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New Zealand’s cricket summer has been thrown into turmoil as the result of New Zealand Cricket’s firm stance against the demands of the New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association.The Players’ Association rejected New Zealand Cricket’s (NZC) final offer at 2pm today, two hours before the NZC deadline for the offer to expire.Already off the agenda are the season-opening State Max competition and the Provincial A (second XI) tournament scheduled for the New Year.NZC chief executive Martin Snedden admitted that if it meant putting a below-strength side on the field for the upcoming series against India then that would be what would happen.”I have sent a very clear signal that we have reached the end of the bargaining process,” he said.Snedden rejected Players’ Association claims that approaches had been made to two players before the Players’ Association press conference today.Snedden said he hadn’t approached anyone and didn’t know anyone who had.He added that he had no concerns with the way NZC had handled the negotiation process and in reply to criticism from the Players’ Association that he had lifted the debate into the public arena, he repeated again that their action in going on strike had been the first step in going public.Snedden said he made the material public because he wanted the issues understood and he also wanted the players to have access to NZC’s side of the story.In response to Players’ Association claims that the World Cup agreement that the International Cricket Council (ICC) needs to be signed was an issue in the negotiations, Snedden said that he didn’t accept that the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA) had a role in the New Zealand negotiation.He did agree that there were problems with the ICC agreement but added that FICA and the ICC were working on the issues involved. Snedden did say that before the ICC Champions Trophy tournament in Sri Lanka he had told the New Zealand players if they were disadvantaged through signing the agreement he was prepared to look at compensation. But none had shown that they were disadvantaged.Snedden confirmed that when the anticipated money came in from the ICC’s contract with Global Cricket Corporation the players would be remunerated. But to commit to paying the money out before it was received completely disadvantaged everyone else in cricket, he said.

SYDNEY, Dec 7 PA – Off-spinner Jeremy Snape today became the latest member of England’s tour squad to be hit by injury.Snape sustained a blow to his right thumb while batting in yesterday’s eight-wickets day-night defeat to NSW at the Sydney Cricket Ground.He went for x-rays this morning which confirmed the bone was broken and he will be sidelined for up to four weeks.

A rearguard from Dimitri Mascarenhas and the lower order kept table-toppers Surrey from securing victory as Hampshire battled against an innings defeat on the third day of the Frizzell County Championship match at The Oval.Mascarenhas’ 94-ball undefeated 75 stood between the hosts and a third-day success as he and firstly Nic Pothas (24), Shaun Udal (18) and James Hamblin, with whom he shared a stout 56 for the ninth wicket ensured the game went into the final day.But Hampshire still trail by 83 runs after Surrey furthered their overnight 410 for 5 in double quick time – smoting 166 runs in just 27.3 overs with Alistair Brown continuing in his typical vain with 135.Aided by 89 from Jonathan Batty and some resistance from the tail pushed the game further over the horizon. But not before Shaun Udal picked up an unwanted Hampshire record by becoming the second bowler in the club’s history to concede 200 runs in an innings, following Alec Kennedy suffering 202 runs in 1919 at Lord’s.Udal’s figures of 4-213 in 47 overs was the pick, although Lawrence Prittipaul bowled tidily for 2-43 in 13.3 overs.Trailing by 386, it was a case of Hampshire batting for five session to save the match and a 51-run start through Jason Laney and Neil Johnson set them on their way.But the introduction of Pakistani off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq was always going to be crucial and he made significant inroads as the batsmen were guilty of making starts to their innings but failing to push on.All the top four batsmen reached 28 or more before succumbing to Saqlain – bar Jason Laney who fell to James Ormond’s second delivery of off-spin as he reverted from his normal medium-fast.In fact, in a strange piece of cricket, he bowled medium-fast at Will Kendall but off-spin to Robin Smith all in the space of an over on a regular occurrence when the pair were together at the wicket.Saqlain reduced Hampshire from a comfortable 142-2 to 167-6 but as he tired, Mascarenhas and the lower order took charge and staved off defeat as bad light brought an early close to play, despite Surrey claiming the extra half-hour. The all-rounder smashed two huge sixes off consecutive Ian Salisbury deliveries and seven crunching fours in his saving 75 not out.And, as the players left the ground, the rain began to fall. The forecast for Sunday 25th August is not of the highest quality, so Hampshire may still gain something other than a loss from this game.

Once one had got over the disappointment, a huge disappointment for Pakistan had come tantalisingly close to winning, one felt good for the future of Pakistan cricket. A new generation had arrived, young legs, fresh minds but most of all, self-belief.One had expected something special from Shoaib Akhtar and being the showman that he is, he chose to encapsulate it in one over, the best single over I have seen bowled by a Pakistani fast bowler, Ponting, Mark Waugh and Adam Gilchrist blown away and the Test match turned on its head.But it was Faisal Iqbal who played the shot of the match when he arrived at the wicket in the first innings. He took two steps down the wicket and he hit Shane Warne over the top for a one-bounce four. It was a shot that had pedigree written all over it.One could imagine his uncle, Javed Miandad jumping out of his chair. It was the sort of shot that Miandad himself would have played to scatter the gloom that hung over the Pakistan innings.For too long has Faisal Iqbal carried the baggage of being Miandad’s nephew. It has worked against him. Being cynical and an uncharitable lot, we could not accept that he was an immensely gifted batsman in his own right. He has now broken free and the young lad is here to stay. Had he had someone to partner him after Younis Khan was out, Pakistan might have won the Test. He was my man-of-the-match.The Test match had begun badly for Pakistan because the team selection was flawed. If, for whatever reason, Shahid Afridi was not in Colombo but Danish Kaneria was there. Pakistan was one spinner short and one fast bowler too many.In the end, it did not prove too costly but Australia did look like getting to 600 and Saqlain Mushtaq had to do a dual job, attack as well as contain. Just as well he was on song and he teamed up with Shoaib Akhtar to mop up the tail. But this is now history and we should concentrate on the positives. Pakistan’s problem has been the absence of reliable openers. In the first innings, Imran Nazir and Taufiq Umar were a bundle of nerves and they both failed to get off the mark.In the second innings, it was a different story. Admittedly Imran Nazir had his share of luck. The Australian slip fielders, indeed proved to be good samaritans in both the Pakistan innings.But once he had settled down, Imran Nazir looked good. Taufiq Umar was not just solid but he was, at times, magnificent. He has the making of a fine opener, in both versions of the game.I fail to understand why Abdul Razzaq has to be made a sacrificial lamb. His rightful place in the batting order is in the middle. There is no reason at all why Younis should not be coming at one-down. In that batting line-up, he is the most accomplished. That’s where he should be batting.In the second innings, the openers had given Pakistan an excellent start. Younis should have come in and Razzaq saved to bolster the middle. After such a heartwarming performance, this may seem to be nit-picking. But there are two Test matches still to be played. Pakistan must get the basics right. Pakistan will feel more at home in Sharjah and it’s a happy hunting ground.It will still be hot but the humidity factor will not be that high and it’s not likely to rain. There may even be more people at ground to watch the matches. The Colombo test match deserved a full house.It was a terrific game of cricket and the Australians were certainly surprised how hard a young and inexperienced side fought and come so close to toppling them off the pedestal.Wasim Akram and Saeed Anwar chose not to play in the series against Australia because they needed ‘rest’. I was, therefore, a little surprised to see that both of them had scooted-off to Cardiff to play in an indoor match with some ridiculous format.This would not be my idea of rest. Saeed Anwar may well have lost his place in the team to Taufiq Umar. I cannot say that Wasim Akram too has lost his place but I would certainly like him to be further ‘rested’ when Pakistan tours Zimbabwe next month.There is some disappointment that Misbah-ul-Haq did not make too much of a contribution. But he will have to learn the hard way. He may have tonked Shane Warne for a couple of sixes in Nairobi but that was a one-day game and this was a Test match.But he’s a good player, good enough, one hopes, to learn from his mistakes. The same would apply to Imran Nazir. He should be made to look at the video of the way he got out in both the innings. May be Pybus will have more luck with him than Mudassar Nazar did.

A blistering century from Runako Morton could not save West Indies A from a disappointing defeat against Kent in the cathedral city of Canterbury. Morton smashed 126, only to see the tourists’ competitive total of 257 overhauled with five balls to spare in an exciting finale.After an admirable effort from the batsmen, the West Indian bowlers gifted Kent an unlikely win. A regulation victory against British Universities and a scrambled win over Sussex is not much to show after an uninspiring start to the tour. They begin the first-class leg of the six-week visit against Derbyshire on Wednesday, looking for a return to winning ways.Morton, at least, was superb. The 23-year-old, who has struggled in his two ODI’s to date, took apart an inexperienced Kent attack after Daren Ganga had won another toss. He hit 11 fours and four sixes in his 133 ball knock, occupying the crease for a little over two hours.His effort was not to be enough on a beautiful summer’s day at Canterbury, the perfect setting for batsmen. Ed Smith (87) and Matthew Walker (75 not out) led the way, seizing on every opportunity given by an inaccurate attack.Kent raced to 84 for one in fifteen overs. Marlon Black and Reon King were particularly wayward, inexcusable from the international pairing. Black redeemed himself slightly by dismissing young talent James Hockley, but Kent were gifted nine boundaries in as many overs. Smith and James Tredwell (30) were severe on anything loose, adding 54 for the second wicket.Walker and Smith continued the attack with a workmanlike vigour. They added 105 for the third wicket, hitting seventeen boundaries between them. King, Tino Best, Gareth Breese and Dwayne Bravo were all too expensive, with six foot seven inch spinner Sulieman Benn (1-26) again the pick of the bowlers. Breese did at least remove Smith to put Kent under pressure.With the required rate climbing well above six, Walker crashed Best for a timely six to relieve the pressure. Geraint Jones (25) found the fence twice, Bravo not the man for such a tight situation. King returned, finding Jones’ edge, but too late. Victory was secured with a bye, a sloppy end.Earlier, West Indies made a dreadful start, losing Ganga to a mix-up from the first ball of the match. Devon Smith (25) and Donovan Pagon (16) stopped panic setting in, before a double change bought wickets for James Tredwell (1-32) and James Golding (3-58).Bravo (40) joined Morton, as the pair increased the run-rate, reservingtheir harshest punishment for Jamie Hewitt, whose four overs cost 40. Bravo was again impressive, the 18-year-old Trinidadian accumulating runs, a lofted six his only extravagance. The stand had reached 98 before he became Golding’s second victim, trapped plumb leg before.Morton continued apace, dispatching bad balls with a refreshing flamboyance. He appears have taken his second chance after disciplinary lapses led to him being expelled from the St. Georges Academy last year.Breese (15) and 17-year-old Lendl Simmons (15 not out) added runs at the death, with Morton dismissed from the final ball of the innings. The visitors had reached an eminently defendable target, and would have ensured victory if they had not lapsed so badly with the ball.

One wicket was all that prevented Mashonaland A from winning their CastleLager Logan match against Matabeleland as the match ended in a draw atQueens Sports Club on the fourth day.Young Gregory Strydom top-scored for Matabeleland with an unbeaten 83 asthey made 269 for nine in 65 overs with the home side still needing 16 runsto win the match. This was after Mashonaland A had made 332 in their secondinnings, taking a 283-run lead.Matabeleland could have won the match had they taken the remaining threeMashonaland wickets quickly. The Mashonaland A tail-enders put up someresistance, with Prosper Utseya and Elton Chigumbura adding 43 for the 7thwicket. Utseya had his moment of reckoning when he smashed two successivefours off Heath Streak.Matabeleland had two seamers, Mpumelelo Mbangwa and Gregory Strydom, unableto bowl because of injuries. Mbangwa was not able to take the field because of a back strain and Strydom could not bowl because of fractured finger to his right arm, which he suffered when he took a catch to dismiss Mark Vermeulen on the third day.With the two pacers out, Matabeleland had to rely on the spinners and theydid not disappoint, taking the last three wickets. Left-arm spinner KeithDabengwa took two of them while Mecury Kenny took one wicket.Mashonaland A set Matabeleland a target of 284 to win at a rate of four runsan over after scoring 332. Matabeleland got off to a poor start with theiropeners Wisdom Siziba and Stuart Walker scoring only 29 runs together beforeSiziba was dismissed by David Mutendera, caught by Grant Flower for 18 runs.This was the same score he made in the first innings, when he went outto the same bowler.Opener Walker went on to grab a half-century but added only four runs to itbefore he was dismissed by Flower, Stuart Carlisle taking a catch in theslips. Victory was in the air for Matabeleland with few runs needed to winthe match. Strydom turned the match into a one-day affair, smashing threesixes off Flower, the first going over the tiled Queens bar roof and theother two clearing the stands. This led to Flower being removed from thebowling attack.Matabeleland needed 21 runs off the last over and the game grew tense withtheir batsmen playing dangerous shots. Two took wickets as Mutendera turned the game around and victory eluded Matabeleland. Mutendera had Gavin Ewing caught at long on by Vermeulen and then dismissed Keith Dabengwa for a duck.Matabeleland found themselves suddenly on the verge of losing the match withone wicket remaining and the last two balls to come. Last man Mbangwa facedthem and took two runs to condemn the match to a draw.Mutendera was the pick of the Mashonaland A side with five wickets to hisname, while Flower took two wickets. Hondo had an expensive spell, givingaway 69 runs in 14 overs with no maidens and no wickets to his name.This result meant that Matabeleland finished the competition without tastingvictory as they lost their two opening home matches against Mashonaland andMidlands, before drawing their remaining matches against the CFX Academy,Manicaland and now Mashonaland A.The match did not live up to to expectations, with the international starsfailing to perform. Mashonaland A had a very strong batting line-up and a lot was expected from them. But Flower and Carlisle failed to find their form, with Flower averaging 12 runs in the two innings and Carlisle with a disappointing average of 2 runs. Gavin Rennie atoned for his poor showing in the first innings with a half-century in the second. Tatenda Taibu, Elton Chigumbura and Vermeulen were all consistent with bat while Mutendera and Hondo also did well with the ball.For Matabeleland, their two experienced players did a sterling job with theball, with Streak most outstanding, taking five wickets, while Mbangwa wasalso economical though he did not get so many wickets. The 18-year oldStrydom was on top of the situation with the bat, making the two top scoresof the match. He fell eight runs short of a century in the first inningswith his 92 runs and then remained unbeaten on 83 runs at the end of thematch.

The rain forecast in this column last week regrettably destroyed any chance of this being a match report. Midlands completed their 480-kilometre trip to watch the rainfall for most of the three scheduled days of Logan Cup cricket at Mutare Sports Club. The bulk of their team come from Kwekwe and surrounding districts, although like all teams they have their quota of Academy players to bring them up to first-class strength.The unfortunate thing was that the damage had been done in the days leading up to the match, which could have been avoided if adequate protection was available. The rain was not hard enough during match days to have precluded play of some description. Manicaland only have one piece of plastic sheet 15×30 metres in size, which is good enough for the pitch but not the complete square. India are due to play here in June and one can only be thankful that rain is not normally expected in winter.There were a few testy exchanges between opposing camps after umpires Kevan Barbour and Kiwi Graham Evans declared the ground unfit for play unless both captains agreed to play in the prevailing conditions. It was slippery around the fringes and slushy in spots on the outfield. Most of the better players – those with national ambitions — were opposed, citing the possibility of injury and impaired performances under adverse conditions, which the selectors in Harare were unlikely to heed or acknowledge.Manicaland’s vice-captain for the day, Mark Burmester, would not be satisfied with this, inquiring volubly why the same players were happy to risk injury playing pick-up soccer on the same field. His well-made point was that both sides had to try for any result possible, this being the only soft game in prospect for either side to progress, was lost on the new professionals.Midlands felt that if any blame was due it lay with the home side and the groundsman. Groundsman Jason had left in high dudgeon on the first morning, not to be seen again all weekend, unhappy with the criticism being bandied about and the prospect of players inflicting further damage on his ground. The umpires thereafter took control of the ground, at one stage authorizing the distribution of a tipper truck of river sand – brought in by the father of Manica player Kingsley Went – on the run-ups and fringes. All for nought.All the downtime afforded me an opportunity to chat to Midlands’ captain Douglas Marillier, recently back from the ODI series in New Zealand andAustralia. He said in Brisbane one of the net bowlers at the Gabba was ex-St. John’s College (Harare) schoolboy Scott Brant, who is playing for the Queensland Under-19 team: “Quicker than anybody in the current Zimbabwe side.” What wonderful cricket sides we could have had over the years if everybody had stayed. Scott is reportedly very happy with his career prospects and remuneration and is unlikely to be tempted back.

The Somerset County Cricket Board have just published their new fixture list for the season, and what a comprehensive and informative document it is.Not only does the card contain the fixtures for all of the Somerset recreational sides, from the Under 11’s right up to the Over 50’s team, it also contains a wealth of information for parents and anyone who is interested at all in cricket in the county.The county youth fixtures get underway over the next few weeks, and it is the intention of the Somerset website to keep up to date with results and reports from all of the games that are played by the county representative sides during the season.A copy of the Somerset County Cricket Board fixture list can be obtained from Andrew Moulding at the Centre of Excellence at the County Ground, telephone number 01823 352266.For each of the age group sides the manager is listed, along with the fixtures for the first two months of the season.

Somerset Under 11’s.Manager- Dan Hodges, 01458-250154.May 11th Millfield Prep (trial)June 2nd Four Counties Festival at Millfield Prep School.June 9th v Gwent at Newport.June 16th v Gloucestershire at Weston super Mare CC.June 30th v Devon at West Buckland School.Somerset Under 12’s.Manager-Chris Davis, 01278 457576May 24th Squad Training at Glastonbury CC.June 9th v Wales at Wembdon CC.June 16th v Dorset away.June 23rd v Hampshire away.June 27th v Warwickshire at Wells Cathedral School.June 30th v Devon at Millfield Prep.Somerset Under 13’s.Manager- John Davey, 01278 784435.May 11th v Millfield Prep.June 14th Squad Training at Glastonbury CC.June 23rd v Dorset at Kings Bruton.June 30th v Gwent at Ponthir CC.Somerset Under 14’s.Manager- Mustafa Sheikh. 01823 275178.June 21st Squad Training at Glastonbury CC.June 30th v Wales at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.July 21st v Devon at Blundells School.July 22nd v Wiltshire U14/15 at Bath CC.July 30th v Yorkshire at Millfield.Somerset Under 15’s.Manager- Keith Storey, 01934 832453.June 9th v Cornwall at King’s College, Taunton.July 3rd v Devon at Tiverton, Heathcoat CC.July 10th v Hampshire away.July 14th v Dorset at King’s College ,Taunton.Somerset Under 16’s.Coach-Greg Brown, 01225 339026 or 078158 77724July 8th and 9th v Sussex at Horsham.July 11th v Wales at Weston-super-Mare.July 15th and 16th v Hampshire at King’s College, Taunton.July 22nd and 23rd v Middlesex at Potters Bar CC.July 29th and 30th v Essex at Billericay CC.Somerset Under 17’s.Manager- Tony Davies, 01823 480452.Coach- Pete Sanderson, 07968 043675.June 24th v Bath CC at Bath CC.June 27th and 28th v Gloucestershire at Bristol University.July 11th and 12th v Hampshire at West End.July 22nd and 23rd v Devon at Millfield School.Somerset Under 19’s.Manager -Peter Robinson, 01823 272946.Coach- Jeff Davies 01823 284589.July 8th and 9th v Glamorgan at Lansdown CC.July 15th and 16th v Gloucestershire at Keynsham CC.July 25th and 26th v Warwickshire at Stratford upon Avon CC.July 30th and 31st v Worcestershire at Kidderminster CC.August 1st and 2nd v Northamptonshire at Clevedon CC.

The South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) has appointed formerRedbacks captain, Jamie Siddons, as the new Assistant Coach for the Stateside.Siddons, who retired from first-class cricket in 2000, represented Australiain One Day Internationals, and captained both the Victorian and SouthAustralian State teams.As a middle-order batsman, Siddons scored more than ten thousand runs inSheffield Shield/Pura Cup matches – making him the most prolific scorer inthe competition’s history.Siddons joins the SACA following the departure of Tim Nielsen who recentlyjoined the Australian side as Assistant Coach.SACA’s State Manager of Cricket, Mr Greg Chappell, said the SACA was verypleased to have Siddons on board.”At such a critical time of the season, we are very fortunate to havesecured Jamie to join the State coaching team ,” Mr Chappell said.”Jamie brings to the SACA a wealth of knowledge and experience, and as arecently retired player and captain, he has a proven track record as avalued leader. His leadership skills and knowledge of the game of cricketwill be an enormous asset to our State squad.”