Ashes hero Alastair Cook weds childhood sweetheart and drives her from church in a TRACTOR

England have the best attack in world that will rattle Pakistan

Darts fan Alistair Cook backs England’s treble captains

Rangana Herath the hero as Sri Lanka get first win in South Africa

Ian Healy latest Segway fall victim at MCG – video

Peter Siddle bowls Sachin Tendulkar for 73

Pakistan’s Wahab Riaz gets controversial recall to face England

Andy Flower: no room for complacency if England are to stay at the top

Shane Warne unveils his new statue – and he can still take wickets, too

Aussie ace Phil Hughes may join Worcestershire for longer

England skipper Andrew Strauss sets sights on two more Ashes victories

Kevin Pietersen reveals snub as ODI captain

Rahul Dravid the perfect man to champion Test cricket

India look to upset Australia down under

Matt Prior fires England warning

Michael Yardy: depression left me a zombie

Monty Panesar’s guide to Christmas sledging.

Shane Warne still has the fear factor

British sport earns a record six nominations in the Laureus World Sports Awards

After the sort of break that could have been billed as once in a lifetime, England return to duty next week. They do so by entering unknown territory against a familiar foe to confront one compelling question: is the magic still there?

Strauss climbs the walls in bid to stay on top of world

Pakistan’s cricket team remain one of the wonders of the modern world. All logic suggests that they ought to be hopeless, permanently skewered by the mysteries of fractious internal politics and waspish selection, and simply representing a basket case of a country where they cannot play because everybody else refuses to go there.

Pakistan are stable again but will still amaze and infuriate

Australia yesterday brought Ryan Harris into their squad for the second Test against India, adding a fourth pace option a day after bowling their way to victory in the opening match.

Australia add Harris to winning side and consider all-pace attack

Quite a lot of high-profile sportsmen appear to have a better chance of reflecting the world, and some of its basic frailties, than making it a better place. However, if this is true, and a rash of super-injunctions and adolescent anarchy this year suggested that it might well be, the achievement of England’s cricket captain is made especially creditable.

Ten people who changed the world: Andrew Strauss, cricketer who set new standards for English sport

That this was in itself a notable victory for Australia, and in particular their still formative coaching team of Mickey Arthur and Craig McDermott, is undeniable. What is more difficult to gauge, with Australia one up with three to play, is whether the outcome offers a telling indication of a team in decline being passed by one on the up; or rather that the year ends with Australia’s glass half-full and India’s half-empty as a result of four fluctuating days in Melbourne.

Does MCG win mean Australia are back?

Sri Lanka level series against South Africa

Herath spins Sri Lanka to historic victory

Australia’s pace attack produced a bowling display reminiscent of the side’s era of dominance as they swept India aside to secure a 122-run victory in the first Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Australia snatch victory in first Test against India

South Africa’s aim of challenging England’s status as the world’s No 1 Test side is in danger of again being undermined by their inability to win at home. They have not recorded a series success on their own soil for three years and, facing a deficit of 426 runs with two days remaining of the second Test in Durban, have plenty of batting to do if they are to prevent Sri Lanka levelling the series.

Sangakkara adds to South Africa’s problems at home

Australia held an overall lead of 230 runs at stumps on day three of the first Test against India at the MCG, after reaching 179 for eight in their second innings.

India hit back over Hilfenhaus exploits

Sri Lanka look well placed to level their three-match series against South Africa after claiming a 426-run lead by the close of play on day three of the second Test in Durban.

Sri Lanka set to level series against South Africa

It’s been a year like no other for Test-match debutants. Yesterday in Durban, Marchant de Lange became the eighth bowler to return five wickets in his first taste of the game’s highest form to join an eclectic collection – three Australians, two South Africans, an Indian, a New Zealander and a Bangladeshi called Sunny – in making 2011 the year of the rookie.

Magnificent seven for De Lange but South Africa are skittled

Wickets tumble as Sri Lanka grab control

Sachin Tendulkar threatened to bring up a magical 100th international century but was dismissed late on day two after helping put India in command of the first Test against Australia.

Tendulkar falls short of landmark century

Australia batsman Ed Cowan spent hours patiently seeing off India’s attack as he crafted a half-century on his debut in the Boxing Day Test but was quickly on the front foot after stumps, when he told cricket’s governing body to get its house in order over the decision review system.

Cowan finds lack of DRS a real turn-off

Australia finished on 277 for six at the end of a controversial first
day of the Boxing Day Test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Test evenly poised after controversial first day

Debutant De Lange stuns Sri Lankans

Ten Test matches, 10 wins, a batting average of 46.43, a bowling average of 23.61 – statistics to dream of. And who can be the progenitor of these improbable figures, the basis of formidable sporting legend? It is Tim Bresnan, once all but dismissed as a chubby lad from Pontefract, now rapidly gaining credence as an authentic international all-rounder.

Tim Bresnan: England’s lucky charm

Australia used to catch the eye because they were so good, but times have changed.

Cowan the latest new boy for evolving Aussies

From a county’s point of view, signing a current England international is always something of a risk. The issue is one of availability, and in signing James Taylor, Nottinghamshire director of cricket Mick Newell has acknowledged he is putting a certain amount of faith in the form and fitness of the Test side’s current batting line-up.

Taylor aims to gatecrash England top six

‘Random’ intruder caps a crazy day for Cowan

England batsman Kevin Pietersen has extended his contract with Surrey until the end of his international career.

Pietersen signs new Surrey deal

Jason Gillespie is not a man given to reminiscing, even though his entitlement in that regard is beyond question. A member of perhaps the greatest Test cricket team the world has seen, he was capped 71 times, a staggering 47 of them on the winning side. With 259 Test wickets – a tally that would have been greater but for injuries – he is the sixth most successful Australian bowler of all time.

Jason Gillespie: Dizzy confident that Australia will soon be on upward curve

England batsman Kevin Pietersen will remain a Surrey player for the remainder of his international career, it was announced today.

Kevin Pietersen staying with Surrey

Andrew Strauss wants to become the first England post-war captain to win four successive Ashes series.

Strauss targets Ashes history

Ponting retained for India Test

Pakistan wrapped up a sweep of the two-Test series against Bangladesh with a seven-wicket victory in Mirpur.

Pakistan clinch series with second Test triumph over Bangladesh

Dernbach criticised for poor sledging

Ed Cowan is set to make his debut for Australia in the first Test against India which gets under way at the MCG on Boxing Day.

Australia hand debut to opener Ed Cowan

Ricky Ponting’s international future could be in doubt if he fails to make runs, regardless of the former captain’s standing in the game, Australia coach Mickey Arthur has said.

Ricky Ponting future uncertain reveals Australia coach Mickey Arthur

Taufiq century drives Pakistan