England will have to cover some injured batsmen when announcing their squad for the first Test against West Indies.
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Selectors are confident wicketkeeper Mark Boucher will recover from a foot injury for the first Test in Johannesburg, starting on 26 February.
Realistically, his best chance of a return to the England team would be for the first Test against South Africa on July 10.
Their next warm-up game is a three-day contest against Otago starting on Thursday, to finish off preparations for the first Test, starting on 5 March.
Giles feels confident he will be match-fit for the first Test, starting on 23 November, even though he is out of practice in the middle.
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The ABC is hoping still to coax him back, I hear, and I hope it succeeds in time for the first test at the Gabba.
Saint-Andre, the Toulon coach, revealed Jonny Wilkinson should be available for the first Test against Australia on Saturday week after recovering from a rib injury.
South Africa coach Mickey Arthur said the aim was to get Boucher fit for the first Test against the Australians in Johannesburg on 26 February.
India next play England A at Chelmsford in a three-day game starting on Friday, their final warm-up for the first Test at Lord's on 19 July.
Pietersen, Flintoff and Collingwood will all then be included in England's squad for the first Test against the West Indies at Lord's starting on 6 May.
Fly-half Stephen Larkham is one of a number of key players who could be rested for the first Test in Sydney after a tough Super 14 season.
He had been in impressive form with the ball for Lancashire and would have returned to the squad for the first Test against the Black Caps at Lord's.
What we might think should be the Lions Test XV now is unlikely to be the side that takes to the field in Durban for the first Test.
Gatland has chosen Jones to play in an unfamiliar openside role alongside blindside Jonathan Thomas and number 8 Ryan Jones in the back row for the first test.
"He is part of the squad and we will decide after the lead up game what's the best 12 or best 11 for the first Test match, " Chappell explained.
With an injury doubt surrounding Dan Luger, Northampton wing Cohen will be looking for an impressive performance after being dropped for the first Test against South Africa in Pretoria.
O'Connell was delighted with how the Lions kept the Sharks try-less at the ABSA Stadium as the tourists build for the first Test against South Africa on 20 June.
"They're nice things, but we're looking to the future not the past, it's all about getting ready for the first test and the first race in Bahrain, " he said.
Amid the wrangle the Windies have been able to field a side for the first Test against Bangladesh which has the potential to reach a tight climax on day five.
The master of reverse swing bowling was returning to the side after been overlooked for the first Test, and spending some time in the shadows of former understudy Shoaib Akhtar.
His squad included Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Daren Ganga, but they are all likely to be chosen for the first Test against Pakistan in Lahore, which starts on 11 November.
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England finish their tour to the West Indies on 3 April and have no further cricket until 7 May, the scheduled date for the first Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's.
In a selfless act, Hussain decided to drop himself a place in order to give Vaughan the vital number three slot for the first Test of the 2001 summer against Pakistan.
Panesar claimed 3-10, admittedly against Warwickshire's lower order, but he will make the journey to Cardiff on Monday for the first Test against Australia looking forward to bowling on a surface which is expected to favour spinners.
What is required is strong umpiring to keep everything under control and it is with some trepidation that I note that the two umpires on duty for the first Test - an Indian and a Sri Lankan - are virtually unknown.
Leading into the Ashes, these two Tests against the West Indies might give the selectors a snapshot of the future, but I would be amazed if Steve Harmison's name isn't pencilled into the teamsheet for the first Test in Cardiff in a few months time.
Strauss will hope to have Andrew Flintoff available for the first Test, after the all-rounder continues to recover from an injury to his left side, with the former England captain bowling the equivalent of six overs at Warner Park before play on the third day.
The writer travelled to Burma in March when the country was preparing for the first major test of the new era: a special election.
Australia will now travel to Cardiff to prepare for the first Ashes Test, which starts on Wednesday and captain Ricky Ponting facing several selection posers.
Wilkinson was picked at inside centre for the first Lions test against New Zealand, despite having only played 20 minutes in that position during the tour.
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