11.   Astle has also played county cricket for Nottinghamshire and is familiar with the English conditions.

12.   Bird played county cricket with Yorkshire and Leicestershire before turning to umpiring.

13.   Border played county cricket with Essex during his test career.

14.   David Byas, who captained Yorkshire to the English county cricket championship last season, announced Thursday that he is coming out of retirement to play for Lancashire.

15.   Despite nursing injuries, including a right shoulder complaint requiring daily treatment, Warne made it clear he expects to play county cricket in the next Australian winter.

16.   Donald and Pollock played county cricket for Worcestershire and know the ins and outs of the seamer-friendly Edgbaston pitch.

17.   Essex has signed Zimbabwe batsman Andy Flower as its overseas player for the next English county cricket season.

18.   Gloucestershire said it expected Symonds to return to county cricket in England next year.

19.   He has played county cricket in England and is experienced in the conditions.

20.   He said he is not interested in returning to county cricket in England, where he asked to be relieved of his contract with the Warwickshire club.