Ricky Ponting appears to be quite desperate to get as much information about the pitch at Cardiff, the venue for the first Ashes Test against England.

Shahid Afridi has been guilty of blowing up his talent like a millionaire on a gambling spree. At times one wondered whether he had filed for bankruptcy.

Australia's injured all-rounder Shane Watson has been almost ruled out for the first Ashes Test after he did not train with the team in Worcester.

Former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie believes that Australian bowling spearhead Brett Lee, who has been struggling with injuries, is in danger of falling out of the Australian team, similar to the way that he was dropped after the 2005 Ashes tour.

West Indies captain Chris Gayle praised fast bowlers Ravi Rampaul and Jerome Taylor for setting up the second one-day international cricket match for the hosts against India here Sunday.