Cricket

With just over two weeks before the Australia v England Ashes battle resumes, the sledging – courtesy of spin bowling maestro Shane Warne – is already underway.

England have won the Ashes series 3-0 but a thrilling end to the final match was thwarted by the rules around bad light.

The Oval will provide the perfect backdrop for a final Ashes test that could see England claim a history 4-0 series win. But Australia will be looking to restore some national pride.

Australia and England get ready to play for the Ashes this Sunday. And no, England have not already won. This is the women’s game and everything is to play for.

With England 2-0 up in the Ashes, Australia needed to beat the home side at Old Trafford to maintain an interest in the series – and they were well positioned to do so until the rain ended play.

It is in England’s grasp, but can they keep up the new ruthlessness which has seen them trouncing the tourists? Do we even want them to? Malcolm Boughen weighs up the third Test of the 2013 Ashes.

As the second Ashes test opens at Lord’s, the cricket world will be hoping the controversial decision review system (DRS) does not have quite such a central part to play as it did at Nottingham.

It’s not been easy – but England lead the Ashes series 1-0 after beating Australia by 14 runs in the first test at Trent Bridge. But what of the role of the video umpire? Malcolm Boughen takes a look.

Tomorrow cricket’s oldest and most intense rivalry, between England and Australia, resumes in a battle that began back in 1882. Here are six things you should know before it starts.

There will be no let-up in the cricketing entertainment over the coming months, culminating in the Ashes test series. But before that, erratic England take on an under-estimated New Zealand side.

Sachin Tendulkar, widely regarded as the world’s greatest living batsman, announces his retirement from one-day international cricket after winning 463 caps.

After their celebrated victory in India, Malcolm Boughen asks if England’s cricketers can repeat their success against the Australians at the Ashes next summer.

As England achieve a dramatic test series victory over India for the first time in 27 years, captain Alastair Cook says his team “can be very proud”.