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Matt Berriman, a former Australia Under-17s player, has won the right to pursue a personal injuries claim against Cricket Australia. AAP reported that a Victorian Supreme Court judge ruled the statute of limitations be extended to allow Berriman to take action over a shoulder injury.The court heard that Berriman, 23, suffered a dislocated right shoulder during a water polo game at the Academy in Adelaide in April 2001, when he was 17. Berriman claims Cricket Australia should not have allowed him to take part in the game because he had already had a shoulder problem in 1999 as a result of playing soccer.Berriman claims as a result of the injury he quit his job and had a limited ability to perform everyday activities such as showering and working on a computer. The application was granted by Justice Jack Forrest, who ruled that the statute of limitations should be extended because Berriman only became aware through a doctor’s report this year that the 2001 injury had caused his current disability.Cricket Australia argued that their defence had been prejudiced by the delay in initiating proceedings, but Justice Forrest said he did not believe it would cause significant prejudice.

Shaun Tait wasted no time after being picked in a 13-man Test squad to outline his plans for the future – he is desperate to become Australia’s fastest bowler. While Brett Lee currently holds the place, Tait, who reached 153kph during the Prime Minister’s XI game last Friday, wants to continue to accelerate.”I’d like to be labelled the fastest bowler in the country at some point in my career,” Tait said in The Australian. “I’ve always wanted to be labelled as a fast, feared bowler, but as you get older you realise you’re never going to be a permanent member of the Australian team just by bowling fast. You have to bowl in the right areas and take wickets.”Tait is jostling with Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clark for the third bowling spot in the first Test at the Gabba on Thursday and the other two bowlers were also celebrating their selection. Johnson said he would use Brett Lee, who became a father for the first time on Thursday, as a mentor during the week as he aimed to make his debut on his home ground.”Brett has been there for me, I’m learning about him and I’m learning about myself as well,” Johnson said in The Courier-Mail. “When we are in the nets I feel very comfortable going up to him if I’m finding it hard.”If he’s working on something it will make me work harder as well.” On a day of family announcements as well as team news, Johnson also showed off his new girlfriend, the Australian karate representative Jessica Bratich.In Sydney Stuart Clark, the line-and-length option compared to his two speed rivals, said he was not sure what was going to happen over the next week as the trio pushes to partner McGrath, Lee, Warne and Watson. “Someone is going to have to miss out and hopefully it’s not me,” he said in the Sydney Morning Herald.”Maybe it is [a shoot-out], maybe it isn’t. I’m assuming they’ll look at the wicket and then they’ll look at what sort of attack they want to go with and maybe that will have something to do with it as well. I’m a chance to play but the other guys are as well.”Ricky Ponting said he was looking forward to facing the bowlers in the nets to see how they were going and he expected the final decision to be a close call. “We’ve got a reasonable amount of time in the lead-up so I and the rest of the batsmen will have a really good chance to get a look at those guys and see what they’ve got to offer,” he said. “I guess we can have a look at the conditions up there as well and see what they might have to offer. There might be something in that wicket that might suit one of the bowlers more than the others.”

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has appointed former New Zealand player and first-class coach Dipak Patel as New Zealand Under-19 coach. The position is until the end of the Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka in February 2006.Announcing Patel’s appointment, Gary Stead, NZC High Performance Centre coach, said: “We are very pleased to be able to appoint Dipak to this position. He has had a distinguished career as a first-class and international player and more recently a successful coaching career across many levels including coaching the State Central Stags at first-class level”.The build up prior to the World Cup will see Patel being involved in junior academy and academy programmes, attendance at the national Under-19 tournament and a week’s intensive build up at High Performance Centre prior to attending the tournament in Sri Lanka.

The dispute between the West Indian players and the board appeared to be closer to being resolved after the 16 players who had been dropped were allowed to attend a three-week training camp in Barbados starting on November 30.The breakthrough came after seven hours of talks chaired by Dr Keith Mitchell, Grenada’s prime minister. They ended with both parties agreeing to submit briefs by next Friday which will enable an independent adjudicator to be appointed to try to find a solution."I feel heartened that after this long and difficult process we have an understanding on the way forward and it appears now that the tour to Australia may not be jeopardised by the grievance," Mitchell told The Nation newspaper. "Clearly there needs to be a much closer working relationship between the board and the players’ representatives. That is a major deficiency and the prime ministerial sub-committee plans to meet very soon and will be involving all the parties to look at a fundamental process for the way forward for the development of West Indies cricket."Dinanath Ramnarine, representing the players, welcomed developments. "We have always indicated we were interested in continuing our dialogue with the process of reaching an agreement," he said. "We are happy that this process will continue and we are looking forward to it."The dispute escalated in the last fortnight, culminating in the board dropping 16 players after they refused to sign a controversial contract which prevented them from promoting any company which was a rival of Digicel, a telecommunications company which had signed a US$20 million deal with the West Indian board. Many players had earlier signed individual deals with Cable & Wireless, a rival company. The board wanted the players to terminate those contracts without compensation, which the players refused to do, leading to the standoff. The dispute threatened to jeopardise West Indies’ participation in the VB Series, with Cricket Australia insisting on a full-strength line-up for the tournament.

England’s new recruit, Ed Smith, has credited his excellent form this season to Australia’s captain, Steve Waugh, who played for Kent for the last six weeks of the 2002 season.”I think watching Steve Waugh from the other end last season definitely helped me,” said Smith. “We batted together. He was out of nick until the last innings when he scored a hundred – which led to him having an amazing spell back in Australian domestic cricket. But what he taught me, through me watching rather than listening to him, was bringing a positive mental attitude to every ball.””I scored a hundred in each innings against Nottinghamshire at Maidstone recently," said Smith. “The test for me was going out after the first one and finding that extra bit of hunger to get the second. The important thing for me is keeping that hunger. I have been mad at myself for not having made my case more strongly in the past, and a little bit of that anger is now manifesting itself.””This season I have been batting with those five years of frustration in me," added Smith. "I know I could have been better, freer, more positive." He was certainly a carefree strokemaker in his early days, as demonstrated by a century on his first-class debut for Cambridge against Glamorgan. But eventually, being asked to open the innings took its toll on Smith’s approach. "I found the demands of opening the batting curbed my natural inclination to hit the ball and I was more inhibited in my strokeplay.”In 2000 Smith moved down the order to No. 3, and has profited from some minor adjustments to his game. “I have not started playing differently – even if perhaps I am now more prepared to play bigger shots, which is helping me to convert fifties into hundreds. Last summer I had a string of fifties. I was in great nick, but there were only two hundreds. But now I am definitely playing more freely.”

Gloucestershire have given their squad a major boost with the signing of New Zealand opening batsman Craig Spearman on a two-year contract.Spearman, 29, has played in 19 Tests and 51 one-day internationals. He will be able to play alongside Australian all-rounder Ian Harvey at Gloucestershire since he holds a British passport, courtesy of his Welsh mother.Gloucestershire have been chasing a proven top-order batsman for some while and they can thank a change in the eligibility rules for Spearman’s arrival in Bristol.Auckland-born Spearman, who has spent the past five years playing for Central Districts, explained: “I came to England in July with the intention of starting a career outside cricket.”I recently completed a degree in business studies and finance, but the events of September 11 have meant that the banking industry is a little gloomy at the moment.”I found out that the eligibility rules have changed for me to play cricket over here and I have qualified quite fortuitously.”The rules state that I must not have played international or first-class cricket in the 12 months before the English season starts next April and my last game was in March.”I told New Zealand officials earlier this year that I was going to the UK and not coming back. I wasn’t sure I would be playing any cricket, so this will be like starting my career over again.”One of the major reasons for Spearman’s arrival at Gloucestershire is the presence of John Bracewell, the county’s director of cricket and former New Zealand Test spinner.Spearman said: “When John finished playing, he started coaching in Auckland. I played in the 16, 18 and 20 age group sides under him and then I was part of the Auckland team when he took charge of that.”I know John quite well and I know his style and desire to succeed. I have a background of some experience and I’m looking forward to helping Gloucestershire.”Spearman has a first-class average of 36 and, in Test cricket, has scored 923 runs at just over 26 per innings. His one century came against Zimbabwe.Gloucestershire captain Mark Alleyne said: “We want Craig as an opener and he will fit in well with what we want to achieve. Anyone who has played 70 times for their country will bring with him a wealth of experience.”He is pretty much in our mould. He hits the ball well and is not scared to get on with it when needs be.”

Michael Holding has described Brian Close, who died on Sunday, as one of the “toughest people in the game”. Holding was one of the West Indies bowlers who peppered Close in his final series in 1976, when the Yorkshireman was recalled by England at the age of 45.Close stood up to Holding, Andy Roberts and Wayne Daniel, often taking the ball on the body and all without a helmet. The Old Trafford Test, Close’s last, left him covered in bruises but the lasting result was a close friendship with Holding.”His toughness was legendary,” Holding said. “The mere fact that England thought that Brian Close at the age of 45 was the right man to be coming back to face the West Indies in 1976, with their four-pronged pace attack, just shows what they thought of him.”But even before that time, everyone knew of his toughness. There were famous pictures of him with all those bruises on his body when he batted against Wes Hall, when he just stood there and took the blows.”He was never one to shirk an issue, he was never one to back down, when they called him back at 45 to face West Indies he didn’t say to anyone ‘No, I am too old’, he went out there and tried to do his best, and gave everything for his country.”Not just the toughest batsman, he was one of the toughest people around in the game.”Tales of Close’s courage are commonplace and Holding described him as “hard but fair”. They went on to become good friends, although their discussions in later life tended to be more about horse racing than cricket.”I heard a story, in same Test match, to get rid of Alvin Kallicharran, who loved to sweep, Pat Pocock was told to bowl on leg stump, ‘I’ll field at short leg, I’ll block the shot with my chest and Knotty you take the catch.’ He played hard but fair. Never gave an inch and was a very fair man.”Closey and myself were very good friends throughout. We never spoke much cricket, Closey and myself are big fans of horse racing so spoke a lot about that, and on the phone. I went to benefit functions at Yorkshire, that sort of thing, and we got on well.”His wife Viv called me when we went up to the Test at Leeds and said, ‘Come and see Closey, not sure how much longer he is going to be with us’. I went and visited him during the New Zealand Test and I am glad I did because now he is gone.”

Usman Khawaja believes Sydney Thunder are reaping the rewards of the work of Michael Hussey and general manager Nick Cummins, following his quickfire hundred in the semi-final against Adelaide Strikers. After a horror run in the early years of the BBL, Thunder made their first final, and Khawaja admitted he had once considered his future with the franchise.”It was tough because you play cricket to win and you’re trying your best and that’s still not happening,” Khawaja said. “It was a bit of a helpless feeling and there were times when I thought ‘do I want to be in this team still?’ But when Huss came on board I thought we had a really good chance of picking the team up from the bottom. I talked to Huss when he first came on, and I said the Thunder was close to my heart, having grown up in Western Sydney and that we could do this, but it might take a bit of time.”I think the overall roster has seen a big change and is a lot more balanced now. We have hitters, batsman, pace and spin. A lot has gone on behind the scenes too – Nick Cummins, our GM – has done a lot over the last three years, hiring good people, and there’s a good vibe. That’s helped the guys on the field – there are a lot of hidden heroes behind the scenes who don’t get the congratulations that we do.”Saturday’s final, against either Melbourne Stars or Perth Scorchers, will be Hussey’s final game in Australia.

Lancashire‘s hopes of their first outright Championship title since 1934 are fading with every passing day at The Oval. Surrey declined to enforce the follow-on after dismissing them for 234 before extending their lead to 214.Surrey bowled tidily as a collective, with Matt Nicholson and Chris Jordan particularly impressing. Nicholson exploited the early swinging conditions, and a lifting pitch, to remove Steven Croft for a duck and to trap Mark Chilton for 4. Stuart Law and Paul Horton rallied with 45 and 48 respectively, and it was left to VVS Laxman (53) and latterly Dominic Cork (46 not out) to limit the first-innings deficit.Laxman batted with his customary authority until he fell, pulling hard to long leg off the rapidly emerging talent Jordan, who has slotted right into first-team cricket. Those in the know are already tipping him as Young Cricketer of the Year for 2008.Like Nicholson, Jordan used the conditions to bowl with pace and hostility; his last two victims – Oliver Newby (0) and Gary Keedy (2) – were both beaten for pace and fended through to the keeper, although replays showed the ball had brushed Newby’s arm. Cork was the lone battler and he enjoyed the challenge, even smacking an audacious six for good measure. But not for fun: Lancashire badly want this title.It’s not of their reach yet, however, although if they do prosper it will be in spite of Mark Ramprakash’s gleaming best efforts. He fell short of his double-hundred, making 196. Still, it could prove ultimately costly, given he could have been run out on nought, and was also dropped on 4.Sussex had another excellent day against Worcestershire at Hove as they continued to press their own title claims. They gained maximum batting points thanks to Robin Martin-Jenkins, who will at once rue, and be delighted with, his 99 and Chris Liddle, who demonstrated an eye for the big occasion with his maiden first-class half-century.Following Mushtaq Ahmed’s dismissal (382 for 8), Sussex needed a further 118 for five points; Martin-Jenkins and Liddle duly delivered, with a ninth-wicket partnership of 120. Worcestershire showed heart with an opening stand of 79 and they had reached 93 for 2 by stumps; Moeen Ali (1) soon following Stephen Moore (48) to the hutch.Michael Carberry’s unbeaten century for Hampshire was the highlight against Yorkshire on day two at Headingley. After finishing off Yorkshire’s first innings for 195, Hampshire drew level with four wickets down. John Crawley also contributed a fifty.Dale Benkenstein struck a century to hand Durham the lead following another tidy day against Kent at Canterbury. By the close, Kent had come close to erasing the deficit in their second innings; they now trail by ten with seven wickets left.

Shane Bond, the New Zealand fast bowler, has been ruled out of his team’s opening match of the Champions Trophy, against South Africa, in Mumbai on Monday with a “stiffness and restriction” in the back. This is the latest setback in a long line of back trouble that Bond has suffered.”Shane Bond won’t be considered for tomorrow’s match,” said Linsay Crocker, the New Zealand manager, at a pre-match press conference. “Shane suffered some stiffness and restriction of movement in his back in the warm-up match against Baroda at MIG Club on Friday.”He was keen to bowl today in preparation for tomorrow but we’ve taken a long-term view with Shane and decided it’s best he doesn’t bowl today or tomorrow and begins preparations for the next match on Tuesday.”The news came as a blow to New Zealand ahead of their crucial match against South Africa, but Stephen Fleming, the captain, was as unruffled as ever, and took the news in his stride. “It’s disappointing. It’s not good news before a big game, but it’s news we’ve had in the pastand we’ve been able to deal with before,” said Fleming. “While the team is extremely disappointed for Shane, we still think that, given the nature of the pitch, we have opportunities with our bowlers to still be competitive.”Fleming underscored the need to take a long-term view in the case of recurring injuries with key players, and explained New Zealand’s stance on Bond. “When you have a player who has long-term back problems it is always a concern when that back problem gives restrictions. What we’ve tried to do with Shane is be conservative,” he said. “We’re not looking at just this tournament, we’re looking at ones after this, especially the World Cup. If we can get him through to that, that would be nice. That is the long-term aim which is part of the reason why we’re not playing him tomorrow.”With Scott Styris also not 100 % fit – he suffered a hamstring twinge during a warm-up match – New Zealand have not got off to the start they wanted off the field. However, Styris was still in contention for a place in the final eleven, and depending on how his fitness held up in practiceon the day before the match, he could still make the cut and play a part.