Today

England will defend a one-point lead over South Africa at the top of the International Cricket Council's world Test rankings in this summer's three-match series between the two teams, it was officially confirmed today.

Tino Best and Denesh Ramdin's last-wicket heroics stunned England at Edgbaston, but were still powerless to permanently revive the rain-ravaged third Investec Test.

Nick Knight has risked a further deterioration in his already frosty relationship with Kevin Pietersen, by claiming England are likely to be better off without the latter in 50-over cricket.

Those praying for the emergence of a rival admirer to fight for Logica's affections are losing heart. Last week's news that the software group had agreed to be snapped up by Canada's CGI prompted hopes of a bidding war, but investors are getting increasingly resigned to the prospect of it being a one-horse race.

English cricket secured another recession-busting deal yesterday. In announcing a seven-year contract for the overseas rights to home and domestic international matches it ensured the age of austerity will remain a foreign land to the sport.

Who to believe? The Office of Fair Trading lambasted motor insurers yesterday for overcharging customers to the tune of £225m.

West Indies 243 v England 259-3

Shares in the offshore oil rig maker Lamprell more than halved in value yesterday as it issued a stark profits warning. It had been due to update the market today but had to rush out the warning when it discovered how serious matters were.

Supplying healthy US hospital food, Disney’s staff canteen, the Mammoth Mountain ski resort in California and miners canteens in Australia all helped Compass post a strong 7.7 per cent rise in first-half profits today.

The barometer may be set fair for its most venerable prize, given a spectacular vote of confidence from the sponsors of the Derby yesterday, but otherwise the Turf seemed to lie in a soggy, midwinter time-warp. The steeplechases scheduled at Punchestown were abandoned, and the remaining hurdle and bumper races run in conditions bordering on the farcical. An inspection will be required this morning to pass the course for a card that features the outstanding mare, Quevega.

GDF Suez has finally agreed on a deal to scoop up the 30 per cent of the UK energy provider International Power (IPR) that it doesn't already own – but only after raising its offer by 7 per cent to £6.4bn. In a clear victory for International Power's independent board committee, the French company increased its bid from 390p a share to 418p, two weeks after the board's six directors unanimously rejected its previous offer for being too low.

GDF Suez has finally agreed on a deal to scoop up the 30 per cent of the UK energy provider International Power that it does not already own – but only after the French utility raised its offer by 7 per cent to £6.4bn.