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.

IRISH cricket chiefs expect the sport to benefit from Ed Joyce’s call up to England’s Ashes squad.

Ireland’s batsmen let their side down as Somerset cruised to a 73-run victory that leaves their hosts rooted to bottom of the C&G Trophy South Conference.

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.

Richard Gibson

JUSTIN LANGER believes Australia’s selectors have been left with a headache when they choose the bowling attack for this week’s fourth Ashes Test.

ENGLAND narrowly failed to claim a major advantage in the Ashes series after Australia clung on to claim a draw in another tense and dramatic finish to the third Test at Old Trafford.

SIMON JONES and Ashley Giles bowled England into a strong position at stumps on the second day of the third Ashes Test against Australia at Old Trafford yesterday.

AUSTRALIA have reacted to the mounting injury crisis within their ranks by calling up seamer Stuart Clark to boost their bowling options for this week’s crunch third Ashes Test.

ENGLAND had a great second day in the Edgbaston Test against Australia to give themselves a clear advantage yesterday.

Kevin Pietersen was given a harsh introduction into Test cricket after Australia ruthlessly exploited his fluctuating fortunes to take command of the opening Test at Lord’s.

GLENN McGRATH settled back into his usual Lord’s routine to secure his place in cricket’s hall of fame and ruin England’s fine start to the first Test yesterday.

Glenn McGrath joined cricket’s hall of fame today by becoming the fourth player in history to claim 500 Test wickets on the first day of a first Ashes Test at Lord’s.

STEVE WAUGH’S dismissal has robbed an expectant cricket nation of a fairy-tale finish to the Australian great’s playing career.

ENGLAND finished their miserable Ashes tour on a victorious note with a 225-run thrashing of Australia to prevent a historic 5-0 series whitewash in the final test yesterday.

BARMY Army chanting may have cost England the chance to push for an incredible victory in the fourth Test after their loud support aided Australia’s successful struggle to a five-wicket win at the MCG.

ENGLAND’S Barmy Army have been branded a disgrace after playing an unwitting role in inspiring Brett Lee’s most hostile spell of the series and plunging the tourists further into trouble in the fourth Test.

Brett Lee delivered another sustained spell of hostile fast bowling to halt England’s counter-attack and ensure Australia remain dominant in the fourth Test at the MCG today.

THE Ashes series’ two most experienced campaigners – Alec Stewart and Steve Waugh – experienced contrasting fortunes on the opening day of the fourth Test.

Steve Waugh hit a defiant half-century to power Australia towards a major first innings total in the fourth Test at the MCG today to demonstrate his determination to continue his illustrious international career.

MICHAEL VAUGHAN benefited from the hard nosed approach of modern cricket to continue his prolific year for England and provide Australian audiences with evidence of real competition during the remainder of the Ashes series.

Australia's one-day game against Ireland has fallen victim to the weather.