1720 BST: Graeme Swann's passport fears are at an end. It turned up in his "safe place" - down the back of the kitchen bin.
Full story: Graeme Swann's Twitter feed

1503 BST: Ravi Bopara has blamed the pressure of last year's Ashes series for stalling his England Test career. The Essex batsman was dropped for the final Test in favour of Jonathan Trott, and concedes: "I think I put a lot of pressure on myself, and you can never play freely if you are expecting too much of yourself. (Reuters)

1438 BST: England's Chris Tremlett denies reports that he was forced to miss training with a rib injury after he was hurt during the same training camp where fellow seamer James Anderson cracked a rib. "My rib was a bit sore but it wasn't an issue and it didn't stop me doing anything," affirms the Surrey bowler.
Full story: the Guardian

1045 BST: England spinner Graeme Swann fears he may have mislaid his passport, two days before the squad are due to fly to Australia. "I fear today may be one of frantic searching," he tweets.
Full story: Graeme Swann's Twitter feed

0923 BST: Australia batsman Mike Hussey, 35, has no plans to retire from cricket as he is inspired by the longevity of Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar, 37. (Australian Associated Press)

One of Australia's selectors - Merv Hughes, Jamie Cox or David Boon - will be sacked at a board meeting on Friday. Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch, who was recently joined on the panel by ex-captain Greg Chappell, feels four selectors is the optimum number.
Full story: Cricinfo

England pace bowler Stuart Broad is not worried about being wound up and sledged by Australia this winter. "I'm not thinking about winning the Ashes in January, I'm thinking about that first hour of the First Test in Brisbane — we have to throw the first punch," he stated.
Full story: the Sun

Also vowing not to be put off by the sledgers is Broad's England team-mate Jonathan Trott, who had an angry confrontation with Pakistan's Wahab Riaz in the Lord's nets during the recent one-day series. "If the Aussies want to sledge me, then they are obviously worried about other things. It doesn't bother me," is the South African-born batsman's verdict.
Full story: Daily Mirror

Meanwhile, seamer Tim Bresnan insists he does not just want to make up the numbers and carry the drinks for England. "I definitely think I could play as the fourth bowler," said the Yorkshireman.
Full story: Daily Star

England opener Alastair Cook has hit back at Australia captain Ricky Ponting's recent claim that Cook was hanging on to his place "by the skin of his teeth". The Essex batsman commented: "In the last 12 months I've scored four Test hundreds - three in the last eight games - hopefully I can prove a few of them wrong." (Various)

Former England seamer Andy Caddick is backing team director Andy Flower's decision to ban the WAGs (wives and girlfriends) until after the second Test. "Years ago, you were there to play cricket, there were no distractions and you became a team because you did not have that," the ex-Somerset man said.
Full story: Daily Mail

Michael Clarke, Australia's Test vice-captain and Twenty20 captain, is more concerned about his form for the Ashes than for the upcoming Twenty20 international against Sri Lanka.
Full story: The Australian

Meanwhile, there are no plans to rest Clarke from any international match this winter, despite his heavy workload as he is a regular in all three forms of the game.
Full story: Daily Telegraph (Sydney)

Australia batsman Mike Hussey feels playing for Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield will be the perfect preparation for the Ashes.
Full story: Perth Now

And former South Africa coach Graham Ford thinks Kevin Pietersen's brief spell with KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins will have helped the England batsman find his form in time. (The Times)

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