Australia’s growing sick list now includes Matthew Hayden after he succumbed to a knee injury. Hayden’s tendonitis means both of the country’s Test openers are out – Phil Jaques has the mumps – of the Pura Cup games starting on Friday while Andrew Symonds has an ankle problem, Michael Clarke is fighting hamstring tightness and Stuart MacGill’s struggles continue.It is a relief for Australia that there is no serious cricket due until the Twenty20 international in Perth on December 11. Hayden will not play for Queensland against South Australia after Cricket Australia’s medical staff said he needed on-going treatment. The injury does not threaten his prospects for the Boxing Day Test.The future of MacGill is still unclear after a specialist analysed his hand and wrist on Wednesday and a Cricket Australia spokesman told the Australian he would return for more scans. MacGill is having trouble with a bone-on-bone knee problem, but he also experienced numbness in his hand during the Test against Sri Lanka in Hobart.”I have had nothing confirmed at this stage by anyone qualified to do so, but can guarantee you that I will not be taking the field again until I am at the top of my game,” MacGill told the paper. “I will do anything necessary to achieve that, including surgery.”MacGill’s manager, Leo Karis, said the legspinner did not know what to do. “He’s assessing his options,” Karis told AAP. “Whether that option is A, B, C or D, his main focus is playing cricket pain-free and that’s up to him to see how he does that.”

Tony Frost has been brought out of retirement by Warwickshire to cover for the potential absence of Tim Ambrose on England duty next season. Frost ended his first-class career after the 2006 summer and took up a position on the Edgbaston ground staff and continued playing club cricket with Knowle and Dorridge.The offer was put to him by Ashley Giles, the director of cricket, following Ambrose’s call-up for the tour of New Zealand which starts next month. If Ambrose cements a place as England’s wicketkeeper it will leave Warwickshire short of options behind the stumps.”Tony ticks all the boxes and can provide good cover should Tim be away for prolonged spells with England,” said Giles. “He is an experienced, capped player who is an accomplished batter and like-for-like replacement.”As a club we want to be positive and support our younger players and we feel that Richard Johnson [the reserve keeper] would benefit from more matches with the second XI before being thrust into first team cricket. Tim’s position in the England set-up is not guaranteed but until we know more about his long-term commitments we now have an experienced and committed replacement for what is such a crucial position in the side.”Frost was thrilled to be given the opportunity to relaunch his professional career. “It was a surprise to be having the conversation but it didn’t take me long to accept the offer,” he said. “I have enjoyed working with the ground staff and learning the other side of the game but I loved my time with [Warwickshire] and I can’t wait to get back with the team and playing.”In his last season before retiring Frost topped Warwickshire’s batting averages and was highly rated around the circuit as one of the safest wicketkeepers. Early in his career he was forced to bide his time while Keith Piper had the No. 1 slot, but enjoyed a consistent run when Piper vacated the role.

Former Hampshire batsman Sean Morris has been appointed as the new chief executive of the Professional Cricketers’ Association, replacing Richard Bevan who stood down at the end of last year.Sir Ian Botham will succeed Mike Gatting as PCA president. “I’m very proud,” he said, “and will do all I can to ensure players continue to be looked after and championed.” Gatting had been in the honorary role for almost two decades.”Ian will bring a fresh perspective and help build further profile for the PCA,” PCA chairman Tim O’Gorman said. “I would like to thank Mike for the huge amount of time and undying commitment he has given.”Jason Ratcliffe was promoted from group director to assistant chief executive.

ScorecardSimon Katich’s fourth Pura Cup century of the season gave second-placed New South Wales a handy lead and then four cheap Western Australian wickets put them in a strong position heading into the final day. Katich moved to 189 before chopping on to leg stump in sight of what would have been his fourth double-century in the past year. The ball clipped the bail and he became one of four victims for Ben Edmondson.Beau Casson added a useful 72 not out and was part of a stand with Katich that took New South Wales one run behind, then Nathan Bracken pitched in with 30. But Brad Haddin, perhaps overawed by being tipped to be Australia’s new wicketkeeper-batsman following Adam Gilchrist’s retirement, was an early casualty, adding five to his overnight 8 before being caught by Chris Rogers off Marcus North.Then came a procession as Doug Bollinger delivered two sharp blows, and Casson’s slow left-armers also bagged a couple to send Western Australia’s top order back. Three of the dismissals were lbws and they were in severe trouble at 4 for 36. Luke Pomersbach and Aaron Heal will resume with a huge task to push third-placed Western Australia into any kind of lead and then hang on for the draw. New South Wales, however, will be confident of capturing the final six wickets to keep their final bid secure.

Shane Bond, the former New Zealand fast bowler currently signed up with the Indian Cricket League (ICL), has accused international boards of succumbing to pressure from the Indian board to ban players believes players who join the unofficial Twenty20 league.”I’m just disappointed that players are getting banned. I just don’t think that is fair,” Bond, 32, said. “All boards want to make money and they have been quick to jump in with the BCCI, basically doing what they told them.”They [boards] are really the ones who are breaching contracts and probably aren’t acting ethically very well.”The BCCI has refused to recognise the ICL and later launched a multi-million dollar official version, the Indian Premier League (IPL). International Cricket Council regulations prevent contracted players from taking part in any league or tournament not sanctioned by the home board where they are based. The popular belief is that the financially-powerful BCCI has pushed various boards to ban players who play in the ICL from appearing in international or domestic competition.Bond believes these boards could have made a joint demand that the ICL pay a fee in return for each player, with the money going into facilities and grassroots development projects. “We’re professional cricketers and we should be able to play anywhere and for anyone,” Bond said, criticising NCZ for retracting their permission to allow him play in the ICL.Bond, who took 79 wickets in 17 Tests and 125 wickets from 65 ODIs, will debut for Delhi in the ICL’s new tournament starting on Sunday. “It is a job and we are trying to provide and look after families,” he said. “We are forced into a situation where we are getting banned from a job we want to do.”Bond also warned that legal action could be taken if more players were prevented from competing in the ICL. “I think we are going to see it get a ruling in the high court or supreme court. Something like that will happen one day because it will get over the top … people would have had enough.”

Scorecard

Russel Arnold blitzed a 40-ball 66 to inspire the Chennai Superstars to a nail-biting victory over the Kolkata Tigers in Hyderabad. Set a challenging 186 to win, Arnold and the Superstars held their nerve to post their first win of the tournament, with two balls to spare.While it was Arnold who applied the finishing touches, it was the in-form opener Ian Harvey who laid the groundwork with an express 49 featuring three sixes and four fours. He and G Vignesh gave the Superstars a flier, raising 49 off the first five overs.By the time Harvey was dismissed in the tenth over, the Superstars had raced to 92.Though Hemang Badani fell cheaply soon after, the asking-rate wasn’t allowed to increase too much from the initial 9.30. It was the Arnold show from then as the other batsmen contributed a mere 11 of the required 53 runs. A torrent of boundaries flowed from his bat and even his mishits cleared the ropes, including a top-edged pull which flew over fine leg.Earlier, after opting to bat, the Tigers were reduced to 14 for 3 by the third over. However, a brutal onslaught from captain Craig McMillan (69 off 41, five fours, four sixes) and a relatively tempered half-century from Abhishek Jhunjhunwala enabled them to reach a formidable total. At that stage, it seemed the Tigers would condemn the Superstars to their third successive defeat but Arnold’s pyrotechnics carried the Chennai side to victory.Despite the defeat, the Tigers are in third place, one above the Superstars. The Lahore Badshahs top the table having won all three of their games so far.

The Bangladesh players have been fined five percent of their match fees for maintaining a slow over-rate during the third ODI against Pakistan in Lahore. Mike Procter, the match referee, also reprimanded Shahriar Nafees, the Bangladesh batsman, for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct.Bangladesh were found to be one over short of the target after taking time allowances into consideration. Players are docked five percent for every over their team fails to complete within the alloted time and captains are penalised double, resulting in a ten percent cut in the match fee for Mohammad Ashraful.Nafees was found guilty of breaching clause 1.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct which relates to “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings.” Nafees kicked and damaged an advertising hoarding after a misfield, but was let off with only a reprimand.”It was Shahriar’s third misfield in the innings and he was obviously frustrated as it was a crucial game because Bangladesh was playing to stay alive in the series,” Procter said. “But it is not the sort of example that players should be setting at any time. Shahriar pleaded guilty, apologised for the incident and promised not to repeat it again.”All Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50% of a player’s match fee.Nafees had scored a duck in that match, and was dropped in the subsequent game in Multan. Pakistan lead the series 4-0.

Having earned a Test recall after nearly two years, Mohammad Kaif said he was expecting to be picked based on his domestic performance. He was named as replacement in the squad for the second Test against South Africa after Sachin Tendulkar was ruled out with a groin injury.”I had scored some 1000 to 1200 runs,” Kaif told the tabloid . “A bulk of them were scored on tough wickets so the call was kind of expected.” He scored 687 runs at 59.73 from eight Ranji Trophy games for Uttar Pradesh and 266 at 52.46 from two Duleep Trophy matches for Central Zone this season.Kaif was dropped from the Test side after India’s tour of West Indies in June 2006 despite scoring an unbeaten 148 in the second Test in St Lucia. “I had learned a lot during this period. I think whatever happens, happens for some good only. So I think there must have been some good reason of my being away from the Indian side.”I must thank my supporters and those who stood by me in my bad period. I hope that the bad phase has ended and this selection will bring more good news for me in the future.”Though excited about being included in the squad, Kaif said India would no doubt miss Tendulkar. “Captain Anil Kumble will never have wanted him [Tendulkar] to be out of the side,” Kaif said. But now I have got a chance and if I play, I will try and make the best out of it.”

Greg Hay is one of 14 first-class players who will represent New Zealand at the Emerging Players Tournament in Queensland in July. The side will be coached by Andy Moles, the former Warwickshire batsman who has coached Kenya, Scotland and England Under-19s.Hay, the Central Districts batsman, missed out on the England tour despite averaging 49.33 in 15 first-class matches and 49.91 in one-day matches so far but this announcement will prove some consolation, as will his winter contract awarded on Monday. Neil Broom, Michael Guptill and BJ Watling have also been selected for the tournament and for a deal.The wicketkeeper Bevan Griggs, 30, has been included ahead of Peter McGlashan, who played two Twenty20 internationals in 2006, and the rising star Derek de Boorder. New Zealand Under-19 players Corey Anderson and Trent Boult got the nod as well.Nathan McCullum and Bradley Scott were left out, despite appearing in the tournament last year and receiving winter contracts. McCullum is playing club cricket in Europe, while Elliott is currently on tour with New Zealand in England.The Emerging Players team will play against sides from South Africa and India alongside the Australia Institute of Sport. They will then have one three-day match, a 50-over match and a Twenty20 against a Queensland state XI.”This is the fourth year of the tournament and it has become a key part of NZC’s winter training programme,” selector Glenn Turner said. “We have seen a number of players progress through to the Blackcaps after showing potential on such tours. The event also gives players competition experience and our teams have always performed well there.”Emerging Players squad Corey Anderson, Brent Arnel, Hamish Bennett, Trent Boult, Neil Broom, Leighton Burtt, Brendon Diamanti, Bevan Griggs (wk), Martin Guptill, Greg Hay, Brandon Hiini, Peter Ingram, Robbie Schaw, BJ Watling.

Drama unfolded in Islamabad when Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) added Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif in the playing XI without the prior permission of the PCB, in their match against Khan Research Laboratories. WAPDA’s move was rejected by match referee Khalid Niazi, as at the time, both players were still part of a rehabilitation programme and were not allowed to participate in the first-class tournament without the consent of the PCB integrity committee.Saeed Anwar, captain of Khan Research Laboratories, instantly objected after spotting the two players’ names in the final squad before the toss. When asked to produce the no-objection certificate, the WAPDA manager referred to a letter written to the PCB seeking permission – which was apparently denied – following which Niazi called the board to clarify their stance. Butt and Asif, whose spot-fixing ban was lifted on September 2 this year, had been signed by WAPDA as non-executive 17th grade employees. The duo, however, are allowed to travel with the 15-man squad during the ongoing tournament.Rahat Ali picked up match figures of 9 for 83 to help Khan Research Laboratories to a five-wicket win. The loss left WAPDA lingering with 16 points and at sixth place in the points table before the final round of games beginning on December 7.Port Qasim Authority captain Khalid Latif scored 172 out of his team’s first-innings total of 215 against United Bank Limited at the Marghzar Cricket Ground in Islamabad. Latif, who has played five ODIs and seven T20Is for Pakistan, also completed 8000 first-class runs during his innings. He last played an ODI in 2010 in Perth, where he was dismissed for a duck.Umar Siddiq struck twin tons – 113 and 174 – to set up a strong platform for United Bank Limited as they set a target of 499. PQA managed 204 in 40 overs but had lost seven wickets before the game was drawn. Fast bowler Ehsan Adil claimed eight wickets in the match.Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) registered their first ever win in first-class cricket after beating Rawalpindi in a low-scoring encounter at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. After being four down without a run on the board in response to Rawalpindi’s first-innings total of 163, FATA mustered a score of 89. However, they completed a stunning comeback after bowling Rawalpindi out for 105 and then hunting down the target of 180. The win elevated FATA off the bottom of the table, after drawing three and losing two of their previous five games.Lahore Whites continued to struggle with the runs as they suffered another defeat, this time by an innings and 160 runs against rivals Karachi Blues. Karachi posted 363 on the back of a century from Saad Ali before Lahore were shot out for 145 and 58. Lahore Whites, who are at the bottom of Pool B with four losses and two drawn games, are facing a possible relegation from the tournament and will have to qualify for the main round next year if they remain in that position. Lahore Blues, the other team from the region, are placed fourth in Pool A with 12 points.