11.   England batsmen Nasser Hussain and Graham Thorpe hit brilliant centuries before lunch Friday as they continued to bat Australia out of the first cricket Test at Edgbaston.

12.   England will go into the first cricket Test with confidence, and with no concerns about facing Australian spinner Shane Warne, captain Mike Atherton said Thursday.

13.   England won the toss and sent New Zealand in to bat in the first cricket Test at Eden Park on Friday.

14.   England fast bowler Devon Malcolm has chicken pox and will miss first Ashes cricket Test against Australia, which starts on Friday at the Gabba Ground.

15.   England fought its way back into the first cricket Test against New Zealand with a good final session on the opening day at Eden Park on Friday.

16.   Greg Blewett helped himself to his third Test century as Australia took the upper hand in the first cricket Test against South Africa at the Wanderers on Sunday.

17.   Greg Blewett hit his third century in his first three games against England as Australia clawed its way back into the first cricket Test at Edgbaston Sunday.

18.   His team, seeking its first cricket World Cup Group B victory, was due to play Zimbabwe at Grace Road ground later Wednesday.

19.   Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar won the toss and elected to bat on the first day of the first cricket Test against South Africa Wednesday.

20.   Injuries to key players have caused concern to the Pakistan and Sri Lankan cricket teams as they prepare for the first cricket Test, which begins in Colombo Saturday.