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Right, that's more than enough cricket for just now...

Back to the football, and Barcelona midfielder Xavi will announce on Thursday that he is leaving to join Qatari side Al Sadd, according to his agent Ivan Corretja.

The 35-year-old ex-Spain international is believed to have agreed a lucrative three-year deal with Al Sadd.

Xavi joined Barca as an 11-year-old and is the club's appearance record holder. His honours while at the Nou Camp outfit include three Champions League crowns and eight La Liga titles.

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Lord's

"Remember how Brendon McCullum took every question without the need of his media officer? Alastair Cook's presser is orchestrated, with a limit. Of those questions that do get through, plenty are about Kevin Pietersen, much to the skipper's frustration."

BBC Radio Gloucestershire's Bob Hunt at Bristol:

Gloucestershire 193 & 47-2, Kent 235

"It was just about Gloucestershire's morning until the last ball of the session when Iain Cockbain flapped at a ball from Darren Stevens and was dismissed for three.

"Chris Dent chopped onto his stumps for 22 earlier in the session and Gloucestershire, with a lead of only 25, now need to consolidate this afternoon to give themselves a decent cushion."

Jonathan Agnew
BBC Test Match Special

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For the last 12 months, the only constant in the leadership of the England team has been Alastair Cook.

As the Test summer begins against New Zealand at Lord's on Thursday, England are coming off the back of another episode in the never-ending Kevin Pietersen saga, one remarkably similar to February 2014 when Pietersen was told his England career was over.

If England defeat New Zealand, they should be given credit for beating a more than decent side two places above them in the International Cricket Council Test rankings.

Should England lose, they should expect the disquiet among a vociferous section of their support base to gain volume. It would be the worst way in which to enter the Ashes.

Read more from Jonathan here.

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Cook on Peter Moores' exit: "It was a tough call and we all feel for Peter Moores. He was a players' coach, a guy who right on the pulse. Getting the best out of people was his real strength. As a player and captain I loved my time with Mooresy."

Cook on pressure: "Cricket is a great game, it's been my life. I'm incredibly lucky to have had these experiences. Everyone follows the England cricket team, they want us to be successful. We know the pressure, but it's a great pressure.

On the reputation of the England team: "I absolutely understand that cricket has taken hammering over the past 18 months. There has been a real big change, but we're now focussing on playing. It's a really exciting time. We made good strides in West Indies, but it was incredibly frustrating to undo that in the last innings of the final Test."

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Now England captain Alastair Cook has taken the microphone at Lord's...

On the departure of Peter Moores: "It's another challenge. It's been an interesting two weeks, but they are decisions that have happened. We just have to get on with the game. The guys have trained fantastically, they are desperate to play some cricket."

On Kevin Pietersen: "There was no ultimatum on KP, I don't know where that came from. Over 15 months, the story hasn't gone away. The decision was made without the players, we just have to play. The players weren't consulted on Pietersen. The story has been put to bed by the ECB. I'm responsible for the team on the field. We have to focus on that."

BBC Radio Newcastle's Martin Emmerson at Edgbaston:

Warwickshire 450, Durham 185 & 300-7

"Keith Barker loves playing against Durham. He's now taken 50 wickets against them in just three seasons, and if he gets one more today he'll record the 10th five-for of his first class career.

"There is still work for Warwickshire to do if they are to achieve victory as Durham have a 35-run lead at 300-7 after following on.

"Mark Stoneman made 111 before he was run out following a mix-up with Paul Coughlin, but Coughlin has since moved onto 47, with John Hastings on 21, having been dropped off twice on two and three."

BBC London 94.9's Kevin Hand at the Ageas Bowl:

Hampshire 413 & 70-1, Middlesex 362

"Middlesex needed a prolific wicket taking burst from their strike bowlers this morning to keep the game alive and apply pressure to the hosts but skipper Jimmy Adams is unbeaten on 37 and has held the visitors at bay.

"The pitch appears to have continued to flatten out as the match has progressed and, even with the odd ball not bouncing as expected, there appears little hope of quick wickets this afternoon.

"Hampshire have reached lunch on day four on 70-1, leading by 121 runs in their second innings."

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Ahead of the meeting of Arsenal and Sunderland, why not have a wee dabble with BBC Sport's predictor game?

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Lord's

"New Zealand captain Brendan McCullum spoke for 15 minutes, without the need for his press officer to direct the media conference. He was honest and relaxed. I suspect that England counterpart Alastair Cook, on whom we wait, might conduct a different address to the gathered reporters."

BBC London 94.9's Mark Church at Wantage Road:

Northamptonshire 219-4

"A pretty good session for the home side and thankfully no rain.

"Rob Newton has played nicely for his 88 but Tom Curran picked up two valuable wickets for the visitors.

"Firstly he had Stephen Peters caught behind for 82 and then bowled Rob Keogh just before lunch for 29. And the sun has even come out."

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On playing at Lord's: "It's the traditions, the history, the amount of great players that have been here. It's a wonderful place to play cricket, you grow up dreaming of it."

On his team: "This is the best team I've been part of, but we're only number three in the world. We have to keep improving."

New Zealand captain Brendan McCullum has been speaking ahead of the first Test. Here's a few highlights...

On England: "I don't know if we're playing England at a good time. They have challenges, but we've been there as well. They are stacked full of world class players and in their own conditions they will be a tough proposition."

On Kevin Pietersen: "It's difficult to make an informed decision on KP without being inside the group. It would be foolish for me to make outlandish statements. I'll leave those questions to Alastair [Cook, England captain] when he comes in here."

BBC Essex's Paul Newton at Cardiff:

Glamorgan 314 & 28-2, Essex 221

"A magnificent spell of 4-7 by Graham Wagg routed the Essex tail as the visitors declined from 201-4 to 221 all out.

"On a pitch now exhibiting sharp lift and lateral movement, Craig Meschede bagged the crucial wicket of Ryan ten Doeschate for 49, whereupon Wagg, aided by brilliant catches by Michael Hogan and Mark Wallace, proved far too good for the lower order.

"Glamorgan banked a potentially decisive first innings lead of 93, having been put in, but lost both openers before lunch as ball continued to dominate bat."

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Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington believes he will recover from a shoulder injury in time to compete in the BMW PGA Championship, which gets under way at Wentworth on Thursday.

The 43-year-old said: "Working on the principle I've never pulled out of an event injured, I believe I'll make it tomorrow.

"I'm an optimist. I've never pulled out before, and I've had some pretty bad injuries at times. If there's a physical way of me teeing up tomorrow, I will tee it up."

Lancashire 368 & 146-4, Leicestershire 249

An early lunch has been taken on the final day at Leicester with Lancashire 265 ahead - and a declaration may be forthcoming when the weather improves.

They added 107 during the morning for the loss of Alviro Petersen and Steven Croft as they went from 71-2 to 72-4.

Ashwell Prince (52) and Alex Davies (35) have since shared an unbroken partnership of 74 for the fifth wicket.

Warrington have sold hooker Mickey Higham to Leigh Centurions with immediate effect for £50,000.

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The Wolves accepted a revised offer from the Championship club after Higham submitted a transfer request, but the 34-year-old is unable to play against his old side in the Challenge Cup quarter final next month.

Cornelius Lysaght
BBC horse racing correspondent

"Irish jump racing star Sizing Europe is to be retired at the age of 13 says his trainer Henry de Bromhead.

"The popular veteran won 22 races including the 2011 staging of the Cheltenham Festival's Queen Mother Champion Chase in which he lined up five times and was also twice second."

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Jessica Ennis-Hill will compete in the 100 metres hurdles and the shot put at the Birmingham Grand Prix on 7 June.

The 29-year-old will compete in her first heptathlon since winning gold at London 2012 the previous weekend in Gotzis, having proved her fitness following Achilles problems.

"I am loving being back competing - it is such a good feeling and I have had some incredible support from the public who have come to watch," said ennis-Hill.

"The crowds are always amazing at the Alexander Stadium and I am hoping there will be a really good turn out on 7 June to help me along."