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New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns’ latest knee injury is being assessed by his surgeon Paul Armour tonight.Armour operated on the leg last year when Cairns had knee surgery which kept him out of all cricket until the Australian tour.Cairns took no part on the third day of the first National Bank Test at Jade Stadium today as the England batsman feasted on rich pickings.But whether Cairns will play any further part in the Test series will be decided after he is assessed by the surgeon. A decision will be made on his situation tomorrow.He will bat in New Zealand’s second innings.Meanwhile, the reason the umpires called play off early was because the light at the ground was well below the specified standard according to light meters and both captains agreed that play should be called off for the day.Play will start tomorrow at 10am.

Saeed Anwar was guaranteed a place in Pakistan’s second Test squad but a place for fast bowler’s slot was still vacant.Saeed will replace Shahid Afridi who got a first-ball duck at Lahore. However, the Pathan had also scored a century and a half century in his last two Tests before the Lahore game. But there was a tie between Shoaib Akhtar and Wasim Akram. Officials said if Shoaib recovered fully from the swollen ankle, he would retain his place.Wasim Akram has 414 Test wickets and was primarily rested from Lahore game because of PCB’s rotation policy and the placid track that was prepared for the game.Shoaib twisted his ankle during the second evening while he was bowling at express pace and had picked four wickets in 25 balls.In the entire scenario, the team management has forgotten fast bowler Mohammad Sami who grabbed a hat trick during the Asian Test Championship final against Sri Lanka at Lahore in March.He is unlikely to be considered for selection as the wicket being prepared is barren and likely to assist the batsmen than fast bowlers. Besides, the emergence of Abdul Razzaq has made it difficult for the third pacer to sneak in the team that has turned the clock back by depending on the spinners.Danish Kaneria took six wickets and Saqlain Mushtaq four at Lahore where Pakistan won by an innings and 324 runs – their biggest victory and New Zealand’s worst defeat.Meanwhile, Pakistan and New Zealand cricketers are expected to face scorching heat during the second cricket Test, if the forecast of the Meteorological Department is to be believed.The MET office has forecast that the minimum temperature would hover around 26 and 28 degrees Celsius while the mercury would rise upto 40 degrees Celsius during the second and third session.”The minimum temperature on Monday was 25.5 degrees Celsius while at 12GMT, 37.5 degrees Celsius was recorded,” a MET office spokesman said. He added that humidity would be between 53 per cent to 60 per cent during the Test scheduled to start Wednesday.

KINGSTON – Amidst another significant break between matches, Barbados manager Tony Howard is bemoaning the length of time it is taking to complete the 2002 Red Stripe Bowl.His comments come against the background that Barbados could end up spending as many as 20 days in Jamaica to play a maximum of six One-Day matches should they qualify for Sunday’s final.”It certainly could have been condensed. The extra week is a bit too long. It could have been done in two weeks. It would have given all the teams more activity,” Howard told NATIONSPORT yesterday during an evening practice session at Sabina Park.After winding down their preliminary phase last Saturday, Barbados have a break of five days ahead of their semifinal contest against defending champions Guyana on Friday at the Kaiser Sports Club in Discovery Bay.Between their third and fourth matches, Barbados also had four days off.”With five days between games, it takes a lot to keep the guys on track, keep them motivated and keep them focused on what needs to be done,” Howard said.”When you’re kept indoors for a while, it does take a lot out of the youngsters.”The length of the tournament also raises concerns after a decision to use only umpires from host countries in an effort to cut costs.”We’ve been complaining about not having any money. Yet we have made the competition longer,” Howard said. “We’ve made it more expensive, yet we say we have no money. It doesn’t add up.”The long breaks have not triggered anything negative among the Bajans, but Howard said a tighter schedule could have created a more positive effect.On their days off, Barbados have opted for mainly practice sessions.”The only time we haven’t done that is on the day after the game which is deliberate for us because the grounds have been very hard and to keep the muscles ready we’ve gone to the pool to do some exercises which have been beneficial, especially to the older guys,” Howard said.With so much time between matches, one team opted to journey to the north coast last week to visit the Dunn’s River Falls, among other tourist attractions.

Railways are virtually through to the semifinals of the Ranji Trophychampionship. By close of play on the fourth day of the quarterfinalagainst Karnataka at the Karnail Singh stadium in New Delhi on Sunday,Railways had taken an overall lead of 599 runs with four second inningswickets intact.After having gained a first innings lead of 214, Railways had putthemselves in a commanding position by scoring 106 without loss at stumpson the third day. On the penultimate day, Railways batted the whole day tofinish the day on 385 for six, shutting Karnataka out of the match.Openers Amit Pagnis (68) and Sanjay Bangar (59) put on 131 runs off 35overs. Dodda Ganesh dismissed both in quick succession.The middle cover didnot contribute much and Railways were at one stage 219 for five. Then YereGoud and Shreyas Khanolkar came together for a sixth wicket stand thatrealised 136 runs off 32.4 overs. Khanolkar, who scored 64 in the firstinnings, was the dominant partner hitting 90 off 120 balls, inclusive of 13fours and a six. The in form Goud carried on till stumps, having made 78from 230 balls with nine boundary hits. The last day’s play will now onlybe of academic interest.

Zimbabwe are increasingly looking like a team that can perform consistently over a period of time. They are renowned for pulling off the occasional upset, but then consistency is something that they have been working on.The emphatic six-wicket victory at Kochi goes to prove that they are a side to reckon with. They hold all the aces up their sleeve going into the fourth one-dayer at 2-1, with a good a chance of closing the series out at Hyderabad itself.After the game, both sides addressed the media. First, it was the turn of a shy 22-year-old youngster from Harare by the name of Douglas Tafadzwa Hondo to address the media. Obviously delighted at his success (4/37) that won him the Man of the Match award, Hondo said, “I just wanted to play well. I tried my best to keep things simple and bowl a good line and length.”When asked about the three weeks he spent at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai under the watchful eyes of the legendary Dennis Lillee, the young fast bowler said, “At the MRF Academy, I tried to fix my action. I have been working with the video (from the Academy) and trying to work on my action.”Hondo found the going very tough in Kochi with the heat and humidity. Obviously he didn’t mind the fact that he picked three top-order wickets and bowled his side to victory, but the young fast bowler was more disappointed about the pitch than the sticky weather. “The wicket was flat,” he said.Hondo has a cool head on his shoulders, and this quality will help him and Zimbabwe for many more years to come. When asked about his place in the team, the youngster said, “I have to keep on performing well to be a regular in the side.”Then it was Zimbabwe skipper Stuart Carlisle’s turn to talk to the press. Looking pleased by what his team did on the day, Carlisle said, “We took most of our catches today, the guys did very well to put pressure on them.” The skipper was quick to commend Hondo on his achievement and went on to add that there was a brief period in the middle of the Indian innings when things looked like slipping away. “Our spinners bowled well and luckily we took the catches.”Carlisle also revealed that the team had a meeting the previous evening. There were separate meetings for the batsmen and the bowlers, where they were reminded about the importance of keeping things simple.The Zimbabwe skipper thinks that it was a good toss to lose at the end of the day. He was ready to admit that he had made a mistake in his judgement of the pitch the previous evening. He was under the impression that the toss would play a crucial role, and luckily for him it turned out the other way around. He was quick to praise his two senior batsmen, Alistair Campbell and Grant Flower, as well.Andy Flower is one player on whom Zimbabwe has relied a lot over the years. Carlisle said, “I have been saying it is time that the rest of us started contributing better. Obviously it is a great bonus to have Andy in the team.”On Andy Flower’s hip injury and the possibilities of him playing in the remaining one-dayers, the Zimbabwe skipper said that it is up to the physio to decide about Flower’s fitness. “He maybe available for the Hyderabad one-dayer, but he certainly will play in the fifth match in Guwahati.”According to Carlilsle, it was the wicket of Sourav Ganguly that was the turning point. “He has been in good form. We knew that we were going to have some luck our way. In the last two matches we have had some close chances against him. I think it is always nice to get the opposition captain out.”Indian skipper Ganguly looked clearly dejected after the loss in Kochi. He said, “It wasn’t a bad pitch. We lost too many early wickets and never recovered. We batted badly.”When asked about the injury to a few crucial players, Ganguly said, “We can’t help it if they are injured. That is how it goes, you have to play with what you have. It is up to the players to decide if they can go through the pain.”Earlier Carlisle had said that the heat and humidity was a major factor. “It was very tough towards the end, and it looked that the Indians were very tired. Maybe the heat got to them as well.” Talking on the same subject, Ganguly said, “We are used to the heat. Last time in Kochi we chased a score of above 300 after being in the field for 50 overs.”Talking about the two remaining matches, Carlisle said, “We just can’t go out and relax. We would want to look at it as the fourth game, but to look at it as the next game. We don’t want to put ourselves under pressure. Most sides will wilt under pressure. You always get chances; whether you take your chances is what matters.”Ganguly, though, is a worried man and he said, “Both the next games are very crucial. We have to win both the games.” Coach John Wright was more candid on the subject; he said, “There is always pressure. If you have to win at this level, you have to do it under pressure.” Wright went on to say that it hardly mattered at what point of one’s career one was in, and that the prime objective for every cricketer, once picked to play for the country, is to perform well under any given situations.”You have got to take responsibility under pressure and perform. You must be able to handle pressure. Today’s performance is unacceptable,” he said.Wright was quick to add that pressure situations also throw up some positives. “It is a great opportunity (for the players) to play well under pressure and make a name for themselves. That is what we need. Kaif had a good opportunity, and he blew it.”Wright also believes that the youngsters in the Indian team have no excuses to make with regard to playing under pressure. “Look at the young Zimbabwe players,” he pointed out. They are perhaps the words of a disenchanted coach trying to deal with a bunch of cricketers who are not willing to pay heed to his advice.The most interesting comment of the day came from the Indian skipper. When asked about the Indian fielding, after the customary long thought, Ganguly replied, “Our fielding has improved from before.”

ScorecardA half-century from Mignon du Preez followed by a tidy bowling performance helped South Africa Women take the third Twenty20 against Bangladesh Women in Mirpur, and with it, the series 2-1.Bangladesh chose to bowl and enjoyed success straightaway, reducing South Africa 31 for 3 in the seventh over. But a fifty from captain du Preez, at over a run a ball, kept them afloat and almost single-handedly carried them to 85; South Africa were bowled out with a ball to spare, with Marizanne Kapp being the only other player to get into double digits. Shukhtara Rahman was the star for Bangladesh with the ball, picking up 3 for 4 in her three overs. Offspinner Khadija Tul Kubra also pitched in with three scalps.South Africa’s opening bowling pair of Kapp and Shabnim Ismail kept a tight rein on the chase from the start, bowling eight overs between them for 10 runs and two wickets. None of the Bangladesh batsmen could hang around long enough or get enough momentum, the top scorer being Farzana Haque with 23 off 31; the hosts finished on 69 for 7, falling 16 runs short.

The Victorian Bushrangers have defeated the Queensland Bulls by sixty-three runs in the sides’ Mercantile Mutual Cup match here at the `Gabba ground in Brisbane after thoroughly dominating the day’s play. The Bulls could only muster 206 in reply to the Bushrangers’ 7/269 in an innings that was hampered by continual rain interruptions, surrendering a bonus point in the process.Earlier in the day, it had been the efforts of Victorian opening batsman Matthew Elliott (107) that laid the platform for Victoria’s triumph – only its second in seven attempts in this season’s domestic one-day competition. Elliott was in complete control from ball one, striking nine boundaries and two massive sixes on his way to a lovely century that spanned a total of 106 deliveries.Starting with a bang, Elliott and opening partner Jason Arnberger (20) took the attack up to the Bulls bowlers, punishing loose deliveries and finding the boundary with ease. Elliott included seven of his boundaries and both of his sixes inside his first fifty runs as he and the remainder of the top order set about capitalising on a rare victory for captain Paul Reiffel at the toss.Normally tight bowlers Ashley Noffke (0/61 off eight overs) and Andy Bichel (0/33 from four) proved anything but. They were rapidly hit out of the attack as a result of Elliott’s onslaught – an onslaught which compelled Queensland captain Stuart Law to call on his ever-reliable pairing of Michael Kasprowicz (1/45 off eight) and Adam Dale (2/47 from ten) to try and salvage something from the situation.As they sought to control a run scoring rate which had already reached seven per over, the pairing enjoyed near-immediate success. Dale removed Arnberger and Kasprowicz claimed the wicket of Brad Hodge (28), who had been another to come out firing. The loss of wickets forced Elliott to steady his innings and collect singles rather than take any undue risks. It led to a production of a century from 101 balls.Although the match was already quickly slipping away from them, the Bulls did have reason to smile during the middle stages of the Victorian innings. Debutants James Hopes (4/43 from ten overs) and Nathan Hauritz (0/38 off ten) each contributed excellent spells where their far more experienced teammates had been abjectly unable to do the same. With fine displays of medium fast and off spin bowling respectively, the pair was able to bring the Bulls back into the game by taking wickets consistently and dramatically slowing the scoring rate. Although Hauritz’s off breaks failed to claim a wicket, his tight bowling in a pressure situation against batsmen who were set clearly aided his bowling partner, whose final figures were a tribute to his own accuracy and speed.For the Victorians, Simon Dart (38), Darren Berry (27*) and Reiffel (22*) all built upon the work of their previously fallen teammates to accelerate the scoring rate again once Hopes and Hauritz had finished their visits to the bowling crease.In pursuit of a difficult-enough total, the Bulls then faced the added pressure of having to maintain a rate ahead of the Duckworth/Lewis par score as showers began to fall across the ground. Jimmy Maher (30) exploded out of the blocks before skying a ball to deep mid wicket and another disaster greeted the Bulls just two balls later when Matthew Hayden (8) was dismissed in unusual circumstances.At the other end to Maher, Hayden had taken nearly six overs to open his individual scoring account and appeared frustrated. It evinced him to play a lofted cover drive at the bowling of Ian Hewett (3/47 off ten overs) and he appeared to be caught by a diving Mick Lewis at extra cover. However, as Lewis hit the ground, so the ball popped out. Yet Hayden was blissfully unaware of this, seemed ready to concede the fact that he had been caught, and began to exit the crease. Lewis was then left with an easy throw to wicketkeeper Berry to effect the run out.All-rounder Lee Carseldine (20) joined skipper Law (46) and the pair began to construct a very good partnership around a twenty-minute rain delay. It brought the Queenslanders sixty-seven runs in quick time before the former was dismissed.A reshuffle in the batting order saw the hard-hitting Bichel (36) come in at number five to try and boost the run rate. Before he could begin a partnership with Law, though, the Bulls captain was the victim of a catch deep in the leg side field. This put the Bulls well behind the eight-ball, even with regular number three Martin Love (28) joining Bichel.Love was soon on the way back himself and it triggered an even steadier trickle of wickets thereafter. Just to compound the home team’s agony amid a season of generally unimpressive one-day performances, Reiffel (3/28 off seven overs) entered the attack late in the innings to claim three wickets.Bichel provided some glimmer of hope for the Bulls in a personal best score. But the task was just too much. Kasprowicz (10*) and Dale (10) added a brave twenty for the final wicket; by then, though, the side’s hopes of preventing the surrender of a bonus point to their opponents – let alone staving off defeat – had been rendered slim.In the end, the Bulls were only ten runs short of denying the Victorians the full five points on offer. But there was no denying the Elliott-inspired Victorians’ right to claim the maximum reward for their performance.

ScorecardGeraint Jones top-scored with 67•Getty Images

Leicestershire’s decision to bowl first backfired as Kent racked up 406 on the first day at Grace Road with half-centuries from Brendan Nash, Geraint Jones and Matt Coles.More than half the Kent total came in boundaries as a young Leicestershire attack struggled to keep control in the windy conditions. Jones and Coles shared a seventh-wicket stand of 104 in 19 overs, with Coles letting loose in a 63-ball stay. In all Kent scored 216 runs in boundaries, hitting 51 fours and two sixes.It was the second successive game in which Leicestershire have conceded more than 400 runs after putting the opposition into bat, having suffered the same fate last week against Hampshire.Leicestershire’s cause was not helped when Matthew Hoggard, their most experienced bowler, trudged off the field after a five-over spell before lunch and did not reappear for the rest of the day.Nathan Buck, Alex Wyatt and Anthony Ireland had already been ruled out because of injury, leaving the home side’s seam attack seriously weakened. Kent cashed in, scoring at well over four runs an over throughout the day as the boundaries flowed following the early run out of Sam Northeast. Rob Key, also fell before lunch for 41, top edging a bouncer from Robbie Williams to Shiv Thakor at fine leg.With Nash, Mike Powell, Darren Stevens and James Tredwell back in the pavilion by mid-afternoon, leaving Kent 207 for 6, Leicestershire looked to have a chance of keeping the total to a respectable level. But the partnership between Jones and Coles put Kent well on top and by tea they had reached a healthy 283 without further loss.Jones reached his 50 off 70 balls with five fours and Coles hit a six and eight fours in a 51-ball half-century. He was stumped attempting one big hit too many off Jigar Naik. Jones was then trapped lbw for 67 by the same bowler but still Leicestershire were unable to bring the innings to a close.Callum Haggett hit 40 and Mark Davies 41 as the last two wickets added 89 runs to give Kent maximum batting points, before Haggett was caught at midwicket off Naik, who finished with 4 for 97 off 21.5 overs.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsKane Williamson gave another display of his concentration•Getty Images

England’s chances of forcing victory in the second Test were all but eliminated when Cyclone Sandra wiped out the bulk of the last two sessions at Basin Reserve. Sandra, now she has arrived, is not expected to depart quickly with persistent rain forecast for the final day. The likelihood is that England and New Zealand will head to Auckland with the series still locked at nil-all.Even before the rain made its long-heralded arrival over lunch, the going was tough for England as New Zealand batted resiliently on a surface showing little sign of deterioration to whittle down a first-innings deficit of 211 to 58. Six overs late in the day to appease the diehards shaved off a few more.Chief wielder of the whittling stick was Kane Williamson, a circumspect half-century secured shortly before lunch when he pulled Joe Root securely through square leg. He had 55 from 174 balls when play was abandoned. If Williamson was a boy scout, his whittling would be of such a high standard it would be enough to make him patrol leader, although not necessarily make him the chief attraction at the village show.He played diligently and with sound technique, particularly against the quick bowlers, and if he was unsettled at times by Monty Panesar’s left-arm spin, Panesar never managed to get on top of him for long. He looks mature beyond his 22 years and looks set to serve New Zealand with distinction for many years.Williamson’s third-wicket stand with Ross Taylor was worth 72 by lunch, with Taylor displaying flashes of attacking intent. It was clear for England that there would be no easy pickings against a side which has played with resolve throughout the series. At times Panesar seemed at odds with himself, or the field he had to bowl to, or the weather. Dr Panesar, as he jokes he wishes to be known these days since taking some business exams earlier in the tour, needed a spot of self-diagnosis.England’s only wicket was that of Peter Fulton, whose obdurate innings ended with a push away from his body against James Anderson and a straightforward slip catch for Alastair Cook. It was touch and go whether Anderson had overstepped, but after several replays the third umpire, Paul Reiffel, ruled in the bowler’s favour. Anderson had stayed behind the line by little more than a bit of stray ankle strapping.Anderson was variously troubled by an ankle battered by footholds that were not entirely to his taste and a back made stiff by the Wellington breeze. If he came back to Basin Reserve on a really windy day, he would get an insight about what it would feel like to be 90 years of age. Nobody would have predicted with certainty that he would get through the day unscathed but he reached lunch in reasonable order.The aches and strains of a fast bowler’s lot was enough to put him in one of his complex moods, revealed by a put-upon smile that forever seems likely to be his last. He was never more put upon than when Kevin Pietersen misfielded badly at mid-on to allow Taylor, who was on a pair, to get a single off the mark, the pressure released in an instant.An unbroken morning session had seemed unlikely before play began. Rain was forecast, imminent rain, and the groundstaff were not overly enthusiastic about taking the covers off. But Cyclone Sandra was a playful adversary and, although rumoured to be in the vicinity, delivered nothing more than a sprinkle or two in the first few overs before taking her sport elsewhere until more extensive rain arrived at the interval. Wellington, with little more than a fortnight’s water left after one of its driest summers on record, will be grateful for that.New Zealand began 134 runs in arrears with eight wickets remaining. The pitch was still sound, the weather unsettled. England needed the ball to turn for Panesar – and not merely out of the rough. He came into the attack after seven overs and his first two deliveries did just that, bringing hope that Panesar could progress from a good containing job to potential matchwinner. He threatened sporadically all morning, but no wickets were forthcoming.He looked a little sorry for himself, but it could have been worse. While he went unrewarded, his spin partner, Graeme Swann, recuperating from an elbow operation in the United States, tweeted that he was sick of jam and peanut butter. There is always someone worse off than you.

Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, has said he remains unrepentant in spite of the criticism aimed at the board, while revealing that he received over 9000 emails urging him not to resign.Clarke was re-elected as chairman yesterday after Lord Marland of Odstock, his only potential challenger, withdrew from the race – just a week after Sir Allen Stanford, the Texan billionaire with whom the ECB had invested so much of England’s future, was charged with fraud “of a shocking magnitude” by US authorities.Neil Davidson, the Leicestershire chairman, was one who thought Clarke’s position was untenable. However, when asked whether he ever considered handing in his notice, Clarke said: “I haven’t and that’s not because I’m bull-headed or ignorant about other people’s opinions – I’ve had over 9,000 emails saying ‘pay no attention’.”I have to live with the consequences of the decisions our board takes and the criticisms that we receive,” he told BBC Radio Five. “There has been some criticism which I think is constructive and sensible and we’ll listen to. There has also been some singularly unpleasant stuff which I fail to see is going to encourage anybody to take on voluntary unpaid jobs.”It’s true that I have received a lot of criticism in the media, some of it hysterical and utterly irrational, some of it immensely rude. I discard those people.”

In addition, Clarke defended the ECB’s decision to strike such a huge financial deal with Stanford. “I don’t know what people would have said at the time had we not done the deal and had we not allowed our players the chance to play for US$20 million. There has been a lot of sagacious hindsight. We entered into the agreement with Stanford in good faith and we believed we were helping West Indies, who were, after all, a contractual party to this.”The ECB severed all ties with Stanford last week, shredding the potentially lucrative deal which would have earned the board and its players millions of pounds.In an interview in the Times Clarke also addressed the question of whether he thought he had done a good job. “But for the strong action taken at a very difficult ICC meeting, we would be welcoming Zimbabwe in April … that’s a huge achievement. We have a lot more people playing the game and a lot more clubs with decent facilities. When I came in, we didn’t have any financial reserves at all, but now we are in good financial health, which allows us to spend 21%of our income on grassroots cricket.”