It’s enough to make an ale drinker’s beard turn white. Beer cocktails? Even to the more open-minded drinker, it sounds a far-fetched idea – but things are changing.

Northern sides have ruled the roost for a decade but Surrey and Middlesex are well placed to challenge in the County Championship, which starts today

If you want to appreciate how British beer has changed, have a lager. Once upon a time this middle-European beer style was regarded as the devil incarnate by many British ale drinkers, the cuckoo in the nest that had laid waste to a nation’s proud heritage. Not any more.

Martin Keown's head may still be ringing, but ESPN is not prepared to do away with pitch-side punditry quite yet. The former Arsenal defender, working as a summariser, was hit by a well-struck football before Monday's game between Arsenal and Leeds United at the Emirates Stadium but the TV channel insists it will continue "to bring fans as close as we can to the game".

Counties will play just 14 four-day matches a season from 2014 if, as expected, recommendations contained in a review of the domestic game are approved by the ECB Management Board at Lord's today.

Broadcaster keen to bring fans 'as close to game as possible' – even if pundits end up being hit by balls

United striker admits his performance was affected after Ferguson fined him

Even in his most hangdog moments, Ricky Ponting does not inspire pity. The former Australia captain has been too good a player for that but only the fiercest of English cricket fans could have failed to have felt something for him these past two years. The diminutive Tasmanian's characteristic tenacity and courage were still there, but the dominance at the wicket that had taken him to the top of the Test game seemed a thing of the past.