England’s experienced middle order continued to play an influential role in the final Test yesterday and guided the tourists within reach of salvaging a draw against West Indies at the Recreation Ground.

ENGLAND crashed to their third-heaviest defeat in Test history as Sri Lanka completed a series-deciding victory inside four days at the SSC.

NASSER HUSSAIN ended any doubts about his desire to continue playing international cricket with a trademark century which guided England into a commanding position against South Africa in the crucial third nPower Test.

A TEARFUL Nasser Hussain walked away from the England Test cricket captaincy last night admitting that he “felt tired and stale”.

Michael Vaughan was today appointed as England’s new Test captain after Nasser Hussain stood down.

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.

A question mark was today still hanging over the England cricket team’s opening World Cup match in Zimbabwe on Thursday as the wrangle over security concerns surrounding the game continued.

England's cricketers are expected to announce today whether they will boycott their opening World Cup match in Zimbabwe.

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.

England completed their anticipated victory in the final Ashes Test shortly after lunch on the fifth day.

Mark Butcher marked his 50th Test for England with a determined century today after he battled through an uncertain start to his innings in the final Test against a new look Australian line-up at the SCG.

England have been warned that their World Cup prospects will suffer if they fail to fulfil their opening fixture against Zimbabwe in Harare on February 13.

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.

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.

Myles Hodgson

ENGLAND’S Ashes dream was spectacularly ended in only 25 days with fiery fast bowler Brett Lee ruthlessly completing another emphatic Test and series defeat with a hostile new ball spell at the WACA.

ENGLAND remained on course for another convincing Ashes defeat after they were outclassed on a lively Perth surface - and then suffered yet another possible addition to their ever-lengthening casualty list.

ALL-ROUNDER Andrew Flintoff travels to Tasmania tomorrow with England still not sure of his participation in their match against Australia A as he struggles to regain fitness after a hernia operation.

Australia lead by 278 runs after the third day of the opening Ashes Test in Brisbane.

Nine members of Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup team – plus captain Sam Torrance - can expect a hero’s welcome when they tee off in the £3m (€4.77m) Dunhill links championship in Scotland tomorrow.

GRAHAM THORPE has described his inclusion in England’s 16-man party for this winter’s Ashes tour as ‘‘the biggest challenge’’ of his career after taking time out from cricket to resolve his personal life.

NASSER HUSSAIN provided hope of success in England’s unlikely attempt to salvage a draw from the third Test against India.

Debutante Robert Key guided England to 46 without loss at lunch in the second Test against India at Trent Bridge.

The trial of the Briton accused over the murder of US reporter Daniel Pearl has been adjourned after a defence lawyer accused the chief prosecutor of blasphemy.

Police in Pakistan are hunting a former British public schoolboy they believe is responsible for the kidnapping of US journalist Daniel Pearl.

Mark Butcher steered England to a six-wicket victory in the fourth Test at Headingley with an unbeaten century as the hosts made light of work of reaching the 315-run target.