Global Sport

Australia’s fast bowling stocks are already depleted with its two main strike bowlers, Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie, and fringe candidate Simon Cook, already ruled out of the tour through injury.

Kasprowicz was hurt while bowling in a Sheffield Shield match for Queensland against Tasmania.Australian selector Trevor Hohns said today that the injury was untimely, but seemed minor.

Gullit leaves, Vialli takes over

LONDON: Dutch player-manager Ruud Gullit has stunned English soccer, leaving Chelsea after contract talks broke down with Italian striker Gianluca Vialli named to replace him.

Club managing director Colin Hutchinson announced Gullit’s departure caused by wage demands and Gullit’s refusal to retire as a player and stick to coaching.

“Once it was clear Ruud would not be with us nextseason, we had to act swiftly,” Hutchinson said.“We have decided to make a clean break immediately and Gianluca Vialli is the new player-manager of Chelsea with immediate effect.”

Ian Healy flays double standards

HOBART: Australian wicketkeeper and senior player Ian Healy said that he was a victim of double standards when it came to bad behaviour involving the South African cricketers.

He was reacting to a news of a reprimand for South African captain Hansie Cronje after he admitted to spearing a stump into the umpire’s room at the Adelaide Oval after the tense and controversial third test earlier this month.

Healy was suspended for two one-day internationals for throwing his bat up some steps and into the dressing room after his dismissal during third test in Johannesburg on the last Australian tour to South Africa. “I would have to say there’s a little double standard there,” Healy said at Bellerive Oval where he is captaining Queensland against Tasmania in a Sheffield Shieldmatch.

Strang unsettles Canterbury batsmen

TIMARU: Zimbabwe’s bowling attack, led by leg-spinner Paul Strang, made short work of Canterbury, dismissing the New Zealand provincial side for 100 runs on the first day of a four-day match today.

Strang took four wickets in the middle session as Canterbury lost their last six wickets for 29 runs, but Zimbabwe failed to capitalise, labouring to 129 for five in reply. The highlight of Zimbabwe’s reply was a classy 64 by opening batsman Grant Flower, but otherwise the touring side showed disappointing form with the bat.

Brief scores: Canterbury: 1st innings: 100 all out (S Pawson 26, P Strang 4/20); Zimbabwe: 1st innings: 129 for five (G Flower 64, Priest 2/47).