Injured Zimbabwean batsman and keeper Andy Flower has flown to Johannesburg on Wednesday to consult a doctor for his thumb injury suffered during the second Test match against India at Harare. Following scan tests, it has now been confirmed that Flower, who has not missed a single international (both Test and ODI) for his country since 1992, will require at least six weeks for the injury to heal. This means he will miss the tri-series between host Zimbabwe, India and the West Indies that begins this Saturday.

The Indian cricket team, now in Zimbabwe, are unhappy with the quality of clothing that the new team sponsor, Sahara India has distributed to the team. Most of the players were disappointed with the quality and did not hide their displeasure. The players preferred warmer clothing as it is winter in Zimbabwe.

The Indian team will play a one-day practice game against a Zimbabwe-A today in an attempt to get into the right groove for the one-day international triangular series beginning tomorrow. However India play their first match on Sunday. One-day specialists Dinesh Mongia, Reetinder Singh Sodhi, Virender Shewag and Harvinder Singh are likely to get a look in.

Embarrassed by his side's defeat against a Zimbabwe Districts XI, West Indian skipper Carl Hooper blamed his batsmen, who he said showed no application while adding that the entire side generally put up a poor show. He said the opposition was underestimated and was taken for granted.

West Indies run of poor performance continues. The team were handed a seven-wicket thrashing by a Zimbabwe Country Districts team. After winning the toss and batting first, the visitors could muster only 206 in 50 overs, a target that was easily overhauled by the host team in 48 overs.

Adam Gilchrist's 90 in 80 balls with 14 fours hammered the final nail in the English coffin as far as the NatWest Triangular one-day series goes. Another miserable English batting performance saw them muster just 176 in 43 overs, with only Nick Knight (48) showing some application. Chasing England's modest target Gilchrist and later Ponting made no fuss reaching the total with nearly 20 overs to spare. England has now lost eleven matches in a row.

Australian skipper Steve Waugh has said that he is prepared to forfeit the final of the NatWest Triangular series against Pakistan if pitch invasions take place. Waugh said he would lead his team off at the slightest hint of trouble and said he will be supported from all quarters in this decision.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has asked the former Managing Director of the South African Cricket Board, Dr Ali Bacher, to substantiate his allegations that two 1999 World Cup matches by Pakistan - against Bangladesh and India - were fixed. The PCB it seems had raised the issue during the ICC meeting in London.

Despite objections from the Indian Government with respect to playing cricket matches with Pakistan, the BCCI and PCB have reached an agreement during the Asian Cricket Council meeting held at London, on a proposed quadrangular tournament featuring India, Pakistan, West Indies and Zimbabwe to be played in Pakistan and India next March. Pakistan would host five matches, including the final, while India would host four matches.

The Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Lt Gen Tauqir Zia is said to be thinking of a restructuring of its Cricket Board. Gen Zia has plans to enforce the new set up before the start of the 2001-2002 season.

Pakistan will propose the name of Eshan Mani, currently the chairman of the ICC's marketing and finance committee, as its candidate for the post of the next ICC chairman, when Malcolm Gray's term comes to an end in July 2003. As per the rotation policy, it will be Pakistan's turn to hold this prestigious position from 2003.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board chief Saber Hossain Chowdhury will take over as the next president of Asian Cricket Council (ACC) from May 2002. This was decided when the ACC members meet at London on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the ACC has also assigned the task of preparing and submitting the governance structure to Eshan Mani, the next ICC chairman elect, who will suggest the location of the ACC headquarters and secretariat besides recommending other committees to handle respective departments.

The famous Oval Cricket Ground at London, will now be known as the AMP Oval. The English county Surrey, to whom the ground belongs, has signed a sponsorship deal with an Australian financial services company, AMP, which is believed to be in excess of £2 million for a period of over five years.
The ground, which is the second oldest Test match venue in the world and has seen international cricket been played since 1880, will increase its capacity by 5,000 seats to satisfy the enormous demand for international cricket. The sponsorship money will greatly assist in Surrey's ambitious redevelopment plan to modernise the Oval.
The ground, assumed its new identity from yesterday's match when England took on Australia in their final NatWest series match. It was known as the Foster's Oval for the past 13 years. According to the club's chief executive the deal is one of the most important commercial partnerships in the history of the club.

England fast bowler Darren Gough has made an appeal on the BBC's Crimewatch programme, for the return of his England cap, which was stolen from his car on May 20. Some of the items stolen from the car have been returned to him, but Gough wants his England cap back, which was presented to him when he appeared in his 50th Test match on May 17 at Lord's against Pakistan.

The ICC's Anti Corruption Unit (ACU) has sent Geff Rees and Alan Hawkins to New Delhi to hold talks with the CBI in an attempt to trace the elusive Mukesh Gupta and obtain a formal testimony from him. Gupta is a key witness in the match-fixing probe and his evidence could incriminate many players including Brian Lara and Alec Stewart.

Sri Lanka's oldest umpire BC Cooray has announced his retirement. Cooray, who umpired in one of the most controversial matches ever to have been played in recent times has made a quiet exit. Cooray, who made at least 13 errors in the second Test at Kandy between England and Sri Lanka last season said he had spent sleepless nights after that match. Cooray was not really a favourite with the players, many of whom say he was overbearing, stubborn and bossy. Cooray, who turned 60 this year and has umpired in 21 Tests and 49 One-Day Internationals since 1992.

The use of the no ball cameras to help umpires to spot no-balls will not be introduced at least for another year. The ICC 's cricket committee has decided to leave the decision making of no-balls and lbws with the umpires.

ENGLAND VS AUSTRALIA
The Oval, London
Toss: England
England: 176 in 43.2 overs (N Knight 48, A Caddick 36; B Lee 3-63)
Australia: 177-2 in 30.1overs (A Gilchrist 80, RT Ponting 70 not out)
Result: Australia won by 8 wickets
Man of the match: RT Ponting (Aus)

Points Table:
Team	P	W	L	Abd	Points
Australia	6	4	1	1	9
Pakistan	6	4	1	1	9
England	6	0	6	0	0

Note: Australia is placed in the first position since it has a better net run-rate of +0.93, as against Pakistan's + 0.70

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Compiled by: Mohandas Menon