Joe Root made Australia pay for dropping him second ball, with a counter-attacking century which transformed day one of the Ashes in Cardiff yesterday.

Another Alastair Cook failure overshadowed Gary Ballance’s second Test century, against India at Lord’s yesterday.

Michael Clarke is hailing Australia’s Ashes victory as a special achievement to compare with their whitewash of England in 2006/07.

When the fastest bowler Ireland has ever produced marks his run-up on this morning, most of the 10,000 spectators at Malahide Cricket Club will be willing him to fail.

England’s new-look one-day international side survived a nervy batting display and a dangerous cameo from their Bangalore conqueror Kevin O’Brien to beat Ireland by 11 runs in the RSA Challenge at Clontarf this afternoon.

CRICKET IRELAND chief executive Warren Deutrom admits the board are putting in place contingency plans should coach Phil Simmons quit before the end of the year.