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Tawanda Mupariwa, who twisted his ankle as he and Brendan Taylor guided Zimbabwe to dramatic victory in the third ODI on Wednesday, will now miss the remaining matches on Friday and Sunday.Mupariwa fell and was run-out as he turned after being sent back by Brendan Taylor while going for a run in the thrilling last over of the match. He was yaken to hospital and it is reported that he fractured his foot.Waddington Mwayenga, who trained with the squad in the Harare Sports Club nets on Thursday afternoon, may now be given a chance even though he was not expected to play any part in the series.Zimbabwe did receive a boost with news that Ed Rainsford, who with Mupariwa began the five-match series as Zimbabwe’s opening attack, was passed fit to play in the remaining matches after missing Wednesday’s game.

Stephen Fleming will not be playing for Surrey next season, after the club pulled out of talks with New Zealand cricket when it was decided that his availability would not be sufficient to fulfil the job that would have been desired of him.”It is obviously disappointing for us that Steve will not be involved next year,” said Steve Rixon, the club’s coach. “Unfortunately, due to his availability, he will not be able to do the job that I wanted him to do here. Consequently, we are now pursuing other options.”Fleming, who already has some experience of county cricket after stints with Middlesex in 2001 and Yorkshire last summer, would have been free to play almost all the summer, with New Zealand playing in a home Test and one-day series against Australia in March, followed by a five-month break before their trip to Zimbabwe in September, although the exact dates for that tour are yet to be confirmed.The possible problem could have been Fleming’s troublesome abdominal injury. Although it appears to have been better of late, he has been told that he might require surgery at some point, and the break between the two series next year would provide a perfect opportunity for that.

Tino Best, the Barbados fast bowler, has been called up to the West Indian squad for the seventh and final one-day international against England, which is to be played in Bridgetown on Wednesday (May 5).Best, 22, impressed in the recent Test series, working up a good head of steam and taking 12 wickets, but he has not played in a one-day international before. He replaces another Barbadian, the allrounder Ryan Hinds, who hasn’t appeared in an ODI since June 2002.Best will join up with the rest of the squad when they fly in from St Lulcia today.West Indies squad for seventh ODI
Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ricardo Powell, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Brian Lara (capt), Dwayne Smith, Dwayne Bravo, Ridley Jacobs (wk), Tino Best, Ravi Rampaul, Mervyn Dillon, Sylvester Joseph, Ian Bradshaw, Corey Collymore.

The West Indies have turned to former South African coach Bob Woolmer as a possible replacement for Roger Harper.Harper had been reasonably successful in arresting a woeful decline in the West Indies’ results but was denied the chance to take his team into the Super Six stage of the World Cup by the rained-off match against Bangladesh. However, the defeat of South Africa in the opening match in the tournament and a general upturn in results in Test and one-day cricket has confirmed that the West Indies have become competitive once again in world cricket.Despite this, Harper decided against re-applying for his own job when such a move became necessary according to West Indies Cricket Board policy.Attention has now focused on Woolmer who has already met the chief executive, Wes Hall and Sir Viv Richards who heads the selection panel. Other candidates have been interviewed, but the suggestion is that Woolmer is the preferred choice if contracts and terms can be agreed.Woolmer has an outstanding track record as coach to both South Africa and Warwickshire. He has also been working with the ICC as high performance director helping to prepare Canada, Kenya, Namibia and the Netherlands for the World Cup. There was every chance that he would continue in that role but might now be tempted to add his experience to the West Indian revival.

Indian middle order batsman VVS Laxman, who injured his left indexfinger during India’s emphatic win over Zimbabwe in Harare on Sunday,did not suffer any fracture and will be under medical supervision fora few days.According to team manager Chetan Chauhan “Laxman’s finger is notbroken but it has been crushed a bit by the impact of the ball hittinghis finger and he would be under medical supervision for the next 2-3days.”Laxman was injured when he caught Zimbabwe opener Dion Ebrahim offAjit Agarkar in the slips in India’s opening triangular one-day seriesmatch.The team manaement is hoping Laxman would be fit for the second gameagainst Zimbabwe, due to be played in Bulawayo on June 27.

Helen Watson, the New Zealand allrounder, has announced her retirement from cricket, ending her nine-year international career. Watson, 36, played 61 one-dayers, including winning the World Cup on home soil in 2000 and a rare Rose Bowl victory in 1999 in her debut series.In ODIs, she took 50 wickets at an average of 23.14 and an economy rate of 3.17, and made 568 runs. She also played eight international Twenty20s. At regional level, Watson represented Canterbury and Auckland, winning seven national titles.”I have gained immense satisfaction and enjoyment playing cricket at all levels,” said Watson, “with the pinnacle being my years playing for the White Ferns. The time is now right for me to hang up my boots and although I will no longer play the game there is no doubt that I will remain a keen supporter of cricket in the future.”I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported and encouraged me throughout my cricket career. It has been a fantastic journey.”Catherine Campbell, the women’s cricket manager of New Zealand Cricket, added: “Helen has made a terrific contribution to the White Ferns throughout her career. Her experience and talents will be missed and we wish her all the best in the future.”

Bermuda’s minister of the environment Neletha Butterfield threw dirt on claims that there were local solutions to the pitch problem at the National Centre.Responding to critics who decried her tabling a bill that would allow the importation of foreign soil, Butterfield said there will not be any environmental disaster akin to the cedar blight from the 1940s.She said the cedar blight that began in 1940s was the result of imported juniper trees carrying a scale pest. The cedar blight did not stem from the importation of foreign soil. The cedar blight also occurred more than 60 years ago when there were little regulations as far as importation of plants and agricultural materials.She added that there was also a cost of not importing foreign soil. “Much of the focus in this debate has been on the possible cost to Bermuda in terms of environmental damage should an invasive pest be introduced. We must look at the cost of not importing soil, for example, for use in the wicket of the cricket pitch of the Bermuda National Stadium.”The National Stadium has been one of the longest running capital projects in the history of our island with much of the funding coming from Government. It is vital that the cricket pitch be certified by the ICC for use in officially sanctioned international cricket matches. This will contribute to Bermuda’s economic and social environment in many ways, including valuable experience for our national cricket team and increased tourism to watch cricket matches. Indeed, at the recent World Cup, of the 16 competing countries, Bermuda was the only one without an accredited home ground.”To me, this entire issue is about managing risk, something many in Bermuda should understand. We in the Ministry of the Environment … are doing, and will do everything in our power to manage the risk and keep it to an absolute minimum.”Something Bermuda residents perhaps fail to understand is that the people employed in the various departments responsible for safeguarding Bermuda’s environment are passionate about what they do. They don’t want to see the environment impacted in a negative way at all. The new regulations call for specific treatment and extensive testing at many stages in the import process, and only when any imported soil has been fully cleared will it be allowed to enter the island. Highly qualified scientists will monitor the process from beginning to end to ensure risks are managed every step of the way.”The department of environmental protection has been working with the National Sports Centre board, the Bermuda Cricket Board, the department of sports and recreation, overseas consultants and the groundskeepers in their search for a suitable local soil, and other possible options including the importation of clay to be mixed with sand and local soil. However, it has been determined that the only suitable soil will need to be sourced from overseas.”Few Bermuda residents may realise that large amount of plants, fruits, vegetables, and animals and potting medium are already imported into Bermuda on almost a daily basis.”Bermuda imports large amounts of artificial growing medium and there is still a risk with this material, but it is a calculated risk. As with any risk management process, you mitigate the risk to ensure it is as small as possible, and this applies when importing plants, animals, trees, and potting mix and the same practice would be in place for any imported soil. Christmas trees are imported every year and are sometimes sent back following inspections which reveal pests. The island’s nurseries, farmers and even private individuals import thousands of live plants and animals every year but vigorous inspections ensure that, to date, we have managed to keep foreign pests from destroying Bermuda’s fragile ecosystem.”She also has no plans to resign just because the opposition calls for her head.This article is reprinted with permission of the Bermuda Sun

Robin Singh, coach of the India A team, felt that the team’s upcoming tour of Australia for the Top End series next month would serve as an ideal opportunity to build reliable bench strength for the national side. India A will play a series of four-day and limited-overs matches against the A sides of Pakistan, New Zealand and Australia in Darwin and Cairns.”It is basically an extension of what most of the cricketers had already proved”, Robin told before a week-long preparatory camp for the squad in Hyderabad. “India A tours are essentially feeder exercises which should help the country build a very strong senior team.”Robin indicated that recent tours such as the Eurasia Cup in Abu Dhabi have been instrumental in identifying fringe players and fast-tracking potential players into the big league when the need arises. For the upcoming tour, as many as seven out of the 15 players have already represented India. He said, “After the recent Abu Dhabi tournament, I had an useful interaction with India coach Greg Chappell and gave him important inputs on the players. And I am happy that three from that tour went on to play for India almost immediately.”I have an eye on everyone. It is important that everyone in this team is ready to grab the opportunity. There is every possibility of slots coming up for grabs at any given point of time.”Robin also revealed that Venkatapathy Raju, former India left-arm spinner and Kanwaljit Singh, former Hyderabad offspinner, have been roped in to train the squad during the camp. “I had a word with Raju and having played with him, I know his worth. It should be a good experience for the boys too.”

South Australia have recorded a 71-run victory over Western Australia on the fourth day of the ACB Cup match between the two sides at Tompkins Park in Perth.Going into the final day, Western Australia needed 229 for victory. With three wickets down and only 90 runs on the board at stumps on day three, many thought WA would be hard pressed to meet the challenge.After an innings of safety-first cricket, Simmons 34 (127) pushing forward, edged to the keeper Deitz who was standing up to the bowling of Davidson only half an hour into the start of the final day. Western Australia losing its fourth wicket with 108 the score.Voges 11 (52) lived a dangerous life, offering a few half chances. The South Australians, in fact, at one point were convinced that they’d had him caught. His dismissal eventually came when he padded up to a ball from Cleary and was given out ‘leg before wicket’. Western Australia were now five down for 120.Conservative Casson 4 (35) pushed forward to Davison and was caught at first slip by Higgins. Before that he offered no chances, stoutly defending and supporting his partners. Western Australian hopes were now evaporating with Ronchi the only remaining recognised batsman and 128 the score after six wickets had fallen.Ronchi 48* and Karppinen 24* resisted the South Australian bowlers upto the lunch break when Western Australia were 194 for the loss of six wickets after 68 overs had been bowled.Drama enveloped the dismissal of Ronchi 56 (60) who pulled Harrity in the air to deep backward square leg where Marsh running around to his left and lunging forward to take the catch, appeared to lose control of the ball after he hit the ground face down. The ball, then, appeared on the turf behind him and he seemed to turn to scramble after it. Players in the middle were of mixed attitute. Some were downcast and others enraptured. The umpires conferred and Ronchi sensing his fate moved toward the pavillion. Umpire Jeff Brookes confirmed the decision to Ronchi and Western Australia now knew for certain that it would just be a matter of time before they would all be back in the pavilion.Thorp 18 (26) was the next to go, clean bowled by Cosgrove, a victim no doubt of the variable bounce of the fourth day pitch. This left Western Australia two wickets away from defeat at 239-8. Then, Clark 2 (20) drove Marsh to Cosgrove at cover and was caught there to leave Western Australia writhing at nine wickets for 246.Attempting to make his fiftieth run, Karppinen 49* (85) called Michael Thistle 0 (4) back for a second and ultimately suicidal run. The final wicket falling with 247 the score sealed South Australia’s 71-run win.Harrity and Davison, who claimed three wickets each, were the pick of the South Australian bowling. Cleary, Cosgrove and Marsh all took one wicket each. The South Australians may have to look at some wayward returns from the deep fielders and some lack of intensity toward the end but that said they acquitted themselves quite well.The South Australian victory was achieved on the final day in the middle session after the drinks break, but the real work had been done on the first and second days. Western Australia fought hard to get back into the match on the third day but ultimate success has eluded them today.While there was no official man of the match award Deitz was by far the best player on view. His 140 runs in the South Australian first innings, while sharing in an 85-run partnership with Harris and a 179-run partnership with Ferguson, put the visitors into a seemingly indominatable position.He took two catches and effected the stumping of Karppinen in the WA first innings and then followed up with two more catches in the WA second innings. An observer claimed quite rightly that the quality of Deitz as a batsman/keeper exceeds this level of the game.

Sourav Ganguly, the Indian captain, is expected to be fit for the firstTest, starting in Multan on March 28. Ganguly suffered an injury scare inthe final one-day match in Lahore when he fell awkwardly while attempting adiving stop at mid-off.An MRI scan at the hospital in Lahore today revealed nothing more seriousthan a lower-back spasm. According to hospital sources, Ganguly needs acouple of days to recover and should be in proper shape before the Test.The rest of the Indian team has already travelled in Multan, but Ganguly has stayed back in Lahore with Andrew Leipus, the Indian team’s physiotherapist, for medical consultation. He will join the team tomorrow.Ganguly’s condition had looked much more serious on Wednesday night when hehad be stretchered off the field after a desperate attempt to cut off anoff-drive from Inzamam-ul-Haq during the early part of Pakistan’s innings. He fell heavily and lay motionless on the field for a few minutes, and wasin intense pain for about an hour. Rahul Dravid captained India for the restof the match, but Ganguly was among the first onto the field to congratulatehis team after the victory.