ASHES-winning captain Michael Vaughan's hopes of reclaiming the urn as a player are all but over after he was left out of England's 16-man training squad for this sum

HE WAS, along with Iain Philip, the Scotland batsman of his generation, a master technician, a passionate thinker about the game. So when Bruce Patterson, 124-times capped be

We continue our 30-day countdown to the first Ashes Test with Victor Trumper, whose century before lunch at Old Trafford in 1902 was way ahead of its time.

An expected influx of overseas cricketers for this summer's domestic Twenty20 competition will pave the way for the proposed Southern Premier League, Victorian coach Greg Shipperd believes.

Matthew Hayden has criticised England for leaving Steve Harmison out of their Ashes training squad, claiming he was one of the few bowlers that Australian batsmen feared.

Australia continue their Ashes preparations, against Sussex, just wanting "to get some confidence with good performances," Fox Sports cricket commentator Mark Waugh says.

Australia will be better prepared for the first Ashes Test than England, thanks to their premature exit from the World Twenty20, team captain Ricky Ponting says.

Brett Lee's career prospects have received a stunning boost with skipper Ricky Ponting refusing to guarantee Peter Siddle's spot for the Ashes.

Consider it all a lesson learned. Andrew Symonds successfully adhered to a self-imposed booze ban before his return to the sporting arena - a social rugby league match.

In the lead up to the 2009 Ashes, Allan Border lets Alpha Magazine know his top Australian performers against England over the past three decades.

Australia all-rounder Shane Watson's latest injury is not as bad as first feared, team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said.

Veteran pace bowler Brett Lee admits the next fortnight will determine whether he is worth a place in Australia's side for the first npower Ashes Test.

The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed that Surrey's Stuart Meaker has received penalty points under the ECB's discipline code.

England women, who won the ICC World Twenty20 at Lord's on Sunday, have been honoured at a Parliamentary reception - with Prime Minister Gordon Brown leading the tributes to the team.

Australia batsman Simon Katich is keen to make the most of a second Ashes chance following his miserable tour of England four years ago.

A superb 170 by exciting young Kent prospect Sam Northeast steered Gore Court to an eight-wicket win over Beckenham at Foxgrove Road , lifting them out of the bottom two in the Kent Premier League.