Ryan Sidebottom

England's hopes of emerging from South Africa with a memorable series win were dealt a devastating blow on a breathless first day at Johannesburg, as Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel combined with ruthless intent a helpful but not unplayable surface

Andrew Strauss has said he is confident that strike bowler James Anderson will be fit for the first Test at Centurion.

James Anderson was the focus of attention as England wound up their four days of practice at East London, but Ryan Sidebottom was the most impressive bowler on show

With one innings left before the first Test Kevin Pietersen finally found form as the England batsmen enjoyed a good day against the South African Invitational XI at Buffalo Park

Ryan Sidebottom has been awarded a benefit season in 2010 after six years with Nottinghamshire

With the Ashes secured and rain helping England escape the first Twenty20, their aim is now to leave Australia empty-handed throughout their tour

Ian Bell's demeanour throughout his second innings here had been that of a man determined not to waste an opportunity and if he was hoping to make the right impression on England's selectors he could not have chosen a better moment

Not a good day for Ashley Giles in either of his jobs, as both Ian Bell and Jonathan Trott failed for Warwickshire on the second day against Nottinghamshire

Ryan Sidebottom has earned a recall to England's squad for the fourth Test at Headingley, while Jonathan Trott was also called up

Yorkshire will probably have to look for either the rain or their newest batting recruit Jonny Bairstow to save them from defeat

After the storms in the north-east earlier in the week, it was ironic that Nottinghamshire should find themselves thwarted by the weather here just as Durham were dodging the downpours to win at the Riverside

A round-up from the latest matches in the Twenty20 Cup

Andrew Miller offers the plays of the day between England and West Indies at The Oval

A round-up from the latest Friends Provident Trophy matches

The pursuit of continuity used to be a virtue for the selectors, but the inclusion of Bell and Sidebottom shows that that's not longer quite the case

England have recalled Ian Bell and Ryan Sidebottom to their squad for the second Test against West Indies at Chester-le-Street

Unusually for a modern Championship match - though not necessarily so for Trent Bridge - the bowlers dominated the first day

England's selectors have chosen to delay the announcement of their first Test squad of the summer, originally scheduled for Monday, to enable the players to have an extra round of county matches in which to prove their form

Ryan Sidebottom has been ruled out of the Twenty20 international and one-day series against West Indies by his persistent Achilles problem. He will fly home after the final Test in Trinidad while Amjad Khan, who made his debut in Port of Spain, will remai