England lost the Ashes before Christmas with a third successive landslide defeat, despite Ben Stokes’ maiden Test century.

David Warner kept England in big trouble at lunch on day three of the Ashes, as Australia recovered their composure after donating two early wickets with false shots.

Graeme Swann believes the Old Trafford pitch will not offer too many surprises for the remainder of the third Investec Test.

England bowler Tim Bresnan admits patience will be key as his side attempt to break down Australia’s new-found resilience at Old Trafford today.

Graeme Swann struck in the nick of time to complete England’s 347-run victory inside four days, and ensure they moved 2-0 up in the Ashes series without the hassle of any unfinished business at Lord’s today.

Ashton Agar’s record-breaking Test debut will give Englishmen nightmares for years to come, but was just a “dream come true” for the Australian teenager.

OPENER Paul Stirling’s century was not enough as Pakistan did just enough to beat Ireland by five wickets and claim a 2-0 one-day international series win in Belfast.

WAYNE ROONEY can expect to discover today whether he will face disciplinary action for his foul-mouthed hat-trick celebration.

Wayne Rooney can expect to discover tomorrow whether he will face disciplinary action for his foul-mouthed hat-trick celebration.

IRELAND are far from satisfied with one shock win over World Cup heavyweights England – and are now setting their sights on another seismic result against tournament favourites India.

AS Kevin O’Brien climbed into another six, and the Ireland cricket fans in the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore started to think of an improbable victory over England, Vanessa Johnston wafted through the supporters, spraying them with a stress-relieving potion.

IRELAND’S Kevin O’Brien hit the fastest hundred in Cricket World Cup history to sentence shell-shocked England to an astounding three-wicket defeat at Bangalore’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Ger O'Brien, the brother of Ireland hero Kevin O'Brien, has described his pride at watching him help his country to a shock three-wicket win over England today.

Man of the match O'Brien admitted he could not believe his feat after Ireland pulled off a stunning three-wicket win over England in Bangalore today.

Ireland's Kevin O'Brien hit the fastest hundred in World Cup history to sentence shell-shocked England to an astounding three-wicket defeat at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium tonight.

ENGLAND and India tied one of the World Cup’s greatest matches after Andrew Strauss and Sachin Tendulkar each hit scintillating centuries in Bangalore.

ENGLAND’S worst World Cup fears were realised yesterday when their leading one-day batsman and former Irish star Eoin Morgan was ruled out of the tournament with a fractured finger.

ENGLAND captain Andrew Strauss has admitted Eoin Morgan could be ruled out of the World Cup because of a fractured finger.

England completed the formalities of wrapping up a first successful Ashes tour of Australia in 24 years before lunch on the fourth day of the fourth Test in Melbourne, winning by an innings and 157 runs to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

WHAT with all the young people planning to leave the country apparently, now’s the time to brush up on those foreign sports.

EOIN MORGAN’S second Rose Bowl hundred of the summer helped England clinch the troubled NatWest Series 3-2 with a landslide 121-run victory over Pakistan.

I NEVER seem able to place the kind of bets that are apparently available if you’re a follower of international cricket.

IRISH cricket star Eoin Morgan has been catapulted into the sport’s megastar bracket with a €150,000 deal to join the 2010 Indian Premier League.

ENGLAND cricketer Tim Bresnan has apologised to his bosses over an expletive-laden rant at a fellow Twitter user.

STAND-IN captain Paul Collingwood praised England’s fight after they averted a shock one-day international defeat to Ireland in Belfast.

Ashes winners England averted a shock defeat to see off Ireland by just three runs in their one-day international in Belfast today.

Andrew Flintoff was appropriately involved in the pivotal moment as England bowled out Australia to reclaim the Ashes at the Oval today.

ENGLAND bowling hero Stuart Broad played down his own contribution after the home side moved into a dominant position against Australia in the decisive fifth Test at The Oval, yesterday.

IAN BELL admitted he was surprised by the way the Brit Oval pitch played on the opening day of the decisive fifth npower Ashes Test yesterday.

GRAEME SWANN admits England will have to come up with something special to deal with Australia’s Shane Watson when the third npower Ashes Test resumes today.

ENGLAND captain Andrew Strauss praised the stirring response his battle-weary side gave to their underwhelming Ashes series beginning after they recorded a historic win at Lord’s yesterday.

GRAEME SWANN urged against panic as England strive for victory today in the second npower Ashes Test at Lord’s.

ENGLAND’S 2005 Ashes hero Andrew Flintoff last night gave a dressing room rallying cry following Australian domination of the second day of the opening npower Testin Cardiff.

KEVIN PIETERSEN reflected on a satisfying day for England after their most positive start to an Ashes series for years.

ANDREW STRAUSS was delighted to finally enjoy the winning feeling again after England banished memories of a frustrating winter by beating West Indies by 10 wickets yesterday.

Nottinghamshire have announced their squad for the Friends Provident Trophy clash with Ireland, which gets under way this Sunday, April 27 at Clontarf starting at 12pm.