John Wright is yet to decide whether he will apply to replace John Bracewell as New Zealand’s coach © Getty Images

John Wright would almost certainly be appointed as New Zealand’s coach if he wanted the job, according to one of the other men keen to take on the role, Dipak Patel. Wright has not confirmed whether he will apply for the position, which will become available when the incumbent John Bracewell steps down next April.Patel, who coaches the New Zealand Under-19 team, is hoping to finally get a crack at the senior job but he knows his chances hinge on how much competition there is for the role. “It certainly interests me and though I’ve applied twice before the timing is better this time, so I’m pretty keen,” Patel told the . “I think I can do a good job but who knows who is going to apply? If John Wright applies, the job is his.”Wright is currently New Zealand Cricket’s (NZC) acting high performance manager and Justin Vaughan, NZC’s chief executive, said despite Wright’s experience as an international coach with India it would be disappointing if they lost him from his existing role. “John came in to do a job at New Zealand Cricket and that is what he is doing,” Vaughan said. “He didn’t come in to be national coach in waiting.”He came in to develop our emerging talent from Under-17s through to the national A team. He has a big job and is doing a really good job. It will be up to him whether he wants to put his name in the hat and we would be actually really sad because he is doing a really good job what he is doing. John Wright knows all too well that international cricket is a very demanding job, so what I want him to do is take some time to think about it.”Either way, Wright is likely to have some input into who replaces Bracewell. Vaughan said he had no preconceived idea of whether the new coach should be home-grown or from another country.”In the end it is about who you believe can take the side on and win you games,” Vaughan said. “We’ll look internationally, it would be remiss not to. We’ll look at who is coaching and who has been coaching in high-standard competitions overseas. I’ll talk to John [Wright] about who is the type of coach who can take us forward and I’ll speak to some of the senior players.”Vaughan said the decision to announce Bracewell’s departure so far in advance was designed to end speculation and give them their best chance of securing the top replacement possible. “We both agreed it was the right time to announce it so it stops the whispering on where he is linked to,” Vaughan said. “It also allows New Zealand Cricket to approach people in an open way.”

Fast bowlers Sean Abbott and James Pattinson have been included in the Australia A squad for the team’s upcoming tour of India next month. Both players were called as replacements for Pat Cummins, who was drafted into Australia’s Ashes squad following the retirement of Ryan Harris.Pattinson, whose already truncated 2014-15 season was ended by a hamstring injury in March, will replace Cummins in the one-day squad, while Abbott will take Cummins’ place for the two four-day games. Tasmania seamer Andrew Fekete, who was already a part of Australia A’s four-day squad, has also been placed on stand-by for the one-day matches.”This is an important part of James’ recovery from injury, which has been progressing nicely under the guidance of our medical staff,” national selector Rod Marsh said. “Sean and James are both quality young fast bowlers and we’re pleased to be giving them this opportunity in the challenging conditions of the sub-continent.”Sean is a promising quick and this series will give him further international experience following last year’s tour of the UAE when he made his Australian debut.”Constant injuries have meant that Pattinson, 25, has played just 13 Tests since making his debut in 2011. He last played for Australia in the Cape Town Test against South Africa in March 2014, after which he spent time recovering from a serious back injury. Pattinson eventually made a return to competitive cricket with the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League last year, and also played three Sheffield Shield matches for Victoria in February and March. He is currently in Brisbane playing in a series of practice matches for the National Performance Squad against the National Indigenous Squad.Australia A will play two four-day matches against India A starting July 22 in Chennai, followed by a one-day tri-series also involving South Africa A.Australia A four-day squad: Usman Khawaja (capt), Matthew Wade, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns, Andrew Fekete, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Steve O’Keefe, Gurinder Sandhu, Marcus StoinisAustralia A one-day squad: Usman Khawaja, Matthew Wade, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Cameron Boyce, Joe Burns, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Callum Ferguson, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Chris Lynn, James Pattinson, Gurinder Sandhu, Adam Zampa. Stand-by: Andrew Fekete

Chris Cairns, the former New Zealand allrounder, has told the jury in his perjury trial in London that there is “no truth” to allegations that he attempted to persuade his team-mate, Lou Vincent, to take part in match-fixing.Cairns, who was taking the stand at Southwark Crown Court for the first time in the trial after listening to three weeks of testimony, repeatedly denied any involvement in match-fixing.He denies two counts of perjury and perverting the course of justice, relating to his successful 2012 libel action against Lalit Modi, while his co-defendant and former attourney, Andrew Fitch-Holland, is accused of perverting the course of justice.Asked by Orlando Pownall, his barrister, whether at any stage he was involved in match-fixing, Cairns replied: “No.””Did you contemplate match-fixing?” Pownall continued.Cairns again replied: “No.”When it was put to Cairns that he had attempted to coerce his former team-mates into match-fixing, including Vincent and the current New Zealand captain, Brendon McCullum, who testified last month, he repeated his denials.The court heard how, in 2008, Cairns had signed a three-year deal to captain Chandigarh Lions in the now-defunct Indian Cricket League. His contract was worth NZ$350,000 per year, a prospect that made him “very excited” in the latter years of his career, especially having had a “significant drop” since his final international appearances two years earlier.However, according to Vincent’s testimony, Cairns had ordered him to fix games by deliberately playing badly. When Vincent told Cairns how he had declined the offer of cash and a prostitute to get involved in fixing, Cairns had allegedly responded: “You did the right thing … that’s good cover. You’re working for me now.”Cairns denied all of these incidents, adding that, had Vincent told him of any approach, it would have been immediately reported to Howard Beer and Tony Greig, the administrators of the ICL.”Did you at any stage seek to persuade him, successfully or not, to underperform?” Pownell asked. Cairns replied: “No.”The trial continues.

In an effort to manage workloads, New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult has been rested for the first three matches of the five-ODI series against Sri Lanka starting on Boxing Day. Tim Southee will also have a couple of matches off, before joining the squad for the Nelson ODI on New Year’s Eve.Neither player was part of New Zealand’s tours to Zimbabwe and South Africa earlier in the year: Boult was injured and Southee was rested. But they have played four back-to-back Tests since the start of November.”He will have played five Tests in a row [including the next one in Hamilton],” coach Mike Hesson said of Boult. “It’s a long season and we need some fresh legs steaming in come the first ODI at Hagley.” Matt Henry comes into the squad for Southee in the first two matches, and he will have Mitchell McClenaghan, Adam Milne and Doug Bracewell for company in the fast-bowling department.

NZ squad for first three ODIs

Brendon McCullum (c), Doug Bracewell, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry (first two ODIs)*, Mitchell McClenaghan, Adam Milne, Henry Nicholls, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson, George Worker.
*Tim Southee will join the squad for the third ODI.

The only new face among the 13 players picked was Henry Nicholls and Hesson was effusive in his praise of the 24-year-old batsman. “Henry has earned his spot through consistent performances over the last 12 months. Through the A campaign he was exceptional, certainly an outstanding player in all forms of the game. He’s a player we see has class and a player who we want to expose to the international scene sooner rather than later.”It is Nicholls’ first call-up to the New Zealand squad. He averages 44.07 after 34 List A matches, with eight fifties and a big hundred – 178 against Wellington in January. In fact, his 50-over career peaked in the 2014-15 season when he became the second-highest scorer in the Ford Trophy with 454 runs in eight matches at an average of 75.66 and a strike-rate of 105.82.Nicholls has been a middle-order batsman for most of his domestic career and might get his New Zealand cap sooner rather than later considering allrounders Corey Anderson, James Neesham and Grant Elliott are still recovering from injuries.Anderson has been playing in the Georgie Pie Super Smash for Northern Knights despite his bad back preventing him from bowling. “We are starting to increase his loads and he is likely to be considered for T20 cricket as a batsman, but we are hopeful that towards the back end of season he can play a role with the ball,” Hesson said. “We are taking a cautious approach with his return to bowling crease. So far he’s ticking the initial boxes.”Elliott had broken his hand recently, but stands a chance to make the team for the final two ODIs, according to Hesson. Neesham is still “a long way off from bowling,” after hurting his back during the Brisbane Test against Australia.”Elliott’s cast is off and he batted a couple of times in the nets. He will likely return for [Wellington] Firebirds in Ford Trophy on December 27 and if he proves his fitness, we hope he can come into consideration for the latter part of the series.”New Zealand have a newish spin attack as well with left-arm allrounder Mitchell Santner and legspinner Ish Sodhi the only two frontline options picked. Nathan McCullum, who had announced he would retire from international cricket at the end of the season, was not picked for the ODIs.”Nathan’s unlikely to be considered for one-day cricket with his body,” Hesson said “We see T20 about where his limit is. He’s had a lot of back issues but we have a number of promising spinners, looking to tournaments ahead, Mitch Santner and Ish Sodhi are going to need some opportunities.”Sri Lanka have won only one ODI series since the start of 2015 – their last one against West Indies – and that run began with a defeat in New Zealand in January. Hesson is hopeful of a repeat.”At home, we’ve been pretty hard to beat in last couple of years,” he said. “Winning both one-day series [ODIs and T20Is] is an expectation we have of ourselves. We know Sri Lanka have talented batsmen and pretty wily campaigners with the ball. But we certainly rate our own skills in New Zealand conditions. We’ve got a few new faces so nice to expose them around some older heads. Hopefully they can prove they ready to go.”

Match facts

January 17, 2016
Start time 1900 local (0600 GMT)Colin Munro has made 106 runs off 41 balls across his last two T20 innings•Getty Images

Big Picture

Sri Lanka and Pakistan have become used to rubbing each others’ backs over the past few years, as their boards have buddied up and organised tours on an annual basis. In New Zealand, Sri Lanka have gone the extra mile to do Pakistan a favour: by scoring so few runs in the previous series that New Zealand did not need their middle order to defeat them. That middle order then turned up rusty against Pakistan, on Friday. Corey Anderson, Grant Elliott, Mitchell Santner and Luke Ronchi all fell for single figures, within 18 runs of each other. The hosts’ chase never recovered.It is the variety, quality and experience in Pakistan’s attack that appears the greatest threat to New Zealand this series. In Wahab Riaz, Umar Gul and Mohammad Amir, the visitors have three sharp quicks, each with his own particular mode of attack. Imad Wasim has delivered tight left-arm spin since his arrival at the top level last year, while Shahid Afridi’s legspin continues to prosper. They also have Shoaib Malik’s part-time offbreaks, should any of their frontline options falter.New Zealand were without their best bowler – Tim Southee – and most experienced batsman – Ross Taylor – for that first game, however, and Taylor’s likely return in Hamilton will bolster that middle order. The openers will be eager regain their tone-setting form as well. Kane Williamson was made to seem human in that first match, having dropped a catch, run his partner out, and made a stalling start to his own innings. Mistakes from him have been both rare and rarely repeated.

Form guide

(last five matches, most recent first)

New Zealand: LWWWL
Pakistan: WLLLW

In the spotlight

In two Eden Park T20s, Colin Munro has struck 106 from 41 deliveries, sealing one game and keeping his team alive in the other. His clean striking has almost filled the firepower void left by Brendon McCullum’s absence. Munro has one foot in the World T20 squad. Another decent innings in either of the two coming matches will ensure he is on that flight to India.He may be approaching the end of his career, but Shahid Afridi is still the life of this Pakistan team’s party, cracking cameos from the middle order, striking star-man poses, and occasionally engaging teammates in animated on-field discussions. He hit a rapid 23, took two wickets and claimed three catches on Friday. Seddon Park is not quite as small as the ground in Auckland, but its dimensions will still suit Afridi’s manic hitting.

Team news

Taylor’s return after a one-match rest will probably force one of the frontline spinners out of the side. With New Zealand having seen plenty of Mitchell Santner over their summer, maybe they will give Todd Astle another run. Mitchell McClenaghan may also play, depending on whether he has recovered from the niggle that kept him out on Friday.New Zealand (probable): 1 Kane Williamson (capt.), 2 Martin Guptill, 3 Colin Munro 4 Corey Anderson, 5 Ross Taylor, 6 Grant Elliott, 7 Luke Ronchi (wk), 8 Todd Astle, 9 Adam Milne, 10 Matt Henry, 11 Trent BoultPakistan will probably keep an unchanged XI.Pakistan (probable): 1 Mohammad Hafeez, 2 Ahmed Shehzad, 3 Sohaib Maqsood , 4 Shoaib Malik, 5 Umar Akmal, 6 Shahid Afridi (capt), 7 Imad Wasim, 8 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 9 Wahab Riaz, 10 Umar Gul, 11 Mohammad Amir

Pitch and conditions

Limited-overs pitches in Hamilton have generally been conducive to high scores. The weather is expected to remain fine for the evening, with temperatures in the low 20-degrees Celsius range.

Stats and trivia

• Imad Wasim’s economy rate after six T20s is 4.77.
• New Zealand won the only other T20 these teams have played in Hamilton, in 2010.
• Kane Williamson has led New Zealand in 10 T20s, with his team having won exactly half.

Quotes

“We have a come across Afridi a few times in T20 and have a number of plans for him, but if you don’t execute then he is able to take you apart with the bat. That cameo gave them some impetus. With the ball, we were able to take to him early but he came back really well. He is a fine cricketer and he has been around a while so he is a pretty wily campaigner.”

Brad Haddin has questioned the selectors’ decision to expose the part-time wicketkeeper Cameron Bancroft by choosing him for the final Twenty20 match against India at the SCG. Bancroft had previously been in the Australian frame as an opening batsman, and his glove work at fault in a critical stumping chance offered by Suresh Raina.Cameron Boyce beat Raina through the air and off the pitch, but the ball rebounded hard off Bancroft’s gloves and eluded his grasp, allowing Raina to get back. Duly reprieved second ball, Raina played the match-winning hand for India, leaving Haddin to wonder why Bancroft had been chosen overs the likes of Tim Paine and Peter Nevill.”I’m a bit shocked with the decision to play Bancroft, because Tim Paine had a really good Big Bash, and Peter Nevill’s keeping has been outstanding,” Haddin told Sky Sports Radio on Monday. “His batting’s been faultless because he hasn’t had to bat all summer.”I think [Bancroft] is a tremendous character and a tremendous opening batter, I think it was a big call giving him the gloves, he only had a couple of games in the Big Bash, and last night there was a stumping missed by Raina early in his innings. My feeling’s that you should pick the best keeper, especially with the World Cup coming.”Haddin, who retired from international cricket after last year’s Ashes series in England, pointed out that Australia’s T20 plans seemed to feature the wicketkeeper batting down at Nos. 7 or 8 in the order, so wondered why the best pure gloveman was not being chosen. He had previously explained how his own comeback to the team in 2013 had been helped by the fact that Matthew Wade’s technique could not stand up to the challenge of keeping to spin in India.”Bancroft’s a part-time wicketkeeper, so I don’t know how Tim Paine and Peter Nevill are feeling this morning,” Haddin said. “My take’s always been is it’s a specialist position, the same as a spinner or an opening bowler, so you pick your best wicketkeeper.”By the looks of the Australian batting line-up the keeper’s going to bat down at seven and eight anyway, so you need them taking those half chances. I don’t really know the thinking behind playing Bancroft last night. But the chairman of selectors [Rod Marsh] is a wicketkeeper. I don’t really know his rationale behind it.”Australia’s acting captain Shane Watson had defended Bancroft, saying he should not be held responsible for the defeat. “I think Cameron Bancroft has done an excellent job for the Scorchers,” Watson said. “He had a good season and he batted very well against the Sydney Thunder out at Spotless Stadium, so in the end he performed and did a really good job.”I haven’t seen his ‘keeping that much, but he also saved some crucial balls as well. It’s a tough game. That ball also spun out of the rough. It was the first ball that really spun all night as well. You can’t just expose a guy on debut for missing a chance. That happens.”Even guys like Brad Haddin who played all the way through his career, it happens at times. So I would never expose a young guy. I think he’s done a great job to be able to get picked and he performed when he needed to. “With the gloves, he did a really good job outside of that (missed stumping).”In addition to taking the gloves for the Perth Scorchers due to an injury suffered by Sam Whiteman, Bancroft had also kept wicket in junior and club cricket, but never for Western Australia in first-class competition.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsFile photo – Junaid Khan dismissed Chris Gayle off the first ball of the match•AFP

Peshawar Zalmi’s bowling attack had another fine night as they smothered Lahore Qalandars to 117 for 6 to set up a nine-wicket victory.With Chris Gayle, Umar Akmal, Azhar Ali and Dwayne Bravo, Lahore have arguably the best batting line-up in the Pakistan Super League. But Peshawar had the upper hand right from the first ball – Junaid Khan went full and straight and Gayle’s stumps went for a toss. Two deliveries later, Cameron Delport was run out for a duck courtesy a direct hit from Shahid Yousuf at mid-on. Azhar (31), Akmal (21) and Bravo (32) helped Lahore last the full quota of overs. Left-arm spinner Mohammad Asghar picked up 2 for 11 and an economy rate of 2.75. Shahid Afridi, the captain, finished with 0 for 18 from his four overs.A required rate less than run-a-ball in the chase was never going to be a problem and it proved so as Peshawar openers Tamim Iqbal (55*) and Mohammad Hafeez (43) knocked off 80% of the target. They added 95 in 68 balls and the remaining 23 runs were secured with ease.

Vihaan Malhotra and Aaron George ‘s patient half-centuries helped India beat Sri Lanka in a rain-reduced game and set up an U-19 Asia Cup final with Pakistan.It was a game where the momentum kept changing hands. India had Sri Lanka at 28 for 3 after opting to bowl. Captain Vimath Dinsara and Chamika Heenatigala hit back with a 45-run stand, but Sri Lanka soon lost 3 for 11. A 62-run stand between Heenatigala and Sethmika Seneviratne followed, but India again turned it around in the final three overs.In reply, India were 25 for 2 as Sri Lanka sniffed a comeback. But Malhotra and George added an unbeaten 114 runs in a partnership of two halves: the first 62 runs they added took 51 balls, while the next 52 came off 36 deliveries. It was Malhotra who swung the game India’s way when he went 4, 4, 6 off Dulnith Sigera in the 13th over. Malhotra reached his fifty off 35 balls, while George took 43 balls.India’s win was set up after their bowlers restricted Sri Lanka to 138. Kishan Singh and Deepesh Devendran struck early, while Vedant Trivedi’s direct hit ran Kavija Gamage out in the sixth over.But Kanishk Chouhan struck twice in the 12th over, and Khilan Patel in the 13th, to force Sri Lanka to rebuild again. That brought Heenatigala and Seneviratne together. Seneviratne was the attacking of the two while Heenatigala, limping a little, was more patient. At 118 for 6 with three overs left, and with Seneviratne connecting it cleanly, Sri Lanka may have hoped to post 150. But just 20 runs amid two wickets in the last three overs applied the brakes on their scoring.India will meet Pakistan in the final on Sunday.

Fabrizio Romano took to Instagram on Saturday evening to make a claim on Tottenham captain Harry Kane after his starring display against Manchester City.

The Lowdown: Kane at the double

Kane has had a fairly quiet Premier League campaign by his standards, scoring just five times in 21 games prior to the trip to Manchester City.

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He saved his best display of the season for the side that made four approaches for his services over the summer, though, scoring twice in a dramatic 3-2 win.

The 28-year-old netted a brace in the second half to ensure Spurs completed the double over the defending champions, with his header in injury time proving to be the difference.

The Latest: Romano’s post

Romano took to Instagram to talk about Kane shortly after his stoppage-time winner at the Etihad.

He once again shared details of City’s four summer bids, revealing Fabio Paratici played a key part in the decision to keep the striker.

Romano then added that Kane’s relationship with Antonio Conte is understood to be ‘excellent’. The Italian wants Kane to be a key part of his long-term project, however, no decision has been made when it comes to penning new terms in north London.

The Verdict: Spurs still in control

Kane will still have two years remaining on his current contract in the summer, so Daniel Levy will still be in control when it comes to the forward’s future.

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Of course, in an ideal world, Kane would commit his future to the club by penning fresh terms, but for that to happen, Tottenham chiefs and Conte may need to convince the captain regarding the club’s long-term project.

A positive end to the current campaign along with promises to invest in the squad over the summer would be a strong start when it comes to persuading Kane, and hopefully, he can back up his display on Saturday to help Spurs in a push for the top four over the coming months.

In other news: Romano makes late night claim on more ‘good news for Spurs’ immediately after win at Man City. 

The European bureaucrats are at it again. Yesterday, UEFA’s Executive Committee rubberstamped a set of new regulatory measures designed to compel clubs to operate within their means. The new fiscal rules, which will take effect from 2012, are intended to facilitate financial and competitive fair play, meaning that clubs will (in theory) be competing on a more level playing field. The importance of promoting financial wellbeing is paramount; a survey of 650 clubs conducted by UEFA found that 50% of clubs were operating at a loss, and 20% were making massive losses. Perturbed by the meltdown of Portsmouth this season, Michel Platini and co insist that clubs must stick to the ‘break-even’ requirement, a requirement that will prohibit clubs from spending more than they earn through revenue.

Eager to prevent future benefactor-fuelled successes such as that of Chelsea (benefactor cash injections will be restricted), the new UEFA regulations are intended to make domestic leagues and European tournaments more competitive. However, genuine concerns have emerged that this may not be the case when the rules come into effect. Many believe that the policies may serve to reinforce existing ‘cartels’, thus making it harder for ‘smaller’ clubs to break into the upper echelons of their domestic leagues and into Europe. The top clubs are unsurprisingly the clubs with the largest financial revenues. This fact allows such privileged clubs to continue spending more money on the world’s best players, subsequently ensuring that their places within the upper reaches of domestic leagues are retained.

Other articles I have read on this matter have highlighted how clubs like Fulham will suffer from this ruling. A comparatively small club, their recent run in the Europa League was bankrolled (to some extent) by chairman Mohamed Al-Fayed. Under the new regulations, ‘fairytale’ runs like this will be harder to achieve; Fulham make a relatively small income, but are funded by donations from Al-Fayed. Breaking into the European spots will be harder still for a club of Fulham’s stature.

The aims behind UEFA’s latest set of regulations are undeniably admirable, but will they have the desired effect when they come into force?

Follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/zarifrasul

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