0
POTCHEFSTROOM (South Africa), March 26: Adam Gilchrist, the Australian vice captain, on Tuesday tempered reports of a threatened player revolt should the Australian Cricket Board go ahead with their scheduled tour of Zimbabwe next month.
Australian newspaper reports claimed a number of players were concerned about their safety and would not tour Zimbabwe.
The Australian foreign ministry has advised that all Australian nationals avoid Zimbabwe following the controversial re-election of president Robert Mugabe.
“I haven’t heard a player actually say ‘no, I’m not going’ if the tour is due to go ahead,” said Gilchrist, ahead of the third one-day international against South Africa on Wednesday.
“At the moment we are being advised by our board back in Melbourne. Once the board have made their decision, the players will probably sit down and discuss what action to take.”
MELBOURNE: Australia are on the verge of announcing they have cancelled a planned two-test tour of Zimbabwe next month because of safety concerns, The Australian newspaper reported on Tuesday.
The Australian Cricket Board’s move follows advice from the Australia government’s foreign affairs department that Australians should avoid the country because of the risk in being caught up in violent incidents, the newspaper said.
“There is a possibility that the three one-day matches and and two Tests, scheduled for later this month and early next month, may be played in South Africa,” The Australian said.
LONDON: England paceman Andy Caddick’s six-wicket haul in the drawn second test against New Zealand has helped him climb three places to ninth in the latest world Test bowling ratings.
PricewaterhouseCoopers latest test ratings:
1. S.Tendulkar India 890 58.57
2. B.Lara West Indies 887 50.49
3. A.Gilchrist Australia 881 60.00
4. M.Hayden Australia 836 49.06
5. M.Jayawardene Sri Lanka 827 49.25
6. K.Sangakkara Sri Lanka 818 53.00
7. J.Kallis South Africa 783 47.27
8. A.Flower Zimbabwe 776 52.30
9= Inzamam-ul-Haq Pakistan 764 47.05
TOP 10 BOWLERS
1. M.Muralitharan Sri Lanka 918 23.38
2. G.McGrath Austalia 908 21.91
3. S.Pollock South Africa 874 20.72
4. S.Warne Australia 764 26.52
5. A.Kumble India 716 27.55
6. D.Gough England 709 27.57
7. H.Singh India 706 27.98
8. W.Younis Pakistan 702 22.94
9. A.Caddick England 695 28.86
10. C.Cairns New Zealand 694 28.80
—AFP/Reuters
