India's tour of England

Second Test, Trent Bridge, day three India 357 all out v England 341-5 Michael Vaughan hit a brilliant 197 as England closed in on India's first innings score in the second Test at Trent Bridge. England finished the day in a commanding position having scored 341-5, just 16 runs behind India with five wickets in hand. England's Michael Vaughan hailed his knock of 197 against India at Trent Bridge as the best innings of his career. But he admitted he was bitterly disappointed to have missed out on his maiden double century. "To be honest it was just one of those days when everything seemed to hit the middle of the bat," said Vaughan. "I would say it's the best I have ever played, especially given the situation in the game - it was important someone got a big score after India got 357. "This is a ground where there are a lot of boundaries to be had, the feet moved as well as they have all summer and I just felt in good touch. England's Academy director Rodney Marsh is a happy man at the moment with his young charges earning international recognition. When Robert Key walked out to bat on Saturday morning for England he followed fellow Academy graduates Simon Jones and Steve Harmison in making England debuts this summer. "Overall what I really long for is to see good cricket played and in the end, results don't matter that much, but what I don't like to see is one side on top. "If England don't win the Ashes but go down fighting I will be satisfied. "If they do bring the Ashes back then I will be happy as then we will all be able to see that the whole system is starting to change. "The whole world of cricket needs a strong England.

Australia's tour of Pakistan

Cricket's governing body looks likely to give Pakistan financial assistance after Australia became the latest country to pull out of a scheduled tour. Australian officials cited player safety fears behind the cancellation of three Tests scheduled for October, but Pakistan claimed they could face bankruptcy as a result. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) estimates it has already lost £16m after India, New Zealand and West Indies all pulled out of trips in the last year.

Women's Cricket

England and India will play a one-day international on Sunday after their Test match in Shenley was washed out without a ball bowled. England captain Clare Connor and her Indian counterpart Anjum Chopra agreed to play the match after the first Test ended in a draw.

Miscellaneous

The England and Wales Cricket Board have announced the package of regulations for the 20-over competition, which is destined to replace the Benson & Hedges Cup next season. One Golden Over is available to each batting side per match. Available to be taken between the seventh and twelfth overs (inclusive), all runs in a Golden Over will count double, including extras. With teams having one hour and 15 minutes to bowl their 20 overs, keeping to schedule is essential. The incoming batsman must be in position to take guard, or his partner ready to receive the next ball, within 1min 30s of the fall of the previous wicket. Should he fail to do so, he will be 'timed out' on appeal. In order to facilitate the next batsman's arrival at the crease, a 'hot seat' at the edge of the playing area will be provided with players expected to jog to the middle to minimise wasted time. Each bowler may bowl a maximum of four overs each and fielding restrictions will apply for the first six overs of each innings. The legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev on Saturday called for cutting down on the number of cricket matches played in a calendar year saying the overdose was taking its toll on the players. "Cricketers nowadays on an average have to play ten months in a year which puts too much pressure on them," Kapil told reporters in an informal chat here. "The performance of the players will be best only when they have fun and can enjoy playing the game. But if it becomes like a job, then the performance will be affected," he said.

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