Pitches like that on which India and New Zealand played out a frustrating three-wicket win to the home team did nothing for cricket.That was Indian captain Sourav Ganguly’s of the game which saw New Zealand take 37.4 overs to score the 109 runs it required to claim the first victory in the seven-game National Bank Series.For the Indians it was just a continuation of the frustrating surfaces that have been dished up to them in New Zealand on the tour.Ganguly did admit, like New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming before him, that the pitch looked as if it would play a lot better than it did.”This sort of thing doesn’t help anybody. People come to watch cricket,” he said.And with only 100 runs to each side, people would be coming to watch the games in the future.The conditions also gave false confidence to the bowlers in the sides.The pitch, played on one of Eden Park’s portable pitches proved to be two-paced, to have variable bounce and shot-making was not easy.India did have a chance in the game and Jacob Oram, who was 27 not out at the end, had gone very close to getting out leg before wicket to Anil Kumble but India just couldn’t pull off the win.”Due credit to him [Oram] he hung in well in both innings, in Hamilton and here but a few decisions this way, that way could have changed the game,” he said.Javagal Srinath’s presence had been good for the side and he had proven again he was a class act while taking four wickets for 23 runs in his 10 overs.Ganguly said it wasn’t only the confidence of his players that was down, the New Zealanders were also struggling, this despite the fact they had grown up in these conditions.The winning of the series would be done by the side which best responded to the task of batting better in the remaining game, he said.

The recall of Brendon McCullum to the New Zealand side has opened the way for promising former Central Districts wicket-keeper/batsman Peter McGlashan to move south.McGlashan, who made his first-class debut against Otago in the 2000/01 season, has indicated a desire to move to Dunedin to play club cricket and make himself available for representative honours.McCullum’s elevation has sped McGlashan’s progress and he will make his State Otago Volts appearance in Saturday’s State Shield opener against Wellington at Molyneux Park in Alexandra.Otago’s wicket-keeper in recent times, Martyn Croy, wasn’t available for selection before Christmas because of work commitments with the New Zealand Academy of Sport South Island and hasn’t yet played any club cricket this summer.McGlashan has played five first-class matches but has slipped down the Central Districts’ pecking order behind Bevan Griggs, Martin Sigley and last year’s New Zealand Under-19 gloveman Ian Sandbrook.

James Pearson who is with the England Under 19’s played in the successfultest contributing a bright and brisk 34 in the first innings but unfortunately gloved a lifter in the second innings for 5.However, isn’t it nice to have a Gloucestershire player involved in anEnglish success over Australia.

BRISBANE, Feb 20 AAP – Nathan Hauritz expects his next match to be in suburban Brisbane and not South Africa.The Queensland off-spinner says he isn’t thinking about a possible call-up to the World Cup squad as Shane Warne prepares for tomorrow’s hearing for his failed drug test.Hauritz and NSW leg-spinner Stuart MacGill are among the leading contenders to replace Warne if he is banned by the Australian Cricket Board’s anti-doping committee.But Hauritz isn’t thinking Johannesburg, Cape Town or even Harare, where Australia is drawn to play Zimbabwe on Monday.The 21-year-old is thinking Shaw Road, Wavell Heights, where his club Norths meets Sunshine Coast on Saturday.”It’s the same situation as when Warney did his shoulder (in December),” Hauritz said.”I’m trying not to worry about it and just focus on what’s coming up for me here.”I’ve got the club game on Saturday and then we’ve got the Pura Cup game against Victoria (starting at the Gabba next Thursday).”Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said his panel was awaiting news of Warne’s fate before acting on any replacement.”I’ve asked each selector to put their thinking caps on and give the situation some consideration,” Hohns said today.”Once we know what’s happening we can act but it may be that Shane is cleared and then the situation is irrelevant.”We certainly haven’t had a combined discussion yet.”Hauritz has not received the opportunities expected this season after his impressive one-day international debut in South Africa last year.He played four matches in place of the injured Warne and was later selected in Australia’s Test squad to meet Pakistan in Sri Lanka and Sharjah.But West Australian Brad Hogg was preferred when Warne injured his shoulder, leaving Hauritz and MacGill in the queue.MacGill will play for NSW in Sunday’s ING Cup one-day final against Western Australia in Perth along with Blues teammate Michael Clarke.The 21-year-old Clarke has also been mentioned as a potential replacement for Warne.

He captains Black Cap World Cup all-rounder Chris Harris and Test player Chris Martin and now he hopes to play with Rahul Dravid in the ICC World Cup League in Nairobi.Who’s he going to play for?Scotland.And where’s he from?England.The complexity of qualification, and the expansion of international and British cricket to include second tier teams is epitomised in the Steven Knox story.Knox heads to Scotland on Sunday to complete his final 183 days qualification before the new ICC World League in Nairobi on September 20.The globetrotting Penicuik (a Scottish Division Two team) professional is taking a risk, he says, by asking Scottish Cricket Ltd to reinstate him as an amateur, “to give myself the best possible chance in the top division,” and impress the Scottish administration, who are in negotiation with Indian World Cup star Dravid for 2003.Knox said the Scottish Asian community has been raising funds to pay for Dravid and possibly another Indian, Ajit Agarkar.Knox, a shaven-headed 29-year-old opener in the Christchurch club competition for one-day title-winner St Albans is a deemed Scottish national after doing four years at Penicuik, and becomes a national after seven years qualification.He hopes to play for Scotland in its first year in the Norwich Union League Division Two this year and to represent his adopted country against the other five teams immediately below Test level in the Nairobi tournament.Meeting World Cup semi-finalists Kenya, and Namibia, Canada, the Netherlands and United Arab Emirates in the place where the Black Caps refused to play “doesn’t worry me,” he said.After almost a decade waiting for the big time, he said he’d play anywhere if it meant he was fulfilling his cricket ambitions.Globetrotting Knox scored four unbeaten centuries in a row late in the last northern hemisphere season, two for Cumberland in a Minor County game against Bedfordshire, one for Penicuik, and one for Cumberland in a Cheltenham and and Gloucester Trophy preliminary round match against Nottinghamshire Cricket Board at Keswick.He’s hit over 700 runs this year for St Albans, including his maiden one-day and two-day centuries.The Pied Piper of Christchurch club cricket is in his first season as captain of St Albans.”It’s been great to lead quality players from first-class and Tests. It’s a big thrill. The social side is important as well,” he said.Knox is trying to persuade the Scottish administration to fast-track his qualification so he can play in Kenya. If not, Scotland are drawn to play Cumberland, captained by Barrow-born Knox’s cousin, Jonathan Lewis, in the end of 2003 season Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy 2004 qualification game. Knox will be torn by his twin loyalties.”I don’t know who I’ll play for that day. But I hope it’s Scotland.”

Queensland Cricket today announced the re-appointment of XXXX QueenslandBulls coach Terry Oliver for a further two years.Queensland Cricket Chief Executive Officer Graham Dixon said Oliver hadaccepted the offer of an extended term following the recent meeting ofthe Queensland Board of Directors.Oliver, 40, took the Bulls to the Pura Cup Final and to third spot inthe ING Cup in his first season, which also saw Queensland achieve itsequal highest representation in the national team with five players inthe victorious World Cup squad.Dixon said the Board had been pleased to offer a longer-term deal to thecoach following his initial appointment for one season.”Terry has impressed with his willingness to work with the Bulls and hisoverall dedication to Queensland Cricket," he said.”We believe he has a lot to offer Australian Cricket and are delightedhe will have the opportunity to further his development as aprofessional coach with the Bulls," Dixon said.”Our charter has been to develop more players for the Australian teamand with five players in the World Cup and also the West Indies touringside, plus three in the Australia ‘A’ team at present, we are startingto see the results from the work put in by John Buchanan, Bennett Kingand now Terry," he said.The selection of Jimmy Maher this week to join the West Indian touringsquad as back-up wicket-keeper to Adam Gilchrist brings Queensland’srepresentation in the touring squad to five, including Matthew Hayden,Andy Bichel, Martin Love and Ashley Noffke.Clinton Perren made his Australia ‘A’ debut this week in the seriesagainst South Africa ‘A’ alongside Bulls teammates Nathan Hauritz andAndrew Symonds.Meanwhile recently retired Queensland and Australian bowler Adam Dalecould bring down the curtain with one final honour with the announcementtomorrow night of the 2002-03 Peter Burge Medal winner for the best andfairest player in Brisbane XXXX First Grade.Dale, the only two-time winner of the award, is expected to feature inthe finalists, with other contenders likely to include Wests captainAaron Nye, scorer of 916 runs this season, University of Queenslandoff-spinner Scott O’Leary, the leading wicket-taker with 41, formerQueensland fast bowler and last year’s winner Greg Rowell, Gold Coastallrounder Chris Swan and Wynnum-Manly allrounder Chris Simpson.Tomorrow’s Grade Cricket Presentation night will also feature theunveiling of a new award, the Kath Smith Medal, which will be presentedto the best and fairest Konica women’s first grade player.The award is named in honour of the late Kath Smith, the Queenslandallrounder who played six Tests for Australia in the 1930s and wasvice-captain of the Australian team that played the first Women’s Testagainst England in Brisbane in 1934.

Opener Mark Richardson scored 93 as New Zealand batted throughout the finalday of their drawn practice match against Sri Lanka A at Nondescripts CricketGrounds on Tuesday.The visitors, replying to Sri Lanka A’s 284, struggled against the legspinof Upul Chandana as they were bowled out for 283. The match was thendeclared a draw.Chandana claimed five for 98 from 33 overs, providing a timely reminder tothe Sri Lankan selectors, who will be finalising the Test squad tonight.They had been expected to plump for the young Kaushal Loukuarachchi, who hadimpressed in Sharjah, but Chandana’s fine all-round performance – he alsotop scored in the first innings with a breezy 55 – now provides them with adilemma.Apart from Richardson, who also cracked 106 in the opening warm-up game overthe weekend, none of the Kiwi batsmen scored heavily, although a handful madegood starts.Fellow opener Matt Horne (4) was bowled in the first over of the day byNandika Ranjith, a left-armer, who also claimed bowled Jacob Oram (26),ending a 44 run partnership with Richardson.Stephen Fleming (15), Matthew Sinclair (22) and Richard Jones (1) all failedto make maximum use of their last opportunity to acclimatise to localconditions before the first Test starting Friday.Robbie Hart, the wicket-keeper, did provide some lower-order resistance though, facing 98 deliveries for his unbeaten 34.New Zealand, after four consecutive days of match practice, now have acouple of days to recuperate and fine tune before the opening match of thetwo-Test series.

THE Western Australian Cricket Association today announced that Western Power has elected not to exercise its option to continue as Major Sponsor of the Western Warriors.Western Power will reduce its substantial contribution to Western Australian cricket, but would like to continue its support for regional development.Western Power has been Major Sponsor of the Warriors for the past five years.In announcing the conclusion of a successful partnership, WACA Chief Executive Mrs Kath White, praised Western Power’s contribution to Western Australian cricket."We’re pleased that we will still be partners with Western Power in our regional cricket program," Mrs White said."We fully understand Western Power’s position in not being able to continue with their sponsorship of the Western Warriors."Mrs White said that, negotiations with a comparable Warriors Major Sponsor, is now a priority for WACA management."The Western Warriors are a highly respected team on the national sporting scene with high profile players leading their appeal, such as Adam Gilchrist, Justin Langer and Damien Martyn," Mrs White said."Our Western Warriors epitomise the spirit of Western Australia as a State and they are always prominent performers in the Pura Cup and ING Cup competitions."Western Power General Manager Retail John Lillywhite said Western Power would continue its strong relationship with the WACA."Although no longer the sole sponsor of the Western Warriors, Western Power has realigned its level of support for WA cricket, to focus solely on the WACA’s regional junior program," said Mr Lillywhite."We would like to increase our backing for this very successful WACA program which we joined seven years ago. It has a strong rural and youth focus and its achievements are impressive."Western Power made the decision after reviewing its community partnership program in light of changes in the competitive marketplace.”We found that backing the high profile Western Warriors did not fit with our strategies as we repositioned in the competitive market.”Western Power looks forward to continuing to work with the WACA to develop its regional junior program.”We have no doubt that the WACA and the Western Warriors will go from strength to strength.”

BAT Sports sit at the top of the ECB Southern Electric Premier League after crushing the Hampshire Academy by eight wickets at the Rose Bowl.The Young Hawks were never in the hunt after dipping to 33-4 and, even though they rallied to reach 152-7, were handsomely beaten.One-time Hampshire 2nd XI off-spinner Richard Dibden, who now captains BAT, described his side’s performance as "thoroughly professional.""To restrict the Academy to 152-7 on a `road’ of a pitch was a highly commendable performance by our bowlers and particularly satisfying bearing in mind that Dan Goldstraw, our top wicket taker, was on holiday and Kirk Stewart is injured."Instead, it was Chris Thomason (2-29) and Mark Page (1-15) who did the damage with the new ball, whipping out Iain Brunnschweiler (5), Ian Hilsum (0) and Peter Hammond (5).When Damian Shirazi had Mitchell Stokes caught for 6, Hampshire were in deep trouble at 33-4.Kevin Latouf (30) retained his cool, but BAT’s bowlers maintained a strict line, with the left-arm spin of Terry Rawlins (2-26) and Dibden (1-24) particularly difficult to penetrate.Former Hampshire opener Giles White (23) fell at 95-7, leaving David Griffiths (38 not out) and Luke Merry with the responsibility of putting a reasonable total on the board.But 152 was never likely to be enough – and New Zealander Neal Parlane and Damian Shirazi quickly tucked in to the Hawks attack.Griffiths conceded 27 runs off his five overs and Merry 28 off four as Parlane quickly got into the groove.The Kiwi scored 50 of the first 67 runs to leave Shirazi (55 not out) and Richard Kenway (28) the formality of securing an easy BAT victory.Calmore Sports fancied their chances of a second 50-over victory when they reduced Liphook & Ripsley to 73-8, but it all went pear shaped for the Totton club, who suffered a batting collapse of their own.Calmore struck an important blow when Paul Cass trapped South African Alistair Gray leg before. Only Steve Riley, Jez Bulled and Duncan Berry reached double figures as Mark Boston (3-37) and Co made winless Liphook struggle to 73-8.But Tim Wheatley (40 not out) and man-of-the-match Alan Crawford (20) turned the match on its head with an unbroken 58-run partnership which lifted the visitors to 131-8.Calmore began confidently enough through Eugene Burzler (19) and Cass, but at 35-1 began to totter.Nick Gay (3-16) achieved a double breakthrough, but it was Crawford’s off-spin which caused most problems – with Burzler, James Hibberd, Tom Pegler (23) and Dave Rouse (14) all perishing.Calmore’s lower-order collapsed like a pack of cards – an optimistic 84-5 quickly becoming 91 all out as five wickets fell for six runs and the innings to 91 all out.

As new coach John Bracewell ponders the direction the New Zealanders take over the next few years, he would do well to ponder on performance statistics from the last summer.Extending from the International Cricket Council’s Champions Trophy tournament through until the completion of the Sri Lankan tour, and success in the Bank Alfalah Cup tri-series, the figures are revealing.It must be acknowledged that the Test season was an unusual one this year, based on the fact that only two home Tests were played, and two away Tests. However, it is significant that two batsmen, Stephen Fleming and Mark Richardson, the two most mature players called on during the season were farout in front of other players in the side.Building New Zealand’s Test run-scoring potential has to be a priority for the demanding season that lies ahead. It is an indictment of the summer that the only century scored was that by Fleming in his 274 not out against Sri Lanka.Similarly, in a season when 22 one-day internationals were played, only three centuries were scored. That number needs to be lifted significantly each season if New Zealand are to improve their success rate. Fleming again highlighted the success of his season by easily heading the list for most runs scored with his 642. But apart from him, and Scott Styris who scored 505 runs, the next highest run scorer was Chris Cairns with 359 runs.That is insufficient for a team attempting to be competitive.The Test bowling figures show the value Daryl Tuffey, Jacob Oram and Shane Bond enjoyed during the Indian series were conditions were made to suit. Tuffey and Oram took 15 wickets each, with their averages being 15.33 and 15.86 respectively.It is amazing to think that in four Test matches Daniel Vettori only bowled 39 overs, and took but three wickets.It was encouraging in the one-day sphere to see that of the bowlers who bowled more than 100 overs in ODIs during the year that Vettori (3.33), Tuffey (3.80), Oram (3.85), Kyle Mills (3.86) and Bond (3.98) were each below the economy rate mark of four runs per over while the only other bowler with more than 100 overs, Styris had an economy rate of 4.11.That has to be a good starting point from which to push on in the future.The statistics were:Tests:

Batting Mat I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct StSP Fleming 4 7 2 454 274* 90.80 44.50 1 1 7 -MH Richardson 4 8 2 345 89 57.50 35.56 – 4 2 -JDP Oram 4 7 1 171 74 28.50 45.96 – 1 3 -PJ Wiseman 2 3 1 52 29 26.00 36.36 – – – -SB Styris 4 7 0 142 63 20.28 39.44 – 1 4 -MJ Horne 2 4 0 74 42 18.50 36.27 – – – -NJ Astle 2 3 0 55 41 18.33 57.89 – – 2 -DL Vettori 4 5 0 89 55 17.80 67.93 – 1 – -L Vincent 2 4 1 45 21* 15.00 31.03 – – 2 -SE Bond 4 4 3 13 10* 13.00 44.82 – – – -DR Tuffey 4 4 1 38 15 12.66 50.66 – – 4 -RG Hart 4 7 1 72 31 12.00 25.99 – – 10 -CD McMillan 2 3 0 31 18 10.33 48.43 – – 2 -MS Sinclair 2 4 0 21 17 5.25 24.70 – – 1 -Bowling Mat O M R W Ave Best 5 10 SR EconDR Tuffey 4 96 33 230 15 15.33 4-12 – – 38.4 2.39JDP Oram 4 98.5 25 238 15 15.86 4-41 – – 39.5 2.40SE Bond 4 115.1 29 390 17 22.94 4-33 – – 40.6 3.38NJ Astle 2 11 4 27 1 27.00 1-13 – – 66.0 2.45SB Styris 4 16 0 90 3 30.00 3-28 – – 32.0 5.62DL Vettori 4 39 9 105 3 35.00 3-94 – – 78.0 2.69PJ Wiseman 2 82.3 21 251 6 41.83 4-104 – – 82.5 3.04

One-Day Internationals:

Batting Mat I NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Ct StSB Styris 19 18 3 505 141 33.66 76.51 1 1 11 -SP Fleming 22 22 2 642 134* 32.10 66.39 1 2 18 -MS Sinclair 10 9 1 234 78 29.25 53.66 – 2 2 -NJ Astle 14 14 2 341 102* 28.41 80.42 1 2 5 -CL Cairns 16 15 2 359 54 27.61 79.07 – 1 5 -CZ Harris 16 14 5 215 38* 23.88 59.88 – – 5 -CJ Nevin 5 5 0 93 28 18.60 54.38 – – 1 -L Vincent 16 15 3 222 53* 18.50 49.11 – 1 8 -AR Adams 12 8 1 128 36 18.28 113.27 – – 1 -SE Bond 14 7 3 70 31* 17.50 100.00 – – 4 -JDP Oram 17 10 2 139 30 17.37 56.96 – – 4 -BB McCullum 19 13 4 152 47* 16.88 56.50 – – 38 1CD McMillan 10 10 0 156 75 15.60 67.53 – 1 3 -KD Mills 13 8 2 86 23* 14.33 50.29 – – 4 -DL Vettori 20 10 3 97 16* 13.85 59.87 – – 6 -DR Tuffey 15 8 1 29 11 4.14 63.04 – – 2 -PJ Wiseman 1 1 0 2 2 2.00 66.66 – – – -PA Hitchcock 3 2 2 4 2* – 200.00 – – 1 -Bowling Mat O M R W Ave Best 4w 5w SR EconPA Hitchcock 3 16 0 68 4 17.00 3-30 – – 24.0 4.25JDP Oram 17 150.2 21 579 34 17.02 5-26 1 1 26.5 3.85SE Bond 14 121 15 482 28 17.21 6-23 1 1 25.9 3.98AR Adams 12 97.2 7 492 25 19.68 5-22 2 1 23.3 5.05DR Tuffey 15 131.5 18 500 23 21.73 3-32 – – 34.3 3.79NJ Astle 14 21 1 94 4 23.50 3-34 – – 31.5 4.47SB Styris 19 100.3 11 413 16 25.81 2-23 – – 37.6 4.10CL Cairns 16 8 0 54 2 27.00 2-16 – – 24.0 6.75PJ Wiseman 1 6 0 27 1 27.00 1-27 – – 36.0 4.50DL Vettori 20 148.3 14 494 18 27.44 4-14 1 – 49.5 3.32KD Mills 13 108.4 10 419 15 27.93 3-45 – – 43.4 3.85CZ Harris 16 80 5 302 5 60.40 1-6 – – 96.0 3.77CD McMillan 10 2 1 4 0 – – – – – 2.00