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Middlesex issue a statement following the inclusion of their 2015 overseas batsman Adam Voges in Australia's squad for the tours to the West Indies and England this summer.

"All of us at Middlesex are naturally delighted for Adam on his deserved inclusion in the squad, however this does leave us with the difficult problem of needing to find a replacement overseas player for the 2015 season with some immediacy.

"Australia have confirmed to us that Adam will still be available to represent Middlesex for the first four Championship matches before he joins up for their tour to the West Indies in June. The club will make a formal announcement of his replacement when contracts are finalised and signed."

Merry King, a stablemate of favourite Shutthefrontdoor, is to miss the Grand National at Aintree on 11 April. The horse, trained by Jonjo O'Neill in Gloucestershire, was rated around a 25-1 chance by bookmakers but has a breathing problem and is out for the rest of the season.

BBC Solent Sport on Twitter:, external Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe says he would be surprised if Callum Wilson is fit for the Easter matches.

After Joey Barton told Radio 5 live he would have won 100 caps if he'd played for Scotland or Wales, we're asking you who should have won more international caps...

Paul More: Scholes. Was rarely used properly, shunted out onto the wing so that Lampard and Gerrard could demonstrate that they couldn't play together.

Kevin Rae: Russell Anderson. It's a scandal he didn't get more caps for Scotland considering utter tripe like Steven McManus and Calamity Caldwell were regularly starting. A very under-rated CB.

Keep them coming in on Twitter at #bbcsportsday and via the BBC Sport Facebook page., external

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There have been a few bleak days for English cricket in recent years but on this day a year ago there was a notable malaise, when England lost to the Netherlands by 45 runs in the World Twenty20 tournament in Chittagong.

Europa League prize money is set to rise by 65% next season. The 48 clubs in the tournament will share 381 million euros (£276m) and be guaranteed 2.4 million euros (£1.7m). This season, the figures are 232 million euros (£168m) and 1.3 million euros (£944,000).

Stacey Francis is aiming to be fit for the World Cup in August after being ruled for the remainder of the Super League season with a knee injury.

The Team Bath and England player is hopeful of being in contention for England's World Cup warm-up match against Trinidad & Tobago on 6 May.

"I am on crutches for the next two weeks and then have another two weeks of recuperation," the 27-year-old said. "The hope is I will be back fit for the England games."

BBC Oxford Sport:, external Oxford Utd keeper Max Crocombe named as substitute for New Zealand's international friendly against South Korea in Seoul.

Promotion seeking Derby County lost £7m during the financial year ending June 2014, despite increasing turnover by nearly £5m. But the club's American owners have once again covered the debts by converting the losses into equity.

Chief executive Sam Rush told BBC Radio Derby: "To produce revenues in excess of £20m in the Championship without parachute money is a great effort. We have kept losses at a stable level - losses the ownership group feel comfortable supporting."

Kazakhstan are examining a bid to host the 2026 World Cup, the country's football chief Yerlan Kozhagapanov was quoted as saying in Russia's Sport Express daily Tuesday.

"We're currently consulting with the government and analysing our possibilities," said Kozhagapanov, who is also the deputy mayor of Kazakhstan's capital Astana.

BBC Lancashire Sport:, external Lancashire say they are seeking a replacement after overseas signing Peter Siddle was called up by Australia for the Ashes tour. Siddle could still feature in up to four matches at the start of the summer but Lancashire but will need permission from Australia.

Phil McNulty
BBC chief football writer in Turin

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"Plenty of talk here in Turin about where Wayne Rooney will play tonight. At his pre-match media briefing England manager Roy Hodgson made a point of clarifying that he had not confirmed he would partner Harry Kane against Italy.

"This throws up various possibilities such as Theo Walcott playing alongside Kane with Rooney at the tip of a midfield diamond, although this is all conjecture until England's line-up is confirmed.

"It will be another chance for Rooney to show his adaptability after playing alongside the likes of Michael Owen, Emile Heskey, Peter Crouch and Daniel Sturridge in his England career.

"So who would he have loved to play alongside for England but didn't?

"Answer: 'I'd probably say Alan Shearer because I admired him when I was growing up. I loved the way he played and he was a real goalscorer, as his record showed. I would have worked well with him as a strike partner.'"

Wales international Gareth Bale recently took part in the NBA's Half Court challenge,, external testing his accuracy from the equivalent of half a basketball court, and scored an impressive three out of five baskets.

The 25-year-old laid down the challenge for Real Madrid teammate Luka Modric and Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

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More on that news that Brendon McCullum will play for Birmingham Bears in the T20 Blast.

McCullum joins hot on the heels of an impressive showing in the 50-over World Cup, where he scored 328 runs at a tournament-high strike-rate of 188.50.

Birmingham director of cricket Dougie Brown said: "Securing his availability for our last seven games has to make him one of the biggest overseas player signings in the competition's history."

McCullum said: "The Birmingham Bears had a great season last year, including winning the NatWest T20 Blast, and hopefully I can make a big contribution and ensure that we can progress in the tournament."

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum has agreed a deal to play seven matches for Birmingham Bears in the T20 Blast competition. The Bears are the defending champions.

After Joey Barton told Radio 5 live he would have won 100 caps if he'd played for Scotland or Wales, we're asking you who should have won more international caps...

Simmo: Laurie Cunningham good enough for Real Madrid yet not much for England.

John Richard Oakley: Billy Bonds.

Rob Labrum: Gordon Cowans & Glen Hoddle. Too many years picking the 'old guard' instead of arguably the two best all-round midfielders of the 80s. Interesting to see how many of that Villa championship/European Cup/Super Cup winning side made the 82 World Cup squad?

Keep them coming in on Twitter at #bbcsportsday and via the BBC Sport Facebook page., external

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BBC Wales Sport on Twitter:, external George North will see a consultant neurosurgeon within the next 48 hours to help Northampton's medics assess when the Wales wing can return.

North was knocked unconscious by Nathan Hughes while scoring his second try in leaders Northampton's English Premiership win over Wasps on Friday night.

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Yep, you read that right. In what is by far Sportsday's favourite news story of the day, Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier has announced he is going to appear on Channel 4 quiz show Countdown.

"Passed my contestant audition for @C4Countdown," Le Tissier wrote on Twitter., external "Be filming in autumn."

Le Tissier becomes the fourth professional footballer to appear on the show, after Adrian Coote, Clarke Carlisle and Neil McKenzie.

Phil McNulty
BBC chief football writer in Turin

"England captain Wayne Rooney hopes Ross Barkley will learn from his substitute appearances.

"Speaking here in Turin, Rooney said: 'I spoke to him after the game on Friday night and the only advice I gave him was to watch the game carefully from the bench, then he will know how to get into the opposition, where the spaces are.

"'That's what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said to me when I was young, so you know where to be when you come on. If it helps Ross, then great.'"

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Leicestershire have signed Ireland's big-hitting all-rounder Kevin O'Brien for nine of their T20 Blast fixtures this year.

The 31-year-old hit the fastest century in World Cup history against England in 2011, and also appeared in the recent tournament in Australia and New Zealand.