Cricket: Williamson heading to Yorkshire for spell

Kane Williamson is winging his way back to England to get some vital batting practice before the Black Caps tour Bangladesh in October.
Tauranga-based Williamson has taken a short-term contract with well-performed English county Yorkshire, currently leading Division One with 158 points from 11 games. He will be there for the last five matches of the County Championship to cover for Gary Ballance, who has been named in the England Lions squad for three one-day matches against Bangladesh A, and his first match is against Nottinghamshire on August 21 at Trent Bridge.
Williamson said he was looking forward to getting some quality cricket in with one of the best teams in England who are based in Leeds at the test ground Headingly.
"This opportunity came up and it was my only opportunity to get some cricket in after having a bit of a break," Williamson said.
"After the English tour I stayed in Bristol a bit and caught up with some friends I have there from my time playing at Gloucester, and I have a close relationship with John Bracewell there.

"We obviously played the test up there (in June) and it was nice to spend some time there. I quite enjoyed the city and am looking forward to going up."
Yorkshire's head coach, former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie, says Williamson was top of the list of contenders they considered to join the county.
"Once we knew that Gary was unavailable, because of his international call-up, we made a conscious effort to bring in a proven international batsman to help bolster the squad," said Gillespie.
"The decision was made in consultation with Martyn Moxon, Andrew Gale, and Michael Vaughan, representing the board on cricketing matters, who all played a pivotal role in bringing in Kane. It is the right thing to do."

County cricket – as it happened

Richard Gibson reports

Wayne Madsen has crowned his momentous day with a third Championship hundred of the season.
A clip through midwicket for four off Tim Murtagh - his 10th of the innings - took him to three figures within half an hour of the close. However, he has lost four partners since becoming the first batsman to 1000 County Championship runs this season, and Derbyshire have slipped from 118 for one to 255 for six.
Any further strikes before the close and Middlesex will consider this a successful insertion given that the weather is set fair for the rest of the week and the pitch is a true one.

5.47pm BST

Richard Rae reports

It's getting very hairy at Lord's, where England are making a Horlicks (c) of their run chase in the ODI against Australia. Having been 99-1 off 27 overs, they're now 161-6 off 44, which means they need over seven an over to win - a big ask in women's cricket. The key dismissal was that of skipper Charlotte Edwards, who having played beautifully in going to 61, cut at the off-spin of Erin Osborne and thin edged a catch behind. Even at my sorry level you don't try and cut an off-spinner. All is not yet quite lost though.

4.09pm BST

Richard Gibson reports from Derby

Middlesex's greater discipline with the ball after lunch triggered a double breakthrough here at Derby but the home team have since regrouped courtesy of the County Championship's most prolific batsman, Wayne Madsen, and Richard Johnson, who has been playing well enough to be selected as a specialist batsman.
Having given too much to drive in the morning session, Middlesex's four-pronged pace attack pulled back their length, drying up the runs to the extent that only 27 runs came in the opening 15 overs of the session. The shorter stuff initially unsettled and then accounted for rookie opening batsman Ben Slater, who was caught behind fending. The prize scalp of Shivnarine Chanderpaul followed via softer means as he turned straight to short leg off spinner Ollie Rayner.
However, the fourth-wicket duo have both survived chances to move Derbyshire to 174 for three at tea. Madsen - the first man to reach 1000 County Championship runs in 2013 - is unbeaten on 64, his fourth half-century in a row, with Johnson 32 not out.
Elsewhere, Monty Panesar has gone wicketless through the first two sessions of his Essex debut against former employers Northamptonshire at Colchester. Stephen Peters and David Sales have both struck hundreds for the Friends Life t20 winners, who are 258 for two at tea.

3.43pm BST

Richard Gibson with another update

A ripple of applause went around the County Ground at 2.50pm when Wayne Madsen steered the ball backward of point for two off James Harris - a stroke that too him to 49 this innings and an even 1000 for the County Championship season.
Becoming the first player to four figures is a commendable effort by the Derbyshire captain, whose fighting qualities have been replicated by his team in recent weeks. Having beaten Sussex down at Hove, they have shown resolve against a Middlesex team fighting for the title.
However, the departure of young opener Ben Slater for a half-century and veteran West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul either side of Madsen's landmark has taken some of the gloss of their morning work. Slater edged a short ball from James Harris while fellow left-hander Chanderpaul turned a delivery from off-spinner Ollie Rayner straight into the hands of short leg to leave the hosts 123 for three.

1.58pm BST

Richard Rae reports

Opinions are mixed regarding Australia's score of 203-8. On the face of it, four an over should be within England's scope, but the wicket, previously used, seemed to get more sluggish as the innings went on, and England were not as sharp in the field as they usually are – several catches were grassed, and more than a few runs given away.
Meg Lanning was the pick of the batters, reaching 50 off 61 balls, while Katherine Brunt bowled beautifully, her figures of 3-29 off ten overs fully deserved. Prediction? England don't chase well, and it might be enough. Australia to win by 20 runs.

12.44pm BST

Richard Gibson reports

In their captain Wayne Madsen, Derbyshire possess the country's in-form batsman, and he is threatening to become the first player to 1000 County Championship runs this season.
Having started the morning on 951 Division One runs, he has surged into the 20s with some delightful strokes on a day seemingly made for batting. On-drives in successive overs highlighted his current touch, and suggested he is a good bet to overtake Middlesex's Sam Robson - the closest man in either division to four figures, on 993 - after lunch.
He is at the wicket courtesy of the one false stroke in the morning session: Chesney Hughes' leading edge to mid-off attempting to work a Gareth Berg delivery through the leg-side. But with rookie opening batsman Ben Slater appearing to have a very solid technique, and good temperament to boot, Robson might not remain at third slip for much longer. Derbyshire are 81 for one with the interval 20 minutes away.

11.40am BST

Richard Rae's view at Lord's

Richard Rae's view at Lord's. Photograph: /Richard Rae

11.02am BST

Richard Rae sets the scene at Lord's

Anyone with cricket in the soul knows there are few more uplifting sights than Lord's on a cloudless summer's morning. England's spirits will be soaring even higher after Katherine Brunt's first over breakthrough in the one-day international against Australia.
Brunt, steaming in from the Nursery End, dropped short to Rachael Haynes, and the Aussie opener top edged an attempted pull to give the Bruntster a simple return catch. Brunt has also shaped the ball nicely, and all in all there's already a very different feel to the Test match, which you will recall was played out on a flat, slow pitch at the Getty Ground in Wormsley.
Attractive venue though it is, it didn't do the women's game any favours in terms of dispelling any prejudices about lack of pace and slow scoring.They're expecting a crowd of around 5,000, many of whom are already in and basking in the sun, including in the pavilion, pleasingly.
This is my first visit to the Lord's press box since the sad demise of Norman de Mesquita, who wrote about cricket and ice hockey for many years for the Times, amongst others. Norman could be grumpy - he used to terrify touring parties when they arrived in the press box, bellowing 'No pictures!' if one so much as reached for a camera - but once he decided you were a real journalist, he was wonderful, funny and always helpful company.

10.57am BST

Richard Gibson sets the scene in Derby

Now that the Twenty20 portion of the season is over, it's time to concentrate on what for the majority of county cricketers remains the ultimate prize.
Middlesex, one of a quintet of clubs still tussling for the County Championship title and the £550,000 prize money that goes with it, have won the toss at Derby – which can rarely have looked lovelier, it's amazing what a flood of sun rays can do – and inserted the hosts. Derbyshire captain Wayne Madsen doesn't get the choice too often these days – this was the eighth toss he has lost in 11 Division One matches.
But he is able to name an unchanged XI after the surprise victory at Sussex last time out, which means that the fit-again Tony Palladino joins other members of the 2012 promotion-winning team, Wes Durston, Dan Redfern and David Wainwright on the sidelines.
Middlesex's wealth of personnel means that Corey Collymore misses out while Steven Finn will replace James Harris if and when he is deemed surplus to England's requirements for the final Ashes Test.

Dilshan to join Guyana Amazon Warriors

Tillakaratne Dilshan has become the fifth Sri Lanka player to sign up with the inaugural Caribbean Premier League. He will join Guyana Amazon Warriors as a replacement for the injured New Zealand batsman Martin Guptill, who broke a bone in his right hand in the match against Antigua Hawksbills on August 17.

Dilshan will join his Sri Lanka team-mate Lasith Malinga, who is also with Guyana. The other Sri Lanka players in the CPL are Muttiah Muralitharan and Kumar Sangakkara (Jamaica Tallawahs) and Mahela Jayawardene (Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel).

Guyana coach Roger Harper said: "While it is sad to lose a player of Martin Guptill's ability at this stage of the tournament, we are delighted to have secured a top-quality replacement in Tillakaratne Dilshan.

"He offers so much to any side he plays for, as an attacking batsman, a useful bowler and also someone who is outstanding in the field. We look forward to him linking up with us ahead of Thursday's semi-final and his big-match experience will be a great asset to us."

Guyana topped the points table after the league stage and will meet Trinidad & Tobago in the first semi-final in Port -of-Spain on August 22.

Dilshan has had some practice in the Twenty20 format of late, with two international games against South Africa followed by three in the Sri Lankan domestic Super 4's tournament.

England seek crushing final blow

Match facts August 21-25, The Oval
Start time 1100 (1000 GMT)

Big Picture

Not since 1981 have England arrived at The Oval for the last Test of an Ashes summer with the series already won. The possibility that lies tantalisingly before them is even rarer. Never before have Australia been beaten 4-0 by England and only once have they lost by such a wide margin (the 5-1 home defeat in 1978-79, when Packer was a dirty word). After a demoralising six weeks, when Australia have regularly misplaced their key moments, they will have to find extra reserves if they not to be swept away by an English tide.

Metaphor aside, Australia have again delved into their squad to supplement an ever-changing cast, with James Faulkner called on to make his Test debut. Only Mathew Wade of the original 16-man party has not been utilised and, with the additions of Ashton Agar and Steven Smith, Australia will have used 17 different players over the course of the series - not to mention a batting order that has changed with every Test. England, by contrast, have been their usual, methodical selves and only an injury to Tim Bresnan will force them to alter the team for the first time since Steven Finn was dropped for the second Test at Lord's. It is not only the scorelines that have changed in Ashes cricket.

It may not be the cauldron of expectation experienced in 2005 and 2009, then, but The Oval has a recent record of producing memorable finales. Despite England's supremacy, this series has at times brought to mind the joke from Annie Hall about a conversation between two elderly women at a resort in the Catskill mountains: "One of them says, 'Boy, the food in this place is terrible.' The other one says, 'Yeah, I know, and such small portions.'" There has been a shortfall in quality on both sides - only Ian Bell, Graeme Swann and Ryan Harris can claim to have had outstanding series - but the Investec Ashes continues to serve up irresistible moments. 

Form guide

England: WDWWW
Australia: LDLLL

Players to watch

Jonny Bairstow has been attempting to nail down a spot in England's Test side for over a year now but, despite frequent encouraging episodes, the hammer keeps descending at a crooked angle. His 67 at Lord's was crucial in helping to right England's first innings and 203 runs at 29.00 in the series puts him above both Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott but doubts about his technique and temperament persist. England have not had a century from their No. 6 batsman since Eoin Morgan in 2010 but it feels like Bairstow needs a three-figure score to be sure of his place this winter.

When you have backers like Shane Warne in your corner, big things are expected and James Faulkner has provided plenty of evidence of his talent since his debut for Tasmania as an 18-year-old. Now 23, Faulkner averages 30.31 with the bat and 22.87 with the ball in first-class cricket and his feisty, competitive spirit has been to the fore in a handful of limited-overs appearances for his country. That aside, Australia may hope the fact Faulkner hails from Launceston, hometown of Ricky Ponting, is enough to make England edgy.

Team news

Alastair Cook said that Chris Tremlett has a "good chance" of coming back into the side for a first Test appearance since January 2012. Bresnan's back injury means a space has opened up in the attack and Tremlett will be up against Chris Woakes - more of a like-for-like replacement for the all-round talents of Bresnan - and Finn. Giving Simon Kerrigan a debut alongside Graeme Swann remains an outside possibility, though England have not played two spinners at home since Cardiff 2009.

England (probable) 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Joe Root, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Ian Bell, 6 Jonny Bairstow, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 Chris Tremlett 11 James Anderson

Australia have announced their XI in advance, with Faulkner set to make his debut and Mitchell Starc returning. Usman Khawaja and Jackson Bird drop out and, with allrounder Faulkner coming in at No. 7, Australia will rejig their batting order again. After two innings at No. 6 (and one at No. 4), Shane Watson moves back up the order to first drop, a position that has caused Australia a deal of grief in recent times, while Brad Haddin is now in the top six, above a lengthy, if doughty, tail.

Australia 1 Chris Rogers, 2 David Warner, 3 Shane Watson, 4 Michael Clarke (capt), 5 Steven Smith, 6 Brad Haddin (wk), 7 James Faulkner, 8 Peter Siddle, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Ryan Harris, 11 Nathan Lyon

Pitch and conditions

The Oval has been on the slow side and more liable to turn in recent years but, although the pitch for the fifth Test is dry, there is an expectation that it will be quicker and bouncier than usual. The weather is forecast to be warm, although there is the possibility of showers interrupting a couple of day's play.

Stats and trivia

• England have only lost six times to Australia at The Oval, against 16 wins, making it their most successful home ground.
• The last time Australia went two consecutive series without winning a Test was in 1986.
• After 98 and 96 Test matches respectively, the batting records of Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook are separated by 33 runs and 0.21 in average. Pietersen is marginally ahead of his captain but Cook has two more centuries (25 to 23).
• James Faulkner will become the 435th player to represent Australia in Tests.

Jesse Ryder suspended from cricket for six months after failed drug test

Jesse Ryder failed a drug test after a match for the Wellington Firebirds in March. Photograph: Gurinder Osan/AP

The New Zealand batsman Jesse Ryder has been suspended for six months after failing a doping test for banned stimulants he claimed he took in a supplement to help him lose weight.
Ryder returned a positive sample after being tested following a match for the provincial side Wellington Firebirds against Northern Knights on 24 March, the country's Sports Tribunal said in a statement on its website.
Ryder tested positive to 1-phenylbutan-2-amine (PBA) and N-alphadiethyl-benzeneethanamine (DEBEA), both of which are banned in competition, and was subsequently handed a six-month provisional ban on 19 April.
"I'm pretty gutted by all this," Ryder said on Tuesday. "After doing the research and finding out there's no banned substances in it, it's disappointing having to go through all this and knowing that I failed a drug test."
Explaining why he took the supplement, he said: "It was just to control my weight. It did fluctuate quite a bit throughout the season and I wasn't training as much, maybe not looking after myself as well, so I thought it'd be a good time to get on top of it.
"It's been a public issue for quite a while, my weight, it's something I'm always trying to sort out. I didn't really notice much of a difference at all, I only used them a handful of times.
"It's difficult to have done that research and to find out that it had been a contaminated batch. There's not much else I could have done."
The tribunal issued a decision on Monday saying that it accepted Ryder's reasons for taking supplements and upheld the provisional ban, meaning the ban would be lifted on 19 October.
"The mandatory penalty for this violation is two years' suspension," the tribunal said. "However, the suspension can be less if the athlete establishes how the prohibited substances got in his system and that the taking of the prohibited substance was not intended to enhance his sport performance."
The tribunal added in its decision's notes: "We do not need to detail Mr Ryder's evidence other than to say in summary that he expressed a sensitivity arising from public comments about his weight and, as he was in a good space at the time about his cricketing form, he had decided to make a further attempt to reduce weight."
New Zealand's top anti-doping authority Drug Free Sport NZ said it had accepted the tribunal's conclusion that the Test batsman was not intending to enhance performance but added that he "had failed to heed clear warnings he had received".
"This is doubly disappointing as DFSNZ, NZ Cricket and the Cricket Players' Association had collaborated to institute an education programme for first-class cricketers and Ryder had been part of that programme," Graeme Steel of Drug Free Sport said in a statement on its website.
"Supplements are a minefield for athletes as, while benefits are invariably overstated, accurate information about contents and their status under sport rules is frequently insufficient."
The leniency of the decision and the lack of disclosure are likely to raise eyebrows in New Zealand, where Ryder's travails have been a constant source of controversy. A burly left-hander who stepped away from Test cricket last year to deal with personal issues, Ryder has struggled with weight problems throughout his career, along with alcohol and discipline issues.
Four days after being tested following his match for Wellington, Ryder was subject to a vicious assault outside a Christchurch nightspot which put him in hospital with critical head injuries.

Cricket-Dravid wants open approach towards day-night tests

Aug 20 (Reuters) - Former India captain Rahul Dravid wants cricket administrators to approach the introduction of day-night tests with an open mind to bolster the dwindling popularity of the longer format among spectators.
The idea of floodlit test cricket, possibly played with a pink, orange or yellow ball, in more spectator-friendly hours has found acceptance in a wide section of the cricketing fraternity in recent years.
While doubts still remain about its technical viability, the International Cricket Council (ICC) last year approved the idea of day-night test matches but left it to member boards to decide on the hours of play and the colour of the ball.

Speaking at an event organised by popular website ESPNcricinfo in London on Monday, Dravid highlighted the primacy of test cricket and suggested ways for bolstering the acceptance of the longer format of the game across the world.
"If it means playing day-night cricket, we must give it a try, keep an open mind," Dravid, the third-highest run-scorer in test cricket, said. "The game's traditions aren't under threat if we play test cricket under lights.
"I know there have been concerns about the durability of the pink ball, but I have had some experience of it, having played for the MCC, and it seemed to hold up okay.
"It could be an issue at places where dew sets in at certain times of the year, but scheduled at the right places at the right times, it could get test cricket what it needs most: some more people in the stands."
Dravid, who also scored more than 10,000 runs in the 50-over format, felt test cricket should not be sacrificed at the altar of the popular shorter formats and should be ready to adapt with changing times.
"Moving with the times does not mean embracing only T20 and trashing test cricket," Dravid, who retired from international cricket last year, added. "It means finding a way to retain the best form of the game in a contemporary environment.
"Remember, while it did take long, there's even a roof over Wimbledon Centre Court these days.
"Day-night tests remain a work in progress but we can start by sorting out the scheduling around test cricket, to ensure that teams can complete their home and away cycles against each other over a four-year period."

Tests matches are cricket's 'life source' - Dravid

Rahul Dravid has made a spirited call for nurturing first-class and Test cricket, saying the longer and more traditional formats provided players with the grounding needed to prosper in the newer, shorter versions. The steps Dravid suggested for bolstering Tests included a more serious consideration of day-night Tests, increasing pay for long-form specialists, a streamlined and regularised cricket calendar, and providing more context to matches through competitions like the Test championship.

Perhaps the most radical idea Dravid proposed was for the less successful countries to find a way to involve some of their teams in the first-class structures of more robust cricketing nations, such as a Bangladesh side participating in the Indian domestic season.

Dravid was speaking at the ESPNcricinfo for Cricket event held in London on Monday, part of a series of events held to celebrate the website's 20th anniversary.

While highlighting the primacy of Tests, he acknowledged the benefits provided by Twenty20s, not just financially but with the innovations in cricket it has spurred. Dravid urged people to think beyond pat metaphors like "fast food v fine dining" when comparing the two formats, and, putting forth a more nuanced explanation of the difference between them, said he believed they could exist alongside each other.

"Test cricket, an older, larger entity is the trunk of a tree and the shorter game - be it T20 or ODIs - is its branches, its off-shoots," he said. "Now to be fair, it is the branches that carry the fruit, earn the benefits of the larger garden in which they stand and so catch the eye. The trunk though is the old, massive, larger thing which took a very long time to reach height and bulk. But it is actually a life source: chip away at the trunk or cut it down and the branches will fall off, the fruit will dry up."

Dravid elaborated that the sustained examination cricketers faced in the longer version helped them, especially youngsters, better understand their basic game. "The fundamental core of every cricketer's game is enriched by playing four- and five-day cricket," he said. "By using those well-trained powers of adaptability, discipline, resilience and focus as a T20 cricketer, you will have double the advantage than the player possessed only of talent and timing.

"The skill of learning how to think clearly under pressure is required in T20, but it is built through having to endure pressure for a session, two sessions, an entire day, a series of spells."

Most of the biggest stars today honed their game over years of first-class cricket, but with the ever-increasing focus on Twenty20, Dravid sounded a note of caution for the future. "We are, I believe, maybe one generation away from reaching the point where our entire youth structures could cater only to T20 without any emphasis on the longer form of the game. By not giving young players a chance to explore their versatility, endurance or even improvisational skills, we will be selling ourselves and our sport well short."

He then elaborated on measures to prop up the long form. "If that means reworking how first-class and Test players can be out on more lucrative contracts, let's get the accountants on this," he said. "If it means playing day-night cricket, we must give it a try, keep an open mind. The game's traditions aren't under threat if we play Test cricket under lights. I know there have been concerns about the durability of the pink ball, but I have had some experience of it having played for the MCC, and it seemed to hold up okay."

A regularised itinerary was another of Dravid's ideas. "We can start by sorting out the scheduling around Test cricket, to ensure that teams can complete their home-and-away cycles against each other over a four-year period. This will mean balancing and creating context for all the three formats." He argued that the Ashes didn't lose its lustre over the years partly because of its fixed place in the calendar, allowing a sense of anticipation to build up.

"If we can answer that question - what's this for? - with something other than the words 'television rights' we will have done well." One way to address the lack of context, he felt, was to have marquee tournaments like the Test championship and the Champions Trophy.

The most important step was to shore up first-class structures, especially in the smaller cricketing countries. "Bangladesh is a good example of a country with a great passion for the game and they don't lack in talent. But they are still struggling to find their feet, literally and figuratively, in Test cricket because of the lack of a strong first-class structure," he said. "Test cricket is not the place to start trying to learn new skills."

He argued that more established nations should help out the less-resourced countries, by integrating overseas teams in their domestic competitions, suggesting pairs of "India for Bangladesh, South Africa for Zimbabwe, England for West Indies, Australia for New Zealand." The way ahead was to put aside short-term profit and work collaboratively, he contended, since "we are a very small community and we can't afford to lose the members of our family".

Bowler McPeake rewarded with Firebirds deal

Iain McPeake's decision to end a promising hockey career was vindicated with his first professional cricket contract yesterday.
The Hutt District medium-fast bowler was confirmed as Cricket Wellington's 14th and final contracted player for the coming season and will officially join the payroll on October 1, for a six-month retainer of $20,000 plus match fees.
It's a rapid rise for the 22-year-old whose first sporting love was hockey. He was good enough to make the Junior Black Sticks squad and only began playing competitive cricket as a sixth-former at Hutt International Boys' School.
A blistering club season when he took 81 wickets, the second-most in Wellington club history, and some impressive spells to prospective team-mates sealed the deal.
"He trained with the Firebirds for the last three months of last season and he made some really big gains bowling to quality players and getting some very good coaching [from former Wellington paceman Stephen Hotter]," said Cricket Wellington's director of cricket, Robbie Kerr.
"The hockey holds him in good stead; he gives the ball a good clout and he's exceptionally fit."
McPeake flagged away hockey this year and went to England where's he's playing club cricket in Cornwall.
Wellington continue to boast a solid core of experienced pacemen in Mark Gillespie, Andy McKay and new bowling coach Brent Arnel, but it's the level below that the Firebirds usually struggle.
McPeake's height is an asset and he's a handful for most club batsmen, but an extra yard of pace could be the key to a successful step up if injuries strike the frontliners.
"In club cricket he gets them through quickly and at first-class level his pace will be good, but players are used to facing that sort of pace all the time. He's got potential to get quicker but he would certainly be regarded as lively," Kerr said.
The departures of pacemen Tipene Friday, to Auckland, and Scott Kuggeleijn, to Northern Districts, helped McPeake's cause.
Often criticised for not bringing through promising youngsters, Cricket Wellington did the right thing by securing McPeake and teenage Taita batsman Henry Walsh for their final two contract spots.
With their contracted players locked in, Wellington are close to naming an assistant coach to replace Shane Deitz, but several weeks away from confirming their captain for the coming season.

Cricket club stumped by school health and safety rules

Coopers’ Company and Coburn School, a sports college, told its local Upminster Cricket Club it was too dangerous to give the wicket a weekly roll to flatten out the cracks and bumps.

The cricketers queried with decision with the Health and Safety Executive and were told it was another example of officials wrongly blaming the regulations for something they appeared not to want to do.

The HSE disclosed yesterday that there have been almost 200 similar cases in the past year of insurance companies, employers and local authorities blaming health and safety rules to support “ridiculous or disproportionate” decisions.

A gym club told members they should only use hair dryers on the hair on their head, “for health and safety reasons”. A DIY store told a customer it could not cut wood down to size so he could fit it in his car because it was “against health and safety rules”. A hotel refused to provide toilet brushes in bathrooms, on the grounds of health and safety.

All three cases, like the Upminster school, were incorrect interpretations of health and safety regulations.

Won't consider Surrey option until January - Ford

Sri Lanka coach Graham Ford has said he will not consider a coaching position with Surrey until his contract with Sri Lanka expires in January next year. Ford had been linked with the Surrey role, which has been vacant since June, but says the suggestion that he is a favourite to take over at the county is speculation.

"During the Champions Trophy I was informally asked by the Surrey CEO if I would consider their vacant position," Ford said. "My reply was that my Sri Lanka contract finished in January 2014 and would consider all options available to me from there on. I have had no further discussions with Surrey and believe that there is no foundation to the story."

SLC officials had said earlier that Ford had not approached them about finishing early with Sri Lanka. "We have not had any indication of that sort so far," said secretary Nishantha Ranatunga, with SLC president Jayantha Dharmadasa adding that the board was not unhappy with Ford's work with the national side.

Ford has strong ties with Kevin Pietersen, who plays for Surrey, and was the man the latter endorsed to take over the England coaching job after Pietersen's turmoil with Peter Moores ended with Moores' sacking in 2009. A move to Surrey will also strengthen the county's South African connection, with Graeme Smith having signed on as captain until 2015. Ford also has county experience under his belt, having been Kent's director of cricket.

Mohammad Aamir backs Rahul Dravid's call to make fixing criminal offence

Karachi:  His international career ruined due to involvement in spot-fixing, banned Pakistan pacer Mohammed Aamir has backed former Indian captain Rahul Dravid's suggestion to make fixing a criminal offence.

In a an interview on 'Geo Super channel', Aamir, who is serving a five-year ban, said the ICC needed to do more to control the menace of fixing in cricket.

"I don't know what powers or authority the ICC has but definitely it needs to make fixing of matches a criminal offence and there should be jail sentences for those involved in this racket," he said.

The 21-year old, who will complete three years of his minimum ban period next month, said the ICC should coordinate with the local police where matches are played.

"It can be termed as invasion of privacy but the biggest thing they must do is to keep track of all calls made and received on phones of players and officials involved in a bilateral series or tournament," the youngster said.

"The ICC must keep track and monitor numbers of all potential and known bookmakers who lure players into the fixing racket. And anyone found guilty must face criminal charges. I don't think just having education and awareness programmes about anti-corruption is enough to deter such things," he opined.

Aamir said education and awareness campaigns can only do as much and cannot deter those who have made up their minds.

"Someone who has made up his mind to do something wrong will not be affected by these programs." Aamir also felt that a lot of responsibility lay on the players themselves.

"The point is that if players know anyone who tries to corrupt them will face proper criminal charges they will be quick to report any approach or offer or unusual activity to the ICC anti-corruption and security unit officers or their team management," he said.

Aamir said he was making these pleas because he had seen and undergone a lot at a very young age.

"One day I was creating a world record and next day I was facing spot fixing charges. I have been through tough times and have learnt from them.

"The biggest lesson has been that there is enough legal money to be made from cricket and it is best for players to avoid negative and bad company," he said.

"I would advise all young players to stay away from corruption because in the end if they remain honest and they are good players they will still earn good money," he added.

He also thanked the Pakistan Cricket Board for pleading his case with the ICC and hoped that the sport's world governing body would allow him to at least use PCB facilities and eventually play some club or domestic cricket.

"I know I need just two months to get back into my rhythm and I know I can still play for 10 to 12 years for Pakistan whenever the chance comes my way," he said.

Cricket has key role in Indo-Pak peace, says Shahryar Khan

LONDON: Veteran Pakistani diplomat Shahryar Khan said that revival of cricket ties between India and Pakistan can play an important role in the peace process between the two neighbours.

"A series between the two countries has tremendous importance as cricket is such an obsession in both countries," Khan told reporters at a pre-launch event organised by the Indian Journalists' Association for his new book 'Cricket Cauldron: The Turbulent Politics of Sport in Pakistan'.

"The ICC (International Cricket Council) Task Force report (prepared by English Cricket Board chief Giles Clarke) states clearly that the India-Pakistan series needs to be revived because it is even more important than the Ashes. Somehow if it were to happen, I think it would be a very major factor in the peace process," he said.

The man appointed special envoy by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to improve relations with India also narrowed down a three-pronged strategy for revival of ties between the two sub-continental neighbours.

"We need to focus on relations in terms of the low-lying fruit that is ready to be plucked to get things on track. These would include revival of trade ties and resolution of the Sir Creek issue. In the medium term, the Siachen dispute and a better visa regime will go a long way in confidence building. There is an urgent need for an Indian consulate in Karachi," Khan said.

"The longer term goals, which are more complex and require detailed work, such as the Kashmir issue, can then be tackled once these two levels are in place," said the former Pakistan foreign secretary, spelling out his vision for India-Pakistan diplomacy in the near future.

Khan, however, stressed that the recent "extremist attacks" on the Kashmir border must not be allowed to derail the potential of peace talks.

"These attacks must be looked at in the proper perspective. No government or Army can be behind such attacks. Therefore, mature governance is needed on both sides to ensure extremists are not allowed to sabotage and derail the peace process," he said.

Referring to his visit to India last month to hand over a letter from Sharif to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he added, "The Indian Prime Minister was extremely forthcoming and both PMs are utterly sincere in trying to achieve better relations between India and Pakistan. I look forward to meeting Dr Singh again in New York next month."

The former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman is in London for the official launch of his book here next week.

Describing it as a "view of Pakistan through the prism of cricket", Khan also tackles all the major controversies associated with the game in recent times.

The book goes on to document a series of personal anecdotes, including the visit of Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi to Karachi during the India-Pakistan series back in 2004.

"It was during that series that it became obvious how any animosity among the crowds had disappeared. The Indian team was welcomed with applause and cheers. It was a clear message that it is time to move forward and no politician could ignore that message," he said.

Cricket for the Nawabs

I played cricket in the 1970s in the twin cities of Hyderabad-Secunderabad, a tranquil, overgrown village back then. Today, just like the city, the game there has grown into something unrecognisably frenetic.
It was pretty much somnolent then, and matches did not always start on time. Sometimes the umpires came late, and could then be persuaded by the rival captains to wait for all the players to arrive. Yet in an unexpected theatre of the absurd, there was this provision for two innings in a single day, with bonus points awarded to a team if it won outright. I often witnessed - and participated in - reckless attempts to win a match outright without losing points for falling below the requisite over rate.
My State Bank of India team-mate Nagesh was an expert at running through his overs in seconds, often rushing the batsmen to take guard. These were sheer bullying tactics by the big teams against the weaklings of the league. I rarely got a bowl during a long wait for recognition, yet I once managed to take three wickets in a single over - my only over in the match - when defiant batsmen were frustrating our efforts to enforce the follow-on; only for my captain, Habib Ahmed, to guffaw, "Even Ramnarayan came in useful!"
Motganhalli Laxmanarsu Jaisimha, tall, strong of muscle and lithe of movement - an aesthete in all he did on the cricket field, tennis court or golf course - was the undoubted Nawab of Hyderabad cricket. His Marredpalli Cricket Club was a throwback to the village cricket ambience of the England he last visited in 1959 as a member of Dattu Gaekwad's Indian team.
Jai's MCC was a collection of Sunday cricketers coming together for the love of the game. It could surprise you every now and then with the high quality of its cricket, depending on the availability of players of calibre - for example, Cambridge blue Santosh Reddy, or the Nawab of Pataudi on a visit to the city.
Jai himself added a touch of class with his impeccable defence and breathtaking shots. He was also a clever bowler of medium-pace swing, or offspin, as the occasion demanded, and an astute strategist as captain, marshalling his resources adroitly to beat the top teams of the city whenever he caught them napping.
Hyderabad cricket had more than its share of characters. There was Kalim-ul-Huq the legspinner, of the film-star looks, Elvis Presley hair and flamboyant ways. He had a bustling action and could turn the ball, but alas, was past his best. Like SK Patel and V Kannan of my college days in Madras, Kalim was the most industrious net bowler around. He also enjoyed a reputation as a raconteur of stories starring Kalim-ul-Huq. "Kalim just completed his 100th wicket of the season. In the nets!" his team-mates would cackle.
My own favourite character was the short-sighted old umpire Sultan Saab, who would rub salt into your wound after a batsman had hit you out of the tiny Nizam College ground, by asking, "Kya tha woh, 4 ya 6? Tum kuch bolte nahin! (What was that, 4 or 6? You tell me nothing!)"
There were other personalities like the cricket-mad PR Man Singh. His playing ambitions thwarted by poor eyesight, he diverted all his energies to a life in cricket administration. The stories of his wheeling and dealing were as prolific as those of his chivalry and valour, depending on which of two rival camps you belonged to - Man Singh's or Jaisimha's. You had to support one or the other if you wanted to amount to much in Hyderabad cricket. Each was a great contributor to the game, but a whole generation of cricketers suffered as a result of this rivalry, real or perceived, between them.
The cricket conversations of Hyderabad often revolved around past greats, especially those who did not make it to the highest level despite their undoubted gifts - because of the evil machinations of some villain or other. Tales of such skulduggery were told with relish on the lawns of Fateh Maidan Club over several draughts of the golden liquid. Eddie Aibara, a fine allrounder in the early years of the Ranji Trophy, and later a kindly, wise coach who guided many young cricketers, was one such unhonoured hero.
I was lucky to experience the different ethos of two cricket centres of the south, Madras and Hyderabad. My cricket thinking was shaped by the company I kept in both cities, though ever so slightly dominated by the greats with whom I rubbed shoulders in the twin cities. Yet my adamant shortcomings as much as my rare flashes of inspiration were of my own doing. You cannot blame Madras or Hyderabad for them.

Everything you need to know about how cricket technology works

With technology causing consternation in the Ashes series, here is the lowdown on the four elements that cricket viewers, and players, have come to love and hate.

 

Who provides the technology and what is its background?
Hawkeye: Hawkeye Innovations, based in Basingstoke and owned by Sony, was founded by Dr Paul Hawkins and first used by Channel 4 for its cricket broadcasting during the 2001 Ashes. It will now provide goal-line technology in football.
Hot Spot: BBG Sports, a company based in Melbourne, developed Hot Spot along with Sky Sports. It is also used in Australia, where cricket rights are owned by Channel 9. Four specialist cameras are used at each match at a cost of around £7,500 per day.
Audio: The audio is provided by the broadcasters and originates from sound picked up by microphones in the middle stumps at either end. It was originally invented as a broadcast tool but improvements in audio technology have seen it added to the DRS.
Snicko: Another tool provided by BBG and invented by English computer scientist Allan Plaskett. A new updated snicko is being trialled during the Ashes. Entitled Real Time Snicko it is quicker to process. At the moment snicko is not part of DRS due to the length of time it takes to match up the audio to the visual images.
Pros?
Hawkeye: Takes out the guess work for umpires by using up to seven cameras which track the ball from different angles. The video is then triangulated to create a 3d image and uses the same predictive technology utilised in the launch of rockets.
Hot Spot: It can prove if the ball has struck by the bat. Its thermal imaging detects heat which is caused by the friction between the ball and the bat. It can show up edges not audible.
Audio: Umpires can use sound if Hot Spot fails. By using ‘cricket sense’ and television images they can judge if the ball has hit the bat or bat has hit pad or the ground.
Snicko: The soundwave readout is analysed graphically once the moving image is matched with the audio picked up from the stump mics
Cons?
Hawkeye: It is predictive and there have been suggestions it is not accurate. It is not used unilaterally. There is a rival company, Virtual Eye which provides the technology in Australia.
Hot Spot: Sometimes fails to detect faint edges from fast bowlers due to lack of friction.
Audio: The stump mics pick up audio from batsmen, bowlers and fielders which can distort the sound of contact between bat and ball.
Snicko: It takes too long for the evidence to be collated in time for the DRS. Again, the sound can be distorted by other noises.
How big an impact has it had on this Ashes series?
Hawkeye: Unquestioned and used as normal by the 3rd umpires and players appear to have trust in its use.
Hot Spot: A technician’s error led to an apology from the ICC in the first Test and has subsequently been at the centre of other controversies when it has failed to detect edges.
Audio: Used by 3rd umpire as evidence for edges even though there has not been any Hotpsot marks.
Snicko: Nothing as it is only used by the broadcasters and not the 3rd umpire.
Will it remain part of DRS?
Hawkeye: Yes
Hot Spot: future will be discussed at an ICC meeting in September.
Audio: Yes
Snicko: The new real-time Snicko if it passes independent testing could be part of DRS by the next Ashes series.

Ashes bloggers open new chapter for cricket

encountered them, they were no longer in the bishop’s house, or even his palace. They were lining two long shelves of Blackwell’s book depository. How they turned up there, I don’t know. How my father found himself there is even more mysterious and certainly lost in the mists of time.

But although dad is no longer around, the bishop’s books are and now fill two long shelves of my brother’s home. Some are by this paper’s venerable former cricket correspondent E W Swanton; many concern the controversial 1932-33 ‘Bodyline’ tour; all sport vividly designed covers and clipped, direct titles such as Just My Story by Len Hutton or My Life Story by Sir Jack Hobbs, or The Larwood Story by Harold Larwood.

The books were worth their weight in gold to my father. He pored over them, imbibing every drop of the fascinating mixture of self-aggrandising heroics and self-deprecating description that poured from their pages.

I found myself thinking about their measured tone and how different it is from the sports coverage of today when, by some inexplicable oversight in forward planning, I discovered I had managed to book my summer holiday in Sardinia during not one, but two Ashes Tests – and, to make things even worse, the Open.

Italian TV – or at least the bit we got in our holiday rental – does not believe in cricket. Or golf for that matter. Possibly because Italians excel in neither sport.

Cricket: Waqas steers Omer CC to title

KARACHI:  Mohammad Waqas scored an outstanding 84 to help Omer CC to an easy nine-wicket win against AO Clinic in the final as they won the Dr MA Shah Night Trophy yesterday.

Chasing 135, Waqas and Zain Abbas, who scored 44 with two sixes and three boundaries, produced a 127-run opening stand to take their side home in 15.5 overs for the loss of one wicket. Waqas’s 84 contained seven sixes and seven strikes to the fence. He was named man-of-the-final.
Earlier, AO Clinic had made 134 for four led by Fazal Subhan’s 53 studded with three sixes and two boundaries. Omer CC received winning purse of Rs500,000 while the runner-up had to settle for Rs250,000.

County cricket has been woken out of its slumber by T20

Another night on the county circuit, another sell-out. Last Thursday around 28,000 went to Lord's to watch Middlesex play Twenty20 against Surrey, and the next evening 23,500 more were at the Oval to watch Surrey play Kent. Weird scenes these, for those of us accustomed to watching county cricket in the company of the hardy few. Middlesex's combined Championship attendance in 2012 was only 28,104. As many people paid to watch that one three-hour match as did all the 32 days of Championship cricket the county played at home last season, a statistic which epitomises cricket's current predicament.
It has been 10 years since T20 was launched. In its first season Stuart Robertson, then the ECB's head of marketing, said that the format was not "an end in itself, but a means to an end. The hope is that a 20-over game will be the first rung on a cricket-watching ladder that has a Championship game at its top." It feels as though that hope has been frustrated. But while there is cause for consternation, there is room too for celebration. T20 has drawn the kind of crowds not seen at county matches since before the Second World War.
At Lord's the queue to get in stretched from the Bicentenary Gate down to the Wellington Road. There were even scalpers shilling tickets to people who couldn't be bothered wait the time it took to get from one end to the other. Inside, I was turfed out of my spot by a steward to make more room for the late arrivals. Instead, I squeezed in to the one empty seat in sight, alongside a jovial church organist who mollified me by offering to share his bottle of Chablis and packet of sausage rolls. He was garrulous, and good company.
The match was awful – only two Middlesex players made it into double figures, as they were bowled out for 92 while chasing 178. So in between his bites and slurps the bibulous organist and I spoke of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings, of why the sea is boiling hot and whether pigs have wings. He barely grumbled when the bankers behind him fired a champagne cork up over his head and down onto the ground, though the fizz that followed spurted up on to his collar and ran down the back of his jacket. He turned and said "you should twist the bottle, old boy, not the cork." He was distraught when the game ended early, but only because he was barely half way through his second bottle.
Lord's is lucky. It sells itself, and has no need for geegaws, gimcracks, and other gimmicks. The London derby has become a fixture of the high society sports season, and the stands are packed with city folk in suits, jackets off, ties tugged loose of the collar. It is the home of cricket, and also of the scandalous £20 steak sandwich, served, we're told, "in fresh focaccia with "Portobello mushrooms and slow-roasted tomatoes, crispy onion rings, peppery rocket, horseradish coleslaw and pickles".
At the Oval they have to work a little harder. There are fireworks and flame-throwers, which belch columns of fire each time someone hits a boundary. Kia, the club's sponsors, stump up £1,000 prizes for anyone and everyone who takes a clean catch off a six hit into the stands. At half-time their latest model takes a slow lap of the ground while a volunteers hurl freebie merchandise into the stands. Scream if you want a t-shirt. As much as the curmudgeon in me resents the razzmatazz, Surrey have learned how to do it well.
When the stands are this full, the rival sets supporters have distinct identities. Surrey's is more eclectic, and a little rougher around the edges, than the one they get north of the Thames. That night they had more to cheer, because it was a much better match, which Surrey won with five balls to spare. But still the loudest roar was the one received by a streaker, or rather the stewards who clobbered him who broke onto the pitch as the game was reaching its climax.
When Mitch Claydon strolled down to his station at fine leg after his third over he assumed the crowd were applauding his parsimony and gave them a wave of thanks. In fact they were cheering the snake of beer glasses which was being passed around to keep it out of reach of a flailing, frustrated steward. "Feed the snake! Pass the snake! Feed the snake! Pass the snake!" It broke just in front of me, provoking a raucous chorus of boos, and showering everyone in the vicinity in beer dregs, so that by the end of the night the air around is was heavy with the sour scent of stale booze.
Some fans will read all this and think that they want no part of it. The peace, space, and time on offer at a county ground is a large part of the attraction of going to a Championship match, which often act as a kind of day-care for disaffected middle-aged men. And at first I found myself inwardly irritated with the occasional disregard for what was happening in the middle, the disrespect for the old traditions, like not moving from your seat until the end of the over. Afterwards, an old acquaintance rebuked me for being so uppity, reminding me that though those of us who love cricket have long since forgotten how complicated its Laws and rituals can seem to the uninitiated.
A complex game needs simple structures, and the ECB's idea of staging most T20 games on Friday nights through the summer is a good one. County cricket, which has slumbered for so long, is awake again. The Oval is one of my favourite sanctuaries from the teeming city that surrounds it. Last Friday it seemed alive and vital, as busy as any other corner of London. Strange days indeed. But welcome ones.

Cricket: Aussies dig in to save series

Australia's batsmen have vowed to draw on the fighting legacy of former test great Justin Langer and get their hands dirty trying to save the Ashes at Old Trafford.
That David Warner is set to return for a match teammates have sworn to fight for is not an ironic faux pas but perhaps a deliberate ploy.
Disregarding his off-field discrepancies, Warner possesses the second best test record of any Australian batsman behind Michael Clarke.
After his 193 for Australia A last week, it would appear crazy to leave Warner out of the third test, where a win is needed to avoid not only a third straight Ashes series defeat, but the worst losing run in Australian test history.
Most of the Australian squad have played under former test opener Langer, who quit as batting coach only last year.
Langer was one of the most successful players Australia has seen, even though he often gave the impression he was courageously battling for survival.
Rolled for an embarrassing 128 at Lord's in the second test, there's only one man for the Australians to follow according to opener Chris Rogers.

"I think it's just a fight. You've got to get stuck in," Rogers said.
"For Justin Langer, that was his motto and it seemed to work for me. I don't think there's anything else you can do but fight as hard as you can and just try and stay out there and not surrender your wicket, which we've probably been doing a little bit too easily."
Steve Smith is in doubt with a back injury, and if the right-hander was ruled out, Warner would slot straight in at No6.
But if Smith proves his fitness, as Australia expect him to do, Warner will have to come in at the expense of one of the top order - most likely Phil Hughes, causing a reshuffle.
Rogers said Warner had the potential to influence a match from the middle order like an Adam Gilchrist.
"He's one of those guys oppositions know they have to get out quickly," he said. "He's such a destructive player ... if he bats for a while he can take the game away like Gilchrist used to do so hopefully he can do that for us if he does play."
Australia are tossing up between Jackson Bird and Mitchell Starc for the final position in the pace attack. Bird is the favourite to play, with his control and consistency impressive.
Starc offers greater variation with his left-arm pace, but there's concern his footmarks create too much of a target for Graeme Swann to bowl into.
Spin will potentially play a bigger part in this test than at Lord's - where Swann finished with nine wickets to be named man-of-the-match.
England are considering picking Monty Panesar as well.
Australia are likely to choose against the dual-spin option, with the more experienced Nathan Lyon tipped to replace 19-year-old Ashton Agar for the high-pressure match.
England star Kevin Pietersen favoured his injured calf at training yesterday and remains in doubt, with James Taylor on standby.

Five greatest Ashes matches at Old Trafford
1. Ball Of The Century - Australia beat England by 179 runs, 1993 The match will be remembered for the Ball of the Century delivered by Shane Warne in his first delivery in Ashes cricket. The young legspinner pitched outside leg stump and took the top of Mike Gatting's off-stump to leave the England batsman, and the cricket world stunned.
2. House Full On Day Five - Australia draw with England, 2005 After the magic of the second test at Edgbaston, the sides arrived in Manchester locked at 1-1. Set 423 to win, Australia needed to last more than a day at the crease to save the match. More than 10,000 fans were locked out of the stadium due to the over-flowing crowd. Ricky Ponting batted for nearly seven hours for his 156. When he was out four overs from close, it seemed Australia were cooked at nine down. But Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath dug in for a courageous draw and the first in 17 Ashes tests.
3. The Laker Show - England beat Australia by an innings and 170 runs, 1956 England fast bowler Jim Laker took 19-90 for the match. In the first innings, he took the last seven of his nine wickets for eight runs in just 22 balls - with Australia all out for 84 in just 40.4 overs. But in the second dig, Laker got the big 10 - the second time that year he'd taken a full house against Australia.
4. The Comeback - Australia beat England by 54 runs, 1961 After giving up a first innings lead of 177, Australia staged one of the great fightbacks. Bill Lawry batted for 4 hours for 102, as the tourists made it to 432. England had to chase 256 to win with just four hours remaining. At 1-150 they looked the goods. Before the great Richie Benaud struck with 6-70 to skittle England for a famous victory with 20 minutes left in the match.
5. Beefy Bash - England beat Australia by 103 runs, 1981 Ian Botham smashed 118 off 102 balls in under two hours to turn the test. Before Botham came out, Australia were on top, England five down with a lead of just 205. But then Australia had 505 to chase. The Australians batted bravely, but fell 103 runs short on the final day.

Mickey Arthur settles dispute with Cricket Australia

Cricket Australia has reached a "confidential settlement" with its former coach Mickey Arthur, who was taking legal action against his former employer following his abrupt dismissal in June.
Arthur was sacked after Australia's dismal Champions Trophy campaign which followed swiftly on from the 4-0 Test series whitewash they suffered in India in March.
But a statement released by CA confirmed that both parties had reached an agreement. "Both Mickey and CA agree that it is unfortunate that the dispute was not settled prior to the issuing of legal proceedings," it read. "Both parties agree that a resolution now is in the interests of the Australian cricket team and cricket generally in Australia. Cricket Australia appreciates the efforts that Mickey applied to his coaching role, and wishes him the very best in his future career."
That, however, is not the end of legal issues for CA. The former fast bowler Nathan Bracken has gone public with his frustration at the governing body's approach to his claim against it for culpability in the injury that ended his career. Bracken is seeking compensation for the earnings he lost when forced to retire with a knee injury in January 2011 at the age of 33, two years after his last international appearance. The main case is not expected to be heard until next year, but the parties are already locked in a pre-hearing battle over Cricket Australia's refusal to release key documents to Bracken's legal team.
Richard O'Keefe, representing Bracken, said: "All this is about is preventing access to various documents by subjecting them to onerous confidentiality restrictions. That, with respect, is going too far."
However, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, Dominic Priestley, the counsel for Cricket Australia, said his client had already provided ''ten of thousands'' of documents to Bracken, and that it was only asking for a ''handful'' to be covered by a confidentiality agreement. He said Bracken was wasting the court's time by bringing the document dispute to court rather than reaching a solution among the parties.
In a written statement, Bracken was quoted as saying: ''It is disappointing that this argument has arisen in the course of my claim. I would much have preferred to be able to resolve this argument and indeed my claim through private discussions. Hopefully that remains possible."
Cricket Australia seems to have been firefighting on a daily basis for months, with numerous less serious off-field embarrassments – most recently an abusive description of a third-umpire decision at Lord's on their official Twitter feed. They conceded this week that the investigation into that incident had failed to discover what had happened.