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ScorecardMatt Henry made early breakthroughs for New Zealand A•Getty Images

Abundant batting line-up or not, England Lions have not advanced their individual World Cup claims by the manner in which they have twice been dismantled by an experienced New Zealand A in the Royal London tri-series. In Bristol last Friday and Worcester today, four wickets have been lost without 50 on the board, inroads which brought New Zealand wins on both occasions and ensured a satisfying victory in the tournament.If the Lions batsmen remain worthy of debate, this particular bowling attack is unlikely to detain the selectors when World Cup squads are finalised. Hamish Rutherford found them much to his taste, the only surprise being that he did not complete an untroubled century, falling five runs short when he was bowled on the charge, off-side drive in mind, by the left-arm spinner Stephen Parry, the best England bowler on show.England Lions did well to escape to 255 for 8, but after a heavy shower, which trimmed the chase to 220 in 36 overs, New Zealand achieved their target with alacrity. Tom Latham, who struck a run-a-ball 48, finished matters by striking Tom Smith over the square leg rope with 21 balls to spare. With a home World Cup to inspire them, New Zealand can expect to field a competitive squad.New Zealand victories are rarely marked by extravagant praise, but a downbeat presentation ceremony was low-key even for them. The Lions’ defeat was suitably marked by the downcast tones of Ernie on the New Road public address. Ernie brings his own style to the most exciting of days, permanently sounding as if he is reading out details of his own funeral, an era which demands extravagant excitement having somehow passed him by.New Zealand fielded a side boasting nine players with international experience – only Scott Kuggeleijn and Daryl Mitchell remain uncapped – and once again they played with efficiency worthy of their status, taking clinical advantage of a good toss as they made maximum use of helpful bowling conditions in the first hour.

Makes sense for me to coach – Flower

Andy Flower, back in the old routine as coach of the England Lions, expressed surprise that anybody should wonder that he is fulfilling such a hands-on role six months after resigning as England’s director of cricket after a demoralizing Ashes whitewash.

“I’m a cricket coach so coaching a cricket team makes sense,” he said. “It’s not my decision when I will do it again, but my role is to work with the younger set of players. They were really energetic, even though they were coming off the back of a busy county season, and they were an exciting bunch of cricketers to work with so I really did enjoy it.”

Flower, who was retained in a senior developmental role by the ECB after it was mutually agreed he should stand down, conceded that New Zealand were the stand-out team of the tournament, succeeding on the back of a strong pace attack, twice cutting through the top order of an England side that struck four hundreds in the tournament.

“The Kiwis really outplayed us today. They played some excellent cricket and exploited the conditions well. I thought it was a good toss to win. Always at Worcester there is movement in the first hour especially when you have a 10.30 start and two new white balls and their three quicks were excellent.

“But there is real talent in English cricket and this sort of learning experience is excellent for them. There are a few spots open for debate I guess and it’s the selectors’ job to make that decision.”

This New Road pitch has been used three times in a week and produced more than 1,500 runs in the process. It impressed the Lions so much during their victory against Sri Lanka A that they encouraged the groundstaff to use it again. There was no reason to change that assessment as wickets fell. James Vince’s unproductive series ended when he mistimed a pull to midwicket and then Matt Henry intervened in a manner that suggested it will not be long before he adds to his solitary ODI cap, won against India in Wellington earlier this year and where he bowled with eye-catching pace.Henry trimmed Ravi Bopara’s stumps, had James Taylor lbw and caused Jason Roy to edge to slip as he advanced down the pitch; Roy’s England debut, if and when it comes, will surely be in T20. An impressive new-ball spell would have brought a fourth wicket, too, if Alex Hales, on 8, had been held at second slip by Dean Brownlie.Just as he did in Bristol, it was Jonny Bairstow who reassembled England’s fractured innings. Poor Ashes tour or not, he was unfairly rubbished in some quarters, and when he completed a third successive half-century by assertively sweeping Ish Sodhi’s quicker ball, he had again played in a measured fashion that for a time seemed to have deserted him. His departure on 71 was unfortunate, a bottom-edged pull at a ball from Doug Bracwell that kept a little low and a catch down the leg side.Smith must have thought his Lions days were behind him when he was dispensed with after a 2006-07 tour of Bangladesh, but nearly eight years later he has proved himself a mature cricketer. He provided restrained support for Bairstow before indulging in some late hitting with Toby Roland-Jones to give England’s total a veneer of respectability. Henry’s last over went for 18, the final boundary jumping up as it struck the rope and jolting awake a dozing spectator by striking him meaningfully on his sun hat.

An annoying light but steady afternoon rain caused the first one-dayinternational between Zimbabwe and Kenya to be abandoned as a draw,depriving Zimbabwe of a probable victory as they were set a none too taxingtarget of 211 to win.Kenya were no doubt pleased to win the toss and get the opportunity to batfirst. On the other hand, they had lost their captain and top batsman,Steve Tikolo, who was suffering from bronchitis. Official vice-captainThomas Odoyo Migai took over the reins. They suffered another early blowwhen they lost opener Ravindu Shah (0) to the fourth ball of the innings,edging a ball from Friend straight to Alistair Campbell in the slips.Kennedy Odoyo and Brijal Patel proceeded with caution, until Obuya uppercutHenry Olonga for a spectacular six over backward point. However he becameover-ambitious and when Douglas Hondo came on tried to force him off theback foot but hit a catch straight to Grant Flower at short extra cover; hedeparted for 18, and Kenya were 36 for two.Maurice Odumbe (5) did not last long before he too departed to theimpressive Friend, caught by Campbell at slip as Shah had been. BrijalPatel, the number three, looked an accomplished strokeplayer and drove Hondofor two cultured fours, followed by a cut to the boundary, all in the sameover.A useful partnership developed between Patel and the more experienced HiteshModi, and they added 54 before Patel (44) was beaten and bowled by a fasterball from Murphy that knocked the off stump out of the ground. Theleft-handed Modi grew in confidence, even playing the reverse sweep withaplomb, and Odoyo hit some powerful strokes, but they did not have theexperience to raise the scoring rate much beyond four an over.A sweep to the fine-leg boundary brought Modi his fifty, but then seemed tolose his fluency and in the end holed out to long-off off Doug Marillier for55. Kenya were 165 for five in the 40th over and the sixth-wicket pair hadadded 70, a new record for Kenya against Zimbabwe.Kenya now looked to Odoyo for a major innings but, backing up too far, hewas taken by surprise by a direct hit from Campbell that caught him out ofhis crease. He made 37, and Kenya were 176 for six in the 42nd over. Thetail did not wag, and it took the last pair to push the score past 200.Jimmy Kamande with 18 was the only later batsman to reach double figures.Zimbabwe suffered a bad start when Alistair Campbell, following a poorseries against Pakistan, ran himself out for 2; backing up too eagerly asnon-striker, he was stranded by Modi’s direct hit from mid-on.The weather was now playing a part, and a flurry of rain drove the playersoff briefly after three overs; they resumed, but play lasted only another 13balls before the rain returned, with Zimbabwe 18 for one. A light rainpersisted for some time, leaving the outfield slippery, and soon after 3.30local time the umpires called it a day.There was little to make the match memorable for anybody, but if there hadbeen a Man of the Match award for this abandoned game, perhaps the mostdeserving player would have been Travis Friend for one of his best openingspells; he gave Zimbabwe the early initiative which they never really lost.

Can surprise leaders Andover repeat their slick 50-over form in the longer all-day version of ECB Southern Electric Premier League cricket?That’s the burning question on the eve of nine weeks of all-day `time’ matches, which begin with table-topping Andover facing third-placed Bournemouth at London Road, 11 o’clock."We’ve been on fire in the 50-over stuff," says Andover skipper Roger Miller, who hit his first SL century in ten years against Burridge last weekend. "Actually, we could even have won all five games, but playing all-day matches, in which you bat up to 66 overs, is an entirely different ball game."But we are buzzing with confidence just now and are just as eager to win the all-day games as were the 50-over matches," Miller said.Andover may make two changes for the visit of in-form Bournemouth, who beat title holders BAT Sports and Bashley (Rydal) in their last two games.Mark Miller is certain to replace the injured Ian Langdown (hamstring), with the captain pondering on whether to reinstate teenager James Manning, who played for the Hampshire Academy last weekend.Bournemouth expect to have Richard Scott back in a key all-rounders role after missing the ten-wicket mugging of Bashley (Rydal). "We’ve previously encountered a lot of problems bowling teams out in the all-day games," says Bournemouth skipper Matt Swarbrick."But we now have a much more balanced attack, with four seamers and two young left-arm spinners to work with at Andover."The rain of the past few days suggests conditions may favour the bowlers, but we’ve got a fine right/left-arm mix, which should be ideal."Second placed Havant, four points behind Andover, travel to Liphook & Ripsley, who are currently anchored to the basement after one win in five games. Paul Gover is a continued absentee, while Mackie Hobson and Bev Moynan could be missing through work commitments.Bashley (Rydal), knocked out of the ECB Club Championship by Havant just 24 hours after the Bournemouth mauling, must pick up the pieces from a disastrous last weekend."We didn’t apply ourselves at Bournemouth – and it’s happening time after time," groaned skipper Neil Taylor."How we can score 301 one week and then get bowled out for barely 100 the next baffles me."Shaun Lilley, free from wedding engagements, returns against Portsmouth, who travel to the BCG minus influential skipper Raj Maru. Lee Savident leads Portsmouth, who will rely heavily on Matt Keech to cover their spin bowling options.Dave Banks is still troubled by the thumb injury he picked up playing for the Hampshire Board three weeks ago. But he expects to play at South Wilts, where BAT will be looking to build on last year’s stunning all-day form."We won all seven completed `time’ matches and that, without doubt, won us the championship," Banks recalled."We start this summer’s all-day cricket with an identical record to 2001 – played 5, won 3, lost two – so let’s hope for a repeat performance."South Wilts, two points behind BAT, have Russell Rowe again at the forefront of the batting charts – the beefy opener having clocked up 293 runs in five visits to the crease already this season.Burridge have Neil Cunningham and Matt Godwin back against Calmore Sports at Loperwood Park. But Paul Hawkins, who is using his "Hawkie" ball tracking technology at Queen’s Club, is a major doubt.Calmore, who won five of their eight `time’ games last season, expect inspirational skipper Tom Pegler to return, but teenager Paul Cass suffered a back spasm during the Hampshire YCs trip to Guernsey earlier this week.

New Zealand’s one-day team to tour Sharjah and Pakistan is to be named tomorrow on what should be the next phase of the side’s World Cup ’03 development.But such is the injury count at the moment that it can only be an exercise in match strategy involving some of the second tier of players who may or may not be called on in the final count, depending on the injuries down the line.Out of consideration are: Chris Cairns, Shane Bond, Dion Nash and it could be that the national selectors decide that Daniel Vettori deserves a rest in preparation for the Pakistan Test series which follows the two one-day exercises in Sharjah and Pakistan.Fourteen players are to be named for the tour which includes a minimum of four games in Sharjah and three in Pakistan.In Sharjah, New Zealand play Sri Lanka on April 9, Pakistan on April 11, Sri Lanka on April 14 and Pakistan again on April 15.The tournament final is to be played on April 17.The basis of the side obviously has to be the team which beat England 3-2 and which made the finals of the VB Series in Australia.That would see: Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Lou Vincent, Chris Harris, Daryl Tuffey and Andre Adams as certainties for the side.Chris Nevin should be retained as wicket-keeper and with the absence of Adam Parore for future consideration, there is a chance for him to claim the position for himself with the gloves and as an opener.If the selectors decide that Vettori is still in good enough condition to make the tour then he too, will be in the automatic category. However, if he is rested, then Auckland’s Brooke Walker must be the favoured option. He has had chances in the past and while he was covering for injury to Vettori, there must be hope that he has had a chance to absorb the lessons and be reconsidered.Glen Sulzberger has also been part of the mix in recent times and it could be that he gains his place if two spinners are preferred.One important decision that will be made is whether Brendon McCullum holds his place in the squad. He is a long term investment by the selectors and he has too much to offer to be placed on the substitutes’ bench and he should retain his spot.James Franklin should also be recalled to the side to continue his education in international play and his recent run scoring for Wellington will have been appreciated by the selectors.Another consideration will be Central Districts’ captain Jacob Oram back in action after missing much of the season with a foot injury. He was shaping as a key element in New Zealand’s one-day planning after last summer and given the on-going problems with Cairns, he should be a consideration for the side.The final choice will be in the bowling attack. Whether Scott Styris offers anything more in the bowling than that offered already in the attack and it may be that a workhorse-type of bowler like Chris Drum, especially with the Pakistan leg of the tour in mind, catches the selectors’ eyes.That would leave the team possibly looking like: Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Chris Nevin, Brendon McCullum, Craig McMillan, Lou Vincent, Chris Harris, Daniel Vettori/Brooke Walker, Glen Sulzberger, Daryl Tuffey, Andre Adams, James Franklin, Jacob Oram, Chris Drum.

A number of experienced first-class players have been named in the initial Otago A team for this summer’s national Provincial A competition, the bulk of matches to be played in Lincoln in early to mid-January.Left-arm seamer David Sewell, who has played almost 50 matches for Otago, has been named along with aggressive left-hand opening batsman Andrew Hore.Others in the squad with first-class experience named are: Simon Beare, Nathan McCullum, Warren McSkimming and Bradley Scott.Also named is Daryll Reddington, who looks likely to make his Otago debut in the State Championship match against Central Districts, which starts in Wanganui on Saturday.The Otago 2nd XI squad is: Simon Beare, Grant Billcliff, Hayden Finch, Jonathan Homer, Andrew Hore, Robert King, Nathan McCullum, Warren McSkimming, Daryll Reddington, Bradley Scott, David Sewell, Darin Smith, Jarrad Waldron and Tim Weston.And the Otago selectors have also named an Otago development team training squad, this side replacing the Under-22 team.The Development XI will play matches against the Otago Under-19 selection in Oamaru in early-December and a game against the Otago A team in Alexandra later in the month.Players in this side, which includes former first-class representatives Hayden Anderson, Duncan Drew and Scott Waide, have the opportunity to press for higher honours later in the season.The Development squad is: Hayden Anderson, Tom Bates, James Bullick, Duncan Drew, Tim Geeves, Shaun Haig, Mark Joyce, Dion Lobb, Tony McEntyre, Jamie Murley, Jarrod Stewart, Nic Turner, Scott Waide.

The Surrey fast bowler, Jade Dernbach, will be staying at The Oval until the end of the 2010 season, after signing an extension to his existing contract.Dernbach, 22, has been a regular in Surrey’s one-day team for the last couple of seasons and last week he broke into the County Championship side against Somerset at Whitgift School, where he produced a career-best performance of 6 for 72.”Jade’s contract was up at the end of this season,” said Surrey’s cricket manager, Alan Butcher, “and I said that I would be prepared to re-negotiate if he proved to me that his attitude, commitment and everything that goes with being a professional cricketer was right.”He has done that to my satisfaction, therefore we offered him a new contract from now, and his performance against Somerset has fully justified that. He has been knocking on the door all season and could have played at anytime. He has come on leaps and bounds and fully deserves his contract.”Dernbach was a product of the original intake of the Pemberton Greenish Surrey Academy, and became Surrey’s youngest debutant for 30 years when he was selected to play against India A in 2003. Two years later, he started to make regular first-team appearances, and featured in the 2005 Twenty20 semi-final against Lancashire, before going on to make his List A debut in the same year.In 31 one-day matches for Surrey, Dernbach has picked up 49 wickets at an average of 26.73 demonstrating that he is developing the sort of control required for the longer version of the game.

West Indies team manager Ricky Skerritt has confirmed today that Brian Lara will miss his team’s forthcoming tour of India.Skerritt said in Colombo: “Brian has been advised by medical specialists in Colombo that he will miss the West Indies immediate cricketing commitments. That will obviously rule him out of the Indian tour and I’ve advised the West Indies selectors that a replacement will be needed for that tour.”However, he did not confirm that the ace West Indies batsman was suffering from hepatitis as earlier reports suggested, adding that there was nothing more to say on the matter for the moment.The champion left-hander has been in a hospital for tests and observation for more than 24 hours now.The West Indies are due to play three Test matches and seven one-dayers in India.

Two of Somerset’s Cornish playing contingent, batsman Piran Holloway and wicket-keeper batsman Carl Gazzard are spending the winter out in Perth where Piran is coaching and Carl is playing for Scarborough Cricket Club.When I contacted Piran Holloway to ask how things were going he told me: "Carl Gazzard has taken to the way of life like a duck to water. Taking diving catches every game and a couple of 30 not outs. Unfortunately the weather has only been in the mid 20s most of the time so we have been a bit cold!"He continued: " At the moment we have a pretty flexible training programme which is proving to be very tough. We usually wake up pretty early in the morning and either go surfing at the beach if the waves are big enough or if not then it is either running or laps at the pool. Then it’s back for some food and off to the gym. The afternoons we either bat in the nets or go training in the evenings."He went on: " On Wednesday we do pump class and yoga. We also do circuits on Monday. Things are going really well at the moment with Carl and his batting if showing signs of real development. I only wish I could help some of the English batsmen."He continued: " With the Test match just started it looks like we are in for another few days of embarrassment. The start of every conversation is usually `so how was your day,’ I don’t bite but, Carl is young and they are winding him up a treat!"

Just two points separate the top three in Southern Electric Premier League, Division 3, where Hambledon, Purbrook and Alton continue to set the early pace. The trio all won again, with Hambledon inflicting Paultons’ second consecutive defeat, Purbrook edging out Gosport Borough and Alton overhauling Hartley Wintney’s 209-4.Hambledon, relegated from Premier 2 last season, wobbled at 20-2 before cruising past Paultons’ 204-7 at Ridge Meadow.Colin James (85), who forged a 122-run opening partnership with Duncan Park (39), took his tally past the 200 mark and then celebrated when team-mate Paul Wilde trapped Imre Chakrabarti and Rob Norris leg before.Former Hampshire spinner Ian Turner dominated the stage thereafter, hitting an unbeaten 82 and sharing an unbroken century fifth wicket stand with Matt Jones (40) as the Dons eased home.Gosport, struggling in fourth from bottom position, took Purbrook to the wire – the visitors struggling at 125-6 (Will Prozesky 46) against Mark Oxford (4-31) and Nathan Collins (3-47) before Wayne Musselwhite’s key 29 not out took them to 174.A five-wicket blast from Mark Stanley (5-39) had Borough wobbling at 85-6, but John Adams (49) and Richard Edwards (26) almost swung it round as Gosport closed at 168-8.In-form Matt Digweed (71 not out) and Tristan Gregory (41) cashed in against Alton’s below par bowling and fielding but Hartley Wintney were unable to defend 209-4. Michael Heffernan’s clean cut 96 guided the visitors home.Favourites St Cross Symondians bounced back in style from the previous weekend’s surprise defeat at Portsmouth.They were far too strong for newly promoted Redlynch & Hale, with Kiwi Mark Parker hammering an unbeaten 127 in a formidable 254-4 (Marc Rees 57).Spin pair Matt Perry-Lewis (4-22) and Will Marriner (4-26) bowled the Wiltshire border side out for 81.”It was a win we needed after what happened the previous week, but to be honest we weren’t stretched,” confessed Perry-Lewis.Portsmouth continued in a winning vein, with James Scott (3-22), Mike Clark (3-30) and Rick Marston (3-42) bowling Leckford out for 97 at chilly St Helen’s, Southsea.James Moon (42) and Clark (31) earlier cemented Portsmouth’s position, although spinner Andy Cattle deserved better after a 6-28 return in PCC’s 190-9.A seven-wicket defeat by Hursley Park has left Hook & Newnham Basics propping up the table – a century start by Raman Prendergast (64) and John Harris (58) pointing the Park towards their hosts 172-9 (Tom Burns 3-15).Matt Gover was in such a tizz after Havant’s double defeats by Leckford and Purbrook that he vowed not to shave until his team won.But a fortnight’s fluff disappeared from his cheeks after debut centurion Simon Greenfield and JJ Owen – plus a helping hand from 13 year old Stuart Ransley – put previously unbeaten New Milton to flight.Greenfield, who spent most of his 1st XI days occupying Havant’s No 11 slot, has taken to his new second team opening role like a duck to water and was elated at his best ever 117 not out.Jon Owen, who hit an accomplished 60, was a middle-order batsman in his Portsmouth Grammar School days, but he too has added a touch of polish to his batting.The pair pointed Havant to 255-4 before Ransley’s spell of 4-18 (chronicled elsewhere on this page) helped send New Milton crashing to 133 all out (John Dolman 35).Ventnor at long last had something to cheer after whisking Waterlooville out for 105 and winning by seven wickets at Rowlands Avenue.Queenslander Chris Baumann (41) took Ville to 67-0, but the innings fell apart when Keith Jones (4-18) took three wickets in four balls.Neil Dodds (6-21) cleaned up and left former Northwood left-hander Neil Westhorpe (43 not out) and Merrill Capenerhurst (34) to complete the formalities.Smiles too for Bashley, particularly former 1st XI captain Graham Pardey, who has taken over the second team captain’s role from Steve Latimore.Pardey had an immediate impact too, using all his experience to make 63 and ease Bashley from a slightly uncertain 95-4 (Ian Britton 49) to 204-6.Chris Gates (32 not out) proved a most reliable partner as Bashley made sure of a total which was to proved just beyond Flamingo’s reach at 199 all out.

Australian coach John Buchanan will not lead Australia on the Travelex Tour of Kenya after sustaining a back injury this weekend during the team’s training camp in Brisbane.Buchanan suffered an acute episode of lower back pain at the end of a net session during the team’s final practice at Allan Border Field on Saturday 25 August.Diagnostic scans of his back were taken in Brisbane today.The Queenslander’s full recovery is expected to take 10 days, after which he will join the one-day international squad ahead of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka, starting 12 September.Australia A coach Allan Border will replace Buchanan as Australian coach for the Tri-Nation’s Cup in Nairobi, Kenya.Border, who was due to travel to Johannesburg on Tuesday for Australia A’s seven-game series against South Africa A, will now fly to Nairobi tomorrow with the Australian squad.Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy head coach Bennett King will take over Border’s duties as Australia A coach.Australian team physiotherapist Errol Alcott said Buchanan’s injury is severely restricting the coach’s mobility."Unfortunately, John has not responded to treatment yesterday and today," Alcott said."He has been instructed to take complete rest and not engage in any activity. Due to the severe pain and lack of mobility, he would not be able to embark on a long journey, such as the one the team is taking to Nairobi tomorrow."Alcott said Buchanan’s rehabilitation will involve complete bed rest until a review of the injury in the next few days."We’ll monitor his progress over the next day or so, expecting him to be more mobile next week."