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England today announced that the Lancashire all-rounder Andrew Flintoffisto fly to the ECB’s National Academy in Adelaide tomorrow for furthertreatment following his recent hernia operation.Flintoff, who underwent surgery following the 3rd npower Test againstIndia this summer, has not yet recovered full fitness and missed theopening match of England’s tour of Australia at Lilac Hill yesterday.Coach Duncan Fletcher said: “Although Andrew’s recovery programme isrunning behind schedule at present, we remain confident that he will beable to take part in the Ashes Series.”However, our physio Kirk Russell has a heavy workload at present due tothe number of injuries in the squad and we feel that the medical team atthe Academy are best placed to give Andrew the intensive one-to-onetreatment heneeds if he is to be fit for the first Test in Brisbane.”No decision has yet been made as to whether the England selectors willsend for a replacement for Flintoff while he is undergoingtreatment at the ECB National Academy.

England today named a 13-man squad for next week’s 2nd npower Test Match vIndia at Trent Bridge.Kent batsman Robert Key wins a Test call-up for the first time as areplacement for Graham Thorpe and the uncapped Durham pace bowler StephenHarmison is also included following the withdrawal of Glamorgan’s SimonJones with a side injury.Commenting on the selection, Chairman of Selectors, David Graveney, said:”Simon Jones was not considered for this match as he has an injury to hisleft side and will undergo a further scan tomorrow to enable us to assesshow long he will be out for.”Our resources in the bowling department have been stretched for this matchand we have had to slightly vary our policy with regard to bowlers needingto play in a four-day match before a Test match to prove their fitness.”Alex Tudor did play in a Norwich Union League match last week and we willgive him every opportunity to prove he is fully match fit in the run up tothe Test Match. With Simon Jones injured, we view Stephen Harmison as a likefor like replacement who gives us the option of express pace if required.”We also considered Ian Bell and David Fulton as replacements for GrahamThorpe. But Robert Key has been in outstanding form for Kent and his careerhas really kicked on this season after he attended the National Academy inAustralia last winter. He will open the batting with Michael Vaughan withMark Butcher coming in at number three.”England Squad for 2nd npower Test v India

Players D.O.BNasser Hussain (captain) (Essex) 28.3.68Mark Butcher (Surrey) 23.8.72Dominic Cork (Derbyshire) 7.8.71John Crawley (Hampshire) 21.9.71Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire) 6.12.77Ashley Giles (Warwickshire) 19.3.73Stephen Harmison (Durham) 23.10.78Matthew Hoggard (Yorkshire) 31.12.76Robert Key (Kent) 12.5.79Alec Stewart (Surrey) 8.4.63Alex Tudor (Surrey) 23.10.77Michael Vaughan (Yorkshire) 29.10.74Craig White (Yorkshire) 16.12.69

SYDNEY – Cricket NSW today announced the 17 players who will be offeredcontracts for the 2002-03 season, including former Test players MichaelSlater and Simon Katich.Both failed to have their Australian Cricket Board contracts renewedearlier this year.NSW has also been officially notified that South Australia hasapproached Mark Higgs and Victoria has sought out Graeme Rummans withregard to their playing futures.Young fast bowler Aaron Bird, who famously struck Slater in the headplaying for NSW first grade club side North Sydney against theUniversity of NSW in February, is one of five players who have beenoffered rookie contracts for next season.Changes have also been made to the NSW selection committee after JohnBenaud and Jim Robson stood down.Brian Taber, a NSW Selector from 1975-1990, is the new chairman ofselectors and former NSW player Marshall Rosen has also been added.Dion Bourne and Steve Smith continue as selectors.The NSW players offered contracts are: Shawn Bradstreet, Michael Clarke,Brad Haddin, Mark Higgs, Phil Jaques, Simon Katich, Grant Lambert, ShaneLee, Greg Mail, Paul Maraziotis, Don Nash, Matthew Phelps, Nathan Pilon,Corey Richards, Graeme Rummans, Michael Slater, Dominic ThornelyThe players offered rookie contracts are: Aaron Bird (North Sydney),Doug Bollinger (Fairfield-Liverpool), Jason Krejza(Fairfield-Liverpool), Stephen Phillips (Western Suburbs), Aaron O’Brien(Northern District)

Marlon Sanuels’ misdemeanour on the current tour of India did not warrant expulsion, because the penalty was not in keeping with the West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) disciplinary guidelines.Instead, the 21-year-old Jamaican was fined 15 per cent of his match fee after breaking curfew in the early stages of the tour.In response to reports on a Caribbean cricket website which said Samuels was saved from banishment after the intervention of Rev. Wes Hall, the WICB president said yesterday he was diametrically opposed to the impression given that he condoned indiscipline."After seeking legal advice, it was clear that Samuels’ offence did not rise to the level of expulsion," Hall told NATIONSPORT before heading off to Antigua on WICB business."The guidelines stipulate that first offence is a fine and second on the same tour is expulsion."To send home any person, the manager will seek the concurrence of the board. For the board to send home anyone, it has to make sure it is not liable to be sued or anything like that."Hall also pointed out there were set procedures with respect to matters of curfew and any acts of indiscipline."It is in under the purview of the manager and tour committee, but serious offences are concurred in with the board," the WICB head said."As a routine, we would seek legal advice. The legal advice was that the punishment must be commensurate with the stated guidelines."As a consequence, it was felt Samuels’ offence did not rise to the level of expulsion and the management out there took the necessary action."It was stressed, however, that the WICB in no way condoned acts of indiscipline."Whereas we are viewing very seriously any evidence of indiscipline … we cannot be indisciplined in our quest to invoke punitive measures," Hall said."We asked for the best legal advice in Barbados and it was said the punishment must be commensurate with the documented guideline."If it is a serious offence, it must have the concurrence of the board. When it comes to serious offences, the board will seek legal advice. If the legal advice says we shouldn’t go the way of expulsion, we don’t."

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) today announced that LoughboroughUniversity Centre of Cricketing Excellence (UCCE) has been accorded ‘First Class’ status for the 2003 season. Loughborough joins Oxford, Cambridge andDurham UCCEs as the fourth university to gain ‘First Class’ recognition.Loughborough has won all three of the major university cricket competitions in the last two seasons – the UCCE Championship, the UCCE One-Day Challenge and the BUSA Championship.John Carr, ECB Director of Cricket Operations, said, “The Board’s Cricket Advisory Committee made this recommendation to the Management Board in recognition of the outstanding progress made in such a short time at the Loughborough UCCE and the very good performance of the Team in 2001 and 2002. I congratulate all those involved with the UCCE at Loughborough on this well deserved upgrade in cricketing status!”Dr Guy Jackson, Director of Cricket at Loughborough UCCE, said, “This recognition is very welcome and reward for the work that Head Coach Graham Dilley and several others at the University have invested. The experienced coaching team, the facilities boosted by the National Cricket Academy centre now under construction, and the advanced sports science and medicine supportservices at Loughborough make this an excellent base for cricket development. In many ways I believe this is a boost to the whole UCCE scheme, where the ECB, in partnership with leading Universities, are helping young players to develop their cricket whilst maintaining their education and gaining essential qualifications.”The success of Loughborough players such as Monty Panesar, Steve Selwood and Rob White last year show that with the right support, young players can complete their education and compete within County Cricket.”

Somerset Under 17’s travelled to the Rose Bowl to play a 2 day match against Hampshire last week.When Hampshire batted they were all out for 268 in 92 overs, with Miles Webber being the pick of the Somerset bowlers, ending with 5 for 38.Somerset were all out for 178 in 68 overs, with Lloyd Davies top scoring with 41, to give the home side victory by 92 runs.

SYDNEY, Sept 7 AAP – Centuries to Graeme Cunningham and Luke Williams gave Tasmania the upper hand after day one of their two-day practice cricket match against New South Wales here today.Cunningham hit 113 and Williams 110 before both retired as Tasmania moved to 6-376 off its allotted 100 overs in the match.Williams came to the crease with Tasmania reeling at 1-0 after Shane Mason was dismissed for a duck but combined with Cunningham in an impressive 198-run second wicket stand.George Bailey (50) and Daniel Marsh (47) lent a helping hand as Tasmania took early honours in the 100 overs a side pre-season clash which caps off a busy week for the two teams.Aaron O’Brien took 2-48 off nine overs to be the pick of the bowlers for NSW which is skippered by former Test opener Michael Slater.Both teams have lost two one day games against New Zealand in Sydney this week as the Black Caps finetuned preparations for its ICC Challenge Trophy title defence in Sri Lanka this month.New Zealand flew out today for Sri Lanka.

Hampshire Second XI start their preparations for the forthcoming season with a friendly against the counterparts Sussex tomorrow (Friday).Unlike this time last season, the country has been enhanced by some fine weather and the players have been able to get outside practice.With preparations going ahead towards the completion of the main pavilion to be shown to the public this Sunday 14th April, the match will be played on the nursery ground starting at 11:00am.Kenway and Tremlett spent the winter months with the English Academy in Australia, and Nic Pothas the South African with the Greek passport are included.The team is as follows: Jason Laney, Derek Kenway, Lawrence Prittipaul, Giles White, Nic Pothas, Dimitri Mascarenhas, James Hamblin, Alex Morris, Chris Tremlett, Irfan Shah, and Iain Brunschweiler.Sides made up of Robin Smith’s XI and Will Kendall’s XI will contest a two day match on the Main Oval of the Hampshire Rose Bowl on Sunday (Open Day) and Monday, before the first team contest a friendly at Taunton on Wednesday (17th April), two days before starting their Division I Frizzell Championship match at Canterbury.

BRISBANE, June 6 AAP – If his media performance is anything to go by, Pakistan cricket captain Waqar Younis will be giving nothing away in this month’s limited overs series against Australia.Younis held a news conference today after flying into Brisbane to prepare for the first game of the three-match series against the world champions at Melbourne’s Colonial Stadium on Wednesday.Quizzed on subjects ranging from how the critical situation between Pakistan and India over Kashmir was affecting the team to fellow paceman Shoaib Akhtar’s speed, Younis bowled a tight line with his answers.”We’re not really worried at all,” he said of the potential nuclear conflict back home.”We’re here to play cricket and we’re just focused on cricket.”On whether Australia should continue with its planned tour of Pakistan in August, he said: “That is between the two boards.”Akhtar, who last month was unofficially timed at 100mph (160kph) in a one-day international against New Zealand, goes head-to-head in a pace battle with Australia’s Brett Lee for the first time in two years.”I think both are bowling very well, Younis said.”(But) I’m not really worried about (Akhtar’s) pace, I’m more worried about how good he’s bowling.”Younis agreed the upcoming series was between the two best performing teams in the world.But as to whether success would provide an edge for next year’s World Cup, he said: “I think it’s a bit too early and a bit too small but then again it will be handy for both the sides for the World Cup preparations.”On the departure of the Waugh twins from the one day side and Ricky Ponting’s elevation to the Australian captaincy, he said: “If we want to beat them we have to be very professional and very tough against them.”Younis was a little concerned the two games in Melbourne could be played in cold conditions.”We came from where it was 44 degrees and coming and playing in six degrees is definitely going to be tough but we are professional and we should be alright,” he said.Pakistan plays a 40-over a side practice game tomorrow against a Queensland selection at Allan Border Field while Australia plays the Queenslanders on Sunday.

Former Test captain Wasim Akram took first steps in a bid to regain his place in the national side by grabbing three wickets as PIA trounced Bahawalpur by 10 wickets in the National One-day Cricket Championship Friday.The ace left-arm fast bowler, looking in fine shape after being asked to prove his fitness, was immediately in his groove by disposing off Hammad Tariq, caught in the slips off the first legitimate delivery of the Pool ‘A’ fixture at Asghar Ali Shah Stadium.After being sent in by PIA skipper Moin Khan, Bahawalpur were bundled out for a meagre 91 in 34.2 overs. Only captain Bilal Khilji (29 off 53 balls) and Mohammad Rashid (22 off 72 balls) exceeded the 20-run mark.Wasim later claimed two more wickets in his second spell to finish with three for 29 in 8.2 overs. However, the pick of the bowlers was another Pakistan reject Azhar Mahmood. The all-rounder cut and swung the ball prodigiously to return remarkable analysis of three for eight in seven overs.Saqlain Mushtaq, who was excluded from the Asian Test playing XI, also enhanced his claims by picking up two for 19 – the second victim being splendidly stumped by Moin. Opener Ghulam Ali then made light work of the target by smashing 58 off 67 balls. His knock was laced with four sixes and three fours.Shoaib Mohammad, the 40-year-old ex-Test stalwart, however, struggled to contribute 25 off 67 balls. Had he showed more urgency, PIA would have been home much earlier than the 21.3 overs they ultimately had to face.