England Ashes preparations hit by rain at Blundstone Arena in Hobart

Chloe Saltau At least the weather gods are on Australia's side. There is rising anxiety in the England camp about the tourists' Ashes preparations, with two days of their tour match against Australia A washed out...

Ashes 2013: Josh Hazlewood out of action for weeks

Chloe Saltau Another of Australia's rising fast bowlers has broken down, with Ashes contender Josh Hazlewood expected to miss several weeks with shin soreness.

Clarke faces real test after bloodletting

Chloe Saltau MICHAEL Clarke might be relieved to face Stuart Broad on a bouncy Gabba pitch because nothing the tall and provocative Englishman can direct at him could be more testing than the examination the...

Cricket

England cricket team frustrated as rain falls

Chloe Saltau There is rising anxiety in the England camp about the tourists' Ashes preparation.

Cricket

Clarke ready to face Old Enemy, and the enemy within

Chloe Saltau There has been no escape for Clarke from the relentless commentary on his leadership of a side that hasn't won a Test since January.

Shane Warne critiques Michael Clarke's management style

Chloe Saltau Michael Clarke might be relieved to face Stuart Broad on a bouncy 'Gabba pitch because nothing the tall and provocative Englishman can direct at him could be more testing than the examination the...

Cricket

Ashes: England team cuisine makes Merv Hughes gag

Andrew Wu, Chloe Saltau England's new-age menu might have the approval of some of Australia's finest foodies but not so former Test great Merv Hughes.

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Cricket

Australia A players learn about selection via Twitter

Chloe Saltau Tim Paine was one of a handful of Australia A players who learnt of their selection to play on Twitter.

Cricket

Fixture congestion frustrates pacemen: Bird

Chloe Saltau Recovering paceman fears domestic schedule could rob aspiring pacemen of chances to press Test claims.

Cricket

Warnie's Pom protege fires

Chloe Saltau If Michael Carberry figures in the Ashes, Australians would have had a bit to do with it.

Cricket

Jackson Bird attacks Cricket Australia schedule

Chloe Saltau Recovering paceman Jackson Bird fears the warped domestic schedule could rob aspiring pacemen of valuable chances to press their Test claims.

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Ashes: England captain Alistair Cook brushes off Shane Warne sledge

Chloe Saltau Even the suave Alastair Cook felt his blood pressure rise when Shane Warne accused him of negative captaincy, but he has more than that to consider as England ramp up their preparations for the first...

Cricket

Cook straight-bats Warne spin

Chloe Saltau Even the suave leader felt his blood pressure rise when accused of negative captaincy.

Cricket

England prepares for Ahmed

Chloe Saltau England fully expects Fawad Ahmed to probe its age-old frailties against leg-spin.

Cricket

Doolan has Test in sight

Chloe Saltau Alex Doolan has another chance to impress selectors, for Australia A against England.

Cricket

Watson may get needle to aid an Ashes start

Chris Barrett, Sydney, and Chloe Saltau Acupuncture sessions loom as secret weapon to overcome hamstring injury.

Shane Warne comes out swinging in defence of Michael Clarke

Chloe Saltau Three former Australian captains and one former vice-captain are now embroiled in the spat over Michael Clarke's leadership.

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Cricket

English bats dismiss form perceptions

Chloe Saltau England plans to draw the Australians into another war of attrition.

Cricket

Ricky Ponting motivated by jealousy of Michael Clarke, says Shane Warne

Chloe Saltau Shane Warne suggests Ricky Ponting was motivated by jealousy when he expressed initial doubts about Michael Clarke's suitability to be Australian captain in his autobiography.

Cricket

Shane Watson says hamstring injury is 'not too bad'

Chris Barrett, Chloe Saltau Shane Watson has played down the seriousness of a hamstring strain, saying he was confident he would be fit to take his place for Australia in the first Test against England in 17 days’ time.