Ricky Ponting is looking for Australia to capitalise on the absence of Kevin Pietersen and target the England middle order during the third Ashes Test.

England have released Monty Panesar from their squad for the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston. The spinner joins up with Northamptonshire ahead of the Twenty20 Cup quarter-final with Hampshire.

The ECB has agreed on a three-competition domestic structure from 2010 onwards - incorporating the County Championship, the new P20 and a limited-overs Sunday league.

On the eve of the Edgbaston Test, England captain Andrew Strauss declared that Australia have lost the aura which used to infect Ashes series.

The ECB have confirmed the draw for the Twenty20 Cup semi-finals. Northamptonshire or Hampshire will face Sussex while Lancashire or Somerset will take on last year's finalists Kent.

Pace bowler Chris Martin has been named in New Zealand's preliminary squad of 30 players for the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa.

Ricky Ponting is backing Australia paceman Mitchell Johnson to recapture his pre-Ashes form as he gears up for the third Test at Edgbaston.

England captain Andrew Strauss believes the third Test at Edgbaston will be the pivotal match of this summer's thrilling npower Ashes series.

Durham have been awarded the first Ashes Test match to be staged at the Riverside in 2013 after the England and Wales Cricket Board accepted the recommendation of the Major Match Group.

Poor weather delayed the start of the third npower Ashes Test between England and Australia at Edgbaston. The umpires were due to make an inspection at 11am, before the rain returned.