The Guardian/London

Ian Bell has signed a three-year contract extension with Warwickshire. The England batsman told the club’s website: “As a Warwickshire man through and through, I’m absolutely delighted to commit to this fantastic club for another three years.
“I have many ambitions I’m still desperate to fulfil, both on a domestic and international level, and I look forward to hopefully achieving these over the coming years as a Bear. I have many ambitions to fulfil.”
The 32-year-old became the first Warwickshire player to win 100 Test caps for England last summer and signed his first contract with the club in 1999.
Dougie Brown, the Warwickshire director of cricket, said: “Ian is a Bear through and through and he has been a fantastic servant to the club. While he continues to play a leading role for England, he is also an invaluable member of our squad who makes a huge contribution on and of the pitch.
“He has been one of the best batsmen in the world for several years and everyone at the club is delighted that he remains a Bear for the foreseeable future.”Bell, who is 33 on 11 April, has won five trophies with Warwickshire, including the County Championship in 2004 and 2012, the B&H Cup in 2002, the Clydesdale Bank 40 in 2010 and the NatWest T20 Blast at Edgbaston last season.
He leaves for England’s four-Test tour of the West Indies later this week before the home series against New Zealand and Australia.The Guardian

Lancashire in talks with Faulkner

Lancashire are in talks to sign World Cup winner James Faulkner as their overseas replacement for fast bowler Peter Siddle.
The 30-year-old Siddle was a surprise inclusion for Australia’s winter touring party that plays West Indies in June before arriving in England for this summer’s Ashes series.
As one generation of great players stepped back at the World Cup, another, younger set stepped up with the Australian left-armer leading the way .
It has left Lancashire, under their new head coach Ashley Giles, searching for a replacement with only a fortnight to go before their Division Two campaign begins at Derbyshire on 19 April.
And now the Guardian understands they have turned their interest to Faulkner, who missed out on selection for the senior Australia side and will not tour India with their A team in July.