India's tour of England

Surrey seamer Alex Tudor is out of the England team for the first Test against India, starting next Thursday.

Tudor had been taking anti-inflammatory tablets in a bid to relieve the discomfort of his shin splints and was always a major doubt.

Miscellaneous

Senior Australia cricketers have expressed their surprise at Steve and Mark Waugh's omission from the latest one-day squads. Adam Gilchrist and Justin Langer feel the twins can still make it to the World Cup.

"It is a bit odd, obviously the Waughs could easily slot into any team and still do well." Gilchrist, the Test and one-day vice captain, said.

Langer, who will captain an Australia A side to tour South Africa in September, feels Steve has what it takes to force his way back into the limited-overs side.

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Sri Lankan seamers Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa will play no part in the two-Test series against Bangladesh, which starts in Colombo on Sunday.

The selectors have decided to give the two left-armers a rest as they look to try out some new faces against Test cricket's weakest side.

The squad for the first Test on 21 July:
Sanath Jayasuriya (Captain), Marvan Atapattu (Vice Captain), Mahela Jayawardena, Russel Arnold, Aravinda De Silva, Kumar Sangakkara, Prasanna Jayawardena, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dilhara Fernando, Sujeeva De Silva, Charitha Buddika Fernando, Upul Chandana, Thilan Samaraweera, Hashan Tillekeratne and Hasantha Fernando.

The squad for the second Test on 28 July:
Sanath Jayasuriya, Aravinda De Silva, Jehan Mubarak, Michael Vandort, Naveed Nawaz, Thilan Samaraweera, Prasanna Jayawardena, Upul Chandana, Hashan Tillekeratne, Charitha Buddika Fernando, Sujeeva De Silva, Chamila Gamage, Hasantha Fernando, Pulasthi Guneratne, and Chamara Silva.

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Women's Tri-Series, Chester-le-Street:
England v India Match abandoned due to rain

Poor weather in the north east meant play in this dead rubber was called off.

It was the second game in the tournament that had been lost due to rain, but in any case England already knew they would play New Zealand in Saturday's final.

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Former South African Test batsman Peter Kirsten is set to take over as the new coach of Western Province.

The post is vacant following the recent departures of Eric Simons and Vincent Barnes.

Simons is now in charge of the national team, with Barnes looking after South Africa A, the under-19 and Academy sides.

Kirsten, the elder brother of current Test opener Gary, scored 22,635 first-class runs during his career, including 57 centuries.

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South Africa’s new coach Eric Simons has concluded his first training camp with the squad that will play in Morocco and has declared himself satisfied with proceedings.

The team met in Centurion on Wednesday and the camp ran through until Friday. It is the first time a squad has been gathered since the Australians toured South Africa at the end of last season.

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