Qualifying for 2014 World Cup gets underway

It may not be as glamorous as Soccer City, there may not be 84490 fans in attendance and the reward is not the ultimate prize in world football, but today world cup qualifying for 2014 gets underway as Montserrat host Belize in Couva, Trinidad. This encounter kicks off the lengthiest football tournament in the world, with no fewer than 832 matches expected to be played across the six confederations to determine which 31 of the 203 participating countries will be battling for Planet Football’s most coveted crown alongside automatically qualified hosts Brazil in June/July 2014.

Montserrat are ranked 202nd in the FIFA rankings and have never won a match in world cup qualifying. Coach Kenny Dyer: "We've got players who work in McDonald's, accountants, a few full-time professionals, policemen. Some players are seeing each other for the first time. It's about team spirit and camaraderie. It's a big ask, but it's about 90 minutes and we can play well."

James Anderson returns for England

James Anderson has been recalled by England for the third and final test against Sri Lanka, which starts this Thursday at the Rose Bowl. The England seamer picked up a side strain injury in the first Test, which England went on to win in dramatic style.

Anderson was due to prove his fitness during Lancashire's Twenty20 match against Worcestershire at New Road on Sunday but the game was  abandoned without a ball bowled because of  persistent rain. His England return means that Stuart Broad, Steve Finn or Chris Tremlett will be dropped.

India veto use of DRS

India's forthcoming tour of England will take place without the use of the Decision Review System (DRS). The BCCI has decided to veto the use of technology after concerns from senior India players. MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar are among those players who oppose the DRS system. The news comes as a blow to England, who have become quite astute in the use of the review system.

India are ranked the number one Test team and begin their four-match series against England at Lord's on 21 July. That match is scheduled to be the 2,000th Test in the history of the sport and the 100th between England and India.

England and Sri Lanka draw at Lords

No suprises at Lords on the final day of the 2nd Test match between England and Sri Lanka. England set the tourists a total of 343 in 58 overs to win, but Tharanga Paranavitana (44) showed courage and kept the English at bay. The  Sri Lankans battled their way to 127-3 before the teams decided to settle for a draw.

England thus take a 1-0 series lead to the Rose Bowl where the teams will meet for the third and final test  later this month. It has been confirmed in the mean time that Tillakaratne Dilshan, the Sri Lankan captain, has been ruled out for the third test because of a broken thumb. 

More to follow this saturday during World Scorpio!