MELBOURNE, June 30 (Reuters) - The Australian cricket board confirmed on Friday there would be no eleventh hour breakthrough in a bitter pay dispute with the players' union, leaving more than 200 leading cricketers uncontracted and the fate of future tournaments in limbo.

LONDON, June 30 (Reuters) - Joe Root does not admit to being a natural leader but England's new test captain says the time spent as Alastair Cook's understudy has groomed him for the responsibility.

June 30 (Gracenote) - Line-ups for the first One Day International between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe on Friday in Galle, Sri Lanka Sri Lanka won toss and decided to bat Sri Lanka: Niroshan Dickwella, Upul Tharanga, Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka, Angelo Mathews (capt), Asela Gunaratne, Lahiru Madushanka, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Pradeep, Amila Aponso, Akila Dananjaya Zimbabwe: Solomon Mire, Hamilton Masakadza, Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Peter Moor, Malcolm Waller, Ryan Bur

June 29 (Reuters) - Joe Root can count on the experience of several of his team mates as he embarks on his journey as England's test captain, stumper-batsman Jonny Bairstow has said ahead of the home series against South Africa.

MELBOURNE, June 29 (Reuters) - A bitter pay dispute between Australia's cricketers and the national board appears set to remain unresolved by a Friday deadline, leaving more than 200 players unemployed and upcoming series against Bangladesh and England in jeopardy.

June 28 (Reuters) - South Africa's stand-in captain Dean Elgar says their three-day warm-up fixture against England Lions that starts on Thursday is a chance to build vital momentum and confidence ahead of the four-match test series next month.

COLOMBO, June 28 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga has received a suspended one-year ban after pleading guilty to comments he made to the media in breach of his contract, the country's cricket board has said.