Lynn McConnell

It was a merciful release for all concerned when New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming shook hands with Zimbabwe's Alistair Campbell and Stuart Carlisle to signify he had had enough and the Boxing Day Test was all over

Merciful release for all when Test called off

Hopes that Auckland all-rounder Tama Canning might force his way into the New Zealand one-day team were dashed last night when the International Cricket Council was queried about Canning's eligibility

Canning out of contention for one-day team due to residency stand down

New Zealand cricket captain Stephen Fleming will play cricket for Middlesex next northern summer

Fleming confirms Middlesex jaunt next year

If it isn't already the most boring Test match played in New Zealand then, by the end of play tomorrow, the Boxing Day Test against Zimbabwe could be out on its own

Basin Reserve Test ranking high in the tedium stakes

New Zealand selection convener Sir Richard Hadlee again offered the broadest hint of a change or two in the Black Caps side to contest the first three One-Day Internationals against Zimbabwe, starting in Taupo on January 2

Tama Canning boosts chances of one-day selection

Gavin Rennie's innings of 93 while not quite carrying him to his first Test century, did at least ensure that Zimbabwe could avoid the follow on against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve today

Sorting technical fault boosts Rennie's career

Getting up and bettering 1999 was always going to be difficult for New Zealand's cricketers, after all, it is not every year you beat England at home 2-1 and then take a 2-0 home series win over the West Indies

Not the greatest of years, but not a bad one either

Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak is not surprised at claims that New Zealand may have wanted a spinners' track for the National Bank Test at the Basin Reserve

Streak not surprised at wicket claims but surprised at the result

28-Dec-2000•Lynn McConnell

Over rate to be given work out in quest for Test win

New Zealand may have lost four hours of play in their attempt to beat Zimbabwe today but they are going to try and make up some of the lost time by increasing their over rate on the last two days of the National Bank Test at the Basin Reserve

28-Dec-2000•Lynn McConnell

Kiwi century pair fuelled by media criticism

Driven by the sportsmen's desire to prove critics wrong, Nathan Astle and Craig McMillan took their chances to do their batting double act again, at the expense of Zimbabwe in the National Bank Test at the Basin Reserve today

27-Dec-2000•Lynn McConnell

McMillan/Astle records deserved more respect from pundits

As players with proven Test records New Zealand batting twins Craig McMillan and Nathan Astle felt they were entitled to more support from the public and media than recent comments questioning their selections in Test teams

27-Dec-2000•Lynn McConnell

Coach said New Zealand wanted a good cricket wicket

Debate continued today over the state of the Basin Reserve pitch as play went into the second day of the New Zealand-Zimbabwe Test in Wellington

27-Dec-2000•Lynn McConnell

Public and players deserve much better from pitches

The players turned up, the crowd turned up, more than 7000 of them, but someone forgot to order a pitch for the New Zealand-Zimbabwe Boxing Day Test at Wellington's Basin Reserve

Nathan Astle confirms preference for home conditions

It's offficial

Now it is up to New Zealand Cricket to market the success of the CLEAR White Ferns for the betterment of the women's game in New Zealand

Cricket has to make the most of White Ferns' impact

Zimbabwe's bad news tour which has come to mirror that New Zealand recently completed in Africa, had another bad turn yesterday when Douglas Marillier suffered a hand injury

Zimbabwe catches the 'New Zealand disease'

Anna O'Leary, a member of the CLEAR White Ferns World Cup winning team must wonder when her career high points are going to stop

Good news keeps on coming for White Fern O'Leary