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Stuart MacGill believes it is “naïve” to think sport and politics do not mix as Australia wait to make a decision on whether to tour Zimbabwe in September. MacGill refused to go on Australia’s last trip there in 2004 and said the situation had “deteriorated enormously” since.The one-day side is due to arrive in Zimbabwe after the Twenty20 world championships in South Africa and the Australian government has expressed its concerns about touring. However, Cricket Australia can only avoid a $2m ICC fine if the decision to abandon the trip is based on security concerns.”It’s naive to think that sport and politics don’t mix,” MacGill said in The Australian. “You have to look at things from all angles and make your own mind up about the sorts of things that are important to you and that you have a bigger part to play in the world community than just on the sporting field.”MacGill, who is a Test-only player, is not in a position to boycott the tour and is unsure whether any of his team-mates are considering it. “I don’t know and I’m careful not to discuss it with anyone because I’d hate to think I’m making their mind up for them,” he told the paper. “I’m not an activist, I’m not making a stand, it’s just something that I didn’t feel comfortable doing.”MacGill made his choice in 2004 after speaking to Andy Flower, the former Zimbabwe batsman. “On an individual level, there was a lot to feel uncomfortable about travelling as a sporting team over there and so I decided I couldn’t go,” he said. “If anything, it has deteriorated enormously.”The paper reported Cricket Australia was likely to send a delegation to Zimbabwe in August. “We don’t have our heads in the sand … but we have very strict obligations under the ICC’s future tours program,” Peter Young, the Cricket Australia spokesman, said.

Kandurata, led by Sri Lanka’s vice-captain Kumar Sangakkara, qualified for a place in Sunday’s final when they recorded their third straight win in the competition, defeating Hirdaramani Ruhuna by 43 runs under the Duckworth- Lewis method in a night match played at the R Premadasa Stadium.Winning the toss and choosing to bat, Kandurata made their third total in excess of 250 through half-centuries from Thilan Samaraweera (71 off 96 balls) and Chamara Kapugedera (63 off 65 balls). The innings was given a late boost by Thilan Thushara who slammed a breezy 47 off 27 balls with four sixes and a four.Ruhuna could not sustain an adjusted target of 282 from 47 overs despite fifties from Upul Tharanga and Indika de Saram and were dismissed for 238 in the 44th over, with Thushara once again being the stumbling block taking 3 for 29.Basnahira South, captained by Tillakaratne Dilshan, registered their first win by beating Basnahira North by six wickets, again under the Duckworth-Lewis method, at the SSC grounds. Put into bat, Basnahira North could manage only 207 for 9 in 50 overs, their batsmen being restricted by young left-arm spinner Milinda Siriwardene who took 6 for 40 off 10 overs.Basnahira South’s run chase was curtailed by rain and their revised target saw them set 175 for victory off 36 overs. Ian Daniel with 74 off 75 balls (5 fours, 2 sixes) led the way to victory which was achieved with eight overs to spare.

Getting into a stadium to watch any match during next year’s World Cup “will be like boarding an airline”, according to a senior official.That’s the word from senior legal counsel with the tournament’s organising committee, Derek Jones,who warned that security was of absolute importance to the International Cricket Council. According to Jones, patrons must understand that security was paramount at global events such as the World Cup, and they must ensure they “provide themselves with ample time” to get ready for the matches. “You must start thinking of getting into the ground as if you were getting into an airplane,” Jones told The Nation in an interview over the weekend.”We must see security as a major area and like the airline industry, safety and security is paramount. Patrons will be allowed to carry certain personal items, but they must be able to fit under your seat.”Over 800,000 tickets are being made available for the tournament, which runs from March 11 to April 28, and patrons will have two major checkpoints. The first will be on entering the venue, and the second on entering the stand.The Jamaican lawyer, with over 30 years in the field, said mechanisms were in place to make sure that all areas of security were established and working.Chris Dehring, chief executive of the tournament, has been attending meetings at the football World Cup in Germany, to get a clearer idea of how to implement and manage the massive security effort. He attended pre-match and post-match meetings in Berlin.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

A fine allround display from Scott Styris, and an unbeaten stand of 138 with Jacob Oram, handed New Zealand the bragging rights, but more importantly the points, from the main clash in Group C. England were twice well placed, but three key middle-order batsmen fell within six balls, then Styris steadied the Kiwis after their top three had gone against the new ball and victory came with nine overs to spare.New Zealand were badly hurt when England pipped them to the CB Series finals, but the World Cup often brings out their best. All their top qualities were on show; Stephen Fleming’s work in the field was outstanding, especially when he kept his nerve while Kevin Pietersen threatened to change gear, the bowling was varied and the experience of the deep batting order came to the fore.The chase began in dramatic style as James Anderson, who only made the match at the last minute with his broken finger, removed Lou Vincent in the opening over. It continued England’s mini-resurgence, started with the eighth-wicket stand between Paul Nixon and Liam Plunkett, which lifted their total over 200. When Plunkett added the scalp of Ross Taylor – courtesy of a blinding one-handed catch at first slip by Andrew Flintoff – and Fleming pulled a steepler to square leg the buzz was all with England.However, New Zealand are a confident one-day team after their Chappell-Hadlee whitewash especially on the batting front. Styris and Craig McMillan countered as though they were again chasing 300-plus. But it was a well-conceived plan, the batsmen were aware that run-scoring would be easier while the ball was hard so despite the early wickets the approach was still attack. The required rate was always under control and it forced Michael Vaughan to make something happen.He opted to hold back the final Powerplay and introduced Monty Panesar; McMillan couldn’t resist the challenge and picked out deep cover to end a stand of 53 in 10 overs. Styris, though, had settled into a comfortable rhythm, showing his best form since returning form injury during the CB Series. He was quick onto anything short and when the field went more defensive rotated the strike with ease. He offered one chance on 61 – and it was England’s last hope of getting back into the contest – when Pietersen shelled a catch at short cover.The century stand with Oram began with the game in the balance but slowly broke England’s spirits. Oram came out of his shell with a handsome six off Panesar and as the target grew closer he became more inventive with his strokeplay. His half-century, off 68 balls, continued his batting form from Australia and showed how he can adapt to be more than the brutal hitter that has previously been on show.

England had been on course to set a more demanding target as Pietersen and Paul Collingwood added 81 for the fourth wicket in 20 overs. The top three had departed for 52 – Vaughan again throwing away a solid start – but the middle order pair played sensibly. It wasn’t the blazing Pietersen on show, only once did he really unleash, against Jeetan Patel, but he’d worked out it was a grafting rather than glory situation. But in the blink of an eye the picture changed.Styris, whose medium-pace was ideal for the sluggish surface, made his first impression by removing Collingwood and Fleming, who sensed the moment, returned to Shane Bond. The effect was instant as Pietersen appeared to loose his bearings and chipped to long on, then three balls later Andrew Flintoff was deceived by an outstanding slower ball and picked out cover.Bond had again proven why he is one of the most effective one-day bowlers in the game, backing his captain’s move, and Styris wasn’t finished, either, as he removed Jamie Dalrymple to another thin edge. From 133 for 3, England had slumped to 138 for 7. However, the contrasting styles of Nixon and Plunkett provided a feisty stand of a run-a-ball 71.In the final reckoning, though, it was the damage done to the middle order that was the defining moment of the match. Both these teams entered the World Cup with fresh memories of impressive one-day triumphs but it’s New Zealand who have continued the momentum and opened their campaign in style.

Brad Hodge’s faith in the national selectors has been restored after he was chosen to replace Ricky Ponting for the CB Series match against England in Brisbane on Friday. Hodge has experienced a number of confusing calls over the past two years, including being dropped from the Test side two games after posting a double-century, and he knows he must make the most of his chance.Hodge will probably be with the squad for only one game as the resting Ricky Ponting is expected back for the match against New Zealand in Sydney on Sunday. “Sometimes in cricket and especially representing Australia it might be the one chance that you get,” he said in the Sydney Morning Herald. “It’s such a great side. This is a window of opportunity for me.”Australia have cruised through their opening two games of the series and Hodge said it was a “great reward” to be part of the squad. “To get selected and to find out exactly where you are, it’s something you don’t really understand from time to time,” he said. “But this selection really gives me good faith and good hope to know that the selectors are still watching.”Hodge did not want to worry about his chances of being part of the World Cup squad, but he has been a regular tourist with Australia over the past three years. He was the back-up batsman in India, New Zealand and England before getting a five-Test run and averaging 58.42 in 2005-06. However, he was dropped for the tour of South Africa when Damien Martyn was preferred and has been in the domestic game ever since.

Scorecard

Chris Rogers and Marcus North posted double-centuries in a remarkable partnership that slipped five short of the Waugh brothers’ all-time domestic record of 464. The pair of Western Australian left-handers demoralised a Victoria attack including Shane Warne and was on track to eclipse the target set on the same ground by Steve and Mark Waugh 16 years ago when Rogers hit a Cameron White full-toss to Lloyd Mash at midwicket.While Rogers, who collected a double- and triple-century during the past English county season, was dismissed for 279, North remained unbeaten on 239, his highest score for the state. Their stand of 459 was the third-highest partnership for any wicket in Australian domestic history behind the Waughs’ effort and the unbroken 462 of David Hookes and Wayne Phillips for South Australia against Tasmania in 1986-87. It was also the biggest for the third wicket in domestic history, the largest overall for Western Australia and the first time two of the state’s batsmen registered double-centuries in the same innings.North struck 31 fours and two sixes from 302 balls while Rogers, who was at the crease for almost nine hours, accumulated 36 boundaries. The pair joined forces at 2 for 128 in the second session on day one and enjoyed a lifeless surface that did not help Victoria’s fast or slow bowlers. Warne managed only one wicket and delivered three consecutive bouncers in the first session to earn an immediate break from the captain White, while Shane Harwood left the field with a side problem.Justin Langer finally ended the damage at 608 and Victoria were quickly in trouble, losing Mash, who became Sean Ervine’s maiden first-class victim for the Warriors, and David Hussey before tea. The Bushrangers lost a further two wickets in the final session, Nick Jewell and Brad Hodge, to reach the close 462 runs adrift, with Cameron White on 51 not out.

David Warner may find himself as stand-in captain of Australia for the first time in some of January’s limited-overs matches against India if Steven Smith’s current knee and hip niggles don’t clear up over the next two weeks.Smith is not in doubt for the Boxing Day Test against West Indies in Melbourne or the following fixture in the new year at the SCG. However, the selectors and team medical staff may elect to rest him from portions of the five-match ODI series against India in order to give him the best chance to be fit and limber for the February tour of New Zealand and also the Twenty20 matches to be played in the lead-up to the World T20 in India in March.The decision to rule Smith out of the opening rounds of the Big Bash League that sit between now and Boxing Day is an admission that his knee in particular will need careful management over the coming months. He has carried the problem since the latter part of the Ashes tour, saying the discomfort he faced while running could be “hidden” in Test matches. But it is likely to be more problematic in T20, the only format in which Australia are yet to win an ICC trophy.The coach and selector Darren Lehmann said further breaks for Smith would be discussed. “He keeps telling me he is 26 but [in Hobart] he was running as though he is 36. The pressure of captaincy is quite large. We have to look at that but we get a decent break now with two weeks off. He is not playing BBL so he gets a good break.”The ODIs are important to us and then the T20 World Cup so I can’t see him getting a break until the end of the summer, unless we play really well or the niggles get worse. I’m no medical expert but [rest] is what they are saying. They will say what he can or can’t do and if I disagree with it he plays and if I don’t he might not play.”Smith has impressed many within the team since being named full-time captain, fostering relationships off the field as well as providing sound judgment on it. Lehmann said Smith was handling the extra demands on his time with aplomb, while also utilising the advice of mentors such as Brad Haddin and Mark Taylor. Warner has also done well as deputy, compiling mighty scores against New Zealand while keeping some of his more outlandish traits in check at the right times.”Doing it easy – much easier when you win,” Lehmann said of Smith. “It was a tough series against New Zealand while this was a less stressful Test match, [but] he has been flying with the extra demands. He has good mentors and good advice from former captains who are helping with how to handle his time and the demands which are so much greater than just a player. Players love what he brings to the table.”Looking ahead to the MCG, Lehmann said he would be happy for Usman Khawaja to return to the team as an opening batsman, though would have to run that past Smith. The selectors have a difficult task ahead in finding room for the fit-again Khawaja after Shaun Marsh’s exceptional performances in Adelaide and Hobart, leaving Warner’s opening partner Joe Burns also needing to look over his shoulder.”We will have to see if Uzzy is fit and then we will have a dilemma,” Lehmann said. “If he is fit, having scored two hundreds in the two Test matches [against New Zealand] yes, you would think he would be in form to play. We need him playing. With a hamstring, we don’t want him playing Test match cricket if he is not fully fit.”He will have to be sharp in the T20 games and then we will make a decision from there. If he comes back in someone will miss out. We have to work out that is. I would [be happy with Khawaja opening] but the captain might not want that. We have to work out the best six and the batting order from there.”Not for the first time, Lehmann emphatically ruled out the prospect of dropping the allrounder Mitchell Marsh, insisting that the fifth bowling option was vital for team flexibility and cover for any injuries that might crop up. “There has been talk about 6 batsmen and no all-rounder,” he said, “but we saw in the day night Test against New Zealand where [Mitchell] Starc got injured that you need the all-rounder. We will certainly play Marsh.”

Australia will rely on the sheer pace of Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson to cover the huge gaps left by Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne. Justin Langer has also departed but filling the holes of two men who captured 1271 wickets is the main concern as the hosts attempt to retain their all-conquering ways.Sri Lanka will face a fast-bowling attack at the Gabba on Thursday that has a combined tally of 68 Tests and contains the debutant Mitchell Johnson. Brett Lee is the main man, having appeared in 59 matches, while Stuart Clark will probably begin his fourth series at first-change. The collective inexperience does not bother Ricky Ponting and he is confident the trio can kick-start the new era.”You have to look to somebody else to do the job that they [Warne and McGrath] were doing,” Ponting said. “They were great at building pressure. Now we might have to come back to sheer pace to get our breakthroughs with Brett and Mitchell.”Extra responsibility will also fall on Stuart MacGill as he tries to fit back into the team after an 18-month absence. One of the reasons Australia preferred MacGill to the swing of Ben Hilfenhaus was due to Warne’s strong performances in Brisbane, which he rated as a perfect venue for legspin because of the extra bounce.”We know Stuart MacGill’s wicket-taking ability is second to none in the history of the game,” Ponting said. “And we know we’ve got the options.”Sri Lanka’s recruiting of Trevor Bayliss, who was the New South Wales coach in June, has come with the bonus of intimate knowledge of almost half the Australian team. Mahela Jayawardene, the captain, said Bayliss had been passing on tips to his new team about what to expect from Clark, MacGill, Lee, Michael Clarke and Phil Jaques.”Trevor has been giving us a lot of information and we’ve been discussing a lot of plans,” he said. “It’s always good to have a lot of plans, but you also need to concentrate on what’s going on out there and go with your instincts.”Australia would like to bat first even though the pitch contains significant moisture and they may get their wish if Sri Lanka push for a four-man pace attack. Ponting, who has discussed the threats of the opposition bowlers with his team, felt playing so many would be risky.”If you look historically at things at the Gabba, sides that bat first win more often than not,” he said. “If they did want to play four they’d be going against that. And if the keeper [Prasanna Jayawardene] bats six it leaves them a little thin.”

Hampshire County Cricket Club intends to return to play first-class cricket in Basingstoke in 2008, as part of a wider plan to take the game back to the county’s outgrounds.Although the Hampshire 2nd XI played one match at the Basingstoke ground in 2006, the last Championship fixture at May’s Bounty was in the summer of 2000, the season before the club moved to The Rose Bowl near Southampton.Second XI matches will be played at May’s Bounty and Bournemouth Sports Club during the forthcoming season, and subject to conditional improvements at the ground, including pitch improvement which has been monitored during recent seasons, Hampshire Cricket intends to schedule 1st XI matches in 2008. The final decision will be made in the autumn during the fixture planning process.”Hampshire’s association with Basingstoke goes back many years,” said Tim Tremlett, the director of cricket. “The team’s track record allied to the tremendous support that they have always received from the local community bodes well for the future when this partnership resumes.”Keith Harris, chairman of Basingstoke and North Hants Cricket Club, added: “The club has always been keen to have Hampshire play at May’s Bounty. We were disappointed when Hampshire stopped playing at the ground six years ago, but fully understood the reasons behind the decision.”We are now very pleased that we have been considered as an out-ground to host Hampshire matches in the future. We have endeavoured to maintain our links with Hampshire Cricket and the main county side and we look forward to watching 1st XI cricket in Basingstoke once again. It is a positive benefit for the north of the county.””We must now continue the hard work to deliver a spectacular international sports and entertainment resort with Test match cricket at its heart. Our plans take cricket at the Rose Bowl ‘beyond first class’ and will provide fans with the exciting prospect of seeing the world’s best in action at an outstanding world-class international cricket ground.”David Collier, the ECB chief executive added: “The Rose Bowl is an exciting new venue with international quality floodlights and impressive development plans which seek to create a truly world class cricket facility.”

Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary
How they were out

A magnificent 128 from Paul Collingwood, together with three late wickets from England’s bowlers, has put them in control of the fourth Test against West Indies at Chester-le-Street.What made the day all the more depressing for West Indies – apart from going to stumps on 83 for 3 – was their haplessness with the ball in the afternoon session, throwing away the advantage their bowlers had engineered in the morning. England were still trailing by 85 at lunch, with both Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell back in the pavilion, and the West Indies had bowled beautifully. It was they who went to lunch the happier of the two sides, and by some distance too. Beyond Prior lay very little.And then the match turned. Whatever the dinner ladies served for lunch clearly upset the bowlers’ control, and Daren Ganga’s captaincy, as a mishmash of dreadful bowling, sloppy fielding and thoughtless cricket punctured West Indies’ advantage. Quite what Ganga was thinking when he tried Marlon Samuels for five overs is anyone’s guess, but the standard of bowling was embarrassingly mediocre. So Collingwood exploited it, nudging runs all around the wicket and placing the ball into the gaps at will, accelerating at ease. It was a Sunday afternoon knockabout, not Test cricket at its most taxing. West Indies’ wheels hadn’t so much fallen off, as rolled down the hill into the water.After bringing up an 85-ball fifty, Collingwood opened his shoulders – perhaps influenced by the natural aggressor, Prior, at the other end – driving with authority through the covers. He was notably quick to pull anything a fraction too short – a sure sign that he’s in form – and, when the new ball finally arrived, he smote it all over the ground.Fidel Edwards, who had earlier bowled beautifully with the old ball, was entrusted with the task of breaking through but, by now, Collingwood was in no mood to be contained. A beautiful clip off his pads was followed by a fierce pull to the square-leg boundary, prompting Collingwood to yelp and roar his delight in making his fifth Test hundred. It was his first at Chester-le-Street, his home ground and his second fifty came from just 64 balls. Often considered one of Test cricket’s more dogged batsmen, how appropriate that he should have accelerated so impressively – on a day when Michael Vaughan stepped down as England’s one-day captain.

Oddly, Prior played second fiddle to Collingwood – a revealing fact in itself – but nevertheless brought up his 50 from 85 balls with a remarkable flick over midwicket. He too took advantage of the bowling as West Indies practically gave up the ghost. Even the captain, Ganga, stood with his hands in his pockets, his shoulders slumped. All he needed to complete the act of surrender was a large white handkerchief.Prior’s exuberance finally cost him when he tried to pull Edwards over midwicket – Devon Smith diving forward at deep square-leg to take a fine catch. It ended a superb stand of 169 – the first time in 23 years that England had put on more than 150 for the seventh wicket. But by now the damage had been done; between lunch and tea England added 139 for the loss of just one wicket. It was a startling transformation.Ryan Sidebottom chivvied his way to an entertaining 26 to give England a sizeable lead of 113 and, rather inevitably, Matthew Hoggard struck in the second over to trap Smith in front for a duck. Chris Gayle, with half an eye to the one-day series, was in ebullient mood, carving Hoggard and Steve Harmison off the back foot to bring up a fine and characteristically entertaining fifty.Once Runako Morton was bowled by Monty Panesar, leaving West Indies still trailing by 30, the match turnaround was complete. All of a sudden, England are scenting an unlikely victory.