Ian Bell and Ryan Sidebottom have been recalled to the England squad for the second Test against West Indies in Durham starting on Thursday.
England skipper Kevin Pietersen disclosed that he will go into the first Test against India at Chennai with a two-pronged spin attack comprising Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann.
The England cricket board's failure to get Mushtaq Ahmed's travel documents in order means the Pakistan leg-spinner, who was appointed the team's spin bowling coach, will not be travelling to India to assist Monty Panesar and company. England take on India in two Tests after the completion of the ODI series and Ahmed's priority was to help Panesar hone his skills on the spin-friendly tracks.
Riding on the match-saving hundred against New Zealand in the second cricket Test, Indian batsman VVS Laxman on Tuesday returned to the top-20 of the ICC Rankings, up six places to 15th in the latest list.
A pay dispute seems to have poured cold water on Monty Panesar's plans of playing for Sri Lankan Club Bloomfield to prepare for the Test series against India with the England Cricket Board (ECB) ruling out the spinner's trip to the island nation. Bloomfield reportedly demanded 7,000 pounds for allowing the English left-arm spinner to play in the Sri Lanka Premier League to prepare for the two-Test series against India starting December 11.
Paul Collingwood and Matt Prior cracked centuries in a 218-run partnership to carry England to 546 for six declared on the second day of the fifth and final Test against West Indies in Port of Spain on Saturday. West Indies in reply raced to 90 for no loss inside 17 overs before Devon Smith was bowled by Monty Panesar for 28 with two overs remaining.
England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff flew to Jamaica on Monday for a scan after picking up a side strain in England's opening warm-up game against an invitational team from St Kitts & Nevis. Flintoff pulled out of the match on Sunday and was replaced by Stuart Broad.
Shaan talks about his role as host for the reality music show, Amul Star Voice Of India.
Monty Panesar exposed South Africa's historic fallibility against spin bowling on Saturday with four for 74 on the third day of the first Test at Lord's.
Monty Panesar exposed South Africa's historic fallibility against spin bowling on Saturday with four for 74 on the third day of the first test at Lord's. Panesar helped dismiss South Africa for 247 in their first innings in reply to England's 593 for eight declared. The visitors were 13 for no wicket at the close in their second innings after being asked to follow on.
Yuvraj Singh returned to the Indian side for the first Test after an eight-month hiatus.
A Sikh schoolgirl who was forbidden from attending classes after she refused to remove her Kara told a British Court that she should not have been asked to take it off because it was a symbol of faith and not a piece of jewellery.
Speaking to Reuters on Tuesday after a rehearsal for the show, Williams said he will be performing "a medley, a smorgasbord of my greatest hits" alongside Russian soprano Aida Garifullina.
Leg-spinner Monty Panesar will warm up for England's Test series in India by playing club cricket in Sri Lanka.
Former Indian table tennis star Virendra "Monty" Merchant, 64, died in Washington on Wednesday. Merchant, who is is survived by his American wife and mother, was cremated on Thursday.
Stephen Fleming walked into the annals of international cricketing history on Tuesday, with his final innings encapsulating his entire career.
New Zealand finished day four on 222 for five, needing another 331 to win the third Test against England.
England have named a provisional 30-man squad for the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.
England pace bowler Stuart Broad believes the Nottingham swing factor can give his side a 2-0 series win in the third and final Test against New Zealand starting at Trent Bridge on Thursday. Spin was the primary weapon at the second Test at Old Trafford, which England won by six wickets thanks to Monty Panesar after trailing New Zealand by 179 runs on the first innings.
Monty Panesar took a Test best six for 37 as England dismissed the Kiwis for 114 in their second innings. England were 76 for 1 in their second innings, needing a further 218 runs to go 1-0 up in the three-match series.
England spinner Monty Panesar claimed six wickets to wrap up the deciding third Test against New Zealand just after lunch on the fifth day on Wednesday. New Zealand, chasing an improbable 553 to win, were bowled out for 431 in their second innings to give England victory by 121 runs and a 2-1 triumph in the series, their first overseas success since South Africa in 2005.
Sri Lanka picked a four-man pace attack with all rounder Farveez Maharoof taking the place of injured spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.
Durham pace bowler Graham Onions has been added to England's squad as they bid to win the Ashes series outright in the fourth Test at his Chester-le-Street home ground from Friday.
Batsman Alastair Cook and left-arm spinner Monty Panesar have been awarded 12-month central contracts after impressive starts to their England careers this year.
Matthew Hoggard (4 for 29) and Monty Panesar (3 for 46) shared seven wickets as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 188 on first day of the first Test against England on Saturday. In reply, England were 49 for 1 at stumps.
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.
Fletcher has been heavily criticised by former England players for persevering with Giles despite his ineffectiveness against the Australians.
At close on Day 3 in the first Test, the West Indies were 363 for seven after England declared at their overnight total of 553 for five.
"This is totally unacceptable and I'll talk to my colleague in Australia about the incident," said Britain's Minister for Sport Richard Caborn.
Out-of-favour India batsman Virender Sehwag and Sri Lankan spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan will lead two MCC sides in a series of matches in the Middle East to help launch the new county season.
Anil Kumble surpassed Glenn McGrath to become the world's third highest wicket-taker in Tests.
England finished 319 runs behind India's first innings score, but captain Rahul Dravid did not enforce the follow on.
England trail India's first innings score by 338 runs. They need another 127 runs to avoid the follow-on.
'It was as if I lost my mind. I honestly didn't know what was going on. I just started running and it felt like I was flying somewhere,' said Panesar, talking about Tendulkar's dismissal.
The Punjab all-rounder admits it will be tough breaking into the Test side with the likes of Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman in the middle order.
England left-arm spin bowler Ashley Giles, recovering from a third hip operation in 18 months, must decide whether to risk his long-term health with another comeback.
The 25-year-old moved into the top ten of the LG ICC rankings for the first time in his career and is now the highest rated England spinner since Derek Underwood in 1977.
The England captain anticipates a sterner challenge from the experienced India team in the Test series next month.
England, set 110 to win, reached 111 for three with captain Michael Vaughan (48 not out) steering England home in his first Test series in 18 months after injury.
The England left-arm spinner exploited a wearing Old Trafford pitch to claim his first 10-wicket haul in a Test match.
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