ENGLAND opening batsman Nick Knight has declared himself fit to face Australia in the Ashes this summer.

Warwickshire's Knight (26) cracked a knuckle on his left hand while batting in the fourth one day international against New Zealand in Auckland three weeks ago.

But speaking yesterday at the launch of a new England team sponsor, Knight said: "I might miss the first week or two of the season, but I hope to be all right to play against Australia. The finger still looks a bit unpleasant but it feels fine."

Australia arrive in England in May for six test matches and three one day internationals.

Mobile telephone network Vodafone will back the England team from the start of next winter's West Indies tour and will invest £13 million pounds (£21 million), the largest ever cricket sponsorship, into the game at all levels over the next four years.

Meanwhile, Curtly Ambrose will have 300 test wickets in his sights when spearheading West Indies attack during the third test against India starting in Bridgetown today Ambrose, a man of few words but whose deeds speak volumes for his high quality fast bowling, has captured 290 wickets in his 67 tests.

After going wicketless in the drawn first test of the five match series in Kingston, Jamaica, Ambrose took five for 87 in India's only innings during the second draw of the rubber at Port of' Spain, Trinidad.