (157 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    113-4 and both Dhoni and Kohli settling in well, Kohli with an extra cover driven boundary off Tim Bresnan and Dhoni with an offside force for four off Graeme Swann. England's spinners now in tandem, and it's been an attritional first hour

    15/12/2012 (157 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Careful start to day three by India, with MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli scoring just nine runs from the first seven overs bowled by Jimmy Anderson and Monty Panesar. 96-4

    15/12/2012 (157 days old) | Read more
  • Anderson burst puts England in command
    Jimmy Anderson was England's brilliant spearhead in Nagpur as Alastair Cook's team took control of the fourth Test against India on an absorbing second day.

    14/12/2012 (157 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - India v England
    India 87-4, with Anderson leading England's players from the field with the outstanding figures of 9-2-24-3. Kohli has 11 and MS Dhoni 8

    14/12/2012 (157 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    More superb bowling by Anderson. Reverse swing is too much for Gambhir, on 37, who drives at one curving away from him and edges to keeper Prior. India 71-4

    14/12/2012 (158 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Anderson gets the big wicket of Sachin Tendulkar, bowling him with an off cutter that keeps low. Tendulkar made only 2 and Anderson has now dismissed the Little Master more times (9) then any other bowler in Tests. India 64-3

    14/12/2012 (158 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Pujara brilliantly caught right-handed an inch from the turf by Ian Bell at short leg off one from Swann that turned. TV replays showed the batsman did not hit it, and the ball came off his elbow, but England will not care. Pujara made 26, India 59-2

    14/12/2012 (158 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Gambhir edges Bresnan streakily for four as he and Pujara post their fifty partnership. India have recovered well from the early blow of Sehwag's dismissal. 56-1

    14/12/2012 (158 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - India v England
    India 32-1 in 12 overs' batting before tea. Gautam Gambhir has 17 and Cheteshwar Pujara is on 15. All four England frontline bowlers have already had exploratory spells

    14/12/2012 (158 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Brilliant start by Anderson who bowls Virender Sehwag for a second ball duck in the opening over of India's reply. Sehwag played inside an inswinger that seemed just to straighten up a touch off the pitch to hit middle stump. 1-1

    14/12/2012 (158 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    330 all out, from 145.5 overs, with Jimmy Anderson well held at short leg off he face of the bat. He made 4, Chawla finishes with 4-69 and poor old Monty is left stranded on 1 not out.

    14/12/2012 (158 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Swann, having completed a fine 87-ball 50, survives a close lbw shout when beaten by Chawla's googly, hits the next ball straight for six and then is lbw for 56 to the next, attempting an ugly reverse sweep. Monty in, with England 325-9

    14/12/2012 (158 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Root out! The Yorkshire youngster's splendid, determined and skilful debut innings ends on 73 when he tries to whip his 229th ball to mid-wicket and spoons a return catch to legspinner Piyush Chawla. He is furious with himself. 302-8

    14/12/2012 (158 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    The Root-Swann partnership is taking England closer and closer to the 300 mark - and, while Root continues to nudge and nurdle, Swann has just slog-swept Jadeja for the first six of the match. 295-7, Swann 34, Root 68

    14/12/2012 (158 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - India v England
    England 277-7, with Root still there on 65 from 200 balls and Graeme Swann chipping in with 19 not out which included a couple of lofted legside fours off Jadeja. A good morning's work for England

    14/12/2012 (158 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Sharma replaces Ashwin and strikes with his second ball back to dismiss Tim Bresnan for a duck - the ball angling in to beat the batsman's forward defensive and pin him lbw. 242-7

    14/12/2012 (158 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    242-6 as Prior, pushing forward at Ashwin, is bowled for 57 (from 142 balls) by one that, from around the wicket, goes on with the arm to hit his off stump. Stand with Root raised 103 vital runs

    14/12/2012 (158 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - India v England
    An over from Ashwin brings the hundred partnership, with a Prior cover drive for three, and Joe Root's fifty in his maiden Test innings when he swept a low full toss for a single. It took the 21-year-old 154 balls - great effort

    14/12/2012 (158 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - India v England
    Prior, batting in a cap, reaches his 24th Test fifty with a boundary crisply cut off Pragyan Ojha. Root, who has now also called for a cap to replace his helmet, is on 47 and the pair have now added 94. England 233-5

    14/12/2012 (158 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    The first 20 minutes of day two in Nagpur brought six singles as Joe Root and Matt Prior continued to build their sixth wicket stand carefully. India opened up with Ravindra Jadeja and Ishant Sharma on the dry, lifeless surface

    14/12/2012 (158 days old) | Read more
  • Plunkett aims to prove himself at Yorkshire
    By Graham Hardcastle
    Liam Plunkett still has hopes of pulling on an England shirt again - but knows he has a lot of hard work to do in a Yorkshire shirt beforehand.

    13/12/2012 (158 days old) | Read more
  • Pietersen alone gets better of Nagpur pitch
    Kevin Pietersen's 188-ball 73 was not enough to prevent England enduring a difficult first day in Nagpur as they try to protect their 2-1 lead in the

    13/12/2012 (158 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - India v England
    England 199-5 from 97 overs after an attritional day, but Root and Prior - with 31 and 34 not out respectively - have done their team proud with an unbroken stand of 60. The big question still to be answered: what is a good score on this turgid pitch?

    13/12/2012 (158 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    England 166-5 after 82 overs and it is painfully slow going, what with the pressure of the match situation and the lifelessness of the pitch. Root 23, Matt Prior 14. But England must simply bat time, as this surface is unlikely to improve

    13/12/2012 (159 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    After batting so well, and largely restraining himself, Pietersen gifts his wicket to Jadeja, dancing down he pitch and chipping a low catch to Ojha a short mid wicket. KP made 73 from 188 balls and England are wobbling precariously at 139-5

    13/12/2012 (159 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - India v England
    Root starts confidently with extra cover drives for 3 and 4 off Chawla and Ojha. At tea he is on 10, from just 11 balls faced, but it is a determined Pietersen who has been England's main man so far with 68 not out. 133-4

    13/12/2012 (159 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    The slowness of the surface undoes Ian Bell who, after struggling 28 balls for 1, lifts a push-drive at Chawla straight to short extra cover. Joe Root, the 21-year-old debutant, is in at 119-4

    13/12/2012 (159 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Trott, on 44, pays for a lapse in concentration as he allows a looping non-spinner from slow left-armer to hit his off stump as he plays no stroke. England now 102-3, and need Ian Bell to dig in alongside Pietersen

    13/12/2012 (159 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - India v England
    Pietersen 50, off 108 balls, and KP and Trott, who is on 40, are moving closer to their century partnership. Post-lunch spell from Sharma is over, so spin now from both ends. Responsible batting from the two South Arican-born Englishmen. 97-2

    13/12/2012 (159 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - India v England
    Sharma recalled for short second spell before lunch - India must regret already picking just one seamer, with ball reversing and keeping low. England 61-2 at lunch, with both Trott and Pietersen on 28

    13/12/2012 (159 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Just over half and hour to go before lunch. Trott 22, Pietersen 10 but it's slow going against spin and defensive fields at 37-2

    13/12/2012 (159 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Jonathan Trott possibly lucky to survive lbw shout by Sharma on 7, but the paceman is then fortunate himself to win an lbw appeal against Cook in his next over. Poor decision by umpire Dharmasena but Cook out for 1 - England 16-2

    13/12/2012 (159 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Ishant Sharma, India's only frontline seamer, makes the breakthrough with the new ball by having Nick Compton caught behind for 3 in the fifth over, fencing at a short ball. England 3-1

    13/12/2012 (159 days old) | Read more
  • Team News - India v England
    England: Cook, Compton, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Root, Prior, Bresnan, Swann, Anderson, Panesar
    India: Gambhir, Sehwag, Pujara, Tendulkar, Kohli, Jadeja, Dhoni, Ashwin, Chawla, Sharma, Ojha
    India bring in legspinner Piyush Chawla and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja

    13/12/2012 (159 days old) | Read more
  • England won the toss - India v England
    Alastair Cook won his first toss as England's Test captain, and opts to bat first in the fourth Test at Nagpur. England, 2-1 up, need to avoid defeat to take the series. Tim Bresnan in for unfit Steven Finn, Joe Root given Test debut in place of Samit Patel.

    13/12/2012 (159 days old) | Read more
  • Calthorpe and Whitaker eclipse Cook
    By Andrew Hignell
    Alastair Cook’s bizarre run out in the Kolkata Test against India was the first time in 312 innings in first-class cricket that the opening

    08/12/2012 (163 days old) | Read more
  • Kolkata win puts England 2-1 ahead
    There might have been a little wobble as they began to chase just 41 for victory but England were soon celebrating the impressive seven-wicket win against India in Kolkata which puts them 2-1 up in

    09/12/2012 (163 days old) | Read more
  • Result - India v England
    Ian Bell turns Ojha for a single to go to a lovely little 28 not out from 28 balls and England reach 41-3 to win by seven wickets and go 2-1 up in the four-match series. Indian newspapers calling for mass clear out of 'old guard'

    09/12/2012 (163 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Nearly there, as Ian Bell and Nick Compton steady the England ship. Couple of boundaries from Bell, and Compton batting sensibly as ever. 29-3

    09/12/2012 (163 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    This is getting ridiculous. Pietersen, defensively forward, edges to Dhoni and goes for a duck to leave England a VERY nervous 8-3. Still 33 needed to win

    09/12/2012 (163 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    England 7-2, and it's a nervy time! Jonathan Trott, after two positive sweeps at Ashwin, is lbw to Ojha propping forward for 3. Please finish it quickly, KP!

    09/12/2012 (163 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Almost unbelievably, given what has gone before in this series, Alastair Cook is out for just a single as he charges down the pitch in the first over of England's second innings, swings wildly at Ashwin and is easily stumped by Dhoni. England 4-1

    09/12/2012 (163 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    India 247 all out, as Jimmy Anderson clips the top of Pragyan Ojha's off stump to bowl him for 3 with his fourth ball of the morning. Ravi Ashwin finishes 91 not out after hitting two fours in the opening over from Steven Finn. England need 41 to win

    09/12/2012 (163 days old) | Read more
  • Ashwin holds up England victory charge
    England are on the verge of a victory in Kolkata that would put them 2-1 up in the series, with only a brave 83 not out from Ravi Ashwin taking the third Test into a final

    08/12/2012 (163 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - India v England
    More excellent resistance from the gutsy Ashwin and last man Ojha deny England victory inside four days. At stumps India are 239-9 - a lead of 32 - with Ashwin on 83 not out and Ojha on 3. Great effort by England though - as Ashwin's runs illustrate

    08/12/2012 (163 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    India still trail by 10 runs at 197-9 after Monty Panesar bowls Ishant Sharma for 10 to end the fast bowler's stubborn 53-ball resistance

    08/12/2012 (164 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    And another one... Finn strikes again, beating Zaheer Khan with a full-pitched inswinger that pins him lbw for 0. India 159-8 and sinking fast

    08/12/2012 (164 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Virat Kohli goes for 20, caught by Prior nibbling at a ball from Finn which looked as if it reverse-swung away from the right-hander just enough. India 155-7

    08/12/2012 (164 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - India v England
    India 145-6 as Kohli (19) and Ashwin (8) show some defiance. But the remarkable 30-over afternoon session brought six Indian wickets and just 59 runs. Can England wrap it up after tea? India still trail by 62

    08/12/2012 (164 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    MS Dhoni out for a duck as India's embarrassing slide continues apace. They are now 122-6 as Dhoni, defending on the back foot, edges Anderson to Cook at first slip

    08/12/2012 (164 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    India 122-5. Everything now going England's way as Yuvraj Singh, back on his stumps, is bowled by one from Anderson - who had just switched to around the wicket to the left-hander - that keeps horribly low. Yuvraj, gone for 11, had no chance

    08/12/2012 (164 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Tendulkar out! The Little Master, on 5, edges an arm ball from Swann to a jubilant Trott at slip. India are suddenly 107-4 and the first 45 minutes after lunch has been beyond even England's wildest dreams

    08/12/2012 (164 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Controversy about whether Gambhir was caught or not by Trott at slip off Swann is forgotten as Finn has the Indian opener caught behind by Prior for 40, chasing a full-pitched ball outside off stump from around the wicket. India 103-3 and in deep trouble

    08/12/2012 (164 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Brilliant from Ian Bell at mid wicket, with his direct hit running out Cheteshwar Pujara for 8 after Gambhir called for a single off Finn. India 98-2, and still trail by 109 runs. Tendulkar in to a tremendous ovation from the Eden Gardens crowd

    08/12/2012 (164 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    What a difference lunch makes! Swann, with a perfect off break, bowls Sehwag through the gate for 49 with the first ball of the afternoon session. India 86-1

    08/12/2012 (164 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - India v England
    Sehwag and Gambhir on the attack before lunch, with Sehwag hitting Swann for two fours and Gambhir down the pitch to hit Panesar for six and four in the last two overs of a poor morning session for England. India 86-0, Sehwag 49, Gambhir 33

    08/12/2012 (164 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    India 21-0 after starting their second innings 207 runs in arrears. Great chance of a breakthrough at 13 but Sehwag's edge off a disgusted Anderson flies for four between Cook and Swann at first and second slip. Panesar on for eighth over

    08/12/2012 (164 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    James Anderson, after driving Zaheer to extra cover for four and then whipping him for three to mid wicket, edges another ball that turns - this time from Ashwin - to slip on 9. Next ball Monty Panesar is given out lbw despite an inside edge. 523 all out

    08/12/2012 (164 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Poor start to day four by England as, after a single first ball from Matt Prior, slow left-armer Pragyan Ojha turns the next ball to have Graeme Swann caught at slip, driving. And, in the second over, Prior goes for 41 edging a cut at Zaheer to Dhoni. 510-8

    08/12/2012 (164 days old) | Read more
  • England eye victory in Kolkata
    England have put themselves into position to win the third Test in Kolkata after batting throughout day three to reach 509 for 6 - a lead of 193 runs.

    07/12/2012 (164 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - India v England
    Prior, with a fine 40 not out from 46 balls, featuring one superb pulled six off Sharma, has been joined by Swann (21*) in a seventh wicket stand so far worth 56. England, on 509-6 at stumps, lead by 193

    07/12/2012 (165 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Patel, after batting well for 33 from 47 balls, had just hit Ojha for two offside fours when he toe-ended a cut at one which spun and Sehwag, at slip, caught it after first knocking the ball up with his right hand. 453-6

    07/12/2012 (165 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Pietersen had just swept Ashwin for his ninth four, to reach 54, when the off spinner pushed his next ball through a bit quicker and flatter and KP, aiming to sweep again, is out lbw. England 420-5, a lead of 104

    07/12/2012 (165 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Ian Bell, driving at Ishant Sharma, is caught behind off an inside edge for 5. England 395-4, but Pietersen still there on 41 after cutting and driving the first three balls after tea, from Ojha, for fours. Dismissive stuff from KP, now joined by Samit Patel

    07/12/2012 (165 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - India v England
    381-3, a lead of 65. Pietersen, after a quiet reconnaissance, warms up just before tea by driving Ojha high and straight for six and then slog-sweeping him for four. Looks determined to follow up the Cook Show with one of his own. KP 29, Bell 3 at tea.

    07/12/2012 (165 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Cook is dismissed for 190 in the most bizarre manner. Pietersen whipped a ball from Zaheer to square leg, Virat Kohli fielded it and threw at the non-striker's stumps. Cook, in avoiding the ball, failed to ground his bat and the direct hit ran him out. 359-3

    07/12/2012 (165 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    338-2 - Trott goes for 87 to a catch at the wicket by Dhoni, pushing forward at one from Ojha that turned. He and Cook added 173 for England's second wicket. KP in

    07/12/2012 (165 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    A reverse sweep for four by Trott off Ashwin takes England ahead. 317-1, a lead of one run. Trott 81, Cook 173

    07/12/2012 (165 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - India v England
    Cook survives a good spell from Ashwin to reach lunch on 167* and, with Trott on 66, England are just 20 runs behind India at 296-1. Cook has been on the field for more than 90 per cent of the series so far - so he deserves his lunch!

    07/12/2012 (165 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Cook dropped on 156, with Ishant Sharma putting down the simplest of caught and bowled chances at waist height. If India's mood was not already dark, it is now. What an error. England 273-1

    07/12/2012 (165 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    First hour successfully negotiated by Cook and Trott. Fifty runs scored. 266-1, with Cook reaching his seventh 150+ score in Tests, from 275 balls, and Trott going to his 13th Test fifty, from 132 balls. Stand now worth 101.

    07/12/2012 (165 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Just five runs from the first eight overs of day three as Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott concentrate on settling in again. Spinners Ashwin and Ojha very accurate, but second new ball due. England 221-1, Cook 137, Trott 23

    07/12/2012 (165 days old) | Read more
  • Record-breaking Cook puts England in charge
    Alastair Cook scored an England record 23rd Test hundred and also became the youngest man to reach 7,000 Test runs as he led his side into a position of dominance against

    06/12/2012 (166 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - India v England
    Brilliant by Cook. He is 136 not out at stumps and, with Trott on 21, England are just 100 runs behind India at 216-1

    06/12/2012 (166 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Cook, now 133, goes on and on. Trott has settled in on 18 and England are 210-1

    06/12/2012 (166 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    India break England's first wicket partnership at last, with Compton given out lbw sweeping at Ojha. Compton made 57, England are 165-1, and Jonathan Trott joins Cook

    06/12/2012 (166 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - India v England
    And a record-breaking 23rd Test hundred for Alastair Cook, putting him ahead of Hammond, Cowdrey, Boycott and Pietersen. He has now made hundreds in each of his first five Tests as captain, another record. England 156-0

    06/12/2012 (166 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - India v England
    A maiden Test fifty for Compton, from 123 balls, as England's openers march on. Cook, meanwhile, has reached the 90s... and in the process has become the youngest in Test history at 27yrs 347days to score 7000 runs - beating Tendulkar's record. England 146-0

    06/12/2012 (166 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - India v England
    A perfect afternoon's session for England, with Cook and Compton adding 99 in 31 overs. At tea, England are 121-0, with Cook on 80 and Compton 41. Just 195 runs behind now

    06/12/2012 (166 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    England 77-0, with Cook having completed an 87-ball fifty and Compton suddenly dancing down the pitch to drive Pragyan Ojha for six in his more studious 24 not out

    06/12/2012 (166 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Big moment in the match? Cook, on 17, is dropped by Pujara at first slip off Zaheer. England 27-0

    06/12/2012 (166 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - India v England
    Alastair Cook and Nick Compton successfully see England through to lunch on 22-0. Cook 17, Compton 5 and a calm start by England's openers to an innings which might decide the outcome of the match

    06/12/2012 (166 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Good pace by Steven Finn, who has Dhoni fending off a sharp short ball to Swann running around from slip, ends India's first innings on 316. Dhoni had just clubbed Finn through extra for four to reach 52, after earlier driving Panesar for two sixes

    06/12/2012 (166 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Another Monty strike! Ishant Sharma misses his third ball, a flighted delivery frm Panesar, and is bowled for 0. India 296-9

    06/12/2012 (166 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Zaheer Khan, after being badly dropped by Graeme Swann at second slip off Jimmy Anderson, and then mowing him for 4 in a feisty few minutes, is lbw to Monty Panesar for 6. India 292-8, with MS Dhoni starting well with an off-driven 4 against Anderson

    06/12/2012 (166 days old) | Read more
  • Tendulkar battles, but England on top
    Sachin Tendulkar scored a gritty 76, as he battled hard to prolong his magnificent international career into a 25th year, but it was England who had the better of an intriguing opening

    05/12/2012 (166 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - India v England
    India 273-7, Dhoni 22* and Zaheer Khan 0*. Excellent day for England, with Anderson (3-68) and Panesar (2-74 from 35 overs) the pick of the bowlers

    05/12/2012 (166 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Cook opts to take the second new ball with four overs of the day remaining, and what a good decision. Anderson, with a perfectly-pitched off-cutter, bowls Ravi Ashwin for 21 and India are 268-7

    05/12/2012 (167 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    HUGE for England - Tendulkar out! Pushing forward to the first ball after the mid-session drinks break, from Jimmy Anderson, Tendulkar edges to Prior and is gone for 76 off 155 balls. India 230-6, and it's advantage England

    05/12/2012 (167 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Yuvraj gone for 32, lifting a back foot force at Swann to Alastair Cook at short extra cover. Soft dismissal, but England won't care. India 215-5, with MS Dhoni joining Tendulkar, who is on 67

    05/12/2012 (167 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    200 up for India as Tendulkar, with his 66th Test 50 (to go with his 51 Test hundreds) and Yuvraj counter-attack in the first half hour after tea. Yuvraj hit Panesar straight for six and boundaries also coming for Sachin. 204-4

    05/12/2012 (167 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - India v England
    India 172-4, after another fiercely-contested session. Tendulkar is on 46, and starting to look a little more confident, and Yuvraj - who should have been given out lbw to an Anderson in-slanter on 1 - has reached 14

    05/12/2012 (167 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Brilliant bowling by England, and this time it is Anderson who is rewarded. Soon after seeing Tendulkar, on 19, edge low past Swann at second slip, Anderson has Virat Kohli caught by Swann for 6. India now 136-4, and England on top

    05/12/2012 (167 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Panesar again, as Gambhir tries to cut and edges straight to Trott at slip. He made 60 and India are 117-3. Fascinating stuff, with Tendulkar battling to survive against Finn at the other end

    05/12/2012 (167 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - India v England
    India 90-2. Gambhir 50, Tendulkar 1. Honours even after the first session - England will be pleased with that, especially after losing the toss

    05/12/2012 (167 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Panesar rewarded for fine, probing spell as he bowls Cheteshwar Pujara for 16 off a thin inside edge as the batsman misjudges the length. India 88-2 and an under-pressure Sachin Tendulkar is in to face Monty

    05/12/2012 (167 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Hard work for England on such a slow surface. Panesar, on since the eighth over, has bowled excellently for almost an hour while Anderson and Finn have operated from the other end. India 74-1

    05/12/2012 (167 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Just when England were starting to wonder where a wicket was coming from on this slow pitch... Sehwag, sent back looking for an easy three, is run out for 23 by Finn's throw to Prior after a fine stop on the deep mid wicket rope by Samit Patel. 47-1

    05/12/2012 (167 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Tidy opening over from Jimmy Anderson, on a very easy-paced pitch, before Gautam Gambhir flicks and guides the first two balls from Steven Finn for fours to fine leg and third man. Virender Sehwag off mark with square four in Finn's next over. India 18-0

    05/12/2012 (167 days old) | Read more
  • Team News - India v England
    India: Gambhir, Sehwag, Pujara, Tendulkar, Kohli, Yuvraj, Dhoni, Ashwin, Zaheer K, Ishant Sharma, Ojha
    England: Cook, Compton, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Patel, Prior, Swann, Finn, Anderson, Panesar
    Sharma in for Harbhajan, Bell and Finn replace Bairstow and Broad

    05/12/2012 (167 days old) | Read more
  • India won the toss - India v England
    India captain MS Dhoni won the toss, for the third time in the series, and chose to bat

    05/12/2012 (167 days old) | Read more
  • Giles plays down talk of succeeding Flower
    By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent
    Outgoing Warwickshire director of cricket Ashley Giles has played down the chances of him becoming England’s next overall head coach and talked up

    28/11/2012 (173 days old) | Read more
  • Andy Flower steps down as ODI and T20 head coach
    Ashley Giles has been appointed head coach of England's ODI and T20 teams after Andy Flower stepped down.

    28/11/2012 (173 days old) | Read more
  • Champions Warwicks to enjoy home start
    By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent
    Warwickshire will begin their defence of the LV= County Championship against last season’s Division Two champions Derbyshire at Edgbaston on April 10.

    26/11/2012 (175 days old) | Read more
  • England wrap up 10-wicket Mumbai win
    England took just 85 minutes on the fourth morning to wrap up a thumping 10-wicket victory in the second Test in Mumbai, levelling the series 1-1 with

    26/11/2012 (176 days old) | Read more
  • Result - India v England
    England win by 10 wickets, as Cook and especially Compton waste no time in knocking off the 57 runs required to square the series 1-1 with two games to go. Compton finishes 30 not out. Great effort by England

    26/11/2012 (176 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Two boundaries in the opening over, from Ravi Ashwin, settle English nerves. The first ball brings four byes, and then Alastair Cook thick edges a cut past slip. Then Nick Compton jumps down the pitch and drives Ojha for four through mid off. 12-0

    26/11/2012 (176 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    India 142 all out. Gambhir is adjudged lbw to Swann for 65, even though the opener got a thin inside edge as he prodded forward. Tony Hill's error, however, merely made up for Dar's. England need 57 to win, and level the series at 1-1

    26/11/2012 (176 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Umpire Aleem Dar fails to give Pragyan Ojha out when he gloves a catch to Swann at backward short leg. England incredulous but, of course, no DRS. 136-9

    26/11/2012 (176 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Panesar bags his sixth wicket as Zaheer Khan has a huge mow across the line and skies a straightforward catch to Matt Prior. Zaheer made 1, and India 131-9 - a lead of only 45

    26/11/2012 (176 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Graeme Swann has Harbhajan Singh caught by Jonathan Trott at slip, edging a cut at one which turned and bounced back into him, as England struck early on day four after Harbhajan and Gautam Gambhir took 10 from Monty Panesar's opening over. 128-8

    26/11/2012 (176 days old) | Read more
  • KP genius puts England in control
    Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook made England Test history on a spell-binding day which ended with Monty Panesar taking 5 for 61 to leave India facing defeat at 117 for 7 in Mumbai on

    25/11/2012 (176 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - India v England
    Thrilling, edge-of-the-seat day of Test cricket ends with India 117-7, a lead of just 31, with a resilient and skilful Gautam Gambhir still there on 53. Harbhajan has made a single. Panesar 5-61

    25/11/2012 (176 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Five wickets for Panesar! India now 110-7 as Ravi Ashwin, having hit Swann straight for six, tries another big hit but skies to Samit Patel who takes a fine catch moving back from extra cover. Lead is 24

    25/11/2012 (176 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    India 92-6, and a huge wicket for England just before the close of this unforgettable third day. MS Dhoni, pushing out at Panesar, becomes the left-arm spinner's fourth victim of the innings, caught by a jubilant Jonathan Trott at slip for 6

    25/11/2012 (176 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Exhilarating day just gets better and better for England. Panesar has three second innings scalps as Yuvraj, pushing forward on 8, gloves a catch to Bairstow at short leg. 78-5 - eight runs behind

    25/11/2012 (177 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    65-4. Kohli has gifted England his wicket, mis-hitting a Swann full toss straight to substitute fielder Joe Root at mid off. Virat can hardly drag himself off the field. He made just 7 and England now have a great chance here

    25/11/2012 (177 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    And Monty gets Tendulkar again! 52-3, with Sachin - possibly in his last Test innings in Mumbai? - lbw to Panesar for 8 as he plays back and is comprehensively beaten by the arm ball. India still trail by 34

    25/11/2012 (177 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    37-2 - and it's Cheteshwar Pujara who has gone for 6! Swann, ripping the ball off the dry pitch, has him well caught off bat and pad at short leg by Bairstow, diving to his left, as he pushes forward

    25/11/2012 (177 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Panesar, given the new ball with Anderson, has Virender Sehwag caught by Swann at second slip for 9, from one that turned, to leave India 30-1. Monty took a little while to settle, but that was a good delivery and the ball is spinning sharply

    25/11/2012 (177 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET AND TEA - India v England
    After slog-sweeping his first ball for four, Monty Panesar tries to repeat the trick from Ashwin's next ball and skies it to Zaheer, the fielder moved to deep mid-wicket for just that shot! Swann left stranded and England all out for 413 - a lead of 86

    25/11/2012 (177 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Foolishly, Matt Prior is run out for 21 after being sent back by Stuart Broad when looking for a leg bye, after seemingly first being called for the run. Good work by Dhoni, who sprinted from behind the stumps to retrieve the ball. 406-7

    25/11/2012 (177 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Left arm spin gets Pietersen in the end - on 186. Trying to slash his 233rd ball through the offside, KP gets an edge and Dhoni takes a smart edge behind the stumps. A quite brilliant innings, and England 55 runs ahead on 382-6

    25/11/2012 (177 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Useful 26 from Patel ended by fine ball from Ojha that gripped and turned from an increasingly dusty surface. Virat Kohli took the catch at second slip and England are 357-5. KP still there on 169, but England really need him to keep going

    25/11/2012 (177 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - India v England
    England level with India at 327-4 as Pietersen goes to his 150 in regal fashion with a 4 and 6 off successive balls by Ojha. The four square cut and the six dismissively slog-swept high over deep mid-wicket

    25/11/2012 (177 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Much lunchtime discussion about Bairstow's dismissal, which might have been overruled by the umpires as the ball hit the grille of catcher Gambhir's helmet. But Samit Patel is now in, and off mark with top-edged pull for 6 off Zaheer. England past 300

    25/11/2012 (177 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET AND LUNCH - India v England
    Poor shot brings Jonny Bairstow's demise for 9 on the stroke of lunch, caught by Gambhir at silly point off a leading edge as he played crookedly forward at Ojha. England 298-4 - just 29 runs behind - with Pietersen still there on 138 from 178 balls

    25/11/2012 (177 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Cook out for 122. Had just driven Ashwin gloriously through extra for four when the off spinner got a quicker, flatter ball to turn and defeat Cook's forward defensive. Keeper Dhoni took the catch. He and KP added 206, and England are 274-3

    25/11/2012 (177 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    At mid-morning drinks England are 256-2, after KP off drives Ashwin for six with effortless ease. That's 78 runs in the first hour. Cook is on 114, Pietersen 113

    25/11/2012 (177 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - India v England
    And there's Pietersen's 22nd Test ton too, followed by the most understated but clearly proud celebration of a major landmark in his own great career. Typically, KP reaches it with cheeky reverse sweep for 4 off Harbhajan. He and Cook embrace warmly. 237-2

    25/11/2012 (177 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - India v England
    Alastair Cook's 22nd Test hundred - matching the England record set by Wally Hammond, Colin Cowdrey and Geoff Boycott - arrives with a sweet extra cover drive for four off Harbhajan. It is Cook's fourth hundred in four Tests as captain. England 223-2

    25/11/2012 (177 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Sixteen runs came from the first five overs as England made a promising start to the second Test's third day in Mumbai, Alastair Cook going on to 92 and Kevin Pietersen to 73 against spinners Pragyan Ojha and Ravi Ashwin. England 194-2

    25/11/2012 (177 days old) | Read more
  • Cricket Diary: Cook's cut-price captain's log
    By Richard Gibson
    England captain Alastair Cook spent time on the telephone garnering advice from predecessor Andrew Strauss before the current tour of India and carries a Test-specific notebook to

    24/11/2012 (177 days old) | Read more
  • Cook and Pietersen boost England
    Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen batted England dramatically back into the second Test with a century stand of great character and skill in Mumbai.

    24/11/2012 (177 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - India v England
    England 178-2, and Cook (87* from 209 balls) has so far added 110 with Pietersen (62* from 85 balls). KP has settled into a method which is clear testament to the work he has put in since Ahmedabad, and Cook has just carried on from the first Test. Intriguing

    24/11/2012 (177 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - India v England
    100 partnership between Cook and Pietersen, who are on 85 and 60 not out respectively. Skilful and positive batting from both, although Cook looked fortunate not to be given lbw on the sweep against Harbhajan just now. England 174-2

    24/11/2012 (177 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Tense stuff in Mumbai as Cook, 55 not out but beaten twice by Ashwin in three balls, and Pietersen, typically positive in reaching 32 from 33 balls, take England to 116-2

    24/11/2012 (178 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - India v England
    England 77-2, with captain Cook still there on 43 and Kevin Pietersen, off the mark with a first ball extra cover driven four off Harbhajan, on 5

    24/11/2012 (178 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Jonathan Trott's poor run of form in Tests continues, trapped on the crease playing back to a ball from Ojha which straightens and pins him palpably lbw for 0. England now 68-2, with just over five minutes to tea

    24/11/2012 (178 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Nick Compton falls for 29, nicking to Sehwag at slip a ball from Ojha which gripped and spun from the dry surface. He resisted for 90 balls. England 66-1

    24/11/2012 (178 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Cook, with a six and two lofted boundaries against Ojha in his 29 not out, and Compton, with one lofted four against the same bowler in his unbeaten 20, have negotiated the afternoon session's first hour. England 49-0

    24/11/2012 (178 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - India v England
    England 7-0 after four overs' batting and no alarms, with spinners Ashwin and Ojha taking the new ball. Cook 4, Compton 3

    24/11/2012 (178 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Zaheer Khan, having slogged Panesar for 4 and 6, is given out caught at short leg off Swann for 11 by umpire Aleem Dar. He was nowhere near the ball. India 327 all out, Panesar 5-129, Swann 4-70

    24/11/2012 (178 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Pujara out! After facing 350 balls, Pujara is out for 135 - stumped by Prior advancing to a ball tossed up outside off stump by Swann which drifted on with the arm. India 316-9, and Pujara's series average is 382

    24/11/2012 (178 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Graeme Swann claims his 200th Test wicket as Harbhajan Singh, who was missed at slip off Panesar on 1 but later swung him for six, is adjuged lbw for 21 moving well across his stumps to try to play to leg. India 315-8

    24/11/2012 (178 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - India v England
    Pujara has now batted for more than 1,000 minutes in the series without being dismissed. He's on 134

    24/11/2012 (178 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Monty! In his fifth over of the morning, Panesar completes his 11th five-wicket haul in Tests by having Ashwin lbw for 68 aiming a cut at a well-disguised arm ball. Fine effort by Ashwin, and India are 280-7

    24/11/2012 (178 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravi Ashwin took their seventh wicket stand beyond 100 during a quiet start to the Mumbai Test's second day. England opened up with Monty Panesar and James Anderson and the first six overs brought six singles. India 272-6

    24/11/2012 (178 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - India v England
    India's day at 266-6. Pujara 114, Ashwin 60 and their stand, so far worth 97, may have taken this game away from England already

    23/11/2012 (178 days old) | Read more
  • Classy Pujara blunts Panesar
    The remarkable Cheteshwar Pujara withstood Monty Panesar's superb comeback performance to give India the honours after the second Test's fascinating, action-packed opening day in Mumbai.

    23/11/2012 (178 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - India v England
    Wonderful hundred by Cheteshwar Pujara, following his 206* and 41* at Ahmedabad, has led the india fightback. Pujara pulled Anderson's second ball with the second new ball for his ninth four to go to his 248-ball, 320-minute landmark. 230-6

    23/11/2012 (179 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Frustrating period for England - Ashwin would probably have been lbw to Panesar if DRS was an option, and Pujara, on 94, almost caught off Cook's boot at short leg off Swann - but replays showed the ball had just hit the ground too. India 212-6

    23/11/2012 (179 days old) | Read more
  • The Cricketer and Lord's in partnership
    In 2013 The Cricketer will produce its Good Gear Guide in partnership with MCC, promoting the Home of Cricket's all-new Lord's Cricket Store.

    23/11/2012 (179 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Crucial breakthrough by England, and Panesar provides it from the eighth ball after tea. Getting another one to bounce, Monty hits Dhoni's gloves and the Indian captain is gone for 29 as Swann in the gully just gets his fingertips under the ball. 169-6

    23/11/2012 (179 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - India v England
    India 167-5, with Pujara 77 and Dhoni 27. They have added 48 in 20 overs and batted excellently. Pujara, however, survived a difficult chance to Anderson at second slip off Panesar on 60 and, on 70, bat-padded Swann over short leg's head

    23/11/2012 (179 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    And another one. Off spinner Swann, brought back by Cook to bowl at the left-handed Yuvraj, bowls him for a second ball duck. 119-5. Very interesting

    23/11/2012 (179 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Panesar again! Kohli, on 19 from 55 balls, loses patience and flashes a low catch to extra cover where Nick Compton takes a good low catch. India 118-4, and Monty now has three. Interesting

    23/11/2012 (179 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Pujara, now on 53, and Kohli, with an equally careful 18, have taken India to 114-3 against the England spinners Panesar and Swann. James Anderson now returns for a burst

    23/11/2012 (179 days old) | Read more
  • Bopara looking to the future again
    By Paul Hiscock
    While England battle it out against India in the second Test at Mumbai, one batsman who had been expected to face the challenge of batting on the sub-continent is

    23/11/2012 (179 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - India v England
    India 87-3, with Pujara 38 and Virat Kohli on 6. England's morning? Certainly Monty's - the recalled Panesar has 2-29 from 11 overs of high-class left-arm spin. Pujara, though, looks as assured as he did at Ahmedabad

    23/11/2012 (179 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    And Panesar bowls Tendulkar! Magnificent ball, pitching middle and hitting the top of off stump - unplayable, even for the Little Master on his home ground. India 60-3, and Sachin made only 8. Monty - where was he at Ahmedabad? - has 2-24

    23/11/2012 (179 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Monty strikes, clean bowling Sehwag for 30 with a full-pitched ball that beat the Indian opener in the air as it curved into his pads and straightened. 52-2, and Sachin Tendulkar joins Pujara

    23/11/2012 (179 days old) | Read more
  • PCA grants reach £1 million mark
    By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent
    The Professional Cricketers’ Association has passed the £1 million landmark in educational funding grants for past and present players over the last ten years.

    23/11/2012 (179 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Surprisingly, Anderson is withdrawn after only three overs, and replaced by Panesar whose first ball, a full toss, is swung wide of mid on by Virender Sehwag, celebrating his 100th Test, for four. Pujara also extra cover drives Monty for four. India 27-1

    23/11/2012 (179 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Gautam Gambhir, having clipped the first ball of the match to the mid wicket boundary, is lbw to the second - a superb inswinger from James Anderson. India 4-1, and a dramatic start to the Mumbai Test

    23/11/2012 (179 days old) | Read more
  • Team News - India v England
    India: Sehwag, Gambhir, Pujara, Tendulkar, Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Ravi Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, Pragyan Ojha. England: Cook, Compton, Trott, Pietersen, Bairstow, Patel, Prior, Broad, Swann, Anderson, Panesar

    23/11/2012 (179 days old) | Read more
  • India won the toss - India v England
    India bat first in the second Test in Mumbai after winning the toss. For England, Monty Panesar and Jonny Bairstow come in for Tim Bresnan and Ian Bell. Harbhajan Singh, a third frontline spinner, replaces the injured fast bowler Umesh Yadav for India

    23/11/2012 (179 days old) | Read more
  • Shahzad not short of motivation at Notts
    By Dave Bracegirdle
    One of the current motivating factors for Ajmal Shahzad, following his move to Nottinghamshire this winter, is the knowledge that that good performances for

    22/11/2012 (179 days old) | Read more
  • Woakes ready to make a splash in NZ
    By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent
    Warwickshire all-rounder Chris Woakes is relishing the opportunity to take on additional responsibilities as an overseas player during a two-month stint with Wellington in

    21/11/2012 (180 days old) | Read more
  • Bell misses birth of his first child
    By Paul Bolton
    Ian Bell has become a father for the first time but the England batsman was unable to get back home in time to attend the birth.

    20/11/2012 (181 days old) | Read more
  • England aims take Mustard to Auckland
    By Tim Wellock
    Former Durham skipper Phil Mustard has not given up hope of playing for England again and, to help fuel that ambition, is to return to the

    20/11/2012 (181 days old) | Read more
  • India take 1-0 series lead
    The dream did not take long to die for England on the final day of the opening Test in Ahmedabad. Bowled out for 406, after resuming their second innings on 340 for 5, England then saw India

    19/11/2012 (183 days old) | Read more
  • Result - India v England
    India win by nine wickets, with Pujara finishing on 41 not out from just 51 balls as he and Virat Kohli quickly finish the job. Can England fight back in the second Test at Mumbai? We'll soon find out - it starts on Friday.

    19/11/2012 (183 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Fine catch by Kevin Pietersen on the long on boundary earns Swann the wicket of Virender Sehwag but India at 59-1 are on closing in fast on their victory target

    19/11/2012 (183 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    The end is nigh. India already 39-0 with Sehwag and Pujara, who have just hit Samit Patel for six and four respectively, rattling along

    19/11/2012 (183 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET AND LUNCH - India v England
    And that's it - England's spirited second innings is over on 406 as Bresnan, driving Zaheer, is caught low at cover for 20. Lunch will be taken and, afterwards, India will need just 77 to go 1-0 up in this four-match series

    19/11/2012 (183 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Graeme Swann, after hitting Ojha for six over mid-wicket and a couple of productive reverse sweeps, tried the reverse sweep once too often and was bowled by Ravi Ashwin for 17. Bresnan is on 20 but England lead by only 76 at 406-9

    19/11/2012 (183 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    It gets worse for England. Stuart Broad, on the back foot against Umesh Yadav bowling from around the wicket, has also chipped a return catch. He made just 3 and England are now 378-8 - the lead 48

    19/11/2012 (183 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Could be all over for England. On 176, Cook makes a fatal first mistake by going back instead of forward to a looping delivery from Ojha that turns and keeps very low to bowl him. 365-7 and Cook faced 374 balls

    19/11/2012 (183 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Matt Prior cannot believe what he has done. On 91, and after batting so brillianty, he has chipped a return catch to Ojha off the back foot to a seemingly innocuous ball that seemed to get 'stuck' in the pitch. 356-6

    19/11/2012 (183 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    There was an early square cover driven boundary for Matt Prior, off Zaheer Khan, as he and Alastair Cook continued their heroic sixth wicket stand on day five in Ahmedabad. After six overs, bowled by Zaheer and Pragyan Ojha, England were 348-5

    19/11/2012 (183 days old) | Read more
  • Cook and Prior heroics stun India
    Alastair Cook has produced one of the greatest innings by an England captain – especially one in his first Test as an official captain – as he and Matt Prior led a remarkable fightback in Ahmedabad.

    18/11/2012 (183 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - India v England
    The heroic Cook is 168 not out at stumps, from 341 balls faced and eight and a half hours at the crease, with the faithful Prior still with him on 84. At 340-5, England lead by 10 runs. What now for tomorrow's final day?

    18/11/2012 (183 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Magnificent extra cover driven four by Prior puts England level with India at 330-5. Then Prior cuts the same bowler, Ojha, for another boundary three balls later to go to 81*. Cook 165* and the stand now 135. Fine batting, and the Indians look weary

    18/11/2012 (184 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Now just 30 runs behind at 300-5, after Prior pulls a tired-looking long hop from Ojha for four to go to 54. Cook is on 157

    18/11/2012 (184 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - India v England
    England 264-5. Cook 138, Prior 40. Deficit now 66. Good partnership has given England renewed hope

    18/11/2012 (184 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    England's deficit now below 100 as Cook (126*) and Matt Prior (21*) settle the innings down again. 233-5.

    18/11/2012 (184 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    And, next ball, Samit Patel is also adjudged lbw by umpire Tony Hill to a full reverse-swinging delivery from Yadav. Replays showed that Patel had got an inside edge on it - the second umpire's shocker he's had in this match. No DRS, of course...

    18/11/2012 (184 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Bell gone for 22, from 59 balls, undone by reverse swing and lbw to the pacy Umesh Yadav. England now 199-4

    18/11/2012 (184 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - India v England
    182-3 - still 148 runs behind. Cook 109, Bell 11, and it has been India's morning despite Cook's continued resilience

    18/11/2012 (184 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - India v England
    Cook 100, his 21st in Tests - just one behind England record held by Hammond, Cowdrey and Boycott. And he's still only 27. And he's now the only man to score centuries in each of his first three Tests as captain (after 2 v Bangladesh in 2010)

    18/11/2012 (184 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Pietersen's woes against left-arm spin continue. Aiming a sweep at Ojha, from far across his stumps, KP is bowled behind his legs - the ball hitting the OFF stump - for just 2. England 160-3 and Ian Bell, on a king pair, is off mark with cover four second ball

    18/11/2012 (184 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - India v England
    Great effort by Alastair Cook (74*) and Nick Compton (34*) to bat through the day's remaining 38 overs to take England to 111-0 at the close of day three. Still trail by 219, however.

    17/11/2012 (184 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    156-2. Jonathan Trott, beaten by Pragyan Ojha's turn after the left arm spinner switched ends, edges a forward prod to MS Dhoni behind the stumps. Trott made 17 and Kevin Pietersen is in to join Cook, who has reached 96 in his usual calm manner

    18/11/2012 (184 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Nick Compton, who should have been stumped off Ravi Ashwin in the previous over, is lbw to Zaheer Khan's inswing for 37 after almost another half-hour of resistance on the fourth morning. He and Alastair Cook added 123 after England resumed on 111-0

    18/11/2012 (184 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Yadav and Ojha take the new ball as Dhoni again rings the changes with his bowling options and keeps England guessing. 2-0 afer 4 overs. Cook so far secure against Yadav, but Nick Compton understandably nervy against Ojha

    17/11/2012 (185 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - India v England
    Tea now being taken with England preparing to follow on 330 runs behind. A truly desperate batting performance, and England's trial by spin will soon continue in their second innings. Can India even wrap this up today? Join the debate @testmatchsofa

    17/11/2012 (185 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Zaheer got his reward for a long spell with the wicket of Broad, lbw for a 23-ball 25. Swann now in at No 11 to join Prior, who has just been clean bowled for 48 having a waft at Ojha, who has finished with 5-45. England 191 all out - and will follow on

    17/11/2012 (185 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    More resistance from England. 179-8. Prior has reached 48 and Stuart Broad, who swung his first ball over wide mid wicket for four - off Ojha - has gone quickly to 22

    17/11/2012 (185 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Ah, there you are! Pragyan Ojha is brought back and strikes almost immediately. A lovely, tossed-up slow left-armer bounced more than Bresnan expected and the Yorkshireman gloved it to second slip. Simple catch for Kohli, more great bowling by Ojha. 144-8

    17/11/2012 (185 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Almost an hour's play since lunch and, amazing to report, no further England wickets. Perhaps the fact that both seamers, Yadav and Zaheer, have had spells at one end since the interval has helped. England 144-7, Prior 35, Bresnan 19

    17/11/2012 (185 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Tim Bresnan dropped at slip by Sehwag on 6, edging Ashwin's doosra, the so-called carrom ball. Over ends, though, with a four through the covers by Bresnan and England are 126-7. Prior 26.

    17/11/2012 (185 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - India v England
    An eventful morning session ends with England 110-7. Prior, after a flurry of boundaries, has 20 and Bresnan, all but lbw to a Yadav yorker, is yet to score. India's bowling has been superb, especially spinners Ojha and Ashwin, but England's batting woeful

    17/11/2012 (185 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    97-7, and a shocking decision by umpire Aleem Dar to give Patel out lbw for 10. Ball from Umesh Yadav, the fast bowler finally given a bowl by his captain Dhoni, was missing leg stump by some distance but, of course, no DRS in this series

    17/11/2012 (185 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Matt Prior dropped on 3 hitting a high full toss from Ashwin to Zaheer Khan on the deep mid wicket boundary. The fast bowler drops it going to his right, and ball goes for four. England 95-6. Samit Patel batting well, but escaped lbw shout on 4 v Ashwin

    17/11/2012 (185 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Cook played well for his 41 but now the captain's gone as well. Ashwin, briefly withdrawn to give Zaheer Khan a quick burst, has returned to have Cook caught at slip driving at a lovely, looping off break from around the wicket. England 80-6. Oh dear...

    17/11/2012 (185 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Batsmen had crossed so Alastair Cook faced the hat-trick ball and all but tickled a low catch to backward short leg. Cook, now on 34, did well to survive an lbw appeal from Ojha to the final ball of a double wicket maiden. Samit Patel in, England tottering

    17/11/2012 (185 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Pragyan Ojha on a hat-trick! Pietersen bowled by one that turned big, and Ian Bell skies horribly to mid off trying - unbelievably - to hit the left-arm spinner over the top from the first ball he faced. England 69-5. In truth, KP did well to get to 17

    17/11/2012 (185 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Kevin Pietersen was all but bowled by the first ball of the third day, from left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, and might also have been run out, lbw and stumped during his first half-dozen balls in a frenetic resumption at Ahmedabad. After five overs, Eng 57-3

    17/11/2012 (185 days old) | Read more
  • Shaky England fail early test of spin
    A dispiriting collapse to 41 for 3 in the final hour means England will have to match the crease-occupation skills and determination of India’s Cheteshwar Pujara if they are to avoid defeat in

    16/11/2012 (185 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - India v England
    England's latest trial by spin is only just beginning...England close on 41-3, a mere 480 runs behind, with Cook on 22 and Pietersen on 6. Ashwin 2-21, Ojha 1-3. A stiff-looking Yuvraj, given one over at KP, began with a horrid long hop that was savaged for 4

    16/11/2012 (185 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    30-3. The nightmare continues for England as the pressure of two specialist spinners (yes TWO specialist spinners) turns the screw. Jonathan Trott the latest to go, caught at short leg for 0 off bat and pad prodding defensively at Ashwin

    16/11/2012 (185 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    And another one! Predictably, Anderson's technique is not up to it against top-class spin. If it must have been a nightwatchman, what about Bresnan? Anderson caught off bat and pad, pushing forward to Ojha. England 29-2.

    16/11/2012 (185 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    It had to happen. England fail to reach stumps unscathed, Nick Compton bowled by Ashwin for 9 - drawn forward by a beautifully flighted delivery from the off spinner which turned sharply between bat and pad. 26-1, nightwatchman Anderson in, 4 overs left

    16/11/2012 (186 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Eight overs gone and England 21-0. Cook 15 and Compton, composed so far on his Test debut, on 6. Left-arm spinner Ojha now into attack in place of Ashwin. Ten overs left today.

    16/11/2012 (186 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Declaration by India at 521-8 - Pujara 206 not out. It leaves England with a very awkward 18 overs to face at the end of the second day. They have fielded for 160.

    16/11/2012 (186 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    India 519-8. Zaheer Khan flashes a catch to Trott at point, who takes a good diving catch to his right. Anderson is the successful bowler - and it is England's first wicket by a quicker bowler in the innings. Pujara 204 not out.

    16/11/2012 (186 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    KP is coming to England's rescue. Pietersen's occasional off spin has removed Ashwin, caught behind by Prior for 23, cutting at a ball from around the wicket which went on across the batsman. India 510-7

    16/11/2012 (186 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - India v England
    Cheteshwar Pujara goes to 200, his maiden Test double-hundred, with a typically neat and precise guide to third man off Anderson. He's faced 374 balls and it has been an impressive effort. India 507-6.

    16/11/2012 (186 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - India v England
    India 502-6, Pujara 196, Ashwin 21. Captain Cook badly misses Ashwin at short extra in last over before tea, a push-drive at Patel going through his upstretched hands. Oh dear. Will England be asked to bat before second day is done?

    16/11/2012 (186 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Broad's latest over has cost 9, and he's not looking happy. India now 481-6 with Pujara still chugging along on 182. Ravi Ashwin has moved to 15 and Swann has his half-century up - in number of overs that is

    16/11/2012 (186 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Pujara had just reached a Test-best 160 when Dhoni, having played himself in carefully, swept at Swann and was bowled behind his legs off a glove. Dhoni made just 5 and India are 444-6. Deserved five-wicket haul for Swann

    16/11/2012 (186 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Unbelievable. Yuvraj, on 74, has slapped a thigh-high full toss from Samit Patel high to Graeme Swann at a wide deep mid wicket. India 413-5, and MS Dhoni strides to the crease. Pujara grinding on and into the 130s.

    16/11/2012 (186 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - India v England
    India 410-4, with Yuvraj swinging Swann high for four in the last over before lunch. Pujara 133, Yuvraj 72, and 87 scored in 31 overs in the session. It's not getting any better for England.

    16/11/2012 (186 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - India v England
    100 stand between Pujara and Yuvraj. Anderson tidy but unthreatening and Patel's left arm spin just ordinary. But Swann cannot bowl all day and England have now been forced to throw the ball again to Tim Bresnan (10-0-56-0 yesterday) with India 383-4

    16/11/2012 (186 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Ten overs bowled on second day and India are 360-4. Ominous for England, though Swann had big appeal for lbw turned down when Pujara, on 113, padded away a ball which turned almost a foot from outside off stump

    16/11/2012 (186 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - India v England
    Hundred for Cheteshwar Pujara, who resumed on 98 and got there with two legside singles off Stuart Broad either side of playing out a maiden from Graeme Swann, who also opened up with a testing maiden to Yuvraj Singh as India resumed on 323-4

    16/11/2012 (186 days old) | Read more
  • Swann fights lone battle against India
    Graeme Swann single-handedly kept England in contention on the opening day of the first Test by removing four prime India wickets to prevent them from running riot in Ahmedabad.

    15/11/2012 (186 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - India v England
    India will be very happy at 323-4 with Pujara, who cover drove for four the final ball of the day, bowled by Anderson with a four-overs old second new ball, still there on 98. Yuvraj, on Test comeback, is 24. Swann, with 32-5-85-4, saved England from real trouble

    15/11/2012 (186 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Swann now has 4-78 in his 28th over, and his latest victim is Virat Kohli, beaten and bowled by one that spun back sharply and raised a puff of dust. Great bowling, but Swann is a lone hand out there and 350 might be enough to set India up. Now 283-4

    15/11/2012 (187 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Kohli, having taken 30 balls to get off the mark with a straight four off Broad, dropped badly by Trott at slip cutting at the probing Swann. That would have been 259-4. Trott for some reason did not immediately know he had grassed ball. India now 270-3

    15/11/2012 (187 days old) | Read more
  • England criticised for sidelining Panesar
    England's refusal to pick both their specialist spinners for the opening Test against India in Ahmedabad has already drawn criticism from leading pundits from both countries.

    15/11/2012 (187 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET AND TEA - India v England
    Remarkably ill-judged shot by Tendulkar, losing his shape as he tries to hit Swann wide of mid wicket and succeeds only in skying to Patel coming off the deep mid wicket ropes. Sachin made just 13, and one over later and its tea with India 250-3. Pujara 68

    15/11/2012 (187 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Swann bowls Sehwag through a horrid slog-sweep. 224-2 and that's a much-needed bonus for England. Sehwag made 117 from 117 balls, and cheers for Sachin Tendulkar as he joins the quietly impressive Pujara who has made his second Test fifty from 67 balls

    15/11/2012 (187 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Pujara square cuts Broad for four to go smoothly to 42 and with more than half an hour to go until tea India are 208-1. Runs still coming far too easily from an England perspective. Sehwag seems to be taking a bit of a breather on 113 not out

    15/11/2012 (187 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - India v England
    23rd Test hundred for Sehwag, and his first for two years. A brilliant, almost nonchalant innings - and he reached his ton with a lofted four to wide mid wicket off Swann. It took him just 90 balls, with 15x4 and 1x6, and India have moved on to 171-1

    15/11/2012 (187 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - India v England
    Dramatic start to afternoon session. Matt Prior gets glove to legside chance from Sehwag on 80 off Anderson, then misses stumping chance as Swann turns one past Gambhir. But, two balls later, Gambhir is beaten trying to cut and bowled by Swann for 45. 134-1

    15/11/2012 (187 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - India v England
    Dispiriting first session of the series for England and new captain Alastair Cook. India 120-0 from 28 overs, with Sehwag on 79 from a mere 66 balls. Gambhir on a more sedate 37. Only Swann has been anything other than fodder for Sehwag on lifeless pitch

    15/11/2012 (187 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Easy as you like as Sehwag runs Bresnan down to third man for four and then drives a full ball to the cover boundary. India 77-0 from 17 overs. Bresnan ineffective. Where is Panesar?

    15/11/2012 (187 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    India 57-0 from just 12 overs. Sehwag beaten once by Tim Bresnan, who has replaced Anderson, but he is starting to throw his hands at the ball with confidence. A very good toss for Dhoni to win

    15/11/2012 (187 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    Only seven overs gone, but already looking ominous for England. Sehwag has just eased Anderson for three offside fours in an over. Pitch looks flat, no pace or bounce for Anderson or Broad. India 31-0

    15/11/2012 (187 days old) | Read more
  • India v England
    First boundary is lucky for India, with Gambhir inside edging the last bsll of Anderson's second over just past his stumps for four to fine leg. And Stuart Broad beats an airy drive by Sehwag, with one that angles in, from first ball of next over. 11-0

    15/11/2012 (187 days old) | Read more
  • Team News - India v England
    India: Sehwag, Gambhir, Pujara, Tendulkar, Kohli, Yuvraj, Dhoni, Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, Yadav, Ojha. England: Cook, Compton, Trott, Pietersen, Bell, Patel, Prior, Broad, Bresnan, Swann, Anderson

    15/11/2012 (187 days old) | Read more
  • India won the toss - India v England
    MS Dhoni wins what is expected to be an important toss, and India will bat first. Pitch looks very dry.

    15/11/2012 (187 days old) | Read more
  • Runs plentiful in Indian domestic game
    By Andrew Hignell
    The week before the start of England’s four-Test series with India has seen some remarkable batting performances in the domestic first-class competition there.

    13/11/2012 (188 days old) | Read more
  • Cricket Diary: Ramps steps up for England
    By Richard Gibson
    Such have been the advances since English cricket’s first academy intake 11 years ago – which included Andrew Strauss, Graeme Swann and Andrew Flintoff – that the 2012-13 Performance

    09/11/2012 (192 days old) | Read more
  • Edgbaston's India-Pakistan clash a sell-out
    By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent
    The first allocation of tickets to see two of cricket’s biggest rivals – India and Pakistan – clash at Edgbaston in next summer’s ICC Champions Trophy sold out in just three hours

    05/11/2012 (196 days old) | Read more
  • Morgan commits to Middlesex
    By Mark Pennell
    England batsman Eoin Morgan has committed his long-term future in the domestic game to Middlesex having penned a new 

    29/10/2012 (203 days old) | Read more
  • Notts award Swann a 2013 benefit
    By Dave Bracegirdle
    England spinner Graeme Swann has been granted a benefit year by Nottinghamshire in 2013.

    22/10/2012 (210 days old) | Read more
  • ECB propose rethink on county schedule
    The County Championship will involve Sunday starts from 2014 onwards after the ECB board announced a new four-year schedule

    19/10/2012 (214 days old) | Read more
  • Kevin Pietersen recalled by England
    England have added Kevin Pietersen to the Test squad for the tour of India. 

    18/10/2012 (214 days old) | Read more
  • Woakes lines up two-month NZ stint
    By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent
    Warwickshire all-rounder Chris Woakes is to spend two months playing as Wellington’s overseas player in New Zealand’s domestic competitions.

    04/10/2012 (229 days old) | Read more
  • Kevin Pietersen apologises
    Kevin Pietersen has apologised publicly for the recent controversies and has signed a four-month contract with the ECB. 

    03/10/2012 (229 days old) | Read more
  • MCC opt for more time on 'Finn no-balls'
    By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent
    The MCC has decided to take more time to consider whether to introduce a law change that would mean a no-ball being called each time

    03/10/2012 (230 days old) | Read more
  • Cricket Diary: Cook's dash, Anderson's style
    By Richard Gibson
    Alastair Cook’s unassuming demeanour makes him extremely popular in the England dressing room but his personality rarely projects beyond those four walls.

    02/10/2012 (230 days old) | Read more
  • Finn incidents may prompt MCC law change
    By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent
    England paceman Steven Finn’s regular disturbing of the stumps at the non-striker’s end in his delivery stride has prompted the MCC to consider a law change that would make

    02/10/2012 (230 days old) | Read more
  • Sri Lanka beat England by 19 runs
    It's all over. England made 150 for 9, not bad, but not good enough. West Indies, who earlier beat New Zealand on a Super Over, join Sri Lanka in the semi-finals

    01/10/2012 (231 days old) | Read more
  • New Derbyshire deal for Clare
    By Andy Wilson
    All-rounder Jon Clare has become the third member of Derbyshire’s LV= County Championship Division Two-winning side in a week to sign an extended new deal

    02/10/2012 (231 days old) | Read more
  • England - Sri Lanka v England
    Samit Patel's ballsy innings is ended on 67 as Malinga plucks out his off stump. He's claimed a remarkable 5 for 31 in four overs

    01/10/2012 (231 days old) | Read more
  • 100 for 7 - Sri Lanka v England
    It's Samit or bust for England, but he's running out of partners. Up comes the hundred with a perfect slog over cow corner for six

    01/10/2012 (231 days old) | Read more
  • WICKETS - Sri Lanka v England
    Three in the over for Lasith Malinga, and England are floundering on 18 for 3. Wright and Bairstow holed out, Hales was hit on the pads by a yorker...

    01/10/2012 (231 days old) | Read more
  • 168 for 6 - Sri Lanka v England
    Sri Lanka finish with a decent total, though not as high as we thought it might be two overs ago. Good comeback from Dernbach at the end there. SL favourites with their spinners bowling in home conditions, but England have given themselves a chance.

    01/10/2012 (231 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - Sri Lanka v England
    Relief for England as Broad bowls Thirimanne with a cutter. The damage, though, has already been done.

    01/10/2012 (231 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - Sri Lanka v England
    Mathews follows to the next ball. Broad bent his back and the batsman top-edged a pull onto his stumps. Once again SL find themselves with two batsmen at the crease who have not faced a ball.

    01/10/2012 (231 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - Sri Lanka v England
    Mendis fails to get hold of one from Broad and mistimes the ball into the hands of Bopara at midwicket. Crucial breakthrough - just after Mendis and Mathews had brought up the 50 partnership. 126-4 in the 16th over.

    01/10/2012 (231 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - Sri Lanka v England
    And Sangakkara goes to Swann's very next ball, getting a thin edge and caught by a jubilant Bairstow behind the stumps. Things have changed - thanks to Swann. SL are 82-3 with two new batsmen at the crease.

    01/10/2012 (231 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - Sri Lanka v England
    Morgan dives forward at and Jayawardene is caught for a classy 42. England have bowled quite well but they desperately need wickets to stem the inievitable late onslaught. So that was key. Angelo Mathews comes to the crease with SL 74-2 in the 11th over.

    01/10/2012 (231 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - Sri Lanka v England
    The merciless Finn has the dangerous Dilshan lbw for 16. Trying to tonk a fullish ball that hit his back leg and right in front. Sri Lanka 41-1 after 5 overs. Sangakkara joins Jayawardene.

    01/10/2012 (231 days old) | Read more
  • 18 for 0 - Sri Lanka v England
    We're in the third over and Finn and Dernbach have started well for England. Both getting bounce and neither offering much to hit to Jayawardene and Dilshan - although Jayawardene has just pulled Finn for four.

    01/10/2012 (231 days old) | Read more
  • Toss - Sri Lanka v England
    England have won the toss and will bowl. Big changes for England: Kieswetter, Briggs and Bresnan all out and Dernbach, Patel and, perhaps surprisingly, Bopara are in. Looks like Luke Wright will open. 

    01/10/2012 (231 days old) | Read more
  • Briggs opts out of Champions League
    By Bruce Talbot
    Hampshire have replaced Danny Briggs with David Balcombe in their Champions League Twenty20 squad.

    30/09/2012 (232 days old) | Read more
  • England beat New Zealand by six wickets
    Easy in the end for England, seven balls to spare. Luke wright the hero with 76 from 43. New Zealand are down and nearly out

    29/09/2012 (233 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v New Zealand
    Another one bites the dust. Alex Hales is bowled by Nathan McCullum and at 38 for 2, Eoin Morgan enters the fray

    29/09/2012 (233 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v New Zealand
    Another pretty horrible innings from Kieswetter comes to an end. Very tentative to start, grim and loose to finish. He's gone for a mow against Vettori and been bowled for 4 from 14 balls

    29/09/2012 (233 days old) | Read more
  • 148 for 6 - England v New Zealand
    An impressive recovery from New Zealand as they leave England needing 149 at Pallekele to stay alive in the tournament. Steven Finn bowled brilliantly for 3 for 16 in four overs, but James Franklin led a spirited fight back with 50 from 33 balls

    29/09/2012 (233 days old) | Read more
  • Result - England v West Indies
    West Indies win by 16 runs, England finishing on 164-4. Morgan hit a wonderful 71 from 36 balls, but it was a fantastic fielding effort from West Indies. 

    27/09/2012 (235 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v West Indies
    Hales stumped on the fourth ball and it's game over. 18 needed from 2 balls. 

    27/09/2012 (235 days old) | Read more
  • 157-3 - England v West Indies
    England need 23 from the final over. Morgan and Hales have put on 100, but it looks like they've left it a little late. Morgan, with 65 from 32, will be on strike. Marlon Samuels to bowl the final over. 

    27/09/2012 (235 days old) | Read more
  • 141-3 - England v West Indies
    England need 39 from the last 2 overs and it seems to be game over, despite Morgan's best efforts. 

    27/09/2012 (235 days old) | Read more
  • 110-3 - England v West Indies
    Eoin Morgan is leading a late assault for England, with 28 from 18 balls. 15 overs gone and England need 70 from 30 balls. Hales 59 from 43. 

    27/09/2012 (235 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v West Indies
    This is poor from England. Bairstow falls to a great running catch from Pollard at mid-off and England have made just 55 from the first 10 overs. 55-3 and Morgan is in. 

    27/09/2012 (235 days old) | Read more
  • 42-2 - England v West Indies
    Bairstow and Hales staging a recovery for England, but 42 from 7 overs is slow progress. However, once you've settled on this pitch it seems the runs do flow more easily .

    27/09/2012 (235 days old) | Read more
  • Wickets - England v West Indies
    Possibly not the start England wanted. Craig Kieswetter top-edges a pull of Ravi Rampaul to point second ball and then next ball Luke Wright fends a shortish ball slip. 0-2. 

    27/09/2012 (235 days old) | Read more
  • 179-5 - England v West Indies
    Johnson Charles and Chris Gayle have led West Indies to a very good total against an uninspired England attack. This will be a hell of a chase for an inexperienced batting line-up.

    27/09/2012 (235 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v West Indies
    Stuart Broad, who has been excellent, bowls Sammy with a slower ball and it's 158-5 after 18.3.

    27/09/2012 (235 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v West Indies
    Johnson Charles finally goes for 84 off 56 balls, and we shall remember his name for the right reasons. It was a tired shot, hitting a low full toss from Dernbach to Bairstow at mid-on. 154-4 after 17. 

    27/09/2012 (235 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v West Indies
    England clawing their way back into this. Pollard falls for just 1, caught by Luke Wright on the cover boundary off Steven Finn. Johnson Charles hits two successive 4s to take WI to 136-3 after 15.3.

    27/09/2012 (235 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v West Indies
    Marlon Samuels cuts straight to Morgan at point and England have their second wicket at 188-2. Charles is still there with 52 from 39 balls, and Pollard has just sauntered to the crease. Six overs to go.

    27/09/2012 (235 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v West Indies
    The big breakthrough. Chris Gayle is caught in the deep by Finn, the ball after Finn had dropped a sitter off Charles. Swann is the bowler and Gayle is gone for a destructive 58 and it's 103-1 off 11. 

    27/09/2012 (235 days old) | Read more
  • 95-0 - England v West Indies
    Not looking good for England after 10 overs. Chris Gayle has 51 from 30 and even Johnson Charles has got stuck in, hitting Swann for 4,6,6. They made 40 off the first 5 overs, 55 off the next 5. 

    27/09/2012 (235 days old) | Read more
  • 40-0 - England v West Indies
    Chris Gayle has thrashed 23 from 13 but at the other end Johnson Charles is slowing things down, with 14 from 17 after five overs. Finn's pace is good, but a few more overs of Gayle and England will be chasing plenty. 

    27/09/2012 (235 days old) | Read more
  • Toss - England v West Indies
    West Indies have won the toss and will bat first. The match will start at 3.40. 

    27/09/2012 (235 days old) | Read more
  • England v West Indies
    We're running a bit late due to the sensational finish between SL and NZ, but England's team news is that Samit Patel replaces Tim Bresnan. West Indies have picked legspinner Samuel Badree, clearly hoping that England's struggles with spin continue. 

    27/09/2012 (235 days old) | Read more
  • Result - England v India
    India win by 90 runs. After Steven Finn and Jade Dernbach have a little fun at the crease with a couple of boundaries, England complete the collapse with a run out. 80 all out - England's lowest ever T20 total

    23/09/2012 (239 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v India
    Stuart Broad is the 9th wicket to fall. With relief from spin as Ashok Dinda comes into the attack, he tries to counter-attack but hits it to the safe hands of Gambhir. 60-9

    23/09/2012 (239 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v India
    Wickets no 7 & 8 fall in the same Harbhajan over. Buttler and Swann both out bowled. It's a double wicket maiden and England are 60-8

    23/09/2012 (239 days old) | Read more
  • England v India
    Sunday Times says this morning that England "are shaping as serious contenders at the World Twenty20". Really?? Pathetic batting against spin today against India suggests they have done well to reach the Super Eights. Let alone KP, where is Ian Bell?

    23/09/2012 (239 days old) | Read more
  • England - England v India
    The 6th wicket goes down for 54. Bresnan tries the big shot as the flurry of wickets has meant the run-rate has rocketed. But he hits its straight to Gambhir and England are 54-6 at the halfway stage

    23/09/2012 (239 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v India
    England are capitulating to spin. Where have we heard that before? Kieswetter departs edging Chawla to slip. 51-5 after 9 overs.

    23/09/2012 (239 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v India
    Another ugly shot brings another wicket. Bairstow this time with a heave across the line that ends with him being bowled by Chawla. England falling apart, 42-4 after 7 overs.

    23/09/2012 (239 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v India
    England lose another one as Eoin Morgan departs for just 2, bowled by Harbhajan Singh. It's been a really frenetic start to their innings. They need to settle down and build a partnership. 39-3 in the 6th over.

    23/09/2012 (239 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v India
    Irfan Pathan strikes again. This time its Luke Wright who goes. England's man of the match against Afghanistan can only manage the one 6 tonight as he falls LBW to Pathan. England 18-2 after three overs

    23/09/2012 (239 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v India
    England lose a wicket in their first over again. This time its Alex Hales though who aims for a big swish over the leg-side but misses and the ball clatters into his stumps. England 2-1 after one over

    23/09/2012 (239 days old) | Read more
  • 170-4 - England v India
    India score 170-4 from their 20 overs. Both sides will have mixed feelings about that score. India might feel 10 shy of a good total and England will feel they gave India too many from the last four overs in partiucular

    23/09/2012 (239 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v India
    Gambhir departs after getting a slight nick behind to Kieswetter off Finn. Might be a blessing in disguise though as in comes Dhoni for India with four overs left. 119-3

    23/09/2012 (239 days old) | Read more
  • 106-2 - England v India
    The hundred comes up for India in the 14th over. England have pegged them back in the last few overs thanks mostly to Graeme Swann who finishes with 1-17 from his four overs. But India have Raina, Yuvraj and Dhoni all still to come

    23/09/2012 (239 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v India
    England take their 2nd wicket in the 11th over and its an important one. Virat Kohli departs after trying to hit Graeme Swann over the top but its caught by Johnny Bairstow.

    23/09/2012 (239 days old) | Read more
  • 52-1 - England v India
    End of the 6th over and the powerplay overs. At this stage India are on top. Virat Kohli has looked every inch the man in form since joining Gautam Gambhir at the crease. England need to break this partnership.

    23/09/2012 (239 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v India
    Steven Finn takes the first Indian wicket. Irfan Pathan is clean bowled with the score on 24 in the 3rd over. India have been scoring freely though, with England serving up too much short stuff early on.

    23/09/2012 (239 days old) | Read more
  • Team News - England v India
    England win the toss and will bowl first against India. They make one change, Tim Bresnan coming in for Samit Patel. India makes three changes themselves - Sehwag, Ashwin and Zaheer make way. Both sides look to have one eye on the Super Eights.

    23/09/2012 (239 days old) | Read more
  • Result - Afghanistan v England
    England have won by 116 runs and are through to the Super Eights, making their game against India on Sunday meaningless - if still mouthwatering. Wright's 99* was 19 more than Afghanistan managed in their innings.

    21/09/2012 (241 days old) | Read more
  • 50-8 - Afghanistan v England
    Naib has hit 22 from 20 balls - including 16 from a Swann over - to delay England's victory.

    21/09/2012 (241 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - Afghanistan v England
    Swann strikes in his first over, Shenwari reverse-sweeping Swann to Finn at deep backward point. 25-6. Oh and now it's 26-7, Nabi bowled by Patel.

    21/09/2012 (241 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - Afghanistan v England
    Two quick wickets. Karim Sadiq goes for five, run out after some brilliant fielding by Buttler. Then an amazing catch by Bairstow, swooping and diving forward at fine-leg, gets rid of Stanikzai. Afghanistan are 22-5 in the 6th over.

    21/09/2012 (241 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - Afghanistan v England
    Lovely caught and bowled by Broad gets rid of the Afghan captain, Nawroz Mangal. Afghanistan are 14-3 in the 4th over.

    21/09/2012 (241 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - Afghanistan v England
    Another one loops up, this time to the sub fielder (Bopara) at cover and this time off the bowling of Dernbach. That's a golden duck for Shafiqullah. Top edged a pull shot. Afghanistan are 2-2 after 9 balls.

    21/09/2012 (241 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - Afghanistan v England
    Mohammad Shahzad skies one to give Broad a catch and Finn a wicket in his first over. Afghanistan are 2-1 after one over.

    21/09/2012 (241 days old) | Read more
  • 196 for 5 - Afghanistan v England
    Rather cruelly, Luke Wright finishes on 99 not out after failing to strike the last ball of the innings cleanly. But what an innings. 55 balls, six of which cleared the boundary. Surely no way Afghanistan can chase this sort of score.

    21/09/2012 (241 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - Afghanistan v England
    Bairstow is caught at long-on to leave Luke Wright to face the last ball of the innings needing three for his hundred. 194-5.

    21/09/2012 (241 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - Afghanistan v England
    Afghanistan have spared themselves a mauling at the end of the innings after the seamer Dawlatzai gets Buttler lbw with a full one on leg stump. Actually, Bairstow is next in so a mauling could still be on. 159-4 in the 19th over.

    21/09/2012 (241 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - Afghanistan v England
    Morgan miscues for a simple catch but the damage has been done by England (by Luke Wright to be precise). And here comes Jos Buttler. 141-3 with three overs to go.

    21/09/2012 (241 days old) | Read more
  • 109 for 2 - Afghanistan v England
    So with five overs left England look like they'll be making a very competitive score. Luke Wright has 58 off 41 balls while Eoin Morgan has made a more pedestrian 13. A total of 160 and above should take this beyond Afghanistan's reach.

    21/09/2012 (241 days old) | Read more
  • FIFTY - Afghanistan v England
    Wright goes to his half-century off 34 balls. It's been a superb innings of straight-hitting, both along the ground and back over the bowler's head. England 99-2 after 13 overs. Good going.

    21/09/2012 (241 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - Afghanistan v England
    Vital wicket for Afghanistan, and what misfortune for Hales. Run out at the non-striker's end after Sadiq got a touch onto another Luke Wright straight drive which hit the stumps. But England in much safer waters now at 71-2 in the 10th over.

    21/09/2012 (241 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - Afghanistan v England
    Kieswetter plays on to the last ball of the first over to the left-armer Shapoor Zadran - a wicket-maiden! 0 for 1.

    21/09/2012 (241 days old) | Read more
  • Afghanistan v England
    The anthems are done and the cricket can start. Here we go then, with Kieswetter and Hales opening the innings for England.

    21/09/2012 (241 days old) | Read more
  • Afghanistan v England
    Afghanistan have won the toss at Colombo and have chosen to bowl first. The England team: Kieswetter, Hales, Wright, Morgan, Bairstow, Buttler, Patel, Broad, Swann, Finn, Dernbach. So no place for Bopara, Lumb or Briggs. Play gets underway at 3pm.

    21/09/2012 (241 days old) | Read more
  • Pietersen left out of England squad
    England have left out Kevin Pietersen from their Test squad for the tour of India. Two uncapped batsmen, Somerset's Nick Compton and Yorkshire's Joe Root, have been called up. 

    18/09/2012 (244 days old) | Read more
  • Trego rewarded for best season of career
    By Robin Hutchison
    Somerset's Peter Trego has completed a remarkable career transformation by winning the FTI Most Valuable Player award for the 2012 season.

    18/09/2012 (245 days old) | Read more
  • County groundsmen win national award
    By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent
    The hard work of county groundsmen across the country during one of the wettest summers on record has been officially recognised with a prestigious national award.

    17/09/2012 (245 days old) | Read more
  • Cricket Diary: Steyn's sympathy, KP tweet fall-out
    By Richard Gibson
    Ravi Bopara received sympathy for his current plight from an unusual source in his final international appearance before heading to the ICC World Twenty20.

    16/09/2012 (246 days old) | Read more
  • Giles plays down talk of an England future
    By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent
    Warwickshire director of cricket Ashley Giles has played down talk of him becoming the next England coach.

    14/09/2012 (248 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - Glamorgan v Kent
    Kent's morning recovery has been halted. Sam Northeast (40) has edged John Glover behind to leave the visitors 91-3. They are still 129 behind.

    13/09/2012 (249 days old) | Read more
  • New Lancashire contract for Anderson
    By Graham Hardcastle
    Jimmy Anderson has signed a new contract with Lancashire. The England bowler has penned a two-year deal at Old Trafford until the end of the 2014 season,

    13/09/2012 (250 days old) | Read more
  • 90-5 - England v South Africa
    South Africa end 28 runs short and the series is tied 1-1. Never in doubt after Amla was out. But the victory was down most of all to two Somerset boys, Kieswetter and, in particular, Buttler. And that concludes South Africa's tour of England.

    12/09/2012 (250 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    Bresnan lets slip a high full toss - and Ontong can only miscue it for a catch on the offside. 69-5 in the 10th over. Kallis comes in but it's all too late for South Africa.

    12/09/2012 (250 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    That could be the match. Quicker one from Swann and Amla tucks it straight to Bairstow in the outfield. Amla made 36 off 27 balls. Justin Ontong has to go crazy here.

    12/09/2012 (250 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    Swann gets de Villiers, who top-edged a sweep into Bairstow's grateful hands in the deep. Albie Morkel - a big-hitter himself - joins Amla at the crease. 52 for 3 in the 7th over 

    12/09/2012 (250 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    Briggs has his first international Twenty20 wicket as du Plessis gets a leading edge to cover. South Africa need 85 from 42 balls. Now it's up to the deadly combination of Amla and de Villiers.

    12/09/2012 (250 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    Bresnan strikes in the second over, as Levi tries to swipe a ball that was too full to swipe and is bowled. 9-1 after nine balls. South Africa need something special here.

    12/09/2012 (250 days old) | Read more
  • England v South Africa
    Here we go then, South Africa need 119 to win off 11 overs. Danny Briggs will open the bowling on his T20I debut, and he'll be bowling to the destructive Richard Levi.

    12/09/2012 (250 days old) | Read more
  • 118 for 5 - England v South Africa
    Fifty runs came off the last 15 balls of England's innings, thanks to Jos Buttler's 10-ball 32 and a pedestrian 32-ball 50 from Craig Kieswetter. If South Africa win from here then we are in for a treat.

    12/09/2012 (250 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    Bairstow glides a four down to third man but then Morne Morkel gets it straight and hits the stumps. 116-5 with two balls to go. 

    12/09/2012 (250 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    Kieswetter pulls the ball straight into the stands and goes to his fifty off 31 balls - and then is bowled trying to pull off the Buttler Scoop. Speaking of Buttler, he's made 31 from nine balls after a crazy 32-run over from Parnell. England 116-4

    12/09/2012 (250 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    That might have just knocked off 10 runs from England's eventual total: Morgan skies one off Botha and is well caught. Jos Buttler is the new man joining Kieswetter

    12/09/2012 (250 days old) | Read more
  • 63 for 2 - England v South Africa
    So with three of their 11 overs left, England are primed for an assault which could take them up to 90. The important thing is that Kieswetter has batted for 8 overs and is in. And that Morgan is at the other end.

    12/09/2012 (250 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    Luke Wright has a thrash at Botha and the ball balloons up for a catch to the steady Amla somewhere close to point. Wright had to go for it. Here comes Eoin Morgan. 44-2 after five overs, with six more to come in this Eleven11 match.

    12/09/2012 (250 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    Some first over from Morne Morkel - a no-ball, a ridiculously wide wide, and two boundaries to Kieswetter through the legside. And after hitting a boundary off Parnell's first ball, Lumb is bowled. We've only had 8 legitimate balls and England are 20-1.

    12/09/2012 (250 days old) | Read more
  • Toss - England v South Africa
    South Africa win the toss and will bowl

    12/09/2012 (250 days old) | Read more
  • England v South Africa
    We will have some play, and it's eleven11. Start time of 8.12

    12/09/2012 (250 days old) | Read more
  • England v South Africa
    We're going to have another inspection at 7.40. No one's quite sure why we aren't playing yet.

    12/09/2012 (250 days old) | Read more
  • England v South Africa
    Its cleared up at Edbgaston but the outfield is still duck-friendly. We'll have another inspection at 7.15.

    12/09/2012 (250 days old) | Read more
  • England v South Africa
    It's raining. It's not raining. It is raining. It's the story of the summer at Edgbaston where we have a pitch inspection at 18.30, but the umpires will have to dodge the puddles.

    12/09/2012 (250 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - Glamorgan v Kent
    Just to add to Rob Key's mounting frustrations Glamorgan have just added a fourth batting point and the ninth wicket has now realised 100. Glamorgan are 350-8.

    12/09/2012 (250 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - Essex v Yorkshire
    Yorkshire are within 1 run of achieving a third batting point. 299 for 8 and Rafiq has completed a 120-ball 50 with one  boundary  

    12/09/2012 (251 days old) | Read more
  • Glamorgan v Kent
    Sunny start at Cardiff where Glamorgan have added seven runs to their overnight total of 334-8.

    12/09/2012 (251 days old) | Read more
  • Team News - Glamorgan v Kent
    Glam: Bragg, James, Walters, Lloyd, Wright, Allenby, Wallace ©, Wagg, Croft, Glover, Reed. Kent: Northeast, Key ©, Bell-Drummond, Nash, Powell, Stevens, Jones, Coles, Tredwell, Davies, Shreck.

    11/09/2012 (252 days old) | Read more
  • Kent won the toss - Glamorgan v Kent
    Rob Key has put Glamorgan in on a pitch with a very green tinge. Kent, who include Mike Powell, need a victory to have a chance of gaining promotion. Glamorgan, with Robert Croft playing his final game, are keen to get off the bottom of the table.

    11/09/2012 (252 days old) | Read more
  • Bell now unlikely to figure for Warwicks
    By Paul Bolton
    England batsman Ian Bell is unlikely to play for county champions Warwickshire in their final match of the season against a depleted Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge

    10/09/2012 (252 days old) | Read more
  • Reed CC triumph in National Village Cup
    Reed CC were today crowned the Yorkshire Tea Village Cup champions after beating five-times finalists Woodhouse Grange by six wickets in a thrilling final at Lord’s

    09/09/2012 (253 days old) | Read more
  • Cricket Diary: Kieswetter's rise, Davies's fall
    By Richard Gibson
    Craig Kieswetter is set to oust rival Steven Davies for the back-up wicketkeeper position on England’s Test tour to India this winter.

    09/09/2012 (254 days old) | Read more
  • England - England v South Africa
    RESULT - South Africa have won by 7 wickets, taking a 1-0 lead in the 3-match NatWest Series thanks to an unflustered, unbroken stand of 90 between Jacques Kallis and JP Duminy.

    08/09/2012 (254 days old) | Read more
  • England - England v South Africa
    South Africa are 61-3 at the halfway stage (which is actually behind what England were at the relevant stage) but have two experienced campaigners Jacques Kallis and JP Duminy at the crease. They still need just a run a ball to take a 1-0 lead.

    08/09/2012 (254 days old) | Read more
  • England - England v South Africa
    England really struggled to hit boundaries, and went 9 overs without one. They lost 4 wickets in that period too to close on 118-7. A late stand of 33 - the largest of the innings - between Broad and Swann hauling them close to a run a ball.

    08/09/2012 (254 days old) | Read more
  • England v South Africa
    and Craig Kieswetter was lbw to Johan Botha's first ball. At the halfway stage, England are 64-3 with Jonny Bairstow and Eoin Morgan both just into double figures.

    08/09/2012 (254 days old) | Read more
  • England v South Africa
    England have lost some soft wickets here, including the out-of-form Ravi Bopara who surprisingly remained at number three and edged Dale Steyn straight to slip. Alex Hales, who made 99 in his last T20 international was run out early on .....

    08/09/2012 (254 days old) | Read more
  • Team News - England v South Africa
    South Africa: Levi, Kallis, De Villiers, Du Plessis, Duminy, Ontong, Morkel, Botha, Peterson, Steyn, Tsotsobe

    08/09/2012 (254 days old) | Read more
  • Team News - England v South Africa
    South Africa have surprisingly overlooked their premier batsman on this tour, Hashim Amla, and give a Twenty20 international debut to Faf du Plessis

    08/09/2012 (254 days old) | Read more
  • Team News - England v South Africa
    England: Kieswetter, Hales, Bopara, Morgan, Buttler, Bairstow, Patel, Broad, Swann, Finn, Dernbach

    08/09/2012 (254 days old) | Read more
  • Team News - England v South Africa
    England retain the same XI that beat West Indies in their previous Twenty20 international in June

    08/09/2012 (254 days old) | Read more
  • ..... won the toss - England v South Africa
    South Africa win toss and bowl at the Riverside

    08/09/2012 (254 days old) | Read more
  • South Africa win - England v South Africa
    Resounding win for South Africa by seven wickets to square the series. Amla finishes on 97 and de Villiers on 75.

    05/09/2012 (257 days old) | Read more
  • 118-3 - England v South Africa
    South Africa need only 65 to win from 36 overs as de Villiers and Amla march on. Both have excellent half-centuries

    05/09/2012 (257 days old) | Read more
  • 71 for 3 - England v South Africa
    Things have setlled down for South Africa after 16 overs. Amla (36) and de Villiers (28) looking in control, especially now they've seen off Anderson. Fifty patnership just came up with a lovely Amla cover drive. Tredwell and Patel in tandem at the moment.

    05/09/2012 (257 days old) | Read more
  • 38 for 3 - England v South Africa
    Great start by England but now comes the real test: de Villiers and Amla. Is there a better batting pair in one-day (and Test) cricket? Omniously de Villiers has just taken Dernbach for two fours. Woakes warming up.

    05/09/2012 (257 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Jimmy is making up for all the summer's frustrations. Dean Elgar hangs himself out to dry by poking at an Anderson delivery and edging to Kieswetter. South Africa are 14 for 3 after 28 balls.

    05/09/2012 (257 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Another one! This time's it's Anderson, who gets some nip off the seam away from du Plessis, who edges behind. 11 for 2.

    05/09/2012 (257 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Dernbach tempts Smith into a full-blooded drive away from his body and he edges to Tredwell at second slip. Tredwell had a juggle but snatched it in the end. Just what was needed.

    05/09/2012 (257 days old) | Read more
  • England v South Africa
    So South Africa's Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla head to the crease for what should be a straightforward chase of 183 runs. Unless the England bowlers can pull one out the bag.

    05/09/2012 (257 days old) | Read more
  • 182 all out - England v South Africa
    Jade Dernbach the last man to go, top-edging Wayne Parnell behind to the keeper after 45.2 overs. Poor display from England, with no one making a big score. 

    05/09/2012 (257 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    As Chris Woakes goes on the attack, James Tredwell is bowled by Robin Peterson for 6 ... and then James Anderson is out first ball skying it to Morne Morkel at wide mid-off. 175-9

    05/09/2012 (257 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Craig Kieswetter has gone, hitting one miles in the air off Morne Morkel and Hashim Amla takes the catch. Kieswetter was just starting to look like he was about to build a decent score but goes for 33. 156-7 after 37.4.

    05/09/2012 (257 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Samit Patel is outdone by a slow bouncer from Dale Steyn. He's looking to nudge it around the corner to fine leg but gets in a mess and glances it through to the keeper. 124-6.

    05/09/2012 (257 days old) | Read more
  • 124-5 - England v South Africa
    30 overs gone and Samit Patel and Craig Kieswetter are attempting to rebuild. It's slow-going though, with Dale Steyn bowling an immaculate line. 

    05/09/2012 (257 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Another soft dismissal, Alastair Cook chipping a low full-toss straight back to du Plessis for 51. Not a captain's shot, that. 99-5. 

    05/09/2012 (257 days old) | Read more
  • 97-4 - England v South Africa
    Alastair Cook has a fifty, his highest score since the first Test against South Africa. He's got there from 69 balls and, with four wickets down and a lengthy tail, he knows he'll need to stick around. 24 overs gone. 

    05/09/2012 (257 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Eoin Morgan goes second ball and England are in a bit of trouble on a good batting wicket. He tried to clear Hashim Amla at mid-on but hit it straight at him. 82-4

    05/09/2012 (257 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Jonny Bairstow perishes in the deep, flicking Morne Morkel straight to Justin Ontong on the deep midwicket boundary. He had just started to stamp his authority and was aiming finer with his shot. 79-3 after 18.5.

    05/09/2012 (257 days old) | Read more
  • 72-3 - England v South Africa
    17 overs gone and Cook (22) and Bairstow (24) have staged a recovery with a 49-run partnership. South Africa's attack have been disciplined, especially Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel. 

    05/09/2012 (257 days old) | Read more
  • 42-2 - England v South Africa
    South Africa will be pleased with the powerplay, picking up two wickets and keeping things tight. Jonny Bairstow and Alastair Cook are a good right/left combination and are looking to play their shots. 

    05/09/2012 (257 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Poor old Ravi Bopara goes 2nd ball for 0. Dale Steyn got it to move and straighten and it took Bopara's edge. Jonny Bairstow to the rescue? 24-2

    05/09/2012 (257 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Ian Bell goes, LBW to Robin Peterson for 10. England reviewed it thinking it might have struck just outside the line but no such luck and they have no reviews left. Ravi Bopara is in at three. 23-1.

    05/09/2012 (257 days old) | Read more
  • 19-0 - England v South Africa
    Excellent start for England after the first three overs. South Africa are using pace and spin from either ends with Dale Steyn and Robin Peterson, but there isn't an awful lot of spin out there. The first ball swung a lot but nothig since. 

    05/09/2012 (257 days old) | Read more
  • Teams - England v South Africa
    Eng: Cook, Bell Bopara, Bairstow, Morgan, Kieswetter, Patel, Woakes, Tredwell, Anderson, Dernbach. SA: Smith, Amla, Elgar, de Villiers, Duminy, du Plessis, Ontong, Parnell, Peterson, Steyn, Morkel

    05/09/2012 (257 days old) | Read more
  • Toss - England v South Africa
    England have won the toss and will bat. They've brought in Jonny Bairstow for Jonathan Trott and Chris Woakes for Steven Finn. Justin Ontong and Morne Morkel in for Ryan McLaren and Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

    05/09/2012 (257 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - Yorkshire v Glamorgan
    Morning from Headingley where Glamorgan have made an early breakthrough, Joe Root falling lbw to Graham Wagg for 14. The ball kept low and England selector James Whitaker now has to focus on any other players under consideration. Yorks 40-1. 

    05/09/2012 (257 days old) | Read more
  • Compton ready to take Strauss opening role
    By Richard Latham
    Nick Compton says he is ready to accept the challenge of replacing Andrew Strauss as England opener this winter should the opportunity arise.

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • Result - England v South Africa
    England win the 4th ODI of the series by 6 wickets. Some big hitting at the end from Morgan and Kieswetter saw them home comfortably when it was looking a little bit nervy at one stage. Kieswetter secured the win with a huge straight six off Dale Steyn

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • 195-4 - England v South Africa
    South Africa opt to save Dale Steyn's last over till nearer the finish. But it's a strange move as England suddenly look a little edgy. 26 needed from 30

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Dale Steyn comes back into the attack with two overs left to bowl and wouldn't you know it, he takes a wicket. Ian Bell edges behind on 88. It's been a great innings but he did struggle after the rain break. He misses out on a century. 186-4

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • 173-3 - England v South Africa
    England need 48 from the last 10 overs. Bell is edging towards his 3rd ODI century on 82 not out and Eoin Morgan is ticking along nicely. Should be comfortable from here.

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Ravi Bopara's struggles with the bat continue. He edges Ryan McLaren to AB de Villiers behind the stumps for just 6. 156-3

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • Play resumes - England v South Africa
    The players are back out. No overs have been lost so it's as you were for both sides. And in what might be a crucial little knock for Bopara - he pulls Steyn for 4. England 155-2, 66 needed from 90.

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • Rain stops play - England v South Africa
    The heavens have suddenly opened up at Lord's and the players are off for rain. As it stands England are well ahead on 150-2 needing 71 from 95 balls. But that target is sure to change when the rain relents

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Trott's bravely fought innings finally comes to an end. Elgar traps him LBW for 48. Simon Taufel originally gave it not out but it was rightly reviewed by South Africa. England 143-2

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • 141-1 - England v South Africa
    Bell is dropped on 67 by Robin Peterson. South Africa need that if they were to stand any chance of getting back into this game. England need 80 from 114.

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • 114-1 - England v South Africa
    Ian Bell goes to fifty. He's scored 51 off 91 deliveries. It's been a beautifully paced knock as he's dominated the strike with Trott struggling with a finger injury. 27 overs gone and England are cruising

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • 102-1 - England v South Africa
    England bring up the 100 and its the hundred partnership between Bell & Trott as well.

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • 90-1 - England v South Africa
    Ian Bell has just hit a glorious six off Peterson. Used his feet against the spinner and launched him over extra cover. The bowling powerplay now over, South Africa need a big effort to turn this game around from here

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • 61-1 - England v South Africa
    England looking comfortable chasing these runs with 16 overs gone. But Jonathon Trott is looking anything but - he's taken a blow to the finger and it will be interesting to see if he carries on. He's hanging in there for now

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • 31-1 - England v South Africa
    Ian Bell & Jonathon Trott steadying the ship for England following that early Cook dismissal. 8 overs gone and they're ticking along quite nicely. Dale Steyn is looking dangerous though

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Alastair Cook is out in the first over of England's run chase. Dale Steyn with a great delivery to England's captain which gets him LBW. England 2-1 

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • Interval - England v South Africa
    South Africa have limped to 220-8 after their 50 overs. Really good bowling display from England, especially Bopara and Tredwell. England will be confident of chasing this.

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Then next ball McLaren is run out attempting a second work. Great work from Dernbach with a direct hit running in from 3rd man. 215-8.

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    A slow bouncer from Finn does for Elgar, who had struggled to 35 from 59 balls. Kieswetter takes the catch. Seven balls left and it's 214-7.

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • 198-6 - England v South Africa
    Three overs to go. Peterson and Elgar trying to give it a whack but Cook is making it difficult with some very defensive fields. It's a touch pitch to get going on but England will be happy chasing anything under 230.

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Tredwell gets his 3rd wicket, and it's another stumping. This time Parnell steps down the pitch but Tredwell spins it past the bat and Kieswetter again takes the stumping. 174-6 in the 44th over. Tredwell making up for his earlier dropped catches.

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Sharp work from Kieswetter gets rid of de Villiers. The batsman was going for the big drive but Tredwell spun it past him and Kieswetter stumps him. 166-5 and de Villiers made 39.

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • 144-4 - England v South Africa
    37 overs gone and South Africa are crawling along. They're without a boundary for 10 overs and England's bowlers have kept it very tight. If their catching had been better they'd be well on top now. De Villiers still there on 26 from 35.

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • 118-4 - England v South Africa
    30 overs gone and England on top. De Villiers at the crease with Elgar and it seems they're trying to rebuild rather than go hard immediately.

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    South Africa have lost three wickets for 15 runs after du Plessis edges into his stumps from Bopara. Terrible shot and SA in a bit of trouble at 115-4 after 29 overs.

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Excellent bowling from Tredwell, drawing Duminy down the pitch and the ball turns past the outside edge and Kieswetter stumps him. 106-3.

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Amla goes for 45, bowled through the gate by Bopara. Big wicket, but he did add 41 runs after his drop. Top bowling from Ravi though and AB de Villiers comes to the crease. 100-2.

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Finally one sticks - Smith beaten for pace by Dernbach as he tries to pull him, only thin-edging it behind to Kieswetter. Smith gone for a rusty 29, 68-1.

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • 57-0 - England v South Africa
    Tredwell puts another one down. This time it's Smith and again it's off the excellent Finn. Kieswetter dived across Tredwell but it was still a routine chance. Awful fielding allround behind the stumps and Smith survive on 27. 17 overs gone.

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • 50-0 - England v South Africa
    Fifty up for South Africa in the 16th over. Not comfortable for the batsmen but, as usual, Smith and Amla have found a way to battle through.

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • 40-0 - England v South Africa
    Amla is a lucky boy today. Hit dead in front by Bopara, but astonishingly not given out by umpire Illingworth. England have already wasted their review so Amla survives. Amla's has a truly astonishing summer, but he's had an awful lot of luck along the way.

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • 32-0 - England v South Africa
    South Africa have got through the powerplay unscathed, but they've had a bit of luck. Amla was once again dropped, this time by Tredwell at 2nd slip. Finn in particular has been excellent, backed up well by Anderson, whose pace seems a little down again.

    02/09/2012 (260 days old) | Read more
  • 16-0 - England v South Africa
    Four overs gone and not nearly as much movement as we all expected out there. Anderson bowling nicely though, keeping it all outside off to Smith.

    02/09/2012 (261 days old) | Read more
  • Teams - England v South Africa
    England unchanged; Morkel rested for McLaren. Eng: Cook, Bell, Trott, Bopara, Morgan, Kieswetter, Patel, Tredwell, Anderson, Finn, Dernbach. SA: Smith, Amla, Elgar, de Villiers, Duminy, du Plessis, McLaren, Parnell, Peterson, Steyn, Tsotsobe.

    02/09/2012 (261 days old) | Read more
  • Toss - England v South Africa
    Good morning from Lord's, where England have won the toss and will have a bowl under clouds.

    02/09/2012 (261 days old) | Read more
  • Result - England v South Africa
    England have beaten South Africa for the first time this summer, and they've squared the series with a 4-wicket win. England's fielding was excellent, Dernbach bowled well, Trott sensible and Morgan explosive. England are back to No.1 in the world.

    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Trott goes for 71 with just five needed for the win. Parnell angled one across him and he nibbled it to the keeper. Vital knock, but Bob Willis still probably won't like it.

    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • 197-5 - England v South Africa
    With five overs remaining England need only 15 to win, Trott still there on 68.

    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • 189-5 - England v South Africa
    South Africa keep fighting, Kieswetter run out after a good throw from Parnell. 23 runs from 48 balls needed.

    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    The 108-run partnership is finally broken, Morgan (73) playing across the line to Peterson and toe-ending it high in the air, Peterson taking the catch. It was an innings of real impetus from Morgan. England need 40 to win from 72 balls. A glimmer for SA?

    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • 167-3 - England v South Africa
    Trott and Morgan's partnership passes 100, and Morgan has been ruthless since he came in. 45 needed to win from 78 balls

    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • 136-3 - England v South Africa
    Jonathan Trott brings up an important 50 for England, with Morgan with him on a rapid 49. AB de Villiers is juggling his bowlers: he's desperate for a wicket. 76 needed to win from 17 overs.

    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • 120-3 - England v South Africa
    After 30 overs England are 92 from victory. Morgan (37) and Trott (46) have put on 56 and South Africa look a little short of ideas - although they are still keeping it tight.

    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • 110-3 - England v South Africa
    England bring up the hundred, with the entrance of Eoin Morgan doing wonders for the run rate with 31 from 26. 106 needed to win from 25 overs.

    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • 66-3 - England v South Africa
    Two quick wickets have put South Africa right back in it. First Cook goes to a horrid swipe trying to relieve the pressure then Bopara appears very unlucky to have been given out edging behind. 


    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • 53-1 - England v South Africa
    A pulled four from Cook off has eased a little bit of pressure that was building up. They're ticking along at just over four an over after 14 overs, although Cook is somewhat stuck on 16 off 40 balls.


    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • 31-1 England v South Africa
    Seven overs gone and England have lost Ian Bell, perishing on the attack. England's plan appears to be: look for runs against any bowler who isn't Dale Steyn. Quite sensible really.

    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • 1-0 - England v South Africa
    The players are back out and this time Cook survives the first over. No swing for Steyn yet. 

    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • 211 all out - England v South Africa
    James Anderson finishes things off with two in two, first clean bowling Morne Morkel and then trapping Lonwabo Tsotsobe LBW. James Anderson finishes with 4-44 and Jade Dernbach 3-44 and England will really fancy their chances of squaring the series. 

    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • 211 all out - England v South Africa
    James Anderson finishes things off with two in two, first clean bowling Morne Morkel and then trapping Lonwabo Tsotsobe LBW. James Anderson finishes with 4-44 and Jade Dernbach 3-44 and England will really fancy their chances of squaring the series. 

    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    James Anderson strikes in his first over back, getting one to hold its line and take out Dale Steyn's offstump. England will be very happy with chasing anything under 250, and South Africa are 204-8 with five overs to go. 

    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • 198-7 - England v South Africa
    South Africa crawling along with seven overs left. They'll probably be happy with 250 - but that seems a long way off right now as James Anderson comes back into the attack. 

    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    After a 40-run partnership between JP Duminy and Robin Peterson, Duminy falls trying to up the run rate. He came down the pitch to James Tredwell but lifted him straight to Bell at long-on. SA 195-7 in the 42nd over. 

    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    After two edges from Parnell fly past where a slip should have been, Dernbach gets one to tickle the edge and Kieswetter takes the edge. England well on top here, 155-6. 

    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Jade Dernbach gets a wicket with the best delivery of the day, Dean Elgar failing to pick up a slower ball out of the back of Dernbach's hand and is bowled. Elgar goes for a go-slow 42 and it's 141-5.

    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - Lancashire v Durham
    Colingwood bowled Croft off the inside edge attempting to cut for 114, his first hundred since the middle of last season.  Durham are 386 for eight, a lead of 124. There could an awkward hour or so ahead for Lancs batsmen if Onions is on form>

    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    England have their second wicket in five balls. Du Plessis walks across his stumps and Ravi Bopara takes his leg stump out. Bopara, in his 7th over, has bowled very well. South Africa 122-4 and in a spot of bother. Duminy the new man in. 

    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    South Africa's three best batsmen are all gone after AB De Villiers launches James Tredwell towards the stands, but falls short and Ian Bell takes the catch. De Villiers will be angry with himself but he's gone for 28 and South Africa are 121-3.

    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket and Landmark - Lancashire v Durham
    Yet another supremely professional century by Collingwood. Meanwhile Borthwick is out, caught by Chapple off Keedy for 60. Only two bowling bonus points for Lancs, who look set to get seven in total from this match. They need more. Durham 365-7.  

    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    It's the biggy: Jade Dernbach gets one to nip back and it finds the gap between Amla's bat and pads. Amla's gone for 43 and SA are 73-2. England will sense their chance here, but can they take it?

    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • 70-1 - England v South Africa
    After 15 overs England have kept a check on South Africa on a very good pitch for batting, but with Amla there on 41* South Africa will be very content. 

    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Graeme Smith falls, and it's ungainly. He shuffles down the wicket to Anderson and attempts to whack him over mid-wicket but misses it and he's bowled. He goes for 18 and it's 50-1 with Amla on a serene 31.

    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • 44-0 - England v South Africa
    44-0 after 8 and South Africa are already looking ominous. Amla has cruised to 31, while Anderson's and Finn's lines have been a little awry.

    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • 12-0 - England v South Africa
    After three overs and the signs are that Amla is starting off where he last left off at The Oval - 311 not out. Anderson getting a little movement with no luck - the story of his summer.

    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • Teams - England v South Africa
    Tredwell in for Swann, Dernbach for Bresnan for Eng, plus Steyn in for Maclaren. Eng: Cook, Bell, Trott, Bopara, Morgan, Kieswetter, Patel, Tredwell, Finn, Anderson, Dernbach SA: Smith, Amla, Duminy, Elgar, de Villiers, du Plessis, Parnell, Peterson, Steyn, Morkel, Tsotsobe

    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • TOSS - England v South Africa
    South Africa win the toss again and will bat again. The surface looks great for batting - it is The Oval after all. 

    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • Glamorgan v Northamptonshire
    Sunny day at Cardiff but we could be in for a dull day's cricket. Resuming on 10-0 in reply to Northants' 432-8 dec Glamorgan have moved on to 25-0 in the opening six overs.

    31/08/2012 (262 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - Worcestershire v Middlesex
    Middlesex are 241-5 at tea. Neil Dexter has hit a fine unbeaten 82, which has helped the side recover from a nervy 61 for 3. Gareth Berg is not out on 30 but, with the new ball only three overs away, a first innings deficit is still a possibility.

    30/08/2012 (263 days old) | Read more
  • Root the man to take Strauss's Test place: Gillespie
    By Graham Hardcastle
    Jason Gillespie has backed Joe Root to take over from Andrew Strauss at the top of England’s order in Test cricket.

    30/08/2012 (263 days old) | Read more
  • England plan county Ashes warm-up
    By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent
    England are lining up a match against county opposition next season as a warm-up to the Ashes series.

    29/08/2012 (264 days old) | Read more
  • Andrew Strauss retires from all cricket
    As expected, Andrew Strauss has stepped down as England Test captain and has also retired from all forms of cricket. Alastair Cook replaces him as Test captain. 

    29/08/2012 (264 days old) | Read more
  • Strauss set to quit as captain
    Andrew Strauss looks likely to step down as England Test captain today, bringing to a end one of the most successful eras in English cricket.

    29/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • Result - England v South Africa
    Morne Morkel wraps things up, Samit Patel the last to fall for 45 and SA win by 80 runs. South Africa have dominated with bat, ball and in the field and the win rarely looked in doubt. They move to the top of the ODI rankings, with the next ODI on Friday.

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • 204-9 - England v South Africa
    First Finn gets Morkel for three fours in one over and then Patel smashes Peterson for 4,6,4. Bit of fun at the end. Partnership is 35 from 15 balls so far.

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    James Anderson is the 9th man down, setting off too late and being run out after good work from AB de Villiers throwing it to the bowler's end. 170-9.

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • 166-8 - England v South Africa
    England have at least managed to outscore Kevin Pietersen, who made 163 for Surrey today. Anderson and Patel are playing as if they can get their in singles ... 13 overs to go, 121 needed to win.

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Make it three wickets in six balls. Swann goes the same way as Bresnan, driving loosely and edging behind. 159-8.

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    And just two balls later Bresnan goes, edging Parnell behind to De Villiers. 159-7 and we might see Samit Patel give it some welly now.

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Eoin Morgan pulls Duminy straight to deep midwicket and England's chances are evaporating. It was a scratchy 27 from Morgan and England are 159-6.

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • 146-5 - England v South Africa
    30 overs complete and England are just over half-way through their chase. Morgan and Patel have put on 28 runs at just over four an over but they're going to need to up the tempo soon. South Africa won't be at all worried yet.

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Dean Elgar takes a wicket with his 3rd ball, and Craig Kieswetter is the victim. He edges behind, the ball bouncing up off AB de Villiers to Graeme Smith at slip. 118-5 and Samit Patel is in.

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    After a couple of nicely timed fours, Ravi Bopara smacks a Peterson long hot straight to du Plessis at extra cover and he's gone for 16. 90-4 and two new batsmen at the crease.

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    England in a bit of bother as Bell, who had looked at his best, is bowled by Peterson for 45. 77-3.

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Dean Elgar takes a fantastic catch on the square-leg boundary and Trott is gone for 23. Elgar had started to run in to take the catch but it was going over him, so he turned and took it diving over his shoulder. 64-2. Bopara in, and under pressure.

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • 54-1 - England v South Africa
    England have made 54 from the powerplay and will be happy with that. It's time for spin, with Peterson coming on to try and halt Bell's charge.

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • 36-1 - England v South Africa
    England have recovered well from the early loss of Cook, with Bell looking in excellent touch. Seven overs gone and Morkel is into the attack.

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    What a start for South Africa. Lonwabo Tsotsobe produces an unplayable yorker second ball and Alastair Cook goes without scoring. 0-1.

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • 287-5 - England v South Africa
    Hashim Amla's world-class 150 has left England with a very difficult run chase at the innings break. The next highest scores was Graeme Smith witha scratchy 52, which says a lot about the nature of this pitch and the nature of Amla's innings.

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Graeme Swann bowls AB de Villiers, bringing to an end a bright innings of 28. England will be glad to see the back of him and it's 230-4 with 38 balls left in the innings.

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • 211-3 - England v South Africa
    Amla brings up a lovely, crisp century in the 41st over. It's his 10th in ODIs and he and AB de Villiers are well positioned to use the remaining nine overs to set a really big score for a slow pitch,

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • 195-3 - England v South Africa
    AB de Villiers, as expected, is looking busy as he looks to lead his team to at least 270 with 12 overs left. Amla still there on 91.

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Graeme Swann bowls Dean Elgar after keeping him tied down with three dot balls. 165 for 3 and England will be right back in this if they can remove AB de Villiers early.

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • 153-2 - England v South Africa
    Cook rotating his bowlers in a bid to find a wicket here, but he must be quite pleased that AB de Villiers is unlikely to see more than 15 overs ...

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Embarrassing run out for South Africa. Hashim Amla thinks he's beaten Anderson at square leg and sets off for a run but Anderson has gathered the ball. Duminy sacrifices himself and England have another breakthrough. 121-2.

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • 118-1 - England v South Africa
    Amla brings up his fifty from 54 balls, and he's carried his Test form into the one-dayers.

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • 101-1 - England v South Africa
    Hundred up for South Africa, who have batted well on a slow pitch. Anything about 280 on this pitch will be a very tricky chase.

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Graeme Smith goes for 52, hitting one straight up in the air and Kieswetter takes the catch over his shoulder. It's Bresnan with the much-needed breakthrough. 89 for 1 after 19.2.

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • 86-0 - England v South Africa
    Graeme Smith brings up a mixed-bag fifty but he's starting to look set for a big one here. England getting desperate for a couple of wickets.

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • 65-0 - England v South Africa
    Spin from both ends from Swann and Patel, but after 13 overs Smith and Amla are looking as comfortable as you can be on a pitch offering a turn for the spinners and a little movement for the seamers.

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • 47-0 - England v South Africa
    Bresnan finds the edges of both Amla's and Smith's bats in his first over but the ball flies through vacant 2nd and 3rd slips. England could do with a wicket here - 47-0 off 9.

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • 8-0 - England v South Africa
    England have kept it quiet in the first four overs, with Jimmy Anderson and Steven Finn making things difficult for Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla. A bit of movement, but the decision to bat first looks a good one.

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • Team news - England v South Africa
    Patel for  Woakes is the only change for England from Cardiff. Eng: Cook, Bell, Trott, Bopara, Morgan, Kieswetter, Patel, Bresnan, Swann, Anderson, Finn.  SA: Smith, Amla, Elgar, de Villiers, Duminy, du Plessis, McLaren, Parnell, Peterson, M Morkel, Tsotsobe.

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • Toss - England v South Africa
    AB de Villiers has won the toss and will bat first. The weather is fine and looks good for the rest of the day so we should be able to get the series well underway.

    28/08/2012 (265 days old) | Read more
  • Result - England v South Africa
    It's all over at Cardiff I'm afraid. The rain is so heavy that the umpires have decided to call it off. Only 5.3 overs possible, and fingers crossed for the T20 Finals Day tomorrow. At least England are still No.1.

    24/08/2012 (269 days old) | Read more
  • 37-0 - England v South Africa
    The rain has started coming down heavily and the players are forces off. England 37-0 after 5.3 overs, with Ian Bell looking in particularly good touch with a couple of big sixes off Morne Morkel. 

    24/08/2012 (269 days old) | Read more
  • 1-0 - England v South Africa
    We have a completed over! Morkel completes the first over and England don't add to their score. The No.1-ranked ODI bowler, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, takes the ball at the other end. 

    24/08/2012 (269 days old) | Read more
  • 1-0 - England v South Africa
    After just one ball the players are taken off. It's only a bit of drizzle, so seems a little unnecessary. 

    24/08/2012 (269 days old) | Read more
  • England v South Africa
    The players are out, there are a few spots of rain but we have a game. England batting first, remember, and Morne Morkel starts with a wide. 24 overs a side. 

    24/08/2012 (269 days old) | Read more
  • England v South Africa
    We have another new start time of 3pm, and let's hope the rain stays away this time. 24 overs a side. 

    24/08/2012 (269 days old) | Read more
  • England v South Africa
    You were probably expecting this: the rain has once again returned and the covers are on. 

    24/08/2012 (269 days old) | Read more
  • England v South Africa
    One again the start time has been pushed back, this time to 1.45. 

    24/08/2012 (269 days old) | Read more
  • Rain - England v South Africa
    The good news: we are to have a 1.15pm start. The bad news: it will probably rain again. 

    24/08/2012 (269 days old) | Read more
  • Rain - England v South Africa
    The rain has returned unfortunately, so there will be no 12.45 start. 3.31pm is the cut-off time for play to start. 

    24/08/2012 (269 days old) | Read more
  • Rain - England v South Africa
    Good news: play to start again at 12.45 if there is no further rain. Keep those fingers crossed. 

    24/08/2012 (269 days old) | Read more
  • Rain - England v South Africa
    The drizzle keeps stopping and starting, and the umpires keep going in and out. Very frustrating, although we are in a 'no rain' period at the moment. 

    24/08/2012 (269 days old) | Read more
  • Rain - England v South Africa
    Still raining in Cardiff unfortunately. Real shame, and let's hope it isn't like this for the FLt20 Finals Day tomorrow. 

    24/08/2012 (269 days old) | Read more
  • England v South Africa
    Right on cue it's started raining, with the covers coming on. 

    24/08/2012 (270 days old) | Read more
  • Toss - England v South Africa
    South Africa have won the toss at Cardiff and have put England in. England XI: Cook, Bell, Trott, Bopara, Morgan, Kieswetter, Bresnan, Woakes, Swann, Finn, Anderson. Sten rested for South Africa. 

    24/08/2012 (270 days old) | Read more
  • England selections bittersweet for Notts
    By Dave Bracegirdle
    Nottinghamshire will provide a third of England’s ICC World Cup t20 squad with Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Samit Patel, Alex Hales and Michael Lumb all included in the

    21/08/2012 (272 days old) | Read more
  • Lumb earns reward for "long road back"
    By Dave Bracegirdle
    Nottinghamshire’s Michael Lumb is relishing the prospect of returning to the international fold after being included in England’s t20 squads for the

    21/08/2012 (272 days old) | Read more
  • Bopara to guest for Gloucestershire
    By Richard Latham
    Ravi Bopara will play for Gloucestershire as a guest in tomorrow’s one-day match against the South Africans at Bristol.

    21/08/2012 (272 days old) | Read more
  • Kevin Pietersen left out by England
    Kevin Pietersen will not be playing for England in the World Twenty20 after he was omitted from the 15-man squad which will play three T20s against South Africa next month before heading to Sri Lanka.

    21/08/2012 (273 days old) | Read more
  • The Analyst - Simon Hughes
    The Olympics had a telling effect on that run-out. The batsmen thought the ball was going for four but the ball slowed in the repaired turf from the archery.

    20/08/2012 (273 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Extraordinary wicket. Taylor is run out trying to go for a fourth run, Trott doesn't move though. Gooch has his head in his hands on the balcony. 45-4.

    20/08/2012 (273 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    South Africa claim an early breakthrough, Bell gone without adding to his overnight 4. He played at a wide one from Philander and Smith takes the catch at slip. 34-3.

    20/08/2012 (273 days old) | Read more
  • 16 for 2 - England v South Africa
    Spits and spots about at Lord's and the floodlights are on. The ground is less than half full ... perhaps if Bell and Trott survive to lunch we might have a few more popping along.

    20/08/2012 (273 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    The dogged partnership finally comes to an end, Philander hitting a wide one straight to Bairstow at backward point. A glimmer for England?

    19/08/2012 (274 days old) | Read more
  • 336-7 - England v South Africa
    Second fifty partnership of the match between Duminy and Philander and, with the lead at 330, you feel the game is beyond England now despite their best efforts today.

    19/08/2012 (274 days old) | Read more
  • 314-7 - England v South Africa
    It's Steven Finn and Graeme Swann with the bowling duties after tea. Finn needs to produce more of his magic.

    19/08/2012 (274 days old) | Read more
  • Tea - England v South Africa
    South Africa have a lead of 300 at tea after a fascinating session. It seemed to getting away from England but Finn's seven-over burst removed Amla, De Villiers and Rudolph has given them hope.

    19/08/2012 (274 days old) | Read more
  • England - England v South Africa
    300 up for South Africa and Vernon Philander is once again showing how handy he is with the bat. England need these last three wickets sharpish.

    19/08/2012 (274 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Steven Finn is rampant, taking the edge of Rudolph's bat and Prior takes the catch. 282-7 and England are still in this match. Vernon Philander, who made an excellent 61 in the first innings, is in.

    19/08/2012 (274 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Finns on fire. Again he gets it to straighten up the slope, taking the edge of De Villiers' bat and Strauss takes the catch. De Villiers gone for 43 and the lead is 262. Things getting interesting.

    19/08/2012 (274 days old) | Read more
  • 259-5 - England v South Africa
    Amla goes for a a brilliant 121. He was starting to look immoveable but Finn gets one to straighten and take the top of his off stump. Do England have a sniff here?

    19/08/2012 (274 days old) | Read more
  • England - England v South Africa
    South Africa's lead passes 250. Amla is looking formidable while De Villiers has made a further 32 runs since he was dropped by Anderson. The new ball not working for England so far.

    19/08/2012 (274 days old) | Read more
  • 222-4 - England v South Africa
    Hasim Amla's first four of the day takes him to another wonderful hundred. There are few better batsmen in world cricket at the moment.

    19/08/2012 (274 days old) | Read more
  • England - England v South Africa
    Players are out, and England will need quick wickets with the new ball  in three overs to have any chance in this match.

    19/08/2012 (274 days old) | Read more
  • Essex won the toss - Essex v Netherlands
    Ravi Bpara plays for Essex, his first game for almost a month.

    19/08/2012 (274 days old) | Read more
  • England v South Africa
    Play is set to resume at 1.55 as the clouds drift away. Just 3.2 overs til the crucial new ball.

    19/08/2012 (274 days old) | Read more
  • Lunch - England v South Africa
    It's raining so the players are coming off five minutes early. Big morning for South Africa, adding 71 runs to their overnight score with the loss of only Steyn. England have bowled well but De Villiers and, in particular, Amla have been excellent.

    19/08/2012 (274 days old) | Read more
  • 214-4 - England v South Africa
    As the lights come on due to some threatening clouds, Amla and De Villiers bring up their fifty partnership. Amla on 92, with five overs to the new ball.

    19/08/2012 (274 days old) | Read more
  • 203-4 - England v South Africa
    200 up for South Africa. It's been enthralling this morning but South Africa are on top. A few leading edges and plays and misses but Amla and De Villiers are looking to up the run rate.

    19/08/2012 (274 days old) | Read more
  • 195-4 - England v South Africa
    Swann tries coming around the wicket to Amla and Amla attacks him, getting lucky when trying to go over mid off but the ball lands safely.

    19/08/2012 (274 days old) | Read more
  • England - England v South Africa
    De Villiers has a huge let off, Anderson dropping him at short midwicket off Swann. De Villiers was on 8 - how much will that cost England?

    19/08/2012 (274 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    After all the effort Anderson put in to trying to bounce Steyn out, Broad comes along and does it in his first over. Steyn fends to Taylor at short leg for 9 and South Africa are 164-4.

    19/08/2012 (274 days old) | Read more
  • 149-3 - England v South Africa
    Five overs gone and Finn is giving Amla all sorts of problems with pace and bounce, and has been unlucky not to find his edge. England have started well, although Anderson is overdoing the bouncers to nightwatchman Dale Steyn.

    19/08/2012 (274 days old) | Read more
  • England - England v South Africa
    In a summer of few Test highlights, this match is turning into a true belter. A chase of around 280 would probably be perfect for those of you who enjoy their drama.

    19/08/2012 (274 days old) | Read more
  • England - England v South Africa
    It's another glorious morning at Lord's. South Africa will feel they can bat England out of the game today but England won't give away their No.1 status without a fight. All of which equals another fascinating day in prospect. 

    19/08/2012 (275 days old) | Read more
  • Late wicket keeps England in the hunt
    South Africa ended the day with a lead of 139 and seven wickets intact but Steven Finn's late removal of Jacques Kallis means the game - and the series - is still in the balance.

    18/08/2012 (275 days old) | Read more
  • Close - England v South Africa
    South Africa finish the day with a lead of 139, but that big wicket of Kallis will have lifted England. Tomorrow's morning session will prove crucial, and England will need to get Hashim Amla early tomorrow. SA 145-3.

    18/08/2012 (275 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Out of nowhere England have a wicket. Kallis beaten for pace by Finn and he goes LBW for 31. Kallis reviewed immediately, but the decision remains with no evidence that he hit it. Kallis not happy. 131-3.

    18/08/2012 (275 days old) | Read more
  • 130-2 - England v South Africa
    Things are tough out there for England. They've bowled well but Amla and Kallis have looked in control. Eight overs left in the day and a wicket or two is desperately needed.

    18/08/2012 (275 days old) | Read more
  • 100-2 - England v South Africa
    A thick edge from Amla down to the third man boundary brings up the fifty partnership. They're looking increasingly comfortable out there.

    18/08/2012 (275 days old) | Read more
  • 70-2 - England v South Africa
    After 30 overs South Africa have moved into a 64-run lead. Once again it's absorbing, but slow-going. Kallis is trying to attack Swann and it's a fascinating tussle.

    18/08/2012 (275 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Broad traps Petersen LBW two balls after Prior dropped Amla down the leg-side. 50-2 and the crowd has woken up. Here comes Kallis, who has a torrid record at Lord's.

    18/08/2012 (275 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Graeme Swann has bowled well since tea and he gets his reward. Smith missed a sweep and is out LBW - he doesn't even bother reviewing. 46-1, with a lead of 40.

    18/08/2012 (275 days old) | Read more
  • 34-0 - England v South Africa
    Finn is getting some good pace for England and at the other end Swann is offering good control, with just enough turn to worry Smith.

    18/08/2012 (275 days old) | Read more
  • Tea - England v South Africa
    England haven't got much out of the pitch and South Africa have made it to tea with few alarms. 33-0.

    18/08/2012 (275 days old) | Read more
  • 24-0 - England v South Africa
    Swann on early for England, and it's a good ploy from Strauss as Broad looked a little flat. At the other end Anderson is bowling as well as ever but he's having no assistance in the air.

    18/08/2012 (275 days old) | Read more
  • 12-0 - England v South Africa
    Tight stuff from Anderson and Broad after five overs but the ball isn't doing much. Petersen survived a big lbw shout from Broad (they're always big from Broad) but he'd edged it onto his pads. You have to think it's now or never for England.

    18/08/2012 (275 days old) | Read more
  • 315 all out - England v South Africa
    A fighty last-wicket partnership comes to an end as Duminy takes a simple catch after Finn mistimed a cover drive. England's bowlers will know the series will depend on how well they bowl today.

    18/08/2012 (275 days old) | Read more
  • 312-9 - England v South Africa
    An entertaining, battling 10th-wicket partnership from Swann and Finn has given England the lead at Lord's. It was greeted with an almighty raw, and some got to their feet to applaud.

    18/08/2012 (275 days old) | Read more
  • 303-9 - England v South Africa
    Steven Finn audaciously pulls Dale Steyn for four after he came around the wicket. Steyn is peppering him but Finn playing him well. 300 up for England, and it looks like the match and series will come down to a one-innings contest.

    18/08/2012 (275 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Steyn sees off Anderson in the first over after lunch with a short ball that Anderson can only fend to Rudolph in the slips. 

    18/08/2012 (275 days old) | Read more
  • Lunch - England v South Africa
    South Africa's session. They've taken three wickets, including Bairstow for 95, and England have added 69 runs. They still trail by 32 with Swann and Anderson at the crease.

    18/08/2012 (275 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Jonny Bairstow falls five short of his century, bowled by Morne Morkel as he tried to play it to leg. A wonderful innings, but he'll be gutted. South Africa have bowled very well to him today.

    18/08/2012 (275 days old) | Read more
  • 264-7 - England v South Africa
    Swann given out LBW to Steyn but reviews it after some deliberation. He'll be glad he did as Hawkeye says the ball would have bounced over, and Swann survives. 264-7 and Bairstow is rather stuck in the 90s.

    18/08/2012 (275 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Another soft dismissal for England, Broad giving Amla an easy catch at short-leg. He tried to turn Steyn around the corner but could only deflect it straight to the fielder. 252-7

    18/08/2012 (275 days old) | Read more
  • 243-6 - England v South Africa
    It's drinks, and England have made 35 from the first hour with the loss of Matt Prior. The ball isn't doing a lot but Philander and Steyn are making life difficult. Bairstow is 6 short of a maiden Test century, Broad on 8.

    18/08/2012 (275 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Philander strikes immediately with the new ball. The Lord's window might be in danger as that's a poor shot from Prior, edging a wide one (how many times have we said that) to slip. He's gone for 27 and it's 221-6.

    18/08/2012 (275 days old) | Read more
  • 221-5 - England v South Africa
    After a gentle eight overs now comes the real contest: the new ball.

    18/08/2012 (275 days old) | Read more
  • Essex v Glamorgan
    Good progress by the Glamorgan openers who have added 22 runs in the first 5 overs of the day including three boundaries for Nick James in one Maurice Chambers over. 38-0 James 19, Bragg 19

    18/08/2012 (275 days old) | Read more
  • England v South Africa
    Morning from Lord's, where it's scorching. Wonderful day in prospect, with England 101 runs behind but the day looks a belter for batting. Jonny Bairstow is 28 runs short of a maiden Test hundred and it's only eight overs to the new ball. Game on.

    18/08/2012 (276 days old) | Read more
  • Bairstow knock saves England's day
    Jonny Bairstow's unbeaten 72 rescued England on another absorbing day at Lord's, leaving the match delicately poised. South Africa lead by 101 runs but Matt Prior and Bairstow will resume tomorrow morning on 209 for 5.

    17/08/2012 (276 days old) | Read more
  • England v South Africa
    @cricketanalyst: the South Africans overdid the short ball to Bairstow and now they are a little weary

    17/08/2012 (276 days old) | Read more
  • Parsons tips Woakes for Test selection
    By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent
    Warwickshire all-rounder Chris Woakes has been tipped to make the step up to Test level by the England and Wales Cricket Board’s performance director David Parsons.

    17/08/2012 (276 days old) | Read more
  • 76-4 - England v South Africa
    Ian Bell survives a review. Imran Tahir hit him on the pads, Taufel gives him not out and is proved right by the 3rd umpire. Hits him just outside the line and only clipping the stumps. Bell moves to a patient 14.

    17/08/2012 (276 days old) | Read more
  • 76-4 - England v South Africa
    Time for a bit of legspin with Imran Tahir replacing Jacques Kallis. Bell and Bairstow looking to play a few more shots now with Morkel and Steyn off.

    17/08/2012 (276 days old) | Read more
  • 64-4 - England v South Africa
    England have struggled for runs with Jonny Bairstow taking 13 balls to get off the mark after a going over from Morkel. Ian Bell clips up one through midwicket for the first boundary in eight overs to release a bit of pressure.

    17/08/2012 (276 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket- England v South Africa
    This has been a disastrous hour after lunch for England. James Taylor is the third wicket since lunch, edging Morne Morkel behind to Graeme Smith for 10. 54 for 4 and here comes Jonny Bairstow. Let's not forget though, SA were also 54-4.

    17/08/2012 (276 days old) | Read more
  • 50-3 - England v South Africa
    England bring up the fifty with plenty of rebuilding to do. Not a lot of movement but Dale Steyn is storming in, causing problems for James Taylor. A lovely punch through the covers will give him confidence though.

    17/08/2012 (276 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Cook unnecessarily chases a wide one from Steyn and edges behind, Kallis taking the catch. That's 2 wickets for 1 run in 4 balls from Steyn and England are in real trouble. James Taylor next in. 39-3

    17/08/2012 (276 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Dales Steyn gets an early breakthrough, angling one into Trott's pads. It's given not out but the decision is overturned on review. 38-2.

    17/08/2012 (276 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Morne Morkel strikes in the last over before lunch, beating Andrew Strauss for pace and crashing into the stumps. The captain goes for 20. After getting past 300 and taking that wicket South Africa will be very pleased with their morning.

    17/08/2012 (276 days old) | Read more
  • 23-0 - England v South Africa
    After 7 overs England have made a steady start. Cook and Strauss have both edged short of the slips off Philander, who has been excellent, but they both seem to have settled early.

    17/08/2012 (276 days old) | Read more
  • The Analyst - England v South Africa
    Simon Hughes: England must get a lead of 100 minimum to have chance of winning this match.

    17/08/2012 (276 days old) | Read more
  • 309 all out - England v South Africa
    Matt Prior stumps Vernon Philander off Graeme Swann and that's that. Philander, 61, played a blinder, pushing South Africa to a decent total. England will be pretty happy, although it could have been a whole lot better at one stage.

    17/08/2012 (276 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Finn picks up his 4th wicket of the innings, and it's a rank wide delivery that's done it. Morkel bursts some veins chasing it only to nick it behind. Prior takes it one-handed and that's his 5th catch of the innings. 307-9

    17/08/2012 (276 days old) | Read more
  • 291-8 - England v South Africa
    South Africa are playing their shots, but it's swinging about a lot. Openers Strauss and Cook probably won't like the look of that from slip.

    17/08/2012 (276 days old) | Read more
  • Rankin to make Ireland farewell at World T20
    By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent
    Warwickshire pace bowler Boyd Rankin will make his farewell appearance for Ireland in next month’s ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.

    17/08/2012 (276 days old) | Read more
  • 276-8 - England v South Africa
    Vernon Philander brings up his fifty from 75 balls and it's been an excellent innings. The South Africans told us he can bat, and they were right.

    17/08/2012 (276 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket- England v South Africa
    Stuart Broad gets the early breakthrough, getting Dale Steyn to swing at one the moved away. Swann gobbles it in the slips. Steyn gone for 26, SA 270-8.

    17/08/2012 (276 days old) | Read more
  • Essex v Glamorgan
    Tom Westley finds the boundary three times in the first 8 balls of the day to reach his century. Essex 178-0.

    17/08/2012 (276 days old) | Read more
  • England v South Africa
    Steven Finn opens up under heavy skies. His three-wicket burst yesterday hid what was an up and down display from him. James Anderson, the pick of the bowlers, is at the other end.

    17/08/2012 (276 days old) | Read more
  • Result - England Lions v Australia A
    As expected...match abandoned as a draw here

    17/08/2012 (276 days old) | Read more
  • England Lions v Australia A
    It's dried up a bit at Edgbaston but there is no mopping up going on. A couple of Australia A players have emerged from the pavilion and are kicking an Aussie Rules football around on the outfield but that is all the activity we have seen so far

    17/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • England v South Africa
    It's cloudy at Lord's and, when the wind drops, rather clammy. Quick wickets are the order of the day for England, with South Africa aiming for the psychological goal of 300. Should be a tasty one.

    17/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • England Lions v Australia A
    Grey and damp at Edgbaston and there is more chance of Andrew Strauss getting a Christmas card from Kevin Pietersen than there is of any play on the last day here. The umpires have had an early inspection in their civvies and with further rain forecast an early call-off looks likely

    17/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • Onions' tour aim after denying himself all ten
    By Tim Wellock
    Graham Onions had few regrets about denying himself the chance of all ten wickets in an innings by running out Nottinghamshire’s Luke Fletcher.

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - England Lions v Australia A
    No more play today here and a pretty grim forecast for tomorrow

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • England's seamers edge the first day
    England kept a tentative grip on their No.1 status in the Test rankings after restricting South Africa to 262 for 7 with a mixed bowling display

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • 262-7 - England v South Africa
    Bad light has taken the teams off with SA 262-7. Apologies for the lack of updates in the last 15 minutes, but there's been a power cut at Lord's. Report to follow ...

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • England Lions v Australia A
    Bad light stopped play here with England Lions on 240-5. Kieswetter on 112 and Woakes on 48. The umpires took the players off when Johnson was recalled at the City End. Spectators in a sparse crowd not happy.

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Anderson strikes in the first over with the new ball. Duminy will be kicking himself though, reaching for a wide one and edging it behind for Prior's 4th catch. Top knock for 61, awful dismissal. 235-7.

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • 235-6 - England v South Africa
    New ball taken by England are they were getting desperate for it. Big 10 overs to come with South Africa desperate to bat out the day and England desperate not to waste their excellent start.

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - England Lions v Australia A
    Craig Kieswetter has raced to his century from 116 balls with 16 fours and a six

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • 223-6 - England v South Africa
    Five overs until the new ball so it's time for some more Jonathan Trott ... and he nearly bowls Philander first ball after it pitches back and bounces through the gate.

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - England Lions v Australia A
    A 100 stand at a run-a-ball between Kieswetter and Woakes. The Lions now 199-5 and Australia looking a bit ragged

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • England Lions v Australia A
    Kieswetter has raced from 71 to 85 in the first over after tea from Jackson Bird with two cover-driven fours and a leg-side six

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • 213-6 - England v South Africa
    Fifty for Duminy, who has ticked along nicely. He's also brought up South Africa's third successive 50 partnership and England will be itching for the new ball.

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • 201-6 - England v South Africa
    With 20 overs remaining in the day South Africa have recovered from 54-4 to crawl up to to 201-6. England look a little bereft of ideas, although Philander is struggling with the short stuff ... but surviving.

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • 197-6 - England v South Africa
    England finding it hard to keep Philander on strike as he keeps picking up singles with ease. Struggling to exert any real pressure.

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - England Lions v Australia A
    It's nearer to supper time than tea at Edgbaston. England Lions are 176-5 with Kieswetter unbetaen on 71 and Woakes on 26. They have added 77 so far in just 14 overs

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • 192-6 - England v South Africa
    Vernon Philander has upped the run-rate since he came in, scoring at a run a ball and looking to take on the bowlers. Swann is finding a bit more turn from the pavilion end but Duminy is playing him well.

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - England Lions v Australia A
    England Lions 150 up in the 44th over and also a 50 stand for the 6th wicket between Kieswetter and local boy Chris Woakes

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - England Lions v Australia A
    Craig Kieswetter has reached 50 from 80 balls with eight fours. England Lions now 137-5

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    How did Rudolph miss that? After batting so diligently he looks to knock a ball from Swann to mid-wicket but can only inside-edge it onto the stumps. That's a bonus for England and Swann has his tail up. 163-6.

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • England Lions v Australia A
    The floodlights have been switched on at Edgbaston at the request of the umpires. Warwickshire cannot use them for championship matches because of restrictions on the amount of floodlit cricket they can stage. But they have to have them available for these matches which are played under Test Match conditions

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England Lions v Australia A
    Ben Stokes's skittish innings has come to an end. Caught behind pulling Jackson Bird. He was through the shot early.

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • Tea - England v South Africa
    It's been slow-going but South Africa have recovered well this session. Just the one wicket has fallen and Duminy and, in particular, Rudolph, have looked very solid. But England are just one wicket away from the tail.

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • 131-5 - England v South Africa
    England keeping things tight without causing too many alarms. Rudolph and Duminy are playing sensibly, battling to push South Africa to a respectable score. One more wicket for England and they're through to the tail.

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • England Lions v Australia A
    Ben Stokes is playing skittishly but the Lions have recovered to 79-4

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • 113-5 - England v South Africa
    Rudolph coping far better with Swann than he did with Pietersen at Headingley and he's ticking along very patiently.

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    De Villiers goes to a top catch from Cook at 3rd slip off Anderson. It's been a sedate session but Anderson has been lively since coming on. The 51-run partnership is broken and SA in trouble at 105-5.

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • England Lions v Australia A
    Play is due to resume at 3pm at Edgbaston. There are 58 overs remaining. Looks like we are in for a late finish.

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • 103-4 - England v South Africa
    England so close to their fifth wicket after reviewing an LBW decision against De Villiers from Anderson. The impact was marginally outside the line and De Villiers has an escape on 27. He and Rudolph have brought up their 50 partnership.

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • 87-4 - England v South Africa
    Graeme Swann into the attack for the first time today after Broad looked like he'd lost some of his pre-lunch zip. Swann will have a point to prove here ...

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • England Lions v Australia A
    No play since lunch at Edgbatson. The sun is shiningb but a lot of rain fell in 30 minutes and it's taking a lot of mopping up. The umpires are out having a look now though

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • England v South Africa
    Quite a sedate start to the afternoon session, with Broad and Finn not causing de Villiers and Rudolph too many problems. Ball not nibbling about as much as before lunch.

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • England v South Africa
    After a 15-minute delay the players are back out. Tea has been pushed back to 3.55 and the weather forecast is decent for the rest of the day.

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • England Lions v Australia A
    Still raining at Edgbaston so there will be a delayed start. We've got the familiar sight at this ground this season of syncronised water hogging to keep us entertained

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - Hampshire v Northants
    Having resumed on 170-5, Northants have had the better of the morning at West End, reaching 235-6 at lunch thanks to an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 63 between David Murphy (27no) and James Middlebrook, who has faced 129 balls for his unbeaten 52.

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • England Lions v Australia A
    The lunchtime shower has proved to be heavier than expected. It rained very heavily for five minutes and the wind also got up making it difficult for the groundstaff to drag on the sheets to covers the bowler's run up at the City End

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - England Lions v Australia A
    The Lions are 55-4 from 20 overs at lunch. Very much Australia's morning. It's started to rain again just as the players are leaving the field but there is plenty of blue sky around

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - England v South Africa
    A session of top bowling, controversy and a degree of luck for England. South Africa won the toss but they've lost four wickets and de Villiers, Rudolph and Duminy have a rescue mission on their hands. 65-4.

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England Lionsv Australia A
    The Lions have slipped to 53-4 with Samit Patel going LBW to Jackson Bird for 2 and Eoin Morgan being bowled off bail by Nathan Coulter-Nile for 12.

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    Finn gets his 3rd and it's controversial. Kallis gloves one behind but given not out. England review and the decision is overturned, despite Kallis's glove looking like it was off his bat. SA won't be happy. 54-4.

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    England on top. Finn gets his second of the over and this time it's a beauty, nipping off the top of Amla's off-stump. 50-3.

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    Finn has been a bit erratic this morning, but it's brought him a wicket. Finn bangs in one down the leg-side and Petersen can't help but fend at it and Prior takes a decent catch. Petersen goes for 22; 49-2.

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England Lions v Australia A
    Joe Root caught behind off Mitchell Johnson.  A leg side strangle which leaves the Lions on 38-2

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England Lions v Australia A
    Varun Chopra has gone for 10 on his home ground. He top edged a pull off Nathan Coulter-Nile to Liam Davis at square leg. Lions 30-1

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • England v South Africa
    England have bowled well in the first hour, Broad in particular probing away with intent. England waste a review in the final over before drinks, the ball going over after an LBW shout from Finn. Competitive. 27-1.

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • England Lions v Australia A
    Mitchell Johnson has tested out Joe Root with a short and rapid delivery which the England Lions opener played superbly. Lions 13-0 after 4 overs

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • Wicket - England v South Africa
    Smith goes for 14, caught behind off Anderson. Umpire gave it not out but England were convinced and hotspot shows a mark. Good bowling from Anderson, who moved to around the wicket.

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • England - England v South Africa
    Tight lines from Broad and Anderson so far this morning, but not quite as much movement as they would have liked.

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • England Lions v Australia A
    Australia A have declared at their overnight total of 308-9 so England Lions will be batting when play gets underway in ten minutes

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • England - England v South Africa
    James Anderson kicks things off with a probing over. Broad at the other end - can he recapture the form he belatedly showed at Headingley?

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • England Lions v Australia A
    Covers coming off at Edgbaston and play is due to start at 11.30

    16/08/2012 (277 days old) | Read more
  • England Lions v Australia A
    A heavy shower has swept in from the South West so we might have a delayed start at Edgbaston

    16/08/2012 (278 days old) | Read more
  • SA won the toss - England v South Africa
    Graeme Smith wins the toss and will bat. Steven Finn has kept his place and Tim Bresnan misses out, with Swann coming back in.

    16/08/2012 (278 days old) | Read more
  • England Lions v Australia A
    The streets around Edgbaston are still sopping we after yesterday's deluge but the groundstaff have mopped up and the teams are out there warming up.
    The umpires are having a precuationary inspection but we should get away on time or not far from it

    16/08/2012 (278 days old) | Read more
  • England - England v South Africa
    Good morning from Lord's, where the next five days will decide the fate of Test cricket's No.1 team. Clouds have arrived but it still seems a batting day. KP probably would have liked the look of the pitch ...

    16/08/2012 (278 days old) | Read more
  • England Lions v Australia A
    It's a delayed start at Edgbaston. We had a downpour about half an hour ago. It's dried up a bit since but it's dark and damp and no immediate prospect of play

    15/08/2012 (278 days old) | Read more
  • England Lions v Australia A
    It's just started raining at Edgbaston and the covers are going back on. The forecast is bleak and prospects of play for the second day are not good

    15/08/2012 (279 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - England Lions v Australia A
    Australia A 308 for nine. Harris six for 102 and Tredwell three for 35

    14/08/2012 (279 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England Lions v Australia A
    Six wickets for Harris now. He had Tim Paine caught down the leg side by Craig Kieswetter and has taken six in an innings for the first time since his second match for Glamorgan back in May 2007

    14/08/2012 (279 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - England Lions v Australia A
    50 for Australia A wicketkeeper Tim Paine from 69 balls with seven fours

    14/08/2012 (279 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England Lions v Australia A
    Burns has gone, bowled off stump by a beauty from Harris

    14/08/2012 (279 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - England Lions v Australia A
    Australia A 200 up in the 63rd over

    14/08/2012 (279 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England Lions v Australia A
    Tom Cooper caught behind for 5 off James Tredwell. Turned and bounced. The Lions have fought back

    14/08/2012 (279 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England Lions v Australia A
    Ed Cowan has gone LBW sweeping James Tredwell. He didn't like umpire Tim Robinson's decision and trudged off shaking his head. Australia A 186-4

    14/08/2012 (279 days old) | Read more
  • England Lions v Australia A
    Joe Burns has been dropped at second slip by Samit Patel off Chris Woakes who deserved a wicket on his home ground

    14/08/2012 (279 days old) | Read more
  • England Lions v Australia A
    Australia A 150 up in the 45th over. Cowan, who played for British Universities against Zimbabwe at Edgbaston in 2003, is unbeaten on 58.

    14/08/2012 (279 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England Lions v Australia A
    A breakthrough for England Lions at Edgbaston. Hughes has just driven Harris to Joe Root at cover. Gone for 51 and Harris has all three wickets

    14/08/2012 (279 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - England Lions v Australia A
    Ed Cowan 50 from 116 balls with foir fours and a top edged pulled six off James Harris. Australia A 135-2

    14/08/2012 (279 days old) | Read more
  • England Lions v Australia A
    Phil Hughes made an unbeaten 135 for Worcestershire here last week and he's enjoying himself back at Edgbaston having been drafted into the A team. He's 46 not out and has just taken two fours in an over off Harris

    14/08/2012 (279 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England Lions v Australia A
    Michael Klinger, who started the season with Worcestershire, has also gone LBW to Harris for 6. Australia A 42-2

    14/08/2012 (279 days old) | Read more
  • ..Australia A ... won the toss - England Lions v Australia A
    Australia A captain Ed Cowan has opted to bat first. The pitch is the same one that was used for last night's Warwickshire v Kent CB40 match. It was a green seamer then but it has had a trim this morning so should play better

    14/08/2012 (279 days old) | Read more
  • Cricket Diary: Yorkshire's wait, Surrey's stir
    By Richard Gibson
    Tim Bresnan is yet to be given clearance from England to play for Yorkshire in Twenty20 finals day – although he will be under family pressure to make sure he is available on August 25.

    11/08/2012 (282 days old) | Read more
  • Chopra set to make England Lions debut
    By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent
    Warwickshire batsman Varun Chopra is in line to make his England Lions debut against Australia A on his home ground next Tuesday.

    11/08/2012 (283 days old) | Read more
  • England Lions v Australia A
    There are a couple of England Lions squad changes for next week's second match at Edgbaston. Varun Chopra replaces Nick Compton and Ben Stokes comes in for Ravi Bopara. Matt Coles will rejoin the squad in Birmingham on Monday. 

    10/08/2012 (283 days old) | Read more
  • Result - England Lions v Australia A
    The match is drawn with Australia on 144-4 from 62 overs in their pursuit of 354. The two teams meet again at Edgbaston, starting on Tuesday. 

    10/08/2012 (283 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England Lions v Australia A
    Excellent catch! Bairstow clings on one-handed diving to his left to hand Stuart Meaker his first wicket, that of wicketkeeper Tim Paine for 17. 139-4 in the 60th. Is there a glimmer for the Lions as we approach the last hour?

    10/08/2012 (283 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - England Lions v Australia A
    50 for Michael Klinger off 108 balls with three fours and a six. 121-3 after 49 overs. 

    10/08/2012 (283 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England Lions v Australia A
    Cooper goes caught at silly point off Tredwell, although not by conventional means. The South Australian, who plays international cricket for the Netherlands, swept a ball into his boot and was caught by Patel. 101-3. 

    10/08/2012 (283 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - England Lions v Australia A
    Australia A go into the break at 83-2. Michael Klinger is 28 not out and Tom Cooper yet to score.  

    10/08/2012 (283 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - England Lions v Australia A
    The Lions have declared their second innings on 315-6 having posted 315 all out in the first. Spooky! With the Australians having made only 277 in their first innings, that means a target of 354 in the last 64 overs of the match.
     

    10/08/2012 (283 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England Lions v Australia A
    Chris Woakes is stumped off Holland's bowling for 17, 312-6 now. 

    10/08/2012 (283 days old) | Read more
  • England Lions v Australia A
    That is Forrest's maiden first-class wicket. 

    10/08/2012 (283 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - England Lions v Australia A
    Hundred off 135 balls with 17 fours for Bairstow. This innings could not have come at a better time with the Pietersen shenanigans continuing. If KP is left out by England for the third Test, the Yorkshire man has to be favourite to replace him. 199-4. 

    10/08/2012 (283 days old) | Read more
  • England Lions v Australia A
    Glorious weather at OT for the final day. The Lions, resuming on 158-3, have a lead of 196 with Jonny Bairstow unbeaten on 73. A bit of news for Somerset fans...Nick Compton is still struggling with his back spasms and is unlikely to bat. 

    10/08/2012 (283 days old) | Read more
  • Finn incident prompts new instruction
    By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent
    County umpires have been told not to call dead ball if a bowler breaks the wicket at the non-striker’s end in his delivery stride as England seamer Steven Finn did in the Headingley Test

    10/08/2012 (284 days old) | Read more
  • Close Of Play - England Lions v Australia A
    Australia A close on 127-1 from 39 overs of their first innings. Ed Cowan is 77 not out and Michael Klinger unbeaten on 36. In reply to 315, they are 188 runs behind heading into tomorrow's third day. 

    08/08/2012 (285 days old) | Read more
  • England Lions v Australia A
    With a little over 10 minutes of play left on day two, this has undoubtedly been Australia's day. Ed Cowan (72 no) and Michael Klinger (34 no) have so far added 103 for the second wicket in a score of 119-1 in the 37th over in reply to 315. 

    08/08/2012 (285 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - England Lions v Australia A
    Ed Cowan brings up 50 off 80 balls with six fours as the visitors move to 82-1 in the 25th. I have been surprised by Eoin Morgan's reluctance to bowl too much spin so far. Kerrigan and Tredwell have only just been paired together for 24th and 25th overs.

    08/08/2012 (285 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England Lions v Australia A
    Meaker traps Liam Davis lbw in the fourth over of the Aussies' first innings. 16-1

    08/08/2012 (285 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England Lions v Australia A
    Woakes falls eight short of a ton when he drives Johnson to a diving Jackson Bird at mid-off, the left-arm quick finishing with 4-47. The Lions have been bowled out for 315 on the stroke of tea, a score they will be delighted with having been 223-7.

    08/08/2012 (285 days old) | Read more
  • England Lions v Australia A
    Woakes is on course for an excellent hundred. With the introduction of Tom Cooper into the attack, the Warwickshire man has moved to 84. But, as I type, Cooper has forced Stuart Meaker to edge to first slip, leaving the score at 306-9. 

    08/08/2012 (285 days old) | Read more
  • England Lions v Australia A
    Woakes and Stuart Meaker are doing a good job by squeezing out the runs in their bid to get up beyond 300. With three spinners in the Lions side, it could be a very competitive total. 

    08/08/2012 (285 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England Lions v Australia A
    Mitchell Johnson sends Tredwell's stump cartwheeling to pick up his third wicket of the innings, leaving the score at 242-8. Had the Barmy Army been out in force at OT, they would have nothing to goad Johnson about on this showing. He has been excellent.

    08/08/2012 (285 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - England A v Australia A
    50 for Woakes off 123 balls with eight fours. 

    08/08/2012 (285 days old) | Read more
  • England Lions v Australia A
    A sedate start to the afternoon session as Lions' pair Chris Woakes and James Tredwell look to rebuild. I would imagine at 233-7, make that 237-7 as Woakes hammers Nathan Lyon down the ground, that the hosts will be delighted if they can up to 300. 

    08/08/2012 (285 days old) | Read more
  • England Lions v Australia A
    Left-arm spinner Jon Holland struck with the seventh ball of the morning, his first, when he trapped Craig Kieswetter lbw before Jackson Bird picked up two wickets with the new ball, Patel caught at first slip and James Harris trapped lbw. 

    08/08/2012 (285 days old) | Read more
  • England Lions v Australia A
    The Lions have advanced to 223-7 at lunch on the 2nd day at Old Trafford. This has undoubtedly been Australia A's morning on a track not surprisingly taking turn. Samit Patel made 55 off 109 balls, and has top-scored so far. Chris Woakes is 35 not out. 

    08/08/2012 (285 days old) | Read more
  • Pietersen admits future in doubt
    Kevin Pietersen has said that his next Test match may be his last unless he is able to resolve "the politics" with the England and Wales Cricket Board.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • Topsy-turvy day ends in draw
    The second Test at Headingley between England and South Africa finished in the expected draw but the events of the final day were a reminder that you cannot underestimate Test cricket's capacity for surprise.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • Match drawn - England v South Africa
    They have shaken hands at 7.32pm on the final day. Trott finishes on 30 and Bell 3. So the Headingley Test is drawn and we look ahead to Lord's a week on Thursday, when England will need to win to remain top Test dogs. Report of day five follows shortly.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • 111 for 4 - England v South Africa
    Now South Africa are having a go. Dale Steyn in particular. He is tearing in from the Kirkstall Lane End and bowling short and fast. His run-up seems to have got longer. Beautiful sunny evening here. But that's probably not what Trott and Bell are thinking.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    Careful England! Prior is run out after Trott turned down a second run. Just short of his crease trying to reclaim his ground with a dive. At 106 for 4 England have to think about preservation. Ian Bell comes to the wicket. Still 19 overs left today.


    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    Cook's gone, a leading edge going straight to cover. Dale Steyn celebrates. A fluent 46 off 62 balls by Cook. Curiously, Matt Prior comes to the crease ahead of Bell and Taylor. Are they still thinking about it? It's 162 off 21 overs if you were wondering.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • 82 for 2 - England v South Africa
    The pressure is back on England. Cook has just survived a close lbw shout from Tahir - the ball hit him fractionally outside the line so the decision stayed with the umpire. But Cook hits a Duminy full toss for six as a means of retort.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    Strauss hits a full toss straight back to where it came from - JP Duminy - and England are 75 for 2. Strauss and Cook were batting as if they hadn't given up the chase. They need 178 more runs in 25 overs. Trott joins Cook (35) at the crease.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • 52 for 1 - England v South Africa
    England's 50 comes up off 61 balls and it has been Cook leading the way, with 24 runs off 32 balls. But Morkel has found an excellent line and length to Strauss and is getting lateral movement off the pitch.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • 38 for 1 - England v South Africa
    Pietersen may have gone but there's no doubt that Cook and Strauss have quick runs on their mind. Cook has 17 off 20 balls and Strauss 8 off 8. The pair are running the singles hard too.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    The show may be over. Pietersen is stuck between a pull and a drive to a good-length Philander delivery and miscues to Imran Tahir at mid-on. Cook, who already has two fours to his name, is reunited with his Test opening partner Andrew Strauss. 21 for 1.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • 12 for 0 - England v South Africa
    Three fours off Morkel's first over - all of them to Pietersen, and the last of them flogged over cover.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • 8 for 0 - England v South Africa
    Who's going to open? Kevin Pietersen! So they are going to have a dart at it. Cook is with KP, and he has proven himself adept at efficient run-scoring. They need more than six an over. Surely not? But there's the first two boundaries...

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    Going for quick runs, Morkel shanks Broad into the hands of midwicket and with that South Africa declare. England need 252 runs in 39 overs. South Africa need 10 wickets. Neither is likely. But are England going to have a go at it? Who will open?

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    He's dropped a couple today but that was an outstanding catch by Anderson off his own bowling to dismiss Steyn. Steyn drove in the air and Anderson dived to his left to take a one-handed catch. We're in the second over after tea. It's 247 for 8. 

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - England v South Africa
    What a session. Six wickets fell for 116 runs, Broad bowling one of his irresistible spells - a potent mix of headhunting and full-pitched arrows. SA lead by 233 with 44 overs left. The draw is still the heavy favourite but, after that session, who knows.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    Broad is into one of those spells and now he has Kallis with a brutish short ball which clipped the glove on the way to Prior. Fantastic ball, which followed a sustained short-pitched attack on Kallis. Broad has 4 for 12 in his last 20 balls. 230-7.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • 225 for 6 - England v South Africa
    Thinking England can win? Hold fire. They are 219 behind, with a possible 47 overs left in the day. And there's still four South African wickets to take. Sorry to be the voice of reason.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    Another lbw to Broad. This one nipped back from a full length before striking Philander in front. Alviro Petersen comes in at No.8 and will not want to be dashing singles with that hamstring tear.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • 209 for 5 - England v South Africa
    ... but Philander defends calmly on the front foot.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • WICKETS - England v South Africa
    Two in two for Broad. First de Villiers misses a full straight one from Broad and walks after being given out lbw.  Then Duminy gets in a real mess and is also lbw. SA are 209 for 5, and 203 in front. Hat-trick ball coming up...

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    Three for KP. Hashim Amla slaps a full toss straight to cover. If Pietersen's bad balls take wickets then the South Africans won't last much longer. Amla made 28, and South Africa are 185 for 2, leading by 179. Jacques Kallis comes out.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • 170 for 2 - England v South Africa
    Oh Jimmy! He's dropped a regulation catch at slip after a straight one from Pietersen took de Villiers' edge. You don't drop AB de Villiers. In between times this pair are feeding off some inconsistent KP bowling.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • 156 for 2 - England v South Africa
    AB de Villiers is having none of this. He's cruised to 19 off 12 balls, including a reverse-sweep off Pietersen which seemed in part on behalf of his captain. South Africa are now 150 runs ahead.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • 146 for 2 - England v South Africa
    Smith's 52 was an important knock which has spared his team any panic. AB de Villiers has come out to join Hashim Amla, with Jacques Kallis having a sore back. Looks like Pietersen will bowl all the way through to tea. After all, he's the most likely.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    This time Pietersen has his man. Smith plays at a full ball and appears to get some bat on the ball which then hits his pad and pops to short leg. Smith goes for a review. Asad Rauf says there is nothing to convince him it is not out. Dubious. 129 for 2.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • 124 for 1 - England v South Africa
    Second over after lunch and Kevin Pietersen is dancing again, thinking he has Smith caught behind. Umpire thought the ball beat the bat, as did DRS. Wow. If England had Pietersen and Swann in tandem then we might have been able to get a bit excited.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - England v South Africa
    A soulless session mercifully comes to an end, with the the little spark of Pietersen taking a wicket just before lunch. It's easy to say England are missing Swann. It's also true. Smith has just brought up his fifty and South Africa are 123-1, 117 ahead.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    You read correctly. England have taken a wicket. And it's KP the twirler who's done it. Lovely flighted ball to Rudolph which turns past the bat and hits him in front. SA's review unsuccessful. Rudolph out for 69 and South Africa are 120 for 1. 

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • 119 for 0 - England v South Africa
    Smith has just passed 2000 runs against England alone. Has any other modern batsman caused England so much agony? Bresnan getting his first bowl of the day in place of a spent Anderson, who immediately drops an edge from Smith at slip.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - England v South Africa
    Hundred partnership up between Smith (34) and Rudolph (66). Smith has now been at the crease for more than 620 minutes in this series. South Africa 103 for 0.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • 96 for 0 - England v South Africa
    Something's happening out there! Rudolph top-edges a pull off Finn and it lands at fine leg. But Trott had just been moved square so wasn't there to take the catch. Then a flash outside off stump and an edge which flies between the slips and gully. 

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • 90 for 0 - England v South Africa
    Back they come again. Smith and Rudolph in no hurry. No one is in much of a hurry to be fair.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • 90 for 0 - England v South Africa
    Off the players go again as another shower hits Headingley. Graeme Smith has already done enough to frustrate England this morning without these wretched interruptions. 

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • FIFTY - England v South Africa
    For Jacques Rudolph. He's played very nicely this morning, scoring five boundaries to various parts of the ground. Looks very comfortable on a ground he knows well as an ex-Yorkshire player. South Africa are 80 for 0.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • 76 for 0 - England v South Africa
    We've got some cricket again. Lunch has been put back by half an hour to 1.30, likewise tea from 3.40 to 4.10. Anderson will continue with his round-the-wicket policy, with Smith taking strike. England have an hour and a bit to make things happen.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • 76 for 0 - England v South Africa
    Still drizzling although a patch of blue sky is making its way here. Beyond that? More heavy cloud.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • 76 for 0 - England v South Africa
    A bit of drizzle takes the players off as darker clouds move over Headingley. With no breakthrough after 40 minutes this morning, surely this Test is destined for a draw. South Africa are 70 in front, with Smith 27 and Rudolph 47.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • 76 for 0 - England v South Africa
    First bowling change of the day as Finn replaces Broad. Anderson has caused some trouble coming round the wicket to the left-handers, a belated tactic that Finn might do well to copy. But he's staying over the wicket for now, and to little effect.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • 58 for 0 - England v South Africa
    Signs that the pitch is playing up. Broad has got a couple to kick off the pitch, and nearly had Smith caught at backward square like he was in the first innings. Then he has Smith edging short of the slips. Broad looks the man today.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • 47 for 0 - England v South Africa
    Decent start by Anderson and Broad. The conditions are suited for bowling, although no Headingley hoop on display at the moment. Important to snare a wicket before these Smith and Rudolph bed in.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • England v South Africa
    The glimmer of light for England is the disruption to South Africa's batting. Smith is batting with a strapped knee, while Petersen is struggling with a hamstring tear and Kallis has suffered a recurrence of a back spasm. Both will bat only if required.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • England v South Africa
    Good morning from Headingley, where the final day is likely to end in a draw. South Africa are 39 for 0, a lead of 33 runs. At present the weather is doing its best to help England: no rain but overcast skies. South Africa need only bat to tea to be safe.

    06/08/2012 (287 days old) | Read more
  • Rain wins on day four
    Heavy rain descended upon Headingley today to virtually rule out a positive result in the second Test between England and South Africa. 

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • Close of Play - England v South Africa
    The decision we all knew was coming: play is abandoned for the day. It will require something miraculous tomorrow for any result other than a draw. Admittedly some miracles have been taking place over the last week... Report of day four to follow.

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • 39 for 0 - England v South Africa
    Presently it looks more likely that ducks will take the field rather than cricketers. Not raining as hard as before and there is a crumb of light to the east, but the ground has been drenched and the minutes are ticking by.

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • 39 for 0 - England v South Africa
    Wet, wet, wet. Afraid that's the story here. Plus a bit of thunder and lightening. Prospects of further play here today looking slim.

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • 39 for 0 - England v South Africa
    But the groundstaff have now been given the green light. The rain is upon us, there is lightening about, and this Test match is being killed by the minute.

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • 39 for 0 - England v South Africa
    Groundstaff come rushing on with the covers but... the umpires were only asking for drinks. Gives you an idea of the weather here. It seems rain is all around us but somehow not upon us. All this is much more interesting than the cricket.

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • 28 for 0 - England v South Africa
    An ominous wave of rain lies in the distance and seems to be coming straight at us. Meanwhile, England have Finn and Bresnan bowling in tandem. But Smith and Rudolph looking very solid now.

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • 19 for 0 - England v South Africa
    Anderson and Broad have caused the South African openers some problems but still no breakthrough. And already Smith and Rudolph seem more settled at the wicket. England's chances of forcing a result fading with each dot ball.

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • 17 for 0 - England v South Africa
    What with the rain, the order of things have been changed. Tea will be taken at 4.55, and we'll play on until 7.30 if the weather allows. In theory there are still 56 overs left in the day.

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • 10 for 0 - England v South Africa
    Excellent start by Broad after the break. Rudolph nearly played on, got an edge which sailed over the slips and half-left another ball which hit the bat and went to ground. Anderson on the money at other end. 

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • Essex v Leicestershire
    Still waiting to get underway here at Chelmsford. Further inspection at 3.30 p.m. but there are dark clouds looming again.  No teams announced nor toss made yet.

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • 5 for 0 - England v South Africa
    Play to resume at 2.55. Amazing when you think of the water that fell on the ground. More moody clouds coming this way. If they could just hold off from raining while providing perfect swing conditions, well, that would be very kind. SA are one run behind.

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • 5 for 0 - England v South Africa
    The last little puddle is just being mopped up, the sun's out, and the umpires will carry out a pitch inspection at 2.35. Sad to report that the forecast is for more rain later - although they thought it would rain a lot more yesterday as well.

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • 5 for 0 - England v South Africa
    It has bucketed down during the lunch break but the sun has returned and the covers are off to let the field dry. Few puddles out there so the Blotter machine is doing its work. But we won't have any cricket for at least an hour.

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • Essex v Leicestershire
    Inspection at 2.45 p.m.

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - England v South Africa
    Four minutes before the lunch break the umpires wisely call for the covers. Lightening in the distance and here comes the rain. So that'll be lunch. England could have done with another half hour bowling in these conditions.

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • 5 for 0 - England v South Africa
    Good start from Anderson and Broad. As usual, Anderson has them going both ways. Big shout for lbw for a ball that came back in at Smith. Turned down, reviewed, but going over the top.

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • England v South Africa
    Alviro Petersen cannot bat in South Africa's top 6 because of the time he has been off the field. So it is Jacques Rudolph who walks out with Graeme Smith to open the innings. Dark clouds over Headingley. They might bring rain. They might also bring swing.

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    After a superb reverse-sweep for four, Anderson swipes at Tahir and is bowled. Three wickets for Tahir this morning. So England are all out for 425 with a lead of six runs, a few less than they would have hoped for at 11am this morning. 

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    It had been coming. Prior sweeps against the spin of Tahir and gets a top edge into the hands of Steyn at long leg. Excellent innings of 68, blighted only by his failure to combat Tahir bowling at his legs.

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • 420 for 8 - England v South Africa
    Anderson guides (edges?) Steyn down to the third-man boundary and England are ahead.

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • 416 for 8 - England v South Africa
    Tahir is having a decent spell from the Football Stand End, despite limited turn. One sweep aside, Prior has struggled to score off Tahir's line outside leg, and has resorted to the reverse-sweep twice, one of which led to an unsuccessful review for lbw.

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    That's a critical blow. Broad goes to pull Tahir but gets a top edge and the substitute fielder Faf du Plessis eventually claims the catch between mid-on and midwicket. 407 for 8. Tahir's been a nuisance this morning, but that was a poor shot by Broad.

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - England v South Africa
    The 400 is up for England, hardly likely when they were 173 for 4 yesterday. Can Prior eke out another 100 runs with the tail and put South Africa under pressure?

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    Bresnan gone. Good length ball from Philander took the edge and just carried to Smith at first slip. Only made nine, but important that he hung around after Pietersen went to the second ball of the day. He and Prior put on 45. Out comes Broad at 396-7. 

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • FIFTY - England v South Africa
    Matt Prior's fifty has come from just 66 balls and he has been a reassuring presence this morning. England are 391 for 6, just 28 runs behind South Africa. Both Prior and Bresnan being helped by sunny weather here at Headingley.

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • 383 for 6 - England v South Africa
    Imran Tahir back in the action, bowling round the wicket towards the bits of rough outside the leg stump. Prior is watchful. Not much turn, but awkward to score off. Hence the maiden.

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • 378 for 6 - England v South Africa
    Despite the blow of losing Pietersen, Prior (43) and  Bresnan (3) have looked comfortable, keeping the score ticking over and leaving wisely. Two Prior drives through cover have been the highlight. Morkel, rather than Steyn, looks the biggest threat.

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    Disaster for England. Morne Morkel's second ball is full and straight, Pietersen plays inside the line and is lbw. No review by England. Suddenly England's position does not look so good. 352 for 6.

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • England v South Africa
    Graeme Smith injured himself fielding yesterday and has a strapped knee but will lead out his side. Jacques Kallis, however, has a back strain and will not field but will bat. Likewise Alviro Petersen, who has a hamstring tear. And here the players come.

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • England v South Africa
    Much will depend on the pitch and conditions. The wicket is not as benign as the scorecard suggests - there is some zip for the seamers. Will it show signs of wear today? And if some heavy cloud cover appears, it could spell trouble for whoever is batting.

    05/08/2012 (288 days old) | Read more
  • England v South Africa
    Welcome to day four at Headingley, and it's all to play for. England are 70 runs behind South Africa with Kevin Pietersen (149) and Matt Prior (20) at the crease. Should England manage any kind of lead then a win is not impossible.  

    05/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • Stunning Pietersen revives England
    Just when it seemed England were surrendering their No.1 Test crown to South Africa Kevin Pietersen intervened with an outrageous hundred that has kept his team alive in the second Test at Headingley.

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • Close of Play - England v South Africa
    England finish on 351 for 5, 68 runs behind South Africa. Pietersen, having curbed his instincts since the wicket of Taylor, finishes on 149 and Prior is with him on 20. Report to follow.

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • 348 for 5 - England v South Africa
    In the soft glow of the evening sun, Prior pulls Steyn for four and then clips him elegantly off his legs for consecutive boundaries. Last over of the day to be bowled by Tahir.

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • 334 for 5 - England v South Africa
    A symbolic blow to South Africa? Graeme Smith has hobbled from the field after hurting his ankle fielding.

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • 328 for 5 - England v South Africa
    Still half an hour to go until the end of this pulsating long evening session. With Pietersen and Prior at the wicket, the chances of a period of blocking seems unlikely. Smith is persisting with Imran Tahir for now.

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    Taylor gets stuck on the crease and plays on to Morkel. He's out for 34, but the way he was applauded off the field makes it seem like a hundred. He put on 147 with Pietersen, and has taken England to within 99 runs of South Africa. Excellent debut knock.

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • 309 for 4 - England v South Africa
    Twelve overs into the new ball and Graeme Smith turns to Imran Tahir. A slip and a short leg in place for Taylor (28), but the real interest will centre on how Pietersen (136) reacts to the ball spinning into his pads from outside leg stump. 

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • 295 for 4 - England v South Africa
    Extraordinary last over from Steyn, who Pietersen is treating like a medium pacer. It featured an unorthodox pull, a straight drive for six and a top edge which cleared mid-on. And it's taken Steyn out of the attack. Philander replaces him. Good luck mate.

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • Landmark - England v South Africa
    We may have to retract on that 'watchful' comment. Pietersen nearly takes Steyn's head off with a full-blooded drive and then pulls him to Amla in the deep for a single. Hundred partnership up between these two, to which Pietersen contributed 79. 277 for 4.

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • 271 for 4 - England v South Africa
    Pietersen (106) and Taylor (20) having to be watchful as the Steyn and Philander getting a little bit of swing with the new ball. Vital they see off the shine before exposing Prior, Bresnan and the rest. Saying that, KP throws a drive at Steyn and gets four.

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • 263 for 4 - England v South Africa
    What a hundred by Pietersen, his 21st in Tests. The new ball had been taken immediately and handed straight to  Philander, but Pietersen smacked a wide one through cover for four to go to 99 and then danced down the pitch to nurdle a single.

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • 246 for 4 - England v South Africa
    Graeme Smith has come up with a cunning ploy to counter Pietersen: have his legspinner bowl round the wicket and into his legs. KP can't get him away, and when the ball did pitch on the stumps he was nearly bowled by the quicker one.

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • 238 for 4 - England v South Africa
    Taylor times a flick off Imran Tahir sweetly for four and the fifty partnership is up. These two going very well at the moment, with Pietersen hurtling along to 84. Kallis's last over went for 13 runs.

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • 224 for 4 - England v South Africa
    South Africa have established some control with the introduction of Philander for Steyn. Spin from the other end. Taylor is being troubled by a line outside off stump which has brought three edges to ground since tea. But he looks calm at the crease.

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • 201 for 4 - England v South Africa
    Lots happening out there. Pietersen is intent on making the South Africans pay, stepping away to leg and carting Morkel to the legside whenever he can. But Hashim Amla might also have snaffled him at short leg. Every ball is an event.

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • FIFTY - England v South Africa
    Pietersen pulls Steyn for four to bring up his fifty. He'll probably need to triple that for England to have a chance of saving this match. England are 192 for 4.

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • TEA - England v South Africa
    Slowly but surely England are sinking. They go into tea 178-4, having lost 3 wickets in that session. KP has dished out some trademark blows for his 43 but has tested by Steyn as well. Taylor drove the spinner for his first Test runs in the last over. 

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    Ian Bell has managed to outdo Trott - a hopeless waft to a wide full ball from Jacques Kallis and he edges to Graeme Smith at first slip. No foot movement whatsoever. England in deep trouble. Can the debutant James Taylor get them out of it? 173-4.

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • 161 for 3 - England v South Africa
    Pietersen v Steyn is back on. It's even at the moment, Pietersen having unleashed a drive through the covers but also playing and missing. Morkel has replaced the spinner at the other end. A crucial 30 minutes until tea.

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • 153 for 3 - England v South Africa
    After a nervy inside edge, Ian Bell comes down the wicket and launches Tahir for six over long-on. Classic Bell.

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    A poor, poor shot from Trott, cutting loosely at Steyn and getting a top edge low to first slip. Not too dissimilar to the way Kallis got out on the first day. Trott gone for 35 and England are still 277 runs behind.

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • 142 for 2 - England v South Africa
    An escape for Trott, who plays away from his body and edges Philander through vacant fourth slip. It brings up the fifty partnership between Trott (35) and Pietersen (23). Trott then swats a full toss from Tahir just beyond midwicket's hands.

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • 131 for 2 - England v South Africa
    Graeme Smith turns to spin, but Imran Tahir's first ball is short and Pietersen (21) makes room to drive him for four. Curious time to bring on the spinner. South Africa had been getting some swing with the recently changed ball. Perhaps a brief experiment.

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • 123 for 2 - England v South Africa
    After 20 consecutive dot balls Kallis gets one to bounce and takes the the very top of Trott's bat. The ball balloons over the slips for four. The umpires had recently changed the ball and it suddenly looks a little trickier to bat.

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • 118 for 2 - England v South Africa
    Double change for South Africa calms things down a bit. Philander has replaced Morkel while Steyn has made way for Kallis. Sun bathing Headingley. These are good bowlers but it's a good time to bat.

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • 112 for 2 - England v South Africa
    Excellent period of cricket. Pietersen is taking the attack to Steyn while Trott has just unfurled a trademark elegant clip through midwicket off Morkel. And both players are stealing singles, which is ruffling the South Africans.

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • 97 for 2 - England v South Africa
    Pietersen off the mark with a thumping pull for four off Steyn, followed up by another less intentional boundary off the glove and over the keeper. This could be tasty. If anyone can lift England out of this malaise, it's KP.

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • WICKET - England v South Africa
    Strauss edges Steyn to the keeper for 37 and England are 85-2. It had been coming. Steyn was bowling from round the wicket and wide of the crease, bringing the ball nearer and nearer to offstump and eventually persuading Strauss to nibble. Enter Pietersen.

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • Essex v Leicestershire
    Resumption after lunch has been delayed by torrential rain. Brighter skies yonder but the latest downpour may have means its curtains for a positive conclusion to this match. Back to watching the Olympics.

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • 84 for 1 - England v South Africa
    Strauss and Trott are back in the firing line, with Steyn and Morkel ready to fire. Meanwhile news that Alviro Petersen has a hamstring tear and will not field. But he will bat if needed in the second innings and should be ok for the third Test at Lord's.

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • 80 for 1 - England v South Africa
    Splendid sunshine means play can resume at 1.30. Tea to be taken at 4pm and we can finish as late as 7.30pm. Interesting to see if and how the conditions will have changed when we get underway.

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
  • LUNCH - Essex v Leicestershire
    Before Essex could face the one over before  lunch,  rain returned so lunch taken. David Masters had figures of  26.5-11-60-7 and Harbhajan claimed four catches in the Leicestershire 1st innings. Essex lead by 75 with two sessions remaining. 

    04/08/2012 (289 days old) | Read more
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