Craig McMillan has been named in the New Zealand team to play the first Test against Australia at Brisbane on Thursday. Hamish Marshall, who scored a half-century against Bangladesh recently, missed out. Also out of the XI was James Franklin, who was laid low by a groin strain.”There were a couple of tough ones, mostly based around balance, the sort of strategy we want to take into the game, and experience,” said John Bracewell, the New Zealand coach. “Craig McMillan’s selection gives us greater experience and someone who is battle hardened for a Test match of such magnitude. Hamish had just one Test innings in Bangladesh and, while he scored 50, was a bit out of touch in the one-day series. But what it really came down to was the small mental things – the fact that Craig has been there and done that. And the added bonus of a few overs may help.”Bracewell also expressed disappointment at losing Franklin, and explained that the need for swing influenced selection. “We want to have at least one swing bowler in the match as Brisbane is one of the few places in Australia where you get the opportunity to swing the ball. It will be about taking the small windows the new ball gives us – the opportunity to pick up a couple of wickets with a swinging ball against a team that goes hard at the bowling.”Bracewell expected conditions to suit the quicker bowlers. “We are expecting the ball to swing and after our initial look at the wicket it looks dry and is already showing cracks along the length of the pitch which indicates that it might take turn towards the end of the match. The ground staff have rolled a lot of grass clippings into the wicket trying to keep the moisture levels up.”New Zealand 1 Stephen Fleming (capt), 2 Mark Richardson, 3 Mathew Sinclair, 4 Scott Styris, 5 Nathan Astle, 6 Craig McMillan, 7 Jacob Oram, 8 Brendon McCullum (wk), 9 Daniel Vettori, 10 Kyle Mills, 11 Chris Martin

Abdul Razzaq, the Pakistan allrounder, was admitted to a private hospital in Melbourne this morning after a bout of vomiting, dizziness and breathing difficulties. His illness has not yet been diagnosed, but it forced him to miss the third day’s play of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG. Ambulance crews were called to the team hotel this morning after reports that Razzaq had fallen out of bed, suffered some loss of feeling in his legs, and had collapsed.Bob Woolmer, Pakistan’s coach, indicated that Razzaq was slightly better after being put under observation. “We haven’t any real diagnosis as to what the problem was,” he told the AAP news agency. “As a cricket coach, I’m not going to venture into the doctor’s field. Whether he will be fit tomorrow is conjecture, I don’t know. He can walk, but very slowly.”When Razzaq was admitted to hospital, Haroon Rashid, the Pakistan manager, told , a Melbourne-based newspaper: “In the morning he complained so we took him to hospital, but otherwise everything [about him] seems fine.”Razzaq has had a listless series so far. He was out to a reckless hoick at Perth, and was then inexplicably strokeless in Pakistan’s first innings at Melbourne, facing 76 deliveries to make an unbeaten 4. Observers suggested that he may have been over-compensating for a rash dismissal in the first Test.

The ICC has delivered a damning criticism of the USA administration, rather against its own insistence that it does not get involved in the domestic affairs of its members. The ultimatum issued by Ehsan Mani and Malcom Speed, its president and chief executive, to the USA Cricket Association told it to get its house in order or face the consequences.The letter, sent to Gladstone Dainty, the USACA president, reads as follows:-“Dear GladstoneWe refer to our letter of 1st November 2004. We note that we have not received a reply to that letter.We note further that we have not received your response to the comments we made concerning the proposed Memorandum of Understanding dealing with Project USA.We note further that we have not received the brief initial report concerning the USACA’s governance review that was requested by 11th October 2004.We note that in the meantime, we have been copied with numerous letters to and from you that indicate that USACA has plunged into further disarray.Further, we have witnessed the abysmal performance of the USA cricket team at the ICC Champions Trophy.Our overriding response is one of amazement. USACA has been trying for many years to arrange for Full Member countries to come to the USA to play international cricket. ICC has put in place a mechanism to enable this to happen. The initial feasibility study carried out by Gary Hopkins indicates that this project has the potential to generate large amounts of money over the next 2-3 years. This money will be applied by ICC for the furtherment of the game in the USA.We have now been approached by other countries that would like to replace USA as the preferred partner of ICC to deliver international cricket matches.Please be advised as to the following: In the event that ICC does not receive USACA’s agreement to sign the Memorandum of Understanding for Project USA, by 1st February 2005, one of the following two responses will follow:
a) ICC will cancel the project; or
b) ICC will work with another Associate Member country to stage the proposed matches in that country.Gladstone, as a final comment, we have seen numerous sporting organisations in various states of disarray throughout our period of involvement as sports administrators. We have never seen a sporting organisation that combines such great potential and such poor administration as USACA. From our observations, much of the blame for this lies with the current office bearers of USACA including yourself. We question whether the current administration of USACA can play any constructive role in taking the game forward in the United States.Yours sincerelyEhsan Mani, Malcolm Speed”The ICC letter blew the lid off one of the most closely guarded secrets in the history of US cricket. For nearly a decade, it has been assumed that the ICC had no interest in US cricket, and was turning a deaf year to all entreaties to step in and clean out the mess. The first complaints were either ignored or routinely referred back to the USACA as “the only ICC-authorised organisation in the United States of America”.Emboldened by this ICC “mantra”, the USACA turned away several attempts to reform US cricket over the years, citing its ICC-derived authority as the “imprimatur” for its actions. As the USACA structure atrophied in the absence of any real reform, the USACA board of control grew increasingly ineffective, and its executive ceased to communicate to US cricket and even among themselves.What has emerged in recent years is suspicion of a growing feeling within ICC circles that US cricket is far too important and valuable to be left to its own sordid devices. For one thing, the number of regular US cricketers, which has been growing exponentially over the past decade, is now larger (at 16,000-plus) than anywhere outside the Test-playing countries. Then there are the estimated 5 to 8 million US immigrants from cricket-playing countries who have the financial wherewithal to pay premium prices for pay-per-view international cricket on broadband internet or satellite TV and would be happy to subscribe if appropriately marketed to.And finally, there is US ProCricket, a modified Twenty20 semi-professional league that launched providing opportunities for first-class overseas players to play alongside US cricketers. Whether US ProCricket will continue to flourish given the opposition of many Test-playing countries to having their players participate is an open question for 2005. But its point has been made–first-class cricketers from all over the world can now play in the USA, if they are willing and able to do so.The letter from Mani and Speed does not directly address these matters. But it is clear that they are concerned with a systemic failure on the part of USACA to address the fundamental problems of US cricket. To say, as they have done, that they ” question whether the current administration of USACA can play any constructive role in taking the game forward in the United States” is about the harshest indictment of any ICC-member country’s management that has ever been seen in writing. Now it needs to be seen whether USACA will emerge from its self-imposed silence, and find a way to reply (by word and deed) to ICC’s clear ultimatum.

The Pakistan board has asked the ICC to stand two neutral umpires in one-day internationals and review all the decisions from the VB Series in Australia, Reuters has reported.Pakistan had a handful of lbw decisions go against them during the two finals losses against Australia, where one neutral umpire was employed alongside a home official in line with ICC regulations. Rudi Koertzen gave Adam Gilchrist a reprieve in the first over yesterday while Andrew Symonds survived a couple of close shouts at Melbourne. Michael Clarke was trapped in front by Rana Naved-ul-Hasan at the MCG and three Pakistan batsmen were given out lbw in the two matches.The news agency reported a source close to the board saying a letter had been sent to Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive, asking for a review of all decisions because of "inconsistent" umpiring. Abbas Zaidi, the PCB director of media, said it was a "confidential document".Inzamam-ul-Haq said he did not have a problem with the one-day umpiring. "But I think it’s good for the game to have neutral umpires," he said. "There is a lot of pressure and umpires are human too.”

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Wickets tumbled on the opening day of the Provincial Tournament final, with Ruchira Perera first jogging the memory of the selectors with a five-wicket haul that included a hat-trick and helped Central Province bowl out North Central Province for just 175. Nuwan Kulasekera, an emerging talent, then struck back in the evening with a four-wicket spurt to leave the match evenly poised in the evening with Central Province still 91 runs adrift on 84 for 4.North Central Province, the form team of the group stage, struggled from the start after being put into bat by Kumar Sangakkara, the Central Province captain. Priyankara Silva, a 28-year-old right-armer, chipped in with three wickets to leave North Central 83 for 6. But Upul Chandana (37 not out) and Kumar Dharmasena (42) stopped the freefall for a while with an 89-run stand before Tharanga Lakshitha bowled Dharmasena.Perera, still trying to rebuild his career after his action was called into question during Sri Lanka’s Lord’s Test in May 2002, then took centre stage with a dramatic hat-trick. Farveez Maharoof was caught and bowled and then Kulasekera and Channaka Welegedera were both adjudged leg-before.Fortunately, for North Central, Kulasekera struck back in the evening with the important wickets of Sajith Fernando (16), WMB Perera (5), Kumar Sangakkara (0) and Thilan Samaraweera (4), the in-form double centurion in the last game. Opener Nishad Paranavitana was unbeaten at the close on 27 with Hasantha Fernando on 21.

Andy Blignaut has been named in the Zimbabwean squad for the first Test against South Africa at Cape Town which starts tomorrow (March 4). It follows Heath Streak’s return to the national side in Wednesday’s final one-day international at Port Elizabeth. Blignaut, an explosive allrounder, is the latest of the 14 rebels who have not played for almost a year to make a comeback after agreeing terms with Zimbabwe Cricket.While out of the international arena Blignaut, 26, tried to forge a career in Australian domestic cricket by signing with Tasmania. But he had a chastening experience, as poor form and injury restricted him to just one first-class match, which resulted in figures of 12 overs for 79 runs. However, his Test record is more impressive – he has taken 51 wickets at 32 apiece with five-wicket hauls against India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. He is also the only Zimbabwean to take a Test match hat-trick, against Bangladesh at Harare in 2003-04. A powerful hitter, he is no slouch with the bat either with a top score of 92 against West Indies, but he has never played a Test against South Africa.Blignaut played for Zimbabwe A in the third match of their series against Bangladesh A at Kwekwe last week with limited success, making 10 and 14. But the good news for Zimbabwe’s captain Tatenda Taibu was that he started bowling again after his injury setbacks. He will add another dimension to a Zimbabwean attack that has looked distinctly ordinary – with the honourable exception of Streak’s return – and could find the pace and bounce of Cape Town and Centurion Park to his liking.The top-order batsman Dion Ebrahim has also been recalled and the 18-year-old legspinner Graeme Cremer secures a place in the squad after picking up six wickets in his first two Tests against Bangladesh.Zimbabwe squad Stuart Matsikenyeri, Barney Rogers, Hamilton Masakadza, Dion Ebrahim, Sean Williams, Tatenda Taibu (capt and wk), Alester Maregwede, Heath Streak, Andy Blignaut, Elton Chigumbura, Graeme Cremer, Prosper Utseya, Twanda Mupariwa, Christopher Mpofu, Douglas Hondo.

Sri Lanka A 225 (Jayantha 45, Arnold 42, Harrison 4-36) beat England A 166 (Shah 55) by 59 runs
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England A are on the verge of crashing out of the triangular series after slumping to a 59-run defeat to Sri Lanka A at the Colts ground in Colombo. They now need to win their last group match to progress, but this will be no easy task as they are up against Pakistan, who have already booked their place in the final courtesy of three straight wins.Saman Jayantha (45) and Russel Arnold (42) led the charge to lift Sri Lanka to 225 after Ian Bell sent them in. David Harrison took 4 for 36 from nine overs, including the first wicket of Michael Vandort (7 for 1). But Sri Lanka recovered to set an imposing total and give themselves a lifeline of staying in the tournament.England stumbled in their reply, losing both Matt Prior and Vikram Solanki with the score on 23. Wickets tumbled at regular intervals from thereon in, Malinga Bandara and Suraj Mohamed taking three wickets each to wrap up the England innings comfortably.Owais Shah mounted a lone stand of 55 before Dilhara Fernando trapped him lbw. Another six batsmen managed to get into double figures, but then stalled as the wheels came off England’s batting.

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There was a dramatic day allround at Headingley as Somerset plunged towards an innings defeat without Marcus Trescothick, their captain, who had to leave the match to return to his wife who was expected to give birth earlier than was thought. Without their skipper Somerset were spineless. Firstly Ian Harvey continued to carve up their attack and crunched his way to a maiden double-century and then their batting fell in a heap. Sanath Jayasuriya suffered a nightmare debut, out twice in the day for 0 and 7, caught off Matthew Hoggard in the first innings. But it was Deon Kruis, the South African seam bowler, and Tim Bresnan who did most of the damage. Bresnan backed-up his 74 with three first-innings wickets and Kruis ripped the Somerset top-order out when they followed-on, a massive 319 runs behind. Craig White nipped out Ian Blackwell before the close, as Ismail Dawood, the wicketkeeper, took his fifth catch and they had a chance to wrap up victory today until some belated resistance from John Francis and Aaron Laraman.
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A determined century from Darren Robinson and some useful contributions from the enabled Leicestershire to get within 100 runs of Northamptonshire’s first-innings. Robinson and Darren Maddy extended their opening stand to 135 before Steffan Jones claimed the top-three batsmen. The Northants bowlers continued to chip away and at 263 for 7 the follow-on looked a possibility. But the lower-order used the long handle to good effect, especially Claude Henderson who hit 30 from 27 balls. All the Northants bowlers took at least one wicket, but Jones was the pick with 4-74. It will now be down to David Sales to decide what sort of a target he wants to set Leicestershire and he could be tempted to put pressure on the fragile batting line-up.

The Gloucestershire quick bowler Steve Kirby has been found guilty of altering the condition of the ball during the County Championship match against Glamorgan, at Cardiff, on May 8, and given a suspended three-day ban from all ECB cricket.An ECB disciplinary hearing was held a Bristol today to consider the two separate allegations that Kirby knowingly and deliberately rubbed the ball on concrete and tarmac after it was hit into the car park.The panel, which included the former Warwickshire seamer Tim Munton, found enough evidence to prove both charges and imposed the three-day suspension, which itself will be suspended until September 30, 2005 providing Kirby doesn’t commit any futher offences.Kirby issued a statement through the PCA and said: “I understand that I was in breach of Law 42.3 (b) but I am an honest player who has never intentionally altered the condition of the ball and I never will. I’m looking forward to putting this issue behind me, and concentrating on getting back on the field for Gloucestershire.”His sentiments were echoed by his employers. “We note that the penalty imposed is at the bottom end of the scale,” said Tom Richardson, Gloucestershire’s chief executive. “We are a team that always takes pride in playing within the rules, we are glad that a line has now been drawn under this affair and we now wish to move on”.PCA chief executive Richard Bevan commented: “The umpires are duty bound to change the ball as set out in Law 42.3 (d) (i), if the condition of the ball has been altered, as was alleged of Steve Kirby in Law 42.3 (b). According to the umpires report, there was no clear evidence that the match ball had been tampered with and the match ball was not changed.”Normally, interfering with the ball would be considered a very serious offence which would attract the maximum penalties a panel could impose. However, in arriving at its decision, the panel was not satisfied that on either occasion damaged was caused to the ball which materially altered its condition. Kirby was ordered to pay £125 towards the costs of the hearing.

Queensland 2 for 64 trail NSW 203 (Haddin 66, Dawes 6-49) by 139 runs
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The ball dominated as 12 wickets fell on the opening day of Queensland’s Pura Cup match against New South Wales at the Gabba. At the close, Queensland were 2 for 64 in reply to NSW’s 203.There was little untoward in the first two hours as NSW cruised to 1 for 89 after winning the toss. But then they lost nine wickets for 114, including four for nine runs in a torrid half an hour after lunch as Joe Dawes and Andy Bichel wreaked havoc. Dawes finished with 6 for 49.Brad Haddin led a spirited counterattack with a 90-ball 66, which included 10 fours and a six, but he received scant support. Queensland wicketkeeper Wade Seccombe took four catches in the innings, taking him past 500 first-class career and 450 domestic four-day dismissals.Matthew Nicholson took two quick wickets when Queensland batted to reduce them to 2 for 31, but Jimmy Maher (23*) and Andrew Symonds (29*) arrested the slide with an unbroken 47-run stand.