Sam Robson's hundred - his fourth in five matches - gave England Lions control on the second day of the second unofficial Test

On the flattest pitch of the tour, with England Lions picking three spinners, Graham Onions, Chris Woakes and Liam Plunkett produced a display of unwavering discipline

England Lions have arrived in Sri Lanka's northern-most cricketing outpost hoping to wrap up the unofficial Test series

Madawa Warnapura, the son of Sri Lanka's first Test captain Bandula Warnapura, reminded England of the family name they had first encountered more than 30 years ago with a stubborn century which delayed the Lions' victory on the final day

Chris Woakes declared England Lions' innings to chase victory against Sri Lanka A in Pallekele and ended his chances of another century in the process

Chris Woakes was dropped from the one-day team, had a modest Test debut and did not make the Ashes cut. But as captain of England Lions he reminded the selectors of his ability in Kandy

England were hoping to find something a little different from their next generation but as well as Moeen Ali played the way England Lions collapsed after tea in Pallekele revealed similar flaws

As the majority of English cricket supporters mourn the loss of Kevin Pietersen a group of players who are actually available are about to begin perhaps the most important series of their careers

It is a good time to be a player on the fringes of the England Test team. There is clamour for change and James Taylor is just one member of the England Lions squad hoping to take advantage

Kevin Pietersen's future has been pushed further into doubt with his IPL franchise Delhi Daredevils deciding not to retain any of their players.

Twenty20 gets a revamp for 2014 as the NatWest T20 Blast becomes the latest incarnation of the original domestic T20 competition. But Warwickshire won't be playing in the tournament

If this match is seen as a shootout for the England No. 6 slot in Brisbane, Gary Ballance can begin whitening his pads for the Gabba

Dominic Sibley provided a pleasant footnote to Surrey's torturous season by becoming the youngest player to score a double century in the County Championship

Essex's funny season produced one final baffling episode as they meekly surrendered their chance of promotion at the Ageas Bowl

Michael Carberry's selection for the Ashes tour was greeted with a few suspicions but as the last of the summer wine was opened at the Ageas Bowl he again demonstrated why he is a solid selection

England appear to have won the battle over Sam Robson, the Middlesex batsman, by including him in the Performance Programme squad to tour Australia.

Lancashire will have to wait for the coup de grace of their season after a tame draw at Bristol but the champagne moment arrived in a literal sense as they lifted the Division Two title

The champagne, or perhaps the sponsors' beer, is on ice at Bristol for Lancashire who are on the cusp of the Division Two title

"Shot Procy," came the cry from beyond the boundary. A phrase once so common in Gloucestershire but not heard since 1981 was revived on the second day at Bristol

Michael Klinger, the Australian batsman, has turned down an offer to play for Gloucestershire as a domestic-qualified player