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Scorecard

New Zealand Under-19s were denied in their quest to level the three-match series against England, with a thrilling tie at Hove. Chasing 238, New Zealand appeared to be on course but Liam Dawson (5 for 39) caused mid-order panic before Luke Fletcher took the last wicket of the final ball.Alex Wakely spearheaded England’s 237, continuing his fine form with another fifty, and shared in a powerful opening partnership of 110 with Alex Hales. New Zealand’s opening bowlers, Andrew Mathieson and Greg Morgan both leaked boundaries, though Mathieson recovered with Wakely’s wicket – but not after he had crashed 64 from 47 balls.New Zealand fought back strongly thereafter, with their two spinners – Nick Beard and George Worker – seven wickets apiece as England’s innings fell away.Like England, New Zealand’s openers got off to a fine start in pursuit of 238 as Michael Bracewell (47) and Worker (41) put on 88, and there were useful contributions from Kane Williamson (28) and Fraser Colson (24). However, after William Beer broke through the top three, Dawson ran through the middle-order as New Zealand slipped to 185 for 8.Beard (23) and Morgan (32) gave New Zealand genuine hope, however, with a bristling 51-run stand as the tourists inched closer. But Morgan fell with two runs needed before Fletcher bowled Beard with the scores level, to record a memorable tie.

The New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association (NZCPA) and its members have today formally rejected the settlement offer tabled last Friday by the bargaining team representing New Zealand Cricket and the Major Associations (NZC).In considering the offer the NZCPA has consulted extensively with all players. It has also raised appropriate issues with the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) of which the NZCPA is a member. The NZCPA has also taken advice from its financial and legal advisors.Reasons for the decision to reject the offer include the following:

• Advice from its chartered accountants, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu that the NZCPA is not in a position to be able to rely on the forecasted financial information provided until further information is obtained.In particular this includes information relating to the revenue earned by NZC from the International Cricket Council (ICC) throughout the five year ICC/GCC broadcasting agreement. The NZCPA has requested, but has not been provided with, further information relating to revenue received from the ICC throughout the five year term of the agreement between ICC and GCC. This income is significant;
• Advice from its solicitors, Bell Gully, that the players should not commit to the ICC player terms documentation in the manner required by the settlement offer. The NZCPA’s legal advice is that players should not agree to uncertain terms, with unknown consequences. FICA have also advised players not to sign the current player terms documentation on the same basis.
• The NZCPA’s position, supported by FICA, that by committing to the signing of the ICC player terms documentation as required by the settlement offer the players would;
  • be regarded as having compromised the position of their international colleagues who have maintained a unified approach to the matter;
  • potentially undermine progress that has been made towards a resolution on this matter between FICA and the ICC; and
  • potentially place the ICC/GCC agreement at risk.
• The NZCPA’s position, supported by legal advice, that the settlement offer fails to include a number of specific provisions that will need to be agreed before any offer can be accepted. The majority of these provisions were included in the NZCPA’s settlement offer dated October 28, but there is no present indication from NZC/MAs about acceptance of those terms, or any reason for their rejection.Examples of some of the terms at issue are:
  • how players transfer between Associations;
  • the professional cricketers in schools program in which players are required to undertake a minimum amount of cricket coaching;
  • the development and implementation of a professional development program for cricketers;
  • how injury and illness is dealt with;
  • how variations in forecasted revenue will be dealt with;
  • what the parameters are surrounding a players ability to play overseas;
  • how the implications of canceling games or scheduling additional games are dealt with; and
  • club and district playing obligations;
• Legal advice that the settlement offer has been tabled in a manner which potentially breaches the agreed Bargaining Protocol and the collective bargaining provisions of the Employment Relations Act. The offer constitutes a take it or leave it offer and threatens to undermine the Association by approaching individual players.

The Way ForwardThe money is negotiable and has always been negotiable and we have made that clear throughout the process.This negotiation process is not about personalities and its not all about remuneration. Its about the negotiation of employment terms and conditions which are fair and reasonable.The players want to play cricket and the players want to reach an agreement.The players are united and committed to ensuring the recognition of their chosen representative body to ensure professional representation and to provide a forum for their input into the development of cricket in New Zealand.The players are united in their desire to ensure employment terms and conditions that will not only attract the best young sportspeople in New Zealand, but will also ensure a level of fair remuneration that demands absolute professionalism from those who commit to a career in cricket.In creating that change the players want to ensure the negotiation of a fair and reasonable agreement that is reached in a professional manner and in a controlled environment around the negotiation table.As part of its response to the settlement offer the NZCPA has invited NZC to address players directly on the issues under negotiation.The NZCPA has also proposed that, following this process, the parties reconvene negotiations under mediation, with a view to reaching final agreement as soon as possible.If this proposal is accepted by NZC, as a sign of good faith and in the interests of completing an agreement, the players will commit to full domestic cricketing duties including the State Max competition, with immediate effect.

New Zealand wicket-keeper Robbie Hart admitted to a pang of regret when breaking a sequence of 85 unbroken matches for his Northern Districts side today, but it was only a momentary pang.As Northern Districts took on Otago at Carisbrook in the State Championship, Hart was with the New Zealand side preparing for his fourth Test match, his first at home, and on a ground he has many happy memories of, the Basin Reserve.Midway through last summer Hart would have been entitled to wonder if he would ever emulate his brother Matthew by playing for New Zealand. It seemed that Adam Parore would be a career-denying impediment to his advance.Then Parore said he had had enough and retired.Enter from stage left, and the plethora of contenders, Robbie Hart.While his introduction to Test cricket was at Lahore when Hurricane Shoaib Akhtar blew the New Zealanders to their worst Test loss, by an innings and 324 runs, happier days came in the West Indies.He scored 57 not out and 24 in the second innings in New Zealand’s historic 204-run win for their first Test win in the West Indies.Then as New Zealand attempted to stave off the prospect of the West Indies recovering to share the series, he batted for 142 minutes in the second innings to score 28 not out and help New Zealand draw the match.It was a heady start, but now the prospect of a home Test is a new delight.”It’s really exciting to play a home series, I’ve worked a lot of years to get the opportunity to do it.”I’ve always enjoyed it at the Basin. The atmosphere, this is a true Test ground and there’s been some good cricket occasions here over the years, some good tussles with Wellington,” he said.While there has been some movement in the quality of wicket-keepers starting to emerge, Hart has not been distracted.”I’ve just been totally focused on my own game. The minute you start looking over your shoulder it’s not a good mindset to be in. I want to give myself every chance to perform,” he said.The West Indies experience had been a good one because of what was achieved but also because of the lessons he took from the tour.It had been hard work mentally, yet exciting at the same time.He said the experience of playing at international level had resulted in him lifting the work he was putting into his game because that was what the experience did to you.Although New Zealand’s players have been hit hard by the weather, Hart admitted that his preparation for batting in the Test starting on Thursday in Wellington had been helped by having to face fast bowler Shane Bond on “an average pitch” at Rangiora.Hart said he had admired the Indian play for the last 10 years but he goes into the match confident New Zealand can compete with them in the two Test series.

Canadian cricket history will be made when between July 31-August 9, when the West Indies (A) team wil visit Canada, led by Test batsman Darren Ganga.This will be the first occasion that the West Indies and Canada have met on the cricket field.The intinerary of the visit is as follows: -Friday August 2 versus Canada one day 11:00 am Ajax Cricket ClubSunday August 4 versus Canada one day 11:00 am Ross Lord ParkMonday August 5 versus Canada one day 11:00 am King CityAugust 7/8 versus Canada two day 10:00 am Toronto Cricket Club

Hampshire’s bowlers toiled in the September sun as Frizzell Champions elect Surrey amassed 422 runs, with Ian Ward striking his third successive first-class century and Graham Thorpe keeping faith with the England selectors with a superb 143. The expected morning declaration will mean Hampshire needing 514 to win, or more appropriately to hold out for a draw.Young Scott Newman failed for the second time in the match when he was trapped in front by James Schofield. Nadim Shahid playing the junior roll to skipper Ian Ward, was also out cheap edging a ball well wide outside the off stump from Mascarenhas to the wicket-keeper.This however put together Ward and Graham Thorpe looking for a good “net” before he flies out to the Ashes tour. This was done in some style, with the pair driving, glancing and cutting the Hampshire bowlers to shreds.Ward who had already helped himself to a century on the first day, smote 156, before he came down the wicket to the occasional bowling of Jimmy Adams and was stumped by Pothas. His innings lasted just over five hours, and in that time shared a 197 run partnership with Thorpe.Thorpe was playing like he had never been missing, his innings of just over four hours had all the trade mark shots we know of old. He was finally out when he drove at the workhorse James Tomlinson and was caught at mid-on.The remaining batsmen spent the rest of the evening having fun at the expense of the bowlers, and some pundits expressed surprise that a declaration wasn’t forthcoming in the evening. Batty, Bicknell and Salisbury all perished playing expansive shots as the visitors brought up their second 400 tally of the match.Neil Johnson was unable to bowl, so much of the work was done by the young attack of Schofield and Tomlinson, and both came out of the day with credit.

Lancashire Lightning’s home Norwich Union League fixture against Derbyshire Scorpions, which was originally scheduled for Monday 15th July, will now be played at Blackpool Cricket Club on Sunday 14th July with play starting at 1pm.The game was scheduled to take place just 48 hours after “Move”, a 3-day series of pop concerts sponsored by Virgin Trains. However, the addition last week of an extra date sees David Bowie playing at Old Trafford on Wednesday 10th July. This means an unforeseen increase in the scale of the stage and the additional time needed to dismantle the equipment has necessitated the switch of the Monday night game to an outground.The change to a Sunday afternoon game is designed to make it easier for members and supporters to attend the fixture in Blackpool as opposed to Monday evening.In order to assist Members with their travel arrangements, the Club has decided to provide free coach transport from Old Trafford to Blackpool CC. Places are limited and further details will be available from the Ticket Office from Monday 13th May on 0161 282 4040.

First team coach Kevin Shine feels that “Somerset have had a mixed season so farsome good, and some poor. We’re top of the County Championship which cant be bad and we’ve also won four zonal matches in the Benson and Hedges Cup. To win at Yorkshire was very pleasing, especially as Marcus didn’t score many runs.”Kevin believes that Somerset have the potential to win one of the one day trophies this season. “We have got a talented squad and we’re as well equipped now as we ever have been. It’s time for us to stand up and be counted.”He is particularly pleased with the way that the team is fighting back when faced with difficult situations this season, and cites the bensons game against Gloucestershire game as a prime example.Kevin was especially pleased with the performances of Peter Trego with both bat and ball in the Kent 4 day game. Despite losing his two England players, and suffering from a number of injuries there is still a depth of talent at the club, which is happily posing selection problems.

Manoj Tiwary, the middle-order batsman, remains positive despite again failing to find a place in the India Test squad, at least for the first two games against England.Tiwary impressed during India A’s match against England last week and through his limited international opportunities, but he said he wasn’t letting the disappointment of being left out set in and is hoping to keep pushing his case through performances in the Ranji Trophy.Tiwary got the selection news during tea on the fourth day of Bengal’s Ranji Trophy match against Rajasthan and he said that although the news bothered him, he was focused and in the right frame of mind for the next game.”There were a lot of thoughts that came into my mind when I came to know about it,” Tiwary said. “But we’ve quite a few games coming up. I always try to motivate myself by thinking that I have a lot of time. I am young, and touch wood, things will fall in place. The big runs will come. I just have to be patient.”Last week, Tiwary was the top-scorer for India A in a batting line-up which had at least three contenders for the No. 6 batting spot. Yuvraj Singh, who scored an aggressive 59 in that game, got the selector’s nod ahead of Suresh Raina and Tiwary.”It’s a part and parcel of any sportsman’s life. I’ve taken it in a positive way and in the right spirit. I love playing for Bengal. I’m a firm believer that day is not far away when things will fall in place. It would be a dream come true if I get to debut at the Eden.”

Dinesh Mongia hit his second double hundred in this year’s DuleepTrophy championship as North Zone piled up 690 for eight beforedeclaring on the second day of their match against Central Zone at theFeroze Shah Kotla grounds in New Delhi on Friday. At close, Centralhad replied with 81 for one off 13 overs.Mongia had hit 201 in the opening round encounter against South Zone.On Friday, the 23-year-old Punjab batsman hit 208 and added 316 runsfor the fifth wicket with his Punjab colleague Reetinder Singh Sodhi.Resuming at the North Zone score of 391 for four, Mongia and Sodhicarried on from where they left off and did pretty much what theyliked with the bowling. The stand was not broken till the score was620 after an association that lasted 80 overs. Then Mongia was finallydismissed after batting 433 minutes. He faced 319 balls and hit 27fours and two sixes. Sodhi did not last long after Mongia’s departure.His 137 was compiled in 375 minutes. He faced 245 balls and hit 13fours and three sixes. Harbhajan Singh then flogged the tired attackfor a breezy 42 off 43 balls with four boundaries and two sixes. TheCentral Zone bowling made for sorry reading with four of the bowlersconceding over 100 runs. Indian left arm spinner Murali Kartik was themost expensive conceding 178 runs off 53 overs and finishingwicketless.When Central Zone batted, they lost the wicket of Amit Pagnis earlybut the other opener Jai P Yadav and skipper Amay Khurasiya thenshowed that there was nothing in the bowling or the pitch and rattledup 65 runs for the unbroken second wicket off only 9.3 overs. WhileYadav has hit 23 off 37 balls with four hits to the fence, the moreaggressive Khurasiya is batting with 45 off just 28 balls. He has hiteight fours and a six.

FULL NAME: Jordane Stanley Nicolle
BORN: At Bulawayo, 20 December 1982
MAJOR TEAMS: CFX Academy (2001/02). Present club side: Bulawayo Athletic Club(Bulawayo), Universals (Harare)
KNOWN AS: Jordane/Jordi Nicolle
BATTING STYLE: Right Hand Bat
BOWLING STYLE: Right Arm Fast Medium
OCCUPATION: CFX Academy studentFIRST-CLASS DEBUT: 15-17 February 2002, CFX Academy v Manicaland, at MutareSports Club
TEST DEBUT: Still awaited
ODI DEBUT: Still awaitedBIOGRAPHY (March 2002)One of the most promising students at the CFX Academy in 2002 is Matabeleland’s young pace bowler Jordane Nicolle. After a good record in national Under-19 cricket, he continued to make progress by looking the Academy’s most dangerous bowler in the Logan Cup competition of 2001/02.He has the advantage of a cricketing background; his father is Gwanda farmer Terry Nicolle, who has had a career as Matabeleland Districts player and administrator and is now a national selector, while his grandfather was also a notable player. He is the middle of three brothers; his older brother is also a very keen player, but currently out of Zimbabwean cricket while he obtains his degree at Stellenbosch University in South Africa.Jordane remembers from his earliest years playing cricket in the net especially built on the family farm in southern Matabeleland. He attended Whitestone Primary School in Bulawayo as a boarder, first playing for the school in Grade Five, being something of a late developer, despite his background. It took him another two years to force his way into the school first team, which he did as a pace bowler – he admits he has never been much of a batsman. He remembers taking two sets of five wickets in an innings, with a performance against Milton Junior School his favourite memory. He played for Matabeleland primary schools but not for the national side.He then progressed to Falcon College, playing mainly in the B team for each age group, and feels that his cricket deteriorated with each year. By the time he was in the fourth form and Lower Sixth he was captaining the third team. He did take some good wickets for Matabeleland Country Districts against the Mashonaland side, though, and then suddenly made progress in his final year. He has played winter cricket regularly for Gwanda whenever he can, and he appreciates the `lovely green tops’ his father prepares on the home pitch; he has taken a couple of `five-fers’.How does he account for his sudden rise? "It was a lot of determination and effort on my father’s part, which got into my mind," he says. "I had a lot of encouragement, and I got a lot fitter and stronger. I continued trying to bowl as fast as I could, and it came right in the end." His best performance was seven wickets for 32 runs against Peterhouse, well timed in coming the weekend before the national trials. He pays tribute to the coaching he received from Dave Grant, the first-team coach at Falcon.In his final year at school, 2000, Jordane finally made the national age-group side, playing for the Under-19 team. He did not have great success as far as wicket-taking was concerned, never taking more than two or three in an innings, but he did impress some notable judges. He considered applying for the Academy for 2001, but after considering the situation of the country decided to secure his future at Stellenbosch University, following his brother there.He was still eligible for the Under-19 side and continued to play, going to New Zealand with the World Cup team. He stayed only a year at Stellenbosch, starting a Bachelor of Mathematical Science degree, before deciding it was not the right course for him and taking a break. "I passed three of my five subjects and these are valid for the next ten years, so if need be I can go back and finish it off, or do something else," he says. This time he did apply for the Academy and was accepted.As a batsman his highest score was 48, for the Under-19 team playing against a similar side from Easterns in South Africa in Bulawayo, sharing a century partnership for the last wicket, so he does have some talent in that area. "It’s probably my only claim to fame with the bat," he says with a smile. "I like to think of myself as an aggressive lower-order batsman, but I can hang around." He feels he has the ability to move up to number eight or nine.He has played his club cricket for Bulawayo Athletic Club, and took eight wickets in an innings against Queens, his best figures in any class of cricket, the weekend after the Under-19 trials. After joining the Academy he has played for Universals in Harare.As a bowler he uses the yorker regularly, especially in one-day cricket. His stock delivery is the inswinger, and he can also cut the ball back off the pitch, but he admits he needs to develop more accuracy. He likes to field in the point or backward point area, but is more often sent off to fine leg.Jordane feels he has already learned a great deal at the Academy, especially from Eddo Brandes, who is the bowling coach, and looks forward enthusiastically to developing and widening his range of skills in the near future.Cricket heroes: "Travis Friend is a guy I really look up to, and obviously Brett Lee, my number one hero."Toughest opponents: "I haven’t bowled at any of the main national players yet, but I’m looking forward to that challenge."Personal ambitions: "My goals have been to get six wickets in every Logan Cup game, and I’ve managed to do that so far. A ten-haul in one of the next three games would be amazing."Proudest achievement so far: "Making the Under-19 side, which was a big step for me. Going from the third team to the Under-19 side in one year was quite an achievement."Best friends in cricket: "Charles Coventry – he and I have grown up and played with and against each other over the last six years, and rooming together and touring together."Other qualifications: A-levels and started Bachelor of Mathematical Science degree.Other sports: First-team hockey at Falcon College.Outside interests: Riding motor-bikes – "which isn’t the greatest hobby for a fast bowler!"Views on cricket: "Things are slowly getting more professional in cricket circles in this country, from the top to the bottom, which is good. I’m sure things are going to get a lot better for Zimbabwe cricket in the next few years, especially with the World Cup coming up. I’m sure the main guys will do very well, and that will give the game a tremendous boost right round the country."