England last pair Jimmy Anderson and Monty Panesar proved their country's unlikely batting heroes when the hosts defied the rules of probability by drawing the first Ashes Test against Australia on Sunday.
England tailenders James Anderson and Monty Panesar denied Australia victory in the first Ashes Test with an heroic unbeaten last-wicket stand before an ecstatic capacity 16,000-strong crowd in Cardiff on Sunday. Victory seemed assured for the Australians when Paul Collingwood was dismissed for 74 after five hours 43 minutes of dogged resistance with England still needing six to make Australia bat again and a minimum 11.3 overs remaining.
Pace bowler Graham Onions won selection ahead of Durham team mate Steve Harmison in the England squad named on Sunday for the first Ashes test against Australia starting in Cardiff next week.
Uncapped batsman Jonathan Trott will make his England debut in the Ashes decider against Australia next week, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Sunday. The ECB also included all-rounder Andrew Flintoff in a 14-man squad for the fifth and final Test, which starts at The Oval on Thursday, but Essex batsman Ravi Bopara was left out after struggling for runs throughout the series.
After Steve Waugh, now Shane Warne begs to differ with Ricky Ponting on the alleged time-wasting tactics of England during the Ashes opener in Cardiff, saying the hosts played within the spirit of the game.
England last pair Jimmy Anderson and Monty Panesar proved their country's unlikely batting heroes when the hosts defied the rules of probability by drawing the first Ashes test against Australia on Sunday.
Australia batted throughout a rain-interrupted third day of the first Ashes Test against England to take a 44-run first innings lead over the hosts on Friday.
England pace bowler James Anderson took two wickets in 14 deliveries to reduce Australia to 348 for 4 at lunch on Day 3 of the first Test against England.
Mitchell Johnson claimed two wickets as England's top order was dismissed in the morning session on the opening day of the first Ashes Test.
Spinners Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar were both included in the England side while Australia opted to play their only specialist spinner Nathan Hauritz.
West Indies hung on dramatically with just two wickets left for a series-winning draw against England in the final Test on Tuesday to claim the Wisden Trophy for the first time since 1998. West Indies, who win the five-Test series 1-0, were 90 for six before skipper Chris Gayle, batting with a hamstring injury, survived 13 overs along with wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin.
With a tally of 19 wickets in the series so far, Moeen Ali is the second highest-wicket taker from both sides after team mate James Anderson, who has 21 dismissals to his name. Incidentally, only three spinners have taken more wickets against India outside Asia.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sri Lanka picked a four-man pace attack with all rounder Farveez Maharoof taking the place of injured spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.
Former India wicketkeeping great Farokh Engineer believes Monty Panesar won't hold any threat to the Indian batting line-up in the forthcoming three-Test series.
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.
Cricket fans across the world find Monty very appealing.. but that's the problem, critics say he is appealing too much.
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.
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.
Modern-day cricket is all about innovation and trying to better your opponents -- whether it is a match or in training.
England spin sensation Monty Panesar says he 'still feels like a baby in terms of other spinners'.
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 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.
England were in control of the third Test on the second day after the West Indies suffered an embarrassing batting collapse.
Worcestershire were promoted to Division One of the English County Championship after a five-wicket victory over Northamptonshire.
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