England News

Yorkshire stars Craig White and Michael Vaughan both featured in a comprehensive England victory by 6 wickets over Holland in East London. The match which was England's first on the tour was never in doubt for England who had their opponents 31-5 after 17 overs. However a fightback from de Leede ensured that Holland batted out their 50 overs finishing up 142-9. Craig White contributed with bowling figures of 10. 3. 22. 2 a good test for him after the side strain which had kept him out of previous matches.
England suffered an early blow in their innings losing Marcus Trescothick for only 12. However Vaughan along with Nick Knight steadied the ship and they made 51 apiece before both falling to the bowling of van Bunge. Blackwell and Collingwood reached the target of 143 in only 23.2 overs.
England's next match is against Namibia on Wednesday.

ECB Media Release

Senior officials from the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) today met with Tessa Jowell, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport and other Government Ministers to discuss England�s scheduled ICC World Cup match next month against Zimbabwe in Harare.

Commenting on the meeting, Tim Lamb, Chief Executive of the ECB, said:

�We had a firm and open exchange of views, but are disappointed with the outcome.

The final decision about whether we play this match does, as the Government maintains, technically rest with the ECB. However, if we sacrifice this match it will, in effect, be at the Government�s request � and for the wider national interest. We don�t understand therefore the Government�s refusal to compensate us out of the national purse for any consequential losses we incur. These losses could damage cricket enormously. Surely, it is only fair that the Government should at least discuss this with us � as the Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, has said he is willing to do with the ACB (Australian Cricket Board).

We are also disappointed that Government Ministers waited until very late in the day to tell us that they did not want us to play this match against Zimbabwe. This has now left us in a total �no-win� situation. If they had expressed their views earlier, perhaps this situation could have been avoided.

We are only too well aware of the immoral and repressive nature of the Mugabe regime and, should we fulfil this fixture, have given the Government our assurance that we are determined not to give the Mugabe regime any opportunity to make propaganda out of the England team playing against Zimbabwe. That is the last thing we want to happen�.

Michael Vaughan added to his recent sports awards by winning the Man of the Match award in the 5th Test v Australia in Sydney after his 183 helped England to their first victory over the Australians. He was then presented with the prestigious honour of 'Man of the Series' a well deserved award for Yorkshire's star batsman. There are rumours that in this form Michael is being tipped for the next England Captain, watch this space....

Next summer, npower Test Matches will begin at 10.45am instead of the traditional 11.00am start time. Lunch will therefore be taken at 12.45pm,
the tea interval at 3.25pm, and the scheduled close will thus be at 5.45pm. Daytime One-Day Internationals also start at 10.45am.