Lynn McConnell

New Zealand rang the changes for the second National Bank Test and it seems that despite an outstanding winning margin of 299 runs Pakistan is also to make changes before tomorrow's first day at Jade Stadium in Christchurch

Pakistan face tricky selection issues

Skippers beware, Jade Stadium's portable pitch may be a throwback to the Lancaster Park pitches of old which fooled many a Test captain, several of them New Zealanders, into making a wrong choice after winning the toss

Jade pitch could flatter to deceive

The Central Districts team to play the NZ Selection XI at Bert Sutcliffe Oval on 19-21 March is: Jamie How, David Kelly, Glen Sulzberger, Michael Baumgart, Bevan Griggs, Sanjeewa Silva, Haydn Morgan, Greg Todd, Andrew Schwass, Gareth West, Ewen

Central Districts team for Selection game

Pakistan ponder tricky selection issues for Second Test against New Zealand

Expect New Zealand to push the letter of the law in ball maintenance during the second National Bank Series cricket Test which starts in Christchurch on Thursday

New Zealand looking to fight fire with fire

13-Mar-2001•Lynn McConnell

Oram has to put business studies aside ... again

Central Districts captain Jacob Oram had his nose back in his business management books at Massey University near Palmerston North when word came through that he was wanted on Test duty by the New Zealand cricket selectors

13-Mar-2001•Lynn McConnell

Bradburn and Drum relish their recall

Their rehabilitation to international cricket has taken off spinner Grant Bradburn and fast-medium bowler Chris Drum down different roads, but they both feel ready should they be called into the New Zealand playing XI for the second Test against

13-Mar-2001•Lynn McConnell

Pakistan's glory is New Zealand's misery in first Test flogging

It is still possible, despite all the modern technology, management systems and payment structures that cricket's qualities can over-ride all that is explainable

New Zealand's batsmen have escaped selectorial blood-letting after today's embarrassing 299-run loss to Pakistan at Eden Park

Batsmen hang on as bowlers changed for second Test

Hamilton will host the Hawke Cup final in 12 days time after Hamilton held out a determined Canterbury Country bid for victory in today's semi-final and after Hawke's Bay beat Bay of Plenty in Napier

Hamilton and Hawke's Bay to contest Hawke Cup final

Pakistan's bowling legend Wasim Akram may have gone home injured but he was still at Eden Park in spirit today

Spirit of Akram boosts Sami in debut Test

Putting in the portable pitch block at Eden Park before a Test match was "pretty risky" according to beaten New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming

Test match wasn't a place to try out pitch

Yet another Pakistan player will be returning home from the tour of New Zealand

Razzaq homeward bound, Mohammad Akram to replace

Does Auckland deserve to have a Test match as of right any longer

Lack of support in Auckland a worry for cricket

It is only a matter of time before a major disaster occurs on a playing surface to force the abandonment of a rugby or cricket Test in New Zealand

Major turf disaster waiting to happen at major sports venues

Younis Khan scored his century and then kneeled in supplication, bowed to Mecca, and served notice that a new force in Pakistan batsmanship had arrived on the world stage against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland today

Younis Khan plays his best Test innings to reveal class

431 is a figure of iconic status in New Zealand cricket, but it could assume even greater proportions if this under-strength side can achieve the impossible to win the first National Bank Test against Pakistan in Auckland tomorrow

Kiwis face daunting target but Pakistan will have to fight

Canterbury Country are making a strong bid to gain a place in the final of the Hawke Cup in their match against Hamilton today

Canterbury Country battling back in Hawke Cup semi-final