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Lou Vincent, the New Zealand opener, has been ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup after breaking his wrist during a practice session in Antigua. Hamish Marshall, who was involved in the State Championship final in Hamilton, has been called into the squad to replace Vincent. The ICC have approved Marshall as a replacement for Vincent making him the sixth player to be called up to a World Cup squad as an injury replacement.Vincent was hit by Shane Bond while batting in the nets and was taken to hospital where an x-ray revealed a fracture. Vincent had scored a hundred in New Zealand’s last group stage against Canada after making ducks against England and Kenya.Lindsay Crocker, the New Zealand manager, said Bond was dejected at having ended his team-mate’s tournament. “It’s one of those things,” Crocker told . “It wasn’t a dangerous ball, just an error of judgment. Everyone is disappointed, particularly Bondy.”Marshall said with Ross Taylor also in doubt with a mild hamstring strain, he had been told he was likely to fit straight into the starting line-up. “That’s the indication they gave me, that with Rosco still out with his hammy, basically I’ll go straight into the game,” Marshall said on .”There’s a scenario I’ve got to deal with and see how I feel when I get over there but it shouldn’t be too bad.” New Zealand’s next match is against West Indies on Thursday.Peter Fulton looms as the most likely candidate to partner Stephen Fleming at the top of the order. Vincent’s problem arose just after the ICC’s Technical Committee approved Chris Martin as the replacement for Daryl Tuffey.Tuffey injured his right arm during New Zealand’s Group C match against Canada and was ruled out of the rest of the World Cup. The injury was in the same shoulder that forced Tuffey out of international cricket for two years. Mark Gillespie, who hasn’t played in the tournament because of a shoulder problem caused by a viral infection, came through his fitness test and was set to begin full training.

Just 24 hours after his first match in charge, Phil Simmons, the Ireland coach, has already lost his assistant, Matt Dwyer, who resigned today.”I’d originally intended to stay on a while to give Phil a hand,” Dwyer said, “but with so many games coming up over the next few weeks, I don’t have the same enthusiasm or drive that I feel Irish cricket needs at this time. I suppose you could say I’m getting out now on a high.”Dwyer, like most involved in Irish cricket, is essentially an amateur; he, like many, has a full-time occupation away from cricket: a roofing business which he spent seven weeks away from during the World Cup. The financial burden has proved too heavy.”I’d hoped to help Phil acclimatise, but I suppose he’s going to have to find out things for himself now, rather than hearing second hand about players from me,” he said. “I do wish him all the best in the job, and hope he makes a great success of it. I’d like to thank all the players I’ve worked with – their commitment has been exemplary, and I’m proud to have been associated with them.”Simmons took over as head coach after the World Cup, following the departure of Adrian Birrell.

That’s all you can ask for a lot of fight, even if it might eventually prove to be all in vain.Many fans wouldn’t have bothered to be up early yesterday just to see the West Indies fold meekly on the way to yet another massive defeat. You can’t blame them. Even some English journalists and broadcasters covering the match had checked out early from their hotels on the fourth morning, fully expecting the tourists to live up to their recent reputation as a side prone to gutless capitulations.Just the thought of these goodly gentlemen, and even the odd lady, hastily re-booking into hotels and cancelling plans for golf or other diversions today is satisfaction in itself. But there was more than enough out in the middle at Old Trafford to again keep that limp flame flickering just a little bit more in the expectation that some of these same players may actually have what it takes to help develop a new culture of discipline, dedication and commitment in West Indies cricket.After playing most of his international career in the considerable shadow of Brian Lara, most of us almost take Shivnarine Chanderpaul for granted. He is always there thereabouts, nothing spectacular, nothing flamboyant (except for the out-of-the blue explosion, like that 69-ball hundred against Australia at Bourda in 2003), grinding out runs almost anonymously while the starboy strokeplayers have everyone gasping at their pyrotechnic displays at the other end.But the incomparable Trinidadian batting maestro is no longer part of the landscape, bringing sharply into focus just how significant the other long-serving left-hander is in the West Indian middle-order. His knock of 74 was the topscore in a commendable overall effort of 437 in the first innings of the drawn first Test at Lord’s. Ruled out of the second Test debacle at Headingley with an inflamed knee, the former captain returned for this encounter and again led the way with an even 50 first up, although he could not halt the distressingly swift decline of the first innings late on the second day.Yesterday, though, he was in his element, soldiering on for four-and-a-half hours while accumulating runs as quietly and efficiently as ever. Ever mindful that, with two days to go, occupation of the crease was more of a priority than racing after an improbable target of 455, Chanderpaul batted as he usually does, as if nothing else matters but the next delivery. He resumes this morning 19 runs short of another Test hundred, but it would be surprising if he is not thinking well beyond that milestone to the 154 runs required to make history, especially if his team-mates can continue to give such impressively solid support.And that is something, probably even more than the trademark Chanderpaul vigil, which defined yesterday’s play in Manchester. In the same way that bowlers need the support of fielders to hold the catches, even the greatest batsman in the world can’t make much of an impact if wickets are tumbling at the other end.Such a clatter would have been expected when Chris Gayle fell early. However since then, every partnership has contributed more than 50 runs with successive pairings urging each other along to maintain the fight against an English side that looked genuinely surprised at having to cope with such prolonged resistance. They have come to expect an attractive cameo here and there from their talented yet indisciplined opponents. But 42 from Devon Smith (adding 53 with Runako Morton)? A battling 54 by Morton (putting on 73 with Chanderpaul)? Dwayne Bravo mixing caution with unbridled aggression in reaching 49 (dominating an 88-run stand with the senior man)? And last, but certainly not least, Denesh Ramdin (26 not out) keeping the fires of resistance burning right to the close in putting on 52 with Chanderpaul?Few could have expected such a consistent effort, and while there is no guarantee that the trend can continue on the final day, those who are yet to come (surely Darren Sammy needs no further motivation after his remarkable bowling success on Saturday) must be inspired to carry the fight if or when their turn at the crease arrives.On a pitch offering considerable assistance for specialist spinner Monty Panesar and still firm enough to keep the seamers interested, the West Indian batting performance yesterday becomes all the more praiseworthy and cannot be idly dismissed as the result of English complacency.In the context of a side set a near-impossible task and battling through an entire day under considerable pressure, this was the best the West Indies have done since the final day of the New Year’s Test in Cape Town in 2004, when a blistering debut hundred by Dwayne Smith pulled the visitors to within 100 runs of a monumental target of 441, before skipper Lara decided that the eighth-wicket pair should shut up shop to ensure a draw instead of risking defeat by continuing the chase.This time however, there will be no stalemate, unless inclement weather intervenes. Maybe all of the optimism will come to nothing in less than an hour this morning. Nevertheless, the fact that the West Indies are still in with a chance at the start of the last day, when most were expecting England to have clinched the series already, again gives us reason to believe that somewhere among this much-maligned group are a few of the building blocks required for the reconstruction of West Indies cricket.

Marvan Atapattu, former Sri Lankan captain, will not face disciplinary action over his decision to pull out of the home series against Bangladesh. Atapattu, who is one of Sri Lanka’s 18 contracted players, cited personal reasons for his withdrawal after being named in the Test side as a replacement for the rested Sanath Jayasuria.An action by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) was expected on Atapattu’s decision as he was all set to make his international comeback after a gap of 18 months. Jayantha Dharmadasa, the SLC chief, however, decided to go easy on Atapattu keeping in view his disciplinary record and services.”We will have to consider Marvan’s services to the country as a player and captain,” he said suggesting that the national governing body would not pursue any drastic action.”We will speak to him on his contractual obligations (with Sri Lanka Cricket), but stop short of taking disciplinary action,” a senior SLC official told AFP.

Steve Harmison has told the Mail on Sunday that his recovery from hernia surgery earlier this month is going so well that he hopes to be bowling again within a fortnight.Harmison admitted he has no chance of being fit in time for the Oval Test but he has a target of returning to action in time for Durham’s first one-day final at Lord’s on August 18. To give himself a chance of playing there he needs to be ready to face Surrey in a Championship match starting on August 13.He started running last week and was given the all-clear to resume more strenuous exercise after visiting a specialist last Thursday.”Things have gone well and I’ve been running at about 70% capacity,” he told the paper. “The next step is to build up to some ‘walk-throughs’ of my action. A final for my club against Warney and KP would be some way to make my comeback.”

It’s easy to be conned by statistics. Australia beat New Zealand 5-0 in last year’s Rose Bowl and New Zealand have won two of the past 23 contests between the teams. However, the two sides are closely matched and the five-game ODI series starting at Darwin on Saturday could give New Zealand their best chance yet of regaining the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1998-99.The one-sided result at Brisbane last October was misleading – the first three fixtures went down to the final over and Australia won by margins of one run, one wicket and five runs. They also met three times in the quadrangular series at Chennai in February and March, where New Zealand prevailed in the opening match before Australia were successful in the final.This time Australia will be without their recently-retired fast-bowling star Cathryn Fitzpatrick as well as Kirsten Pike, whose fast-medium offerings have brought 13 wickets at 15.53 against New Zealand. Leah Poulton has been omitted despite scoring 101 and 68 in consecutive innings in her debut series at the previous Rose Bowl. Karen Rolton will play but is returning from her second knee operation.That combination of factors should inspire New Zealand, although they too have lost an experienced campaigner with the retirement of their wicketkeeper-batsman Rebecca Rolls. Lisa Keightley, who started as Australia’s coach last week, is expecting a typically tight contest and believes Australia has the psychological edge.”New Zealand were the hardest team that I had to play in my career,” Keightley said. “But there’s a lot of close games in the WNCL [Women’s National Cricket League] so the girls are used to the pressure.”There will be plenty of pressure on Ellyse Perry, Australia’s 16-year-old fast-bowling allrounder, who is set to become the youngest Australian to debut. Keightley described Perry as “very talented and mature about her cricket” and said she would almost certainly play at Darwin. Perry, who is hoping to become a dual international by representing the Australian women’s soccer team soon after the Rose Bowl, met some of her team-mates for the first time at a bowling camp late last month.

One of those colleagues was Clea Smith, who is now the most experienced member of Australia’s pace attack after the departure of her fellow Victorian Fitzpatrick. Smith is confident Perry can play a role at Darwin but she tipped Emma Sampson to become the key strike bowler.”I think I’ve played a total of about three state or national games without her [Fitzpatrick], so it will be a bit weird,” Smith said. “But it’ll give myself and the other bowlers a chance to step up. I’d love to impart my experience on the rest of the group and that’s partly just leading by example, but also making a conscious effort to get them involved and talking about the game. That’s an area that we will miss Cathryn – she was always on the sidelines, challenging us in our thinking.”Smith’s own form against New Zealand has been unexceptional compared to her overall ODI record. However, she hopes her figures might improve thanks to the absence of Rolls, who Smith said was one of the hardest batsmen to contain in the early overs.”Rebecca Rolls has been as much of a key player for them as Fitzy has for us,” Smith said. The series is introduced with a Twenty20 match at Darwin’s Gardens Oval on Thursday before the five-game Rose Bowl begins at the same venue with back-to-back matches on Saturday and Sunday.Australia squad Sarah Andrews, Alex Blackwell, Kate Blackwell, Kris Britt, Melissa Bulow, Sarah Edwards, Shelley Nitschke, Ellyse Perry, Jodie Purves (wk), Karen Rolton (capt), Emma Sampson, Clea Smith, Lisa Sthalekar.New Zealand squad Nicola Browne, Sophie Devine, Maria Fahey, Sara McGlashan, Beth McNeill, Aimee Mason, Rowan Milburn (wk), Louise Milliken, Rachel Priest (wk), Amy Satterthwaite, Haidee Tiffen (capt), Sarah Tsukigawa, Helen Watson.

Jersey followed up their victory at the European Under-19 Division 2 Championship, with a win over France in the final of the Under-23 tournament in Guernsey on Thursday.They were not troubled by France, winning by seven wickets. Put into bat, the French were bowled out for 80 with only one batsman, Ali Sarfraz, reaching double figures with 18. Jersey then needed just 16.2 overs to knock off the runs.The tournament hosts, Guernsey, missed out on a place in the final to eventual runners-up France. In the group stages, both sides produced victories over Italy, but the deciding fixture between the two sides did not produce a result due to bad weather. France qualified for the final against Jersey on run-rate, leaving a disappointed Guernsey to play off for third place against Gibraltar.Guernsey won the play-off at College Field by seven wickets, with 12 balls to spare as 15-year-old Tim Ravenscroft enjoyed a good all-round game, following up his three wickets with an undefeated 58.

Mohammad Yousuf was named international cricket’s Test Player of the Year at the ICC Awards in Johannesburg.Yousuf topped the poll ahead of England’s Kevin Pietersen and last year’s winner Ricky Ponting of Australia. “This is the first time for a Pakistan player to win this award so I am particularly delighted with that,” he said.During the ODI-dominated voting period of August 9, 2006 to August 8 2007 Yousuf played six Tests. In that time he scored 944 runs at an average of 94.40 including five centuries and two fifties in just ten innings.He had a remarkable home series against West Indies last November and December, scoring four centuries in the three-Test series and finishing with 665 runs at an average of 133. Yousuf is the fourth recipient of the Test Player of the Year award following on from Ponting last year, Jacques Kallis of South Africa in 2005 and India’s Rahul Dravid in 2004.The Test Player of the Year was one of 11 individual and team honours handed out during the ICC Awards, presented in association with the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations. The event recognises cricket’s star performers over a 12-month period.

The South African cricket team left for Pakistan on Tuesday night with an air of resignation that the next month will be spent chained to their hotels due to security concerns.”Playing a subcontinental team on their home grounds is always a massive challenge,” captain Graeme Smith said shortly before their departure. “Your patience levels have to be very high and the guys will have to adapt to the lifestyle changes and the amount of security that will be around us. I’ve heard something like 6000 troops are on standby for us and I think we’re going to be pretty much confined to our hotels.”It’s a big challenge being stuck in a hotel all the time because you have nothing to take your mind off the cricket and the training, and it’s easy to slip into boredom, get lackadaisical and lose that drive.”The four-week tour of Pakistan, comprising two Tests, five one-day internationals and two practice matches, kicks off a string of major tours South Africa will undertake in the next 18 months.”In the next year-and-a-half, we have some wonderful tours coming up, going to Pakistan, India, Australia and the UK,” Smith said. “We want to win away from home and we haven’t won on the subcontinent for a while. I would love to win in Pakistan as much as in England or Australia.”Twenty-two-year-old fast bowler Morne Morkel, the best of South Africa’s attack during their doomed ICC World Twenty20 campaign, has earned a berth on the tour and Smith said he was excited about having him in the squad. “Morne’s done incredibly well since coming into the side and he’s proven he can cope with performing under pressure. He’s an awesome prospect, but it will be a challenge knowing how to introduce him and use him.”We will be introducing some new players on this tour because we don’t know what the future of the senior players is, Shaun Pollock might retire soon. So we need to work out the succession and the process and the planning of that is important.”Jacques Kallis is one of those senior players, and his immediate future looks secure after he was controversially omitted from South Africa’s squad for the ICC World Twenty20 and resigned as vice-captain in response.

“Jacques and I talk a lot and he is a true professional,” Smith said. “He doesn’t have any issue with the team, I think his issues are with those above us. Representing his country is very important to him, but is he getting the credit he deserves for his performances?”Smith added he was uncertain of what the Pakistan team held in store for South Africa after the Indian Cricket League had cut some experienced stars from their ranks. “No one knows what’s happening with Mohammad Yousuf, and with Abdul Razzaq gone, will they play the extra allrounder? Maybe there’ll be one or two guys we don’t know.”The Pakistanis themselves won’t know a couple of the fringe players South Africa are bringing with them, such as stylish left-hand batsman JP Duminy, left-arm spinner Paul Harris and fast bowler Dale Steyn.But Pollock, who led the attack the last time South Africa were in Pakistan four years ago, is back as he looks to vault ever higher up the all-time list of Test wicket-takers (he is seventh at the moment). It will be a challenging tour for Pollock, who is now 34, and for Smith, whose troublesome knees will get a thorough workout in the heat and dust of Pakistan.

Five witnesses testified into the death of former Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer on the 13th day of the coroner’s inquest at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston.Detective sergeant Devon Harris was on the stand the longest. Harris, who is assigned to the Scene of Crime Unit of the Jamaica constabulary force, was questioned for over three hours by director of public prosecutions Kent Pantry.Harris’ testimony was based around his collecting evidence from Room 374 at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, where Woolmer was found unconscious on March 18. Woolmer, 58, was pronounced dead later that day at the University Hospital of the West Indies.Harris said he took stomach and blood samples from Woolmer’s body, a champagne bottle and two glasses to toxicologist Sharon Brydson at the Government Forensics Laboratory. He told the court that he found fingerprints on the smaller of the two glasses, but did not say if they belonged to Woolmer.Government pathologist Ere Seshaiah, said Woolmer died from asphyxia due to manual strangulation associated with cypermethrin poisoning. This has been disputed by three overseas pathologists, who said Woolmer died from natural causes.The boss of janitor Patricia Baker-Sinclair, who testified on Tuesday that she saw Woolmer and two men counting money in a changing room at Sabina Park on March 12, also took the stand. Baker-Sinclair went to the police after speaking with her boss, the inquest was told.British forensics scientist, John Slaughter, André Miller, a duty manager at the Jamaica Pegasus, and Judine Murphy, an employee of Atlas Security Limited, also took the stand. Both were on duty on the day Woolmer’s body was found. The inquest resumes on Monday.