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The ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year award will have a new name on it after Karen Rolton did not make the shortlist. Rolton, Australia’s captain, was the first winner of the award which was introduced last October.Her team-mates Lisa Sthalekar and Shelley Nitschke are Australia’s nominations. With each full member country allowed to put forward two names, England have selected Claire Taylor and Holly Colvin, while Jhulan Goswami and Rumeli Dhar are India’s representatives.Maria Fahey and Rebecca Rolls have been chosen by New Zealand. Ashlyn Kilowan and Johmari Logtenberg are South Africa’s choices. Urooj Mumtaz Khan and Sajida Shah are in the running for Pakistan. Ireland will be represented by Caitriona Beggs.The list has been voted upon by an academy of 17 leading former players and influential figures in the women’s game, including the media. The shortlist will be announced in due course ahead of the awards ceremony which takes place in South Africa in September.

England’s stand-in captain Andrew Flintoff and Katherine Brunt were named the Vodafone England Cricketers of the Year for 2006 at a dinner in London on Monday night.”To be named as one of the Cricketers of the Year is a great honour,” said Flintoff. “It’s been a fantastic year for English cricket and I’m very proud to have been able to play a part in regaining the Ashes.”The support I’ve received from the British public has been very humbling and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their words of encouragement. I’m now looking forward to building on this success during what promises to be a very exciting summer for English cricket as we head towards another Ashes series and a World Cup campaign this winter.”Katherine Brunt was equally thrilled. “I love playing for my country and am very honoured to have won this award. As a team we’ve enjoyed a fantastic 12 months and I’m delighted to have been able to play my part in ensuring we regained the Ashes. The women’s game in England is gaining in strength year on year and I’m looking forward to another successful summer.””Last summer’s Ashes series proved that cricket holds a special place in the hearts of the British public,” explained Lord MacLaurin, Vodafone’s chairman, “and we’re delighted to be able to officially recognise the talents and performances of two outstanding cricketers, both of whom were instrumental in ensuring England emerged victorious, in both series, at the end of what was a fantastic year for English cricket.”

Andrew Flintoff’s return to action after his ankle surgery has been delayed by England’s inclement summer. The first day of Lancashire’s 2nd XI match against Derbyshire, at Blackpool, was abandoned due to a waterlogged outfield and puddles on the pitch.Play was due to start at 11am, but a brief inspection by the umpires made it clear that play wouldn’t be possible and officials are not hopeful of any action over the remaining two days.Flintoff is confident of returning to England colours for the one-day series against India next month. He hasn’t played international cricket since the World Cup after feeling discomfort in his ankle while bowling against Hampshire, before the first Test against West Indies, in May and underwent his third operation.David Graveney, the chairman of selectors, is pleased by Flintoff’s progress. “Andrew Flintoff’s rehab is on course and there are not the same deadlines we have had in the past,” he told . “The original plan was for him to be fit for the one-day series and I haven’t seen or heard anything to the contrary.”

Munaf Patel’s troublesome left ankle was examined by a specialist from Johannesburg on Wednesday, and the injury is not thought to be serious enough to prevent his participation in the rest of the tour.Though he will miss the tour game against Rest of South Africa, there’s still a chance that he will be fit to play a part in the first Test which starts in Johannesburg on December 15. Patel left Potchefstroom on Wednesday morning, accompanied by Anil Kumble, and the duo only returned in the evening.On the surgeon’s advice, both MRI and CT scans were taken, and they revealed soft-tissue damage around the peroneal tendon. “There is so significant bone damage,” said the report. The surgeon has recommended a rest-and-rehabilitation programme, and it remains to be seen when he will be able to bowl at the nets in the lead-up to the first Test.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is reported to have appointed Dr Roland Toppin, a Barbados businessman, as its new chief executive, following a board meeting yesterday.According to Caribbeancricket.com, Toppin, the general manager of Duraplast Inc, narrowly edged out property developer Tim Nafziger for the post. He has yet to finalise his contract with the board.The board’s president, Ken Gordon, has said a public announcement should be issued in the next 10 days.Toppin takes over the reins from Roger Brathwaite who stepped down in April. The search for his replacement has been on ever since; that month, Gordon outlined the requirements of the position, stating: “The person has got to be an effective CEO, ideally with a background in cricket”.

On how it felt to finally be in India
It feels good. I’m delighted to be here. The last two weeks were spent getting organised to come here. So to come to the stadium [Chinnaswamy] this morning, it felt like the cricket was not far away.On how he viewed the task that lay ahead
I’ve got the opportunity of working with some of the best cricketers in the world. I’ve got some ideas which I talked about in my presentation to the board. The contents have been widely discussed, and you probably know more about it than I do now [laughs].On whether he felt that the coach should have a say in selection
I have an open mind on the subject. At some point, I’d like to sit down with the selection panel and find out what their views are, and discuss some philosophies that I have. Having worked as a selector for Australia, and interacted with the players, I know that what we want is not very different most of the time.On whether the lack of form of certain players worried him
I’m not overly concerned. You don’t lose the talent at this level. And I’ve found that the best learning experiences are when you’re going through tough times.On how he saw the captain’s role, in contrast to the coach
I’ve always maintained that the captain is the most important individual in a cricket team. He’s the one out in the middle with the players, the one who knows what’s going on. The coach needs to have a good working relationship with him. But the coach’s job is about preparation and planning. On game days, the captain’s the main man. Yes, there will be times when you may have to go to the captain with a suggestion or two, but by and large, your role is to support the team.On whether a non-performing captain should be retained
You have to understand that not many players have what it takes to succeed at this level. I’d much rather give someone a game too many or a tour too many than one too few. Such players are not easy to find. And it’s up to the rest of the team to cover for someone who’s out of form. It will happen. No matter how good you are, there will be periods when you’re out of form. My views on captaincy are pretty strong. I believe that you pick the best team, and then pick the best person to captain it. If the man is charge is not the best man, then someone else should get it.On whether the Indians played too much cricket
The busy schedule is part of international cricket now. To deal with that, you need a good squad. There will be injuries, and there will be loss of form, so you have to deal with that. We have to work on mental and physical preparation and the management of injuries.On whether he would ask for a bowling coach
Discussions are going on with the board as far as support staff are concerned. If we need one, I’m happy to have a bowling coach, but it’s not a top priority at the moment. In different times and conditions, we might call upon experts to help us, and not just with the bowling.On how he planned to deal with the media attention
It’s part of the job profile, as it is in most countries. It’s just that this is a bigger country. The scrutiny is quite strong, as is the love of the game. Emotions tend to run high here, and it sometimes seems that the well-being of the country rides on the performance of the cricket team [smiles]. Anyhow, I can’t read what you write [referring to the vernacular media].On whether an Australian approach is needed here
Every culture is different, and so is each individual. I’ll just make sure we focus on executing the basic skills extraordinarily well. You can’t transplant a format that works in one country and expect it to work just as well in another. Sometimes I feel we try to complicate what’s actually very simple. No matter what the culture, the team that performs the basics well most consistently is the team that will win most of the time. And that’s what we’ve got to aim for.On tough love, which characterised his playing days, and whether it was needed with this Indian team
I think you need 15 to 20 guys who are focussed on the job. There are some guys who just aren’t capable of that. We just have to identify those that are.On whether he felt that the players were distracted by too many endorsements
It’s probably not my job to decide that. They’re entitled to their endorsements as long as they deal with them in their own time.On how he planned to deal with “difficult” individuals
I’ve been involved with some fairly strong-willed characters right from my playing days, guys like Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson. All they want is to perform well. It’s up to you to create an environment where they can express themselves as individuals while still being part of a team framework.His views on the preparation of pitches in India
I believe that cricket needs a range of conditions to give everyone a chance to shine. My view is that wherever you play, whether it be England, Australia or India, the conditions should be the best possible at that arena.How he defines excellence
It’s a commitment to doing the things that are necessary. One bad session can make a difference. We have to apply ourselves the whole time that we’re on the field. I read years ago that concentration is the ability to focus on what is important at that moment.On whether Sachin Tendulkar’s injury bothered him
I’d imagine that it’s more of a concern for Sachin. But we have to make do with the talent available. It’s an opportunity for someone else, and who knows, you might just unearth the next Indian cricketing champion. In that sense, it could be a blessing in disguise. Now, don’t twist my words because I’m not for a minute suggesting that it suits Indian cricket to have Sachin injured [smile].

It is being reported in the UAE that Dubai Sports City (DSC) is trying to get the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to relocate a little more than a year after it lured the ICC away from Lord’s.A report in the Khaleej Times claims that an offer has been made to the ACC and that a move could be almost immediate. The ICC is in temporary accommodation while the DSC is finished, and a similar arrangement could be implemented for the ACC.The newspaper quotes a senior ACC official as saying: “The offer needs to go through the finance committee. It would then go to the executive board and the general body.”The proposal is believed to include rent-free office space, relocation expenses, a subsidy for the staff and sponsorship of ACC events totaling around $1 million per annum. While living expenses would be considerably higher than in Kuala Lumpar, where the ACC is based at the moment, the soruce added that as “there is no taxation in the emirates and for the employees that could be a major attraction.”The newspaper concludes that the final decision is likely to depend on the Indian board “as they call the shots within the ACC”.

James Kirtley, the former England seamer, has been suspended from bowling by the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) after an independent assessment of his action at the National Cricket Centre.The assessment was undertaken at the beginning of the month by Dr Mark King, an expert from Loughborough University, after Kirtley was reported to the ECB twice during the 2005 season. King concluded that Kirtley’s action was outside ICC limits. The finding means that he cannot bowl until further tests show that he had rectified the faults.”It is disappointing and frustrating to be in this position again,” said Kirtley, “but from the experiences of last time I know the processes involved and am confident of clearing my name.”Kirtley is no stranger to such problems. In 2001-02 his England one-day debut was overshadowed by his being reported by the match referee in Zimbabwe, although he underwent remedial work and was subsequently allowed to continue. He has since played four Tests. He will now work on his action with Troy Cooley, England’s bowling coach, and will be re-examined when the problems have been ironed out.”We are obviously disappointed for both James and Sussex,” Mark Robinson, the Sussex manager, told the BBC. “The club is looking to digest and analyse the information in order to formulate the right plan for the way ahead.”

Rain affected more than half a day’s play as Tamil Nadu and Hyderabadsettled for a tame draw in their KSCA Coca Cola Under-25 Tournamentmatch at the Maharaja Jayachamarajendra Wodayar Sports Complex inBangalore on Saturday.Play started only at 14.15 hours on the third and final day due to acontinuous drizzle in the morning. Resuming at the overnight score of262 for 8, Hyderabad’s first innings folded up at 290. Ravichandra(104), who was stranded at 97 overnight, completed his century in notime. However he was the first to go when he was caught at square legby K Velmurugan off DS Doss. Then Fatima Reddy (17 notout) andMallikarjun (6) took the score on to 290 when Mallikarjun foundhimself stranded out of his crease.Tamil Nadu in reply made a disasterous start to their second inningslosing opener Ravindra John (0) off the fifth ball of the innings whenhe offered a catch to Saberwal off Ghouse Baba. Then the other openerS Badrinath (3) and N Lokesh (19) took the score upto 26. Badrinathwas the next to be dismissed when he gave a chance to Fatima Reddy atmidwicket off the bowling of Ghouse Baba. Ghouse Baba claimed histhird wicket of the innings, that of Lokesh, when he shattered thebatsman’s defences.C Hemanth Kumar (11) and R Satish (10) then took the score on to 49for 3 when play was called off for the day. Tamil Nadu got 5 pointswhile Hyderabad had to be content with three. Tamil Nadu now take onKarnataka in the finals which is to be played at M Chinnaswamy Stadiumin Bangalore from October 9 to 11.

New Zealand officials are prepared to bite the bullet and axe several senior players, according to a report in the New Zealand Herald.The news comes less than a fortnight before the annual contracts are announced on June 1, and the report suggests that Chris Harris, Craig McMillan, Paul Wiseman and Daryl Tuffey are all likely to be discarded.It is thought that New Zealand Cricket are keen to bring in some fresh blood, and to do that they need to create vacancies. While those mentioned are long on experience, the time may have come for them to give way to those who represent the future.Those mentioned as possible replacements include Peter Fulton, Jamie How, Michael Mason, Jeetan Patel, and Ross Taylor.