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Michael Vaughan could not hide his disappointment at missing a double century, although he regards the 197 he made against India at Trent Bridge as the best innings of his life.It was Vaughan’s highest first-class score and his third since he was handed the England opening slot on the tour of New Zealand earlier this year.”To be honest it was just one of those days when everything seemed to hit themiddle of the bat,” said Vaughan. “I would say it’s the best I have ever played especially given the situation in the game – it was important someone got a big score after India got 357.”This is a ground where there are a lot of boundaries to be had, the feetmoved as well as they have all summer and I just felt in good touch. I have never hit it as clean as I did today. When I got out I sat in the dressing room for two or three minutes, and I was gutted I didn’t get the double.”But if you had offered me that score at 11.50am I would have ripped yourhand off.”Asked whether he could carry the performance through to this winter’s Ashes series, he said: “It’s probably everyone’s dream to play against the Australians. But this Indian team is very dangerous so first and foremost we have to think about them.”This game is evenly poised; if they come out and get a couple of earlywickets they will feel right back in it. If we get somewhere near 500 we can put some pressure on.”

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.

Beleaguered Burridge have engaged specialist contractors in a desperate bid to solve the acute drainage problem at their Botley Road ground.Contractors are slitting the entire outfield in an attempt to get the water away from the ground which currently bears more resemblance to a swamp than a cricket pitch.The heavy rain of the past fortnight has waterlogged the entire outfield.Burridge’s scheduled ECB Southern Electric Premier League match against Liphook & Ripsley on Saturday is already off.”It has become totally depressing to everyone at the club,” said Burridge chairman Richard Bundy.”We have spent many a man hour trying to get the water away, but we are up against nature and so far there is little we have been able to do.”We spent a lot of money last winter mole draining the ground and, because of the dry winter we had, were able to get out and do quite a lot of pre-season work.”But we’ve not been able to get any machinery on to the ground for the past fortnight because it is so wet.”Burridge have managed to play only one home Premier League game so far and lie third from the foot of the table, with one win (at Portsmouth) in four outings.Burridge 2nd XI have only managed to play three Hampshire League County Division 1 fixtures since May 11.

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

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."

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.

Pakistan might have suffered an embarrassing innings and 54 run loss to New Zealand A at Bert Sutcliffe Oval today, but coach Javed Miandad said the side’s confidence was still strong heading into the National Bank Test series starting on Thursday.NZ A took only 27 balls to take five wickets for 16 runs to end the game this morning. The injured Saeed Anwar did not bat.It was a pathetic and limp response from a Pakistan team supposedly looking to get in some batting practice in preparation for the Test series after the disappointment of losing the one-day series.Coach Javed Miandad, who missed the rout as he was working in the nets with players not involved in the match, shook the defeat off by saying there were no real batsmen left in the game.”There were only bowlers left.”Saeed Anwar has a problem, it is difficult to say anything about that yet, it is too early,” he said.Miandad said it was obviously disappointing to lose a game in that fashion.”But you can’t do anything about it except work hard for the next game,” he said.The lack of experienced players in the side was a factor. Saeed, Wasim Akram, Moin Khan and Inzamam-ul-Haq were all missing from the game.The fact that all but Moin have injuries has to be a concern going into the first Test starting on Thursday.”They were all youngsters in this game. A few of them have just come from Pakistan. It is hard to adjust.”It is difficult after playing one-day cricket but the young guys have to look after themselves,” he said.But Miandad warned that Pakistan could still be a force in the Test series.”Everyone knows about the Pakistan team. In the 1992 World Cup we weren’t doing so well but once we clicked we won the World Cup.”We haven’t lost any confidence. When you lost Test matches then you can say your confidence is affected.”I’m not that disappointed, it was not a full-strength team.”There is no need to panic, You will see what this team will do in the Test match,” he said.The injuries are clearly a concern and Wasim Akram was not at the ground today as he was seeing a doctor about his side strain which developed during the last one-dayer against New Zealand.While Miandad admitted it was frustrating being so far from home and not being able to call up replacements quickly due to the 10 days required to process visas and the two-days of travelling.Miandad said there were no players on stand-by at the moment but the side would be talking to the selection panel to tell them what they were facing in New Zealand.”But the boys are confident. Wasim is confident and has said he will play. Saeed has said he will play and Inzamam has said he will play,” Miandad said.The NZ A players wasted no opportunity to complete the task.Andrew Penn removed the biggest potential stumbling block by bowling Younis Khan in his second over. Next ball, Mushtaq Ahmed tried to fend off a short ball from Penn and hit the ball high towards slips where Lou Vincent, fielding at third slip took the catch.Waqar Younis took the chance to hit out for six runs in the rest of the over and then from the first ball of Chris Drum’s next over, Saqlain Mushtaq wound up an excessively extravagant shot and was bowled easily. Then four balls later Arshad Khan was well beaten and bowled.Waqar took a single at the start of Penn’s next over, which was about the worst that could happen as predictably Mohammad Sami was out to Penn’s next ball, edging the chance to Glen Sulzberger at first slip.Pakistan all out for 124, having spent only 26 minutes in the middle and losing five wickets for 16 runs.

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.