Cricket: WHAT was to have been the first of the South versus North three-match series in preparation for this summer's ICC World Cup qualifying tournament in Toronto has been changed in format at the behest of national coach Ken Rutherford, reports Karl Johnston. So the teams in opposition at Castle Avenue on Saturday will now be based on individual, rather than local, strength.

Niall O'Brien, as the shared 12th man, brings the numbers involved up to 23, and the names of Ryan Eagleson (Carrickfergus) and Gus Joyce (Merrion) have been pencilled in to complete the obligatory 25-man initial squad for the ICC Trophy. The final 14-man squad will be announced next month.

In old-time sporting parlance, McCallan's X1 may be taken to be the "Probables", for the side includes several certainties, among them the captain himself, Matt Dwyer, Decker Curry and Ed Joyce. But many of the Patterson side will have plenty to play for on Saturday, and players like Conor Armstrong, Barry Archer and Dwayne McGerrigle (out of the game all last summer) should certainly be in with a shout.

Play begins at Castle Avenue at 11.00 on Saturday morning.

KYLE MCCALLAN XI: K McCallan (Cliftonville, capt), D Curry (Limavady), P Davy (Pembroke), M Dwyer (The Hills), D Heasley (Lisburn), Dominic Joyce (Merrion), E Joyce (Dublin University), P Mooney (North County), R McDaid (Limavady), A Rutherford (Brigade), A White (North Down).

ANDREW PATTERSON XI: A Patterson (Cliftonville, capt), B Archer (The Hills), C Armstrong (North County), G Neely (Donemana), M Gillespie (Strabane), P Gillespie (Strabane), J Molins (Railway Union), G Molins (Clontarf), A McCoubrey (Ballymena), D McGerrigle (Donemana), M Patterson (Cliftonville). 12th Man: N O'Brien (Railway Union).

Motorcycle Racing: The Isle of Man TT motorcycle races yesterday become the latest victim of foot-and-mouth disease. The cancellation of the trials was announced in the island's parliament - the Tynwald.