The Cricketer is relaunched this month, in full colour for the first time in its 80-year history and featuring a bold, fresh design.

For the first time the magazine includes a Cricketer of the Month A3-sized poster. This forms part of our special new, four-page section for young players, which emphasises our continuing commitment to an unrivalled breadth of coverage of the game, from the Test arena to the playing field and the village green, for which The Cricketer is renowned.

Tim Brocklehurst, the Managing Director of The Cricketer, says: "Many of our readers don't mind reading about the game in black and white. To them it's the facts, the stories and stats that count, but recently the game has grown more colourful and now it is time to modernise. Readers will get everything they used to, plus a great deal more from our new-look magazine."

In this month's issue:

A 12-page Ashes special looks forward to the most eagerly awaited Ashes series for many years.

In his tour diary, the Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie reflects on an emotional trip to Gallipoli. Peter Roebuck profiles the prolific opener Matthew Hayden, and we dust down the players who emerged from the isolation of the Bush to become national heroes.

"Adam Gilchrist made a speech thanking our skipper for the opportunity to travel to Gallipoli. Good ol' Gilly got a bit choked up. It was a great team moment." Jason Gillespie

As we reveal that the current Australian team is the most experienced ever to represent their country, Mark Nicholas wonders how good they really are. Former Sri Lankan batsman Roshan Mahanama pulls no punches in accusing the Australians of using excessive 'sledging'.

"Speak to any experienced players and they will tell you that the Australians' status as the best team in the world is tarnished by their on-field behaviour." Roshan Mahanama

Christopher Lyles talks to the latest fast bowler to emerge from Yorkshire, Matthew Hoggard. We look back at the feats of great players in previous Ashes series, Hedley Verity and Lionel Tennyson. Plus there is a preview of the forthcoming women's Ashes series.

"On the Lord's balcony they were all getting really excited but I could see them thinking 'No, we can't get too excited because Hoggie might have to bat'." Matthew Hoggard

With the publication of Lord Condon's report into match-fixing, Simon Hughes gives his inimitable slant on so-called collusion in county cricket, while Mark Nicholas attacks the ICC for their failure to take positive action because of the governing body's peculiar structure.

"Eight to win, nine balls to go. It's okay, I said to myself. Then I realised three of those balls were going to be bowled by Malcolm Marshall...and I walked off." Simon Hughes

Pakistan's stylish batsman, Yousuf Youhana, is interviewed and we have a feature on Makhaya Ntini, the first black South African player, who had a tempestous start to his career. Plus Phil Tufnell and Ronnie Irani give the low-down from the county dressing-rooms.

"I belonged to a poor family. I asked them to sell the house, which enraged them and they said they could not afford to be homeless to satisfy my passion." Yousuf Youhana

There are expanded ratings, a preview of the women's Ashes series, increased coverage of league cricket with Peter Sleep in the spotlight, a school coach's view from Harold Rhodes to complement our new Young Cricketer section, and 40 years of P.G. Wodehouse's thoughts on cricket.

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