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Australia have vowed to go ahead with their tour of Sri Lanka despite the latest terrorist bomb blast in Colombo which killed a leading Tamil politician.

Mal Speed, the Australian Cricket Board chief executive, contacted the Australian High Commission in Colombo after Thursday's blast and was assured security arrangements were adequate for a tour starting on August 16.

That reassurance was not enough to calm the worries of some players. Adam Gilchrist, the Australian wicketkeeper, said: ``Hearing things like that makes you nervous. I guess I can only be guided by the judgment of the appropriate people and back their decisions.''

Mark Ramprakash decided to try to put his Lord's Test disappointments behind him by spending some valuable time at the crease for the Middlesex second team last week in their AON Trophy match against Northamptonshire. But it did not go to plan.

Poor Ramprakash, who is struggling to repeat the form which earned the respect of the Australians last winter, scored just three runs; took no wickets for 25 in five overs of off-spin and dropped two catches. Maybe the curse of the Playfair annual has struck again. Ramprakash was featured on the front cover of the reference book this year and, like many chosen before him, has not had the best of seasons.

Ed Giddins was written off as a potential England player by many when he was, firstly, suspended for a year for failing a drugs test and then, on his return for Warwickshire, suspected of having an illegal action. But he is clearly in the selectors' thoughts.

Giddins, who played for the First-Class Counties XI against Sri Lanka A last week, was the other bowler considered by England as stand-by for the Lord's Test when Alex Tudor pulled out injured. In the end, though, it had to be the long-suffering Angus Fraser. As Nasser Hussain, the England captain, said: ``The thought of Angus driving to Chiswick and then having to turn round and go back to Taunton did, I have to admit, make me smile ...''

Durham have confounded expectations in challenging strongly for next season's County Championship First Division. Now they must decide who will be the next man to lead them.

David Boon's retirement in September leaves Durham looking for a new captain and they are likely to plump for another 'outsider', albeit an adopted Durham man.

Jonathan Lewis, signed from Essex, and Nick Speak, recruited from Lancashire, are the two leading candidates to inherit Boon's job. Lewis has, in conjunction with Graham Gooch, overcome the technical problems which plagued the latter stages of his career at Essex and has become one of Durham's most consistent batsmen. Speak, a century-maker against Glamorgan, could bring more experience but is not as certain of a regular place. A decision is expected soon.

Central contracts for leading England players moved a step closer last Thursday when Nasser Hussain and Duncan Fletcher, the England captain and coach-elect, met at Lord's with leading county officials and David Graveney, the chairman of selectors, to discuss the issue.

There may yet be as many as 16 players on England contracts next year, and Graveney said: ``What has happened to the likes of Darren Gough and Alex Tudor has been a pretty good advert for contracts.''