When O’Brien walked out to bat in Bangalore during the 2011 World Cup, Ireland needed 222 runs to win in 27.4 overs and England’s fielders were already going through the motions.

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.

Australia centurion Shane Watson admitted he was boosted before a ball of the fifth Ashes Test had been bowled by the news that England had snubbed Chris Tremlett in favour of Simon Kerrigan and Chris Woakes.

England captain Alastair Cook credited the irrepressible James Anderson and some judicious use of the review system for delivering victory in a classic first Ashes Test.

Pace man Steven Finn was delighted to play a key role in England’s fightback against Australia on a frenetic opening day of the Ashes series.

England were relieved to emerge from a nerve-wracking and barely fathomable first day of the final Test with the edge over Pakistan.

JADE DERNBACH’S 25th birthday will surely be his happiest yet if he can take his unexpected shot at World Cup glory with England.

A FORMER Ryanair pilot said he was “delighted” as he accepted a payout of £40,000 (€46,269) from the airline after he was sacked for handing out a union recruitment leaflet.

ENGLAND captain Andrew Strauss will have questions to pose and answer before England take on South Africa in Chennai on Sunday in what has become a must-win match.

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 finished their triumphant Ashes series yesterday with a treasured piece of history in the bag – and a taste for more.

AUSSIE legend Shane Warne is remaining coy over speculation he could make a sensational Test comeback.

ANDY FLOWER is unrepentant about England’s management of the ball, despite South Africa’s transitory suspicions that tampering might have been afoot during the third Test.

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

JAMES ANDERSON revealed a desire not to waste their ‘get-out- of-jail’ card was behind England’s dominant display in the second npower Ashes Test at Lord’s yesterday.

ENGLAND salvaged a dramatic draw in Cardiff as the first npower Ashes Test was embroiled in controversy during a tense finale.

MICHAEL CLARKE became the first dismissal under floodlights in Test cricket in Britain last night but only after boosting Australia’s position in the Ashes opener in Cardiff.

KEVIN PIETERSEN paid tribute to Steve Harmison and James Anderson after England confirmed their ascendancy on day two of the final Test against South Africa at The Oval yesterday.

England’s Tim Ambrose, Ryan Sidebottom and James Anderson have all made notable strides up the International Cricket Council Test rankings thanks to their performances against New Zealand in Wellington.

MUTTIAH MURALITHARAN had the last laugh in a week of cheer for Sri Lanka as England’s brave rearguard fell narrowly short at Asgiriya.

TALISMANIC all-rounder Andrew Flintoff was dispatched to see his ankle surgeon yesterday as England prepared for last-minute selection issues for the World Twenty20.

A film about the infamous l960s London trial of the underground magazine Oz, icon of the Swinging Sixties, is to star Cillian Murphy as editor Richard Neville.

ENGLAND captain Michael Vaughan admitted his side had “let a lot of people down” after they were knocked out of the World Cup in humiliating fashion by South Africa yesterday.

England cricket star Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff has apologised for the late-night drinking binge at the World Cup which led to him being sacked as vice-captain.

Bray native Ed Joyce has been included in England's 15-man squad for the cricket World Cup.

Matthew Hoggard produced a four-wicket haul to halt Australia’s fightback and keep England’s hopes of victory in the second Ashes Test alive.

England’s hopes of making further inroads into Australia’s batting line-up were undermined by a stubborn fourth wicket stand in the second Ashes Test.

ANDREW STRAUSS is backing England’s inexperienced batting line-up to overcome their nerves and deliver in the forthcoming Ashes series.

England completed a remarkable final-Test victory at the Wankhede Stadium to share the series with India.

KABIR ALI’s brave rearguard fell agonisingly short of pulling off an improbable victory as England lost their one-day series to Pakistan via a 13-run margin in a thrilling match at Rawalpindi yesterday.

England’s hopes of mounting a fightback in the deciding Ashes Test were frustrated by Australia’s best opening partnership of the summer at The Oval.

ANDREW FLINTOFF’S fireworks proved in vain as England crashed out of the NatWest Series with a seven-wicket defeat to West Indies at Lord’s.

A woman claimed today she was persecuted by her boss because of her “happy clappy” religious views.

MEET Rudie van Vuuren from Namibia. International rugby player. International cricketer.

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER yesterday rekindled his bid for a record-breaking sixth world title by firing a warning shot across the bows of Williams.

James Anderson claimed England’s best World Cup figures for 20 years as they made an impressive but belated entry into the tournament against Holland today.

England emerged from 61 days of torment and embarrassment to finally record their first victory of the tour and at last show the Australian public just a taste of the cricket they are capable of producing.