The England and Wales Cricket Board confirm 18 players from the England Women's Performance Programme are awarded new contracts.

England women's captain Charlotte Edwards is among those to benefit from a pay increase which "signals the dawning of a fully professional era", according to ECB Head of England Women's Cricket, Clare Connor.

Ireland build on a solid start to their One Day International against Sri Lanka in Dublin with their visitors now 176-8 with just four overs of their innings remaining.

Fulham manager Felix Magath apologises to the club's supporters for his side's display in the 4-1 defeat to Stoke City which saw the Cottagers relegated from the Premier League on Saturday.

"It certainly was not what you as fans were expecting and should rightfully demand of us, but we were unable to perform on the day, resulting in our downfall," Magath tells the club's website.

The German says he will focus n the club's academy during the summer as Fulham "redefine their playing staff".

Durham are 142-3 at lunch and trail Yorkshire's first-innings score by 447. Elsewhere in Division One, Sussex are 16-0 in their second innings and lead Lancashire by 123 runs at Old Trafford, while Somerset and Notts are heading for a draw at Taunton.

The home side comfortably went past the follow-on mark to reach lunch on 336-8, still 104 behind the visitors' first innings total of 440.

Middlesex reach 100-1 in their second innings but still trail Warwickshire's first-innings tally by 195.

The Football Association's consideration of a plan to let B-teams from top clubs play within the English football pyramid has caught your attention. A number of you have been leaving comments on our story:

Craig: I think it would be a good idea to have these secondary teams play within the Football League and be allowed to be promoted up until the Championship or League One. Just have a look through the squads of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and the German national team to see how many of those players first played in the second teams before reaching the first team

Fat Mick: I don't care what happens in Spain or other countries, what makes English football so special is all the clubs all over the country, not just the top few. If this happens then I am finished with football.

Manchester City can capitalise on Liverpool's draw at Crystal Palace to go two points clear at the top of the Premier League on Wednesday if they beat Aston Villa. So far this season, City have spent just 10 days on top of the table.

OptaJoe on Twitter:, external The Premier League title winners to spend the fewest number of days on top of the table in one season are Manchester United in 2002-03 (30 days)."

Australia defender Lucas Neill will not be selected to play for his country at the World Cup, according to national manager Ange Postecoglou.

The 36-year-old former Millwall, Blackburn and West Ham player joined Watford on loan in February but Postecoglou says he has not seen enough "evidence" to warrant his selection.

Five-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan and his six-year-old son Ronnie Jnr escape injury after a car they are travelling in is involved in an accident, the Daily Mirror reports., external The report says O'Sullivan was on his way home after losing the World Championship final to Mark Selby at Sheffield's Crucible theatre when the accident happened on the M1 near Leicester.

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero injured his groin in last Saturday's 3-2 win at Everton. He later played down the injury, writing on Twitter: "Thank you for your concern. I left just as a precaution. Fortunately I'm fine, happy for the goal, the win and keeping our dream alive."

The 25-year-old has scored 17 goals in 22 Premier League games this season.

More from Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini: "The supporters are very important the whole year, they always believe in what we do. They are always behind the team, always supporting. I hope we can do it because they deserve it."

Image source, @mcfc

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini says forward Sergio Aguero will not feature against Aston Villa on Wednesday because of a groin injury. Pellegrini tells a news conference: "Injuries are just Sergio Aguero. He couldn't recover 100% from his groin problem, so he's not in the squad list.

"Maybe he can have a chance for Sunday. We'll see how he improves during the week to see if he can play on Sunday. It's a difficult game because all the teams are under pressure. But I hope that if we play at home as we have so far we can win."

City will go two points clear of Premier League leaders Liverpool with one game to play if they beat Villa.

The Pakistan Cricket Board appoints former captain and fast bowler Waqar Younis as head coach of the national team for a second time. Younis was the coach for 18 months until after leading the team to the 2011 World Cup semi-finals. He resigned for personal reasons. The 42-year-old will join the team after his commitments in the Indian Premier League.

Independent's Ian Herbert on Twitter:, external Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini talking about the key Aston Villa game says Sergio Aguero is out of Wednesday's squad but Yaya Toure is fit.

Image source, Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton has been "close to perfection" in the opening rounds of this year's Formula 1 campaign according to former world champion Nigel Mansell. The Mercedes driver, world champion in 2008, has won three successive races to move clear at the top of the drivers' championship.

He will be back in action at this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix, with full coverage across BBC Sport. BBC Radio 5 live will preview of the fifth race of this year's calendar on Thursday at 21:45 BST.

Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent

"Roger Federer has withdrawn from the Madrid Masters, as his wife Mirka is soon to give birth to their third child. The French Open starts in less than three weeks, and if he does play, it appears he will have very little competitive preparation.

Federer has just posted this message on his Facebook page: 'I've decided to withdraw from Madrid to be with my wife Mirka during these next few exciting weeks for our family. I apologise to my fans and hope to be back in Madrid next year. I'll be training near my home, and am excited to rejoin the tour soon'."

Ireland make an encouraging start in their one day international against Sri Lanka in Dublin. The hosts, who elect to field, take the early wickets of Kusal Perera and Lahiru Thirimanne to leave their visitors on 55-2 after 17 overs.

Keep up to date with the latest score on the BBC Sport website.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is due to face the media at 12:30 BST ahead of Wednesday's home match with Aston Villa. Does he believe the title race is over? Sportsday Live will bring you his thoughts.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport at Selhurst Park

"Monday's game told us many things and one of them is that this Premier League season is as unpredictable as it has ever been. Would it be such a shock if Manchester City slipped against Aston Villa or West Ham United given recent results around the top and bottom of the table?

"Liverpool will hope this is the case and they can still end the season in glory against Newcastle United at Anfield on Sunday. It is a sign of Liverpool's wonderful development under Brendan Rodgers that they should feel such disappointment at the prospect of losing the title on the season's final day."

Read more of Phil's blog on the BBC Sport website.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti tells a news conference on Tuesday that Cristiano Ronaldo is "in good shape to play", but Gareth Bale is "doubtful" for Wednesday's crucial La Liga game with Real Valladolid.

Los Blancos, with one game in hand, trail league leaders Atletico Madrid by five points but will go second above Barcelona if they win.

Christopher Dalton on Twitter:, external ‏ I cannot see how Liverpool will get a better chance of winning the title.

Iain Gemmill ‏on Twitter:, external Liverpool might be competitive again, but I can't see them getting as close to the title as this season.

Anth Hubbard on Twitter:, external Liverpool aren't really any worse off. They're still relying on Manchester City slipping up. It's more the mental aspect of being ahead and then drawing."