MATT PRIOR insisted England had no excuses for their Headingley capitulation despite a chaotic start to the fourth Ashes Test.

INDIA put themselves in a strong position to deny Australia a new Test wins record thanks to some valiant batting from VVS Laxman and a fine all-round showing from Irfan Pathan in the third Test at the WACA.

Snow Patrol have been announced as 6/4 favourites to scoop the Choice Music Prize by official bookmaker to the awards Paddy Power.

SHANE WARNE is backing Australia to continue their relentless domination of world cricket — even after more than a third of their star-studded line-up has retired.

SHANE WARNE savoured every second of his final confrontation with England to deliver one of his best all-round displays and put Australia on the brink of an Ashes whitewash.

UNDERFIRE coach Duncan Fletcher has admitted he made selection blunders in choosing the England team for the disastrous Ashes series against Australia.

Paul Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen entered Ashes folklore today with big hundreds as England approached a formidable first-innings total in the second Test.

CRANK up the computer, turn up the tunes and get writing to see if you can be Ireland’s next top music journalist.

AUSTRALIAN selectors yesterday opted for bowling cover ahead of Friday’s second Ashes cricket Test, amid doubts over Glenn McGrath’s ability to get through back-to-back Test matches with a heel problem.

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.