Justin Langer believes Kevin Pietersen's absence from the remainder of the Ashes series could be as crucial a factor as paceman Glenn McGrath's injury during the 2005 battles with England.
One thing can be said about Tests at Edgbaston - there's usually a result. Whether a withering innings victory or a two-run nailbiter, only one of the last eight Ashes clashes has ended in a draw.
Alveston and Boulton Cricket Club will be hosting disabled teams from Derbyshire, Shropshire, Hertfordshire and Officers from Dovegate Prison for a round-robin competition on Sunday August 23.
The 2009 Physical/Learning Disability Cricket county championships, which covers England and Wales, are well under way with 18 teams vying for regional victory to earn themselves a place in the national finals.
Defeats for the top three clubs in the Nottinghamshire Premier Cricket League on Saturday made little difference to the leaderboard though has cranked up the pressure on all the title contenders in the final third of the season.
Just five points separate Bowdon from their close running rivals Oulton Park after the Chapel Press Cheshire Cricket League leaders suffered their second defeat of the summer at home to Alderley Edge.
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt has declared he is "encouraged" with the progress of talks with the International Cricket Council to resolve the dispute between the two sides over hosting rights of the 2011 World Cup.
James Anderson has leapt to the defence of out-of-sorts Australia paceman Mitchell Johnson and says he does not expect him to be axed for the third npower Ashes Test at Edgbaston.
