N Zealand Players Association opposes Champions Trophy decision

New Zealand cricketers will be urged not to travel to Pakistan for September's Champions Trophy after the International Cricket Council ruled the tournament would go ahead there.

The New Zealand Cricket Players Association said Friday it was disappointed with the ICC's decision not to move the tournament from Pakistan, and was still recommending that players not travel there.

"We're very disappointed by the decision out of the ICC overnight," New Zealand association president Heath Mills told local radio.

"There's been a strong view that we don't think Pakistan is a safe work place for the players and our position hasn't changed," Mills said.

"It's our strong recommendation to the players that they don't travel to Pakistan at this point in time."

Mills said all of the players that he had spoken to were uncomfortable about travelling to Pakistan.

Kiwis Want Safety First Policy

New Zealand Cricket Players' Association boss Heath Mills has urged the International Cricket Council to change the venue for September's Champions Trophy.

Pakistan are due to host the one-day tournament but concerns about security issues following a spate of bombings in recent months have been raised by several countries, including New Zealand, who believe the tournament should not go ahead in the strife-torn country.

The ICC board are due to make a decision on Thursday and Mills has called for player safety to be the determining factor.

"I'm hoping the right decision is made by the ICC board and that commercial considerations or politics don't get in the way of player safety when they make that decision." Mills told Radio Sport.

Mills attended a meeting in Dubai at the weekend where he was able to raise his concerns directly with the ICC and the various national boards as well as question security consultants and the Pakistani authorities.

But he said he had heard nothing that would alleviate concerns about the Black Caps travelling to Pakistan.

"We're not in a position where we could support players going to the Champions Trophy at the moment.

"We appreciate the position of the Pakistan Cricket Board and we feel somewhat sorry for them.

"What's going on in Pakistan is not of their making and they are working hard and are desperate to hold the tournament.

"But the fact is, their country is very fluid in terms of political violence at the moment and we have genuine concerns about our players safety while they would be there. We just can't support the team going at this point in time."

He added: "Certainly the English, Australia, South African and New Zealand players' associations are of the same mind on this. And to be fair, the various boards of those countries also share our concerns.

"It's all just a wait-and-see situation at the moment."

Some members of the current New Zealand side - Daniel Vettori, Scott Styris and Chris Martin - were part of the Black Caps side that were touring Pakistan in 2002 when a bomb exploded outside the team's hotel in Karachi, killing 15 people.

New Zealand launches worldwide search for coach

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) on Thursday launched a worldwide search for a new national coach to replace John Bracewell who is returning to England.

Bracewell has said he will not look to renew his New Zealand contract when it expires in nine months but will instead begin a second stint in charge at English county Gloucestershire.

NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan said in a statement he wanted to hear from "suitably qualified candidates from throughout the world".

"We are looking for candidates who have the experience and drive to both improve the Black Caps in both forms of the game," Vaughan said.

The 50-year-old Bracewell, who played 41 Tests and 53 one-day internationals for New Zealand, coached Gloucestershire for five years before taking over the New Zealand team in 2003.

New Zealand cricket says Zim tour still on

The New Zealand cricket team will tour Zimbabwe next year unless ordered not to by the government, NZ Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan was reported as saying Sunday.

Prime Minister Helen Clark has made it clear she is opposed to the tour but has so far refused to stop the New Zealand team travelling to Zimbabwe, where President Robert Mugabe was controversially re-elected last month. All national teams are bound by the International Cricket Council's future-tours programme, and face severe financial penalties starting at two million US dollars for refusing to tour.

No national cricket team has rejected a foreign tour without political intervention, and New Zealand was not going to be the first, Vaughan said.

"It's a political question and requires a political solution, it's not a decision NZC should have to make," he told New Zealand's Sunday Star-Times newspaper.

"We are a group of cricket administrators. We might have strong feelings about the situation in Zimbabwe but judging international politics is not what we're about. There are other, far more qualified people to do that job -- politicians for example."

Vaughan said the tour was still a year away and the situation could change before then. The International Cricket Council (ICC) declined to suspend Zimbabwe at its meeting this week in Dubai.

"There'll be another ICC conference before then; undoubtedly, a lot will change in Zimbabwe in the next year, and by that time the ICC sub-committee appointed to investigate Zimbabwe Cricket will have reported back, and we'll have a clearer idea of the situation," he said.

"You never know, we might not have to make a decision. Time is on our side at the moment."

Vettori Pleased With Kiwi Revival

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has praised his side for recovering from their Test setbacks against England as they look to salvage a tangible reward from the tour by winning the NatWest one-day series.

The Kiwis lost 2-0 and then looked to be suffering a hangover as they were beaten in the Twenty20 match at Old Trafford and the opening one-dayer at Durham.

But they have lived up their ranking as number three one-day side in the world in the ICC rankings with their performances in the abandoned game at Edgbaston and the 22-run win at Bristol.

Vettori said: "I am proud of the way the boys have come back, really happy. We've said for a while that we are a good one-day side but the performance in Durham wasn't great at all.

"To bounce back pretty quickly from that has been excellent and, if we can win this series, then it will be an even split between the Test matches and the one-dayers - like it was in the matches with England back home in the winter.

"That is probably indicative of where we are at with our cricket. We know we've got two games to try to win but it would go a long way to redeeming the Test part of the tour.

"It would have been hard now with nothing to play for and it would have made the trip up to Scotland next week even harder as well.

"The fact the series is alive all the way to the end, whether it is to draw it or to win it, is great for the actual games coming up and for us that we can be involved in it to the bitter end."

Vettori is looking for his bowlers to again put the England top six under pressure and they will have the added boost of all-rounder Jacob Oram being fit after missing the opening three games with a hamstring problem.

He said: "I like to concentrate more on the way we bowled rather than how England performed - and we were certainly on top of our game for the majority of the time at Bristol.

"For Tim Southee (four for 38) to step up like that in only his third one-dayer and have a spell like that, and the way Kyle Mills led from the top, enabled us to put England in those pressure situations.

"We've got to look to produce the same again and having Oram back again is a massive boost. He is one of the best one-day players in the world.

"He will be fit to bowl as well as bat and that is going to add another dimension. When you get good players back, the team confidence just goes up even more."

Although Oram is fit to return, his replacement in the squad, Grant Elliott, will retain his place after impressive performances at Edgbaston and Bristol in the previous two games.

The likelihood is that opening batsman Brendon McCullum will don the wicketkeeping gloves at the expense of Gareth Hopkins to accommodate Oram.

Teams

England (from): PD Collingwood (Durham, capt), IR Bell (Warwickshire), AN Cook (Essex), LJ Wright (Sussex), KP Pietersen (Hampshire), RS Bopara (Essex), OA Shah (Middlesex), TR Ambrose (Warwickshire, wkt), GP Swann (Northamptonshire), SC Broad (Nottinghamshire), CT Tremlett (Hampshire), JM Anderson (Lancashire), RJ Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire), AD Mascarenhas (Hampshire).

New Zealand (from): DL Vettori (capt), JM How, BB McCullum (wkt), RPL Taylor, SB Styris, DR Flynn, GD Elliott, G Hopkins, KD Mills, TG Southee, MR Gillespie, MJ Mason, JDP Oram, JS Patel.

Umpires: S Davis, M Benson.

New Zealand denied in controversial finish

The second one-day international between England and New Zealand ended in a controversial no-result with the game just an over away from being declared a 'match.'

The Black Caps were on 127 for two off 19 overs and needed just seven more off the 20th, assuming they didn't lose a wicket, for victory under the Duckworth-Lewis system. Although, at that stage, rain was falling heavily it had been for some time. Nevertheless, the umpires then took the players off the field with the game just shy of the 20 overs in the second innings needed for a result.

The hard-hitting Brendon McCullum was 60 not out, off 51 balls with five fours, while experienced all-rounder Scott Styris was unbeaten on 19. Had they won this would have been New Zealand's first international win of a tour which saw them lose the Test series 2-0 and then suffer a nine-wicket defeat in Friday's lone Twenty20. As it was, England remained 1-0 up in this five-match campaign ahead of the third one-dayer at Bristol. England took 83 minutes to bowl their 19 overs but International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee Javagal Srinath said they would not be fined or punished in any way for a slow over-rate.

"England were not in breach of the over-rate," former India fast bowler Srinath told reporters. "They had enough allowances. There were a few referrals to the third umpire and injuries." New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori suggested the officials could have moved the game along more quickly but Srinath defended the actions of Australia's Steve Davis and his on-field English colleague Ian Gould. "I understand that coming from Daniel Vettori but I think the umpires did a commendable job." Earlier, Davis told Sky Sports: "For consistency with our rulings earlier in the day, we had to come off.

The two teams were struggling to stand up. "The number of balls left shouldn't come into it, if that's the way the conditions are." Despite the prevailing bad weather, there was still a gap of 30 minutes between the innings when it might have been possible for the teams to turn round in 10. "That's the standard one-day international playing condition. We couldn't go below that," said Davis. Earlier, New Zealand medium-pacer Grant Elliott took three for 23 in five overs on his one-day international debut as England were bowled out for 162 off their 24 overs after rain delayed the start.

Opening batsman Luke Wright top-scored with an ODI best 52. South Africa-born Elliott, 29, only called up into the squad on Monday after playing club cricket in Surrey, south-east England, replaced James Marshall in the only change to the side thrashed by 114 runs at the Riverside on Sunday.

New Zealand, after captain Daniel Vettori won the toss, needed just three balls to take their first wicket. Ian Bell, on his home ground, fell for nought when he was well caught by Vettori, running back from mid-off, after the Warwickshire batsman got a leading edge trying to turn Kyle Mills legside. Bell's exit brought in Kevin Pietersen, who made 110 not out on Sunday. Before the game there had been talk about whether Pietersen would repeat Sunday's 'switch-hitting' exploits which saw him twice strike medium-pacer Styris for six while effectively batting left-handed.

But there were no 'reverse slog sweeps' before Pietersen, on 13, drove Michael Mason's fourth ball straight to Vettori at mid-off. Wright though launched Mason over extra-cover for four, drove him next ball for six and then, off the third ball of the over, hoisted the seamer for six over square leg after going down on one knee. The Sussex batsman then completed his fifty when he hammered Mason, whose two overs cost 24 runs, through mid-off for four.

That shot saw the 23-year-old, in his seventh one-day international, surpass his previous best of 50 against India at The Oval in September. But going for another big hit, Wright gave Elliott his first wicket at this level when he holed out to Styris at long-off. No sooright out then rain stopped play with England 77 for three in the 13th over. When play resumed Elliott captured the key wickets of Owais Shah, lbw for 18, and England captain Paul Collingwood, caught by Daniel Flynn for 37.

New Zealand give McCullum all clear

New Zealand wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum is set to play a full part in the third Test against England here at Trent Bridge after being named on Wednesday in a 12-man squad for a match his side must win to end the series all square at 1-1.

McCullum sustained a back injury heading into last week's tour match against Northamptonshire, where reserve keeper Gareth Hopkins was behind the stumps, and there was a concern he might play as a batsman only in the series finale. However, after a thorough workout at the ground on Wednesday, hard-hitting batsman McCullum will be New Zealand's keeper when the third Test starts here on Thursday. But the out-of-form James Marshall has been dropped from the side that lost

the second Test last week by six wickets at Old Trafford. Marshall has managed just 52 runs in four Test innings this series.

His place is taken by Peter Fulton, now set to play his first Test since January after making 57 in the first innings against Northamptonshire. Teenage quick Tim Southee, who missed the second Test through illness after playing in the drawn series opener at Lord's, has been added to the squad and will compete for the final pace bowling side against Iain O'Brien, his replacement in Manchester. New Zealand will decide on their final starting line-up on the morning of the match. Hard-hitting No 5 McCullum is one of the most dynamic batsmen in world cricket and made a run-a-ball 97 in the drawn first Test at Lord's.

Vice-captain McCullum prides himself on his resilience. For example, at Lord's, he batted in the second innings after retiring hurt with an arm injury even though by that stage the match was heading for a draw.

New Zealand's squad selection means middle-order batsman Daniel Flynn is likely to retain his place.

The left-hander lost two teeth after being hit by a James Anderson bouncer at Old Trafford which forced the grille of his helmet into his face. However, Flynn has since returned to the fray and although he only managed six and two against Northamptonshire, New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori made it clear Wenesday ahead of the squad announcement he had no doubts about the batsman's resolve. "Whilst he didn't get the runs he wanted to, he wanted to get back out there," Vettori said. New Zealand dominated the early stages at Old Trafford and had a first innings lead of 179. But a second innings collapse saw them bowled out for just 114 and although England's victory target of 294 was an Old Trafford Test record, the hosts got the runs they needed with more than a day to spare. England named Wednesday an unchanged side and are now on course to play the same XI in five successive Tests for the first time since 1885.

Testing times for New Zealand ahead of England finale

New Zealand face some awkward choices even before the third and final Test starts here on Thursday as they look to square the series against England at 1-1.
New Zealand suffered a morale-sapping six-wicket defeat in the second Test at Old Trafford, a match they dominated until a second innings collapse against Monty Panesar paved the way for an England fightback.

They head into the series climax with questions regarding their batsmen. James Marshall, their No 3 in the drawn first Test at Lord's and again in Manchester, has been out of form and suffered two more failures during last week's tour match against Northamptonshire.

And No 6 Daniel Flynn, who lost two teeth after being hit by a bouncer from James Anderson at Old Trafford, has also been struggling for runs.

Peter Fulton, who hasn't played a Test since January, is pressing for a recall after making a first innings fifty against Northamptonshire.

New Zealand are also having to tackle a bowling dilemma as they build up for the Trent Bridge finale. Tim Southee missed the second Test with illness but Iain O'Brien, the teenager seamer's stand-in, performed admirably in testing conditions.

However, it is New Zealand's batting, for all the class of Ross Taylor's Test-best 154 not out in the first innings at Old Trafford, that remains more of a problem for coach John Bracewell and captain Daniel Vettori.

"We were really pleased with the way Fulton went (against Northamptonshire) and he certainly comes into contention," said Bracewell.

As for Flynn, Bracewell said: "He will recover quickly. It's just whether we match up Fulton's form against him and James Marshall."

New Zealand's coach urged his players to learn from Andrew Strauss, the opener whose well-paced century was the backbone of England's successful run chase which saw them win with more than a day to spare at Old Trafford.

"It was an excellent innings of control in difficult conditions, teaching our guys what should and shouldn't be done in trying circumstances." England, for their seventh straight Test against the Black Caps after a 2-1 series win, are set to field an unchanged side with fast bowler Chris Tremlett again likely to drop out of a 12-man squad.

If they do it will be the first time since 1884/85, when they won a series in Australia 3-2, that England have used the same XI in five consecutive Tests.

However, such consistency shouldn't mask the fact that at Old Trafford they again put themselves under pressure by failing to score 400 in the first innings for the 11th successive Test.

Middle-order batsman Paul Collingwood has looked in particularly wretched touch lately but, after surviving a strong lbw appeal from Vettori, showed typical grit in seeing England home with 24 not out.

And the Durham all-rounder, with no reserve batsman in the squad, has been given another chance to end a run of 22 innings without a Test hundred.

"You draw on your knowledge of previous bad patches," said Collingwood. "I look back at some of them and I was a lot lower than I am now. I have worked hard, had a couple of days off as well and I feel raring to go."

England left-arm quick Ryan Sidebottom, so often New Zealand's nemesis, will be looking forward to bowling on his home ground. However the Kiwis' pace attack, not to mention left-arm spinner Vettori, have caused England problems and if they are bowling in swinging conditions will fancy their chances. Should New Zealand get themselves into a strong position again, the challenge for them will be to see it through to the end. Vettori has spoken of their third innings problems and the way in which vice-captain Brendon McCullum tried to put a positive gloss on the second Test suggested there was still work to be done on New Zealand's self-belief. "In a strange sort of way, Old Traford was a confidence booster for us," McCullum said. "We put ourselves in a position where we should have won.

"That was something that, heading into the Test, we may not have whole-heartedly believed."

Cricket: England press struggle to talk up Black Caps

Coach John Bracewell has been on too many cricket tours of England to take umbrage at what's being written about his side this week.

"I've been coming here since 1983 and New Zealand teams have been coming here a lot longer than that, with the same assessments," Bracewell said of the English press.

"They just open up the file and pull out the same stuff."

Even England star Kevin Pietersen managed to mention New Zealand in the same breath as lowly Bangladesh yesterday.

The three-test series starting here at Lord's on Thursday is a hard sell for the English scribes and, it appears, the players, as the more marketable South Africans loom after New Zealand return home.

Fresh from their 2-1 series win in New Zealand, England are short-priced favourites against an inexperienced touring side with Aaron Redmond and Daniel Flynn eyeing their debuts and teenager Tim Southee his second test.

But veteran cricket writer Scyld Berry did not hold back in reminding the tourists of their place in the world in the Sunday Telegraph newspaper.

"Why on earth are England playing New Zealand in the first place?" he asked.

"Indigent cousins have to be looked after, but to play them from February until the end of June is too much of a bad thing.

"To contest the Ashes next summer England now need opposition far more fibrous."

It seemed tailormade wallpaper for the New Zealand dressing room at Lord's.

Berry continued: "...there will be something seriously wrong with England, or the weather, if the hosts do not win this series 3-0.

"New Zealand will be overwhelmed by the occasion at Lord's, by the pace and bounce at Old Trafford and by the swing at Trent Bridge."

Pietersen, meanwhile, said New Zealand were a much under-rated side with few stars but "quality" batsmen and bowlers.

"Teams like Bangladesh, they don't have any world stars but they pull out victories every now and then and play some pretty good cricket," he added.

Pietersen was asked more questions about facing his native South Africa than New Zealand at yesterday's media session.

He gladly obliged, but checked himself when asked if there was a danger of England getting too far ahead of themselves.

"I've said that because we're talking about players performing against good opposition.

"We're not even talking about South Africa yet, we're talking about New Zealand and we're wanting to beat them well."

So would he be unhappy with anything less than a 3-0 series win over New Zealand?

"I haven't won a test match at Lord's since I started playing for England, so 2-0 will be great. I'm not banking on winning here, a draw is what we normally get at Lord's because it's such a flat wicket."

Bracewell was not concerning himself with any damning assessments yesterday as his players strolled the hallowed turf for the first time on tour.

Team unity has been the main box to tick for Bracewell in the past fortnight, with captain Daniel Vettori, Brendon McCullum, Jacob Oram, Ross Taylor and Kyle Mills all joining the tour late from the Indian Premier League.

Bracewell dismissed any suggestions of division.

"We've got a reasonably happy and settled unit who stayed in the country for the last two games which means there's been a lot of socialising together which has increased the integration.

"The guys have been looking forward to this event rather than supposedly dreading it.

"... you've got to be prepared for it (tension) just in case. I wasn't expecting any, there wasn't any."