London, Jan 24 : The global economic downturn and the bitter experience of franchises that signed star players only for the initial part of the in-augural IPL season is not going to generate much interest for English players this year.

The England and Wales Cricket Board sanctioned a three-week Indian Premier League window, prompting optimistic noises from IPL chairman Lalit Modi, and several English players, but it appears it is unlikely to result in a stampede for their services.

London, Jan. 23 : England selector Geoff Miller has had a cheeky pop at the Aussies ahead of this summer's Ashes.

The former Test all-rounder uses his spare time being a funny man on the after-dinner circuit, where he has been giving Ricky Ponting and Co both barrels.

Speaking at a charity event this week, The Sun quoted him as joking: "I really hate the Aussies. Sometimes I get up an hour early, just so I can hate them some more."

London, Jan. 23: England all-rounder Paul Collingwood wants to be the team's vice-captain and seems certain to get the job.

Collingwood is in the frame to be Andrew Strauss's right-hand man on the field less than six months after he quit as one-day skipper.

The Durham batsman would be a better choice than the three possible other candidates - Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff and Alastair Cook.

Collingwood is the perfect deputy - enthusiastic, well liked and loyal.

In a significant move, Sri Lanka Cricket has announced that it has granted the worldwide rights to broadcast India's upcoming cricket tour of Sri Lanka to the Nimbus Sports International. The Singapore-headquartered global sports management company will also be producing the television coverage for the series which will be broadcast worldwide. Neo Cricket will air these matches.

Mumbai Indians and Bangalore's Royal Challengers have reached a transfer agreement to swap explosive batsman Robin Uthappa and left-hand fast bowler Zaheer Khan for the second edition of the Indian Premier League.

The IPL transfer window opened on December 22 and it was reported that Mumbai Indians were "looking specifically" for an Indian fast bowler.

London, Jan. 23: The England and Wales Cricket Board''s decision to sanction a three-week Indian Premier League window may have prompted optimistic noises from Lalit Modi, the league''s chairman, but several England players are likely to miss out.

The month-long transfer window closed last night with little trading done, and all attention now turns to the February 6 player auction.

A preliminary list is unlikely to contain more than half-a-dozen Englishmen.