A man has had to remortgage his house after losing a £50,000 bet on the recent India-Pakistan cricket series.
Matthew Hoggard has points to prove to both the selectors and the England batsmen if he makes the starting XI for Thursday's opening Test against New Zealand at Lord's. Hoggard, the fulcrum of the England pace attack since the turn of the century, was jettisoned along with Steve Harmison when his team unexpectedly lost to the Kiwis in Hamilton this year.
England's selectors kept faith with the players who beat New Zealand earlier this year by naming an unchanged team, plus fast bowler Matthew Hoggard, in a 12-man squad against the same opposition for this week's first Test. The selectors chose the team which came back from 1-0 down to win the series in New Zealand 2-1 in March.
Fast bowling coach Troy Cooley says Australia have the superior pacemen going into this year's Ashes series.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul scored an undefeated 116 on Monday but could not push the West Indies to its first away Test victory against England since 2000.
The West Indies, chasing an unlikely victory target of 455, were 22 for one at the close after having bowled England out for 313.
England were set a victory target of 246 after bowling out Sri Lanka Cricket President's XI for just 81 and chased down the target in 61 overs.
There was no place for fast bowler Steve Harmison also, as the ECB included four uncapped players for the three-Test series against Sri Lanka, starting on December 1.
India's Test opener Wasim Jaffer says, if given the opportunity, he would certainly like to prove his worth in the shorter version of the game as well.
Murali Kartik picked three crucial wickets to help Lancashire restrict Durham to 372 in the first innings of their four-day match at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Friday.
Matthew Hoggard was named in the England squad for the first Test against Pakistan despite a hand injury.
The West Indies included pacemen Corey Collymore and Fidel Edwards for Ian Bradshaw and Dwayne Smith in the team for the match against England.
The Pakistan paceman is hoping to extend his playing days by cutting back on one-day international appearances.
The ace Indian leg spinner is only the fifth bowler to reach the milestone.
England fast bowler Steve Harmision was ruled out of the game due to a sore throat with Kabir Ali replacing him.
The Aussie wicketkeeper reached hundred off 57 balls in the third Ashes Test against England on Saturday.
England named an unchanged 12-man squad for the second Ashes Test starting at Edgbaston, Birmingham on August 4.
Collingwood hit an unbeaten 80 and impressed in the field as England cruised to a 152-run win in their ICC Champions Trophy match.
England snapped up three late wickets to leave Pakistan 183 for 6 at the close on the fourth day in the second Test, an overall lead of 199 runs.
Inzamam-ul-Haq equalled the record for the number of Test centuries by a Pakistani when he scored his 23rd hundred during the second Test against England.
England, chasing 198 to win the first Test against Pakistan, were 24 for 1 at close on day 4.
Wisden named Strauss, Giles, Harmison, Trescothick and Robert Key as the five cricketers of the year
A summary of the five Tests between England and Australia this summer.
Who do you think will win the final Ashes Test at The Oval?
Five England bowlers are ranked in the top-20 following superb performances in the on-going Ashes series
England coach Duncan Fletcher confirmed that he will tour Zimbabwe for the one-day series scheduled in December.
Wisden has named its best cricketers for 2004. Now you name yours.
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