Alastair Cook says England can win Champions Trophy

Alastair Cook backed his England side to end their 38-year wait for a one-day international global trophy after they brushed aside South Africa in the semi-final of the Champions Trophy.

England through to Champions Trophy Final after beating South Africa

They were facing a South African side who have an unfortunate habit of imploding on the big occasion but England would never have believed that their passage to the Champions Trophy final would be as smooth as this.

ICC Champions Trophy results and tables

The seventh and last Champions Trophy brings together the world’s eight best teams in a short, sharp tournament spread over 18 days. Keep up-to-date with all the latest scores and tables here with Sportsmail.

India captain MS Dhoni praises former England coach Duncan Fletcher ahead of Champions Trophy semi-final

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has praised the influence of former England coach Duncan Fletcher as they prepare for the Champions Trophy semi-final against Sri Lanka in Cardiff.

AB de Villiers ramps up ball row ahead of semi-final clash with England

The ball-tampering allegations that have marred England’s progress to today’s Champions Trophy semi-final resurfaced on Tuesday when South Africa raised concerns about their methods of gaining reverse swing.

Ashes 2013: Fawad Ahmed closer to selection after Australia A tour of Africa

Fawad Ahmed, the Pakistan-born spinner tipped to be added to Australia's Ashes squad, has been named in the party for next month's A tour of Africa.

NASSER HUSSAIN: Jimmy Anderson will mix it up in pace battle

Jimmy Anderson and Dale Steyn are world-class bowlers at the very top of their game who stand comparison with the greats from any era.

England playing it safe on Graeme Swann

England will wrap Graeme Swann in cotton wool to ensure he is fit for the Ashes, even if it means he misses the rest of their attempt to win their first global 50-over competition.

Alec Stewart takes temporary charge of Surrey as Chris Adams and Ian Salisbury are sacked

A football-style mid-season sacking came to county cricket yesterday when Surrey, the Manchester United of the domestic scene, brought an abrupt end to the troubled reign of manager Chris Adams and his coach Ian Salisbury.

England's middle order must improve - Nasser Hussain

NASSER HUSSAIN: What England’s performances in the group stage have shown is that they are a force to be reckoned with when the ball is moving - either through reverse-swing or off the seam.

Ashes 2013: Australia captain Michael Clarke insists tourists are united

Michael Clarke maintains that the Australia camp remains a united team despite the uproar following David Warner's punch on England's Joe Root.

Kevin Pietersen returns from injury for Surrey v Yorkshire

Kevin Pietersen will make his first appearance for Surrey this year against Yorkshire at Headingley on Friday in the County Championship.

James Anderson hits back at Bob Willis

Pace star James Anderson hit out at Bob Willis, saying the former England captain’s claim that Alastair Cook’s team have been guilty of ball-tampering during ICC Champions Trophy, was ‘disappointing and frustrating’ and could affect the reputation of English cricket.

England are not ball tampering - Ashley Giles

England's limited-overs coach Ashley Giles has denied his players tamper with the ball in the wake of allegations made by former captain Bob Willis after England's defeat to Sri Lanka.

Essex are skittled for 20, their lowest County Championship score

Essex were bowled out for their lowest ever County Championship score on Friday against Lancashire, being skittled for just 20 as they lost by an innings and 105 runs at Chelmsford.

David Warner criticised by Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland

David Warner has come in for a scathing attack from the chief executive of Cricket Australia after he was fined and suspended for aiming a punch at England's Joe Root.

Mitchell McClenaghan joins Lancashire for the Friends Life t20

New Zealand's star fast bowler Mitchell McClenaghan has joined Lancashire Lightning for the Friends Life t20.

Billy Bowden falls over and does the splits after his hat flies off at Oval

Colourful New Zealand cricket umpire Billy Bowden was caught up in comedy moment at The Oval when almost did the splits when trying to dodge a Ravi Bopara shot.

Kevin Pietersen hails Sky Sports as network dedicates entire channel to summer Ashes series

Sky Sports have strengthened their claim of being the ‘home of televised cricket’ as they launch Sky Sports Ashes HD, a channel focused on this summer’s Investec Ashes series.

WIN tickets to the Champions Trophy final at Edgbaston - courtesy of Emirates

Sportsmail has teamed up with Emirates, official partner to the International Cricket Council (ICC), to offer you the chance to win a pair of tickets to the Champions Trophy final.

Twenty20 cricket is 10 years old

Ten years ago, cricket changed for ever with the introduction of Twenty20. Now it is a part of the fabric of the English game and is still providing thrills and spills a decade on. And, later this month, the 2013 jamboree will begin.

History of Australia cricketers boozing and bust-ups

David Warner's unprovoked attack on Joe Root has heaped shame on the Aussies ahead of the Ashes, but it's certainly not the first time the tourists have courted controversy after a few beers.

David Warner may be more trouble than he's worth for Australia - Nasser Hussain

It’s always tough judging a dressing room from afar, but you don’t need to be Einstein to work out that something is obviously going on with the Australians.

Tim Bresnan: The Ashes, Champions Trophy and the birth of my child... this is a big summer!

Victory against Australia and then back home for a couple of days to await the next big event, the birth of our first child. And the big news is we are still waiting.

Sir Viv Richards' old team-mate Cecil Wright still playing cricket aged 79

Fast bowler Cecil Wright may be one of the oldest players in Britain but he is refusing to be sent back to the pavilion by old age, proved by the six wickets he grabbed for his club side just last week.

Ashes 2013: Performance review of Australia and Middlesex batsman Chris Rogers

Middlesex opener Chris Rogers is in Australia's Ashes squad and is looking to add to his one Test cap at the age of 35. More hundreds like the one he scored against Sussex last week will do him no harm whatsoever.

Youngest post-war county cricketer Matthew Fisher takes wicket on Yorkshire debut against Leicestershire

Fifteen-year-old Matthew Fisher took a wicket on his senior debut for Yorkshire on Sunday as he became county cricket's youngest post-war player.

England fan Chris Newell takes home 50,000 after stump challenge - VIDEO

If you thought England's bowling was impressive at Trent Bridge in the third one-day international against New Zealand, cricket fan Chris Newell took the quality to a whole new level.

Alastair Cook praises England bowling in win over South Africa

England captain Alastair Cook hailed his team's bowling efforts as 'just what you want in a semi-final' after today's seven-wicket win over South Africa.

The stage is set for England to end decades of failure with Champions Trophy crown

PAUL NEWMAN: They will never have a better chance of reaching a global one-day final, of finally ending the near-40 years of hurt without a title in the longer form of the limited-overs game.