Daryl Tuffey’s involvement in the one-day series against Australia is over after a shocking performance in the third ODI at Auckland on Saturday.Tuffey started with four no-balls and four wides in a 14-ball opening over, eventually conceding 25 runs in a two-over spell. It took his total to 145 runs off 18 overs in the three games, and that left Stephen Fleming far from amused.”There was a lot of faith put in him for this game," Fleming told the Sunday Star Times. "There were question marks over his form from the first two games and that performance was certainly not up to international standard. You have got to be pretty disappointed when he bowled so well for us in the past and then he puts in a performance like that.”New Zealand coach John Bracewell went further, saying that Tuffey was suffering from a complete lack of confidence and would be sent to the New Zealand Cricket High Performance Centre to work with sports psychologist Gilbert Enoka and academy director Dayle Hadlee. "He went through a period of denial with his technique," Bracewell admitted. "It’s escalated and grown on him to a certain extent and he’s got to come to terms with that. It’s simple confidence, I don’t think he’s ever regained his confidence from his knee issue. That has affected his technique. He’s falling away."Tuffey’s problems might be in the mind, but Michael Papps’s were more physical. He was forced to go to hospital for a scan after being struck on the head twice by Brett Lee bouncers, one of which left a dent in his helmet and a large swelling on the side of his head. Despite continuing dizziness he was later discharged."They went hard at Michael," Fleming admitted. "They were always going to head hunt him because they knew he was probably going to be the guy opening in the Tests."

Michael Vaughan has indicated that he could move up to No. 3 in the batting order for the Tests this season. Vaughan has batted at the position only six times in his Test career so far, but suggested it was an option for the summer’s matches against Bangladesh and Australia.Speaking to the media in Stormont, Belfast, where Yorkshire were playing Ireland in a C&G Trophy match, he said: “Batting at three is an option. We’ve talked about it. A couple of the players we’re mentioning for selection might depend on whether I bat there or not. I certainly wouldn’t turn down batting at three. It’s not a massive change. Whatever’s best for the team, really.”Vaughan batted at No. 4 throughout last season, but had a rather indifferent time, averaging just 30.75 in the five-Test series in South Africa. His best stats are by far at the top of the order, where he has scored ten of his 13 hundreds and averages 49.70 in 31 matches, but with Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Strauss sealing those spots, No. 3 might be the next-best option for him.If he moves up the order, Mark Butcher will almost certainly miss out through the entire season. Butcher has been struggling with a wrist injury and is virtually ruled out of the two-Test series against Bangladesh. In such a scenario, the battle for No. 5 slot will also hot up. Robert Key, Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen are the leading contenders at the moment, but while Key and Bell have already scored centuries in county matches this season, Pietersen has struggled, making four single-digit scores and one half-century in his first five innings.”A lot of the England players who have come back haven’t scored many runs,” Vaughan admitted, probably hinting at the form of Trescothick, Strauss and Thorpe, who have all had a poor start to the season. “They’ll be feeling they need time in the middle over the next three weeks.” Vaughan himself hasn’t played a competitive game for nearly three months, and was eager for a good hit. “A good hundred under my belt for Yorkshire would do me the world of good.”England’s international season begins with the first Test against Bangladesh at Lord’s from May 26, while the Ashes starts on July 21.

Brad Hodge has signed a four-deal with Victoria, which will see him stay with the state until at least 2009-10. The move ended the chance of a surprise switch to New South Wales after they offered him a contract at the end of the season.Hodge, 30, who is currently playing for Lancashire, said he was looking forward to finishing his state days with the Bushrangers. “Victoria is my home, I have established my career here and it has provided me with the opportunity to chase my dream of representing my country.”He said the offer from New South Wales was a good one and deserved to be considered. “However, I am looking forward to furthering my career in Victoria,” he said. “I see some exciting times ahead, both as an individual and as part of the Bushrangers.”The signing of Hodge is another positive for the Bushrangers following the decision of Jon Moss to stay, and the coach Greg Shipperd was delighted his No. 3 was remaining in Melbourne. “Brad is an integral part of our team,” he said. “He has been the backbone of our batting line up for many years and his consistency and leadership are respected and admired by all.”Hodge has been included in Australia’s Test squad for the Ashes series and will join up with the side in July after his stint at Old Trafford.

Australians 321 for 4 (Hayden 107, Symonds 92*, Martyn 85) beat Leicestershire 226 for 8 (Hogg 3-56, Gibson 50) by 95 runs
Scorecard

England’s bowlers may have stolen the show at the Rose Bowl today, but up at Grace Road, Australia’s batsmen served up a timely reminder that stiffer tasks lie ahead. Led by a thumping 107 from Matthew Hayden and iced with a thrilling 59-ball 92 not out from Andrew Symonds, the Aussies ran riot, racking up a massive 321 for 4 in their 50 overs against Leicestershire, to ensure an overwhelming 95-run victory in their warm-up for the NatWest Series.Leicestershire did at least save face with the bat, batting out their full quota of overs, but victory never entered the equation. Tom New and Darren Maddy were pinned down from the start by Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath, and when Brad Hogg ripped out the middle-order with a three-wicket burst, Leicestershire had slumped to 120 for 6 and a rout beckoned.But Otis Gibson and Paul Nixon combined with a face-saving 94-run stand for the ninth wicket. Gibson’s 50 came from just 49 balls, including six fours and a six, and was only ended when McGrath returned for his second spell. All of Australia’s frontline bowlers claimed at least one wicket, with McGrath’s 2 for 33 from 10 overs the pick.Australia’s performance in the field was merely steady – but their batting had been spectacular. Hayden led the charge with 107 from 96 balls, and his example rubbed off on his team-mates. Damien Martyn anchored the performance with a solid and typically stylish 85, but it was left to Symonds to apply the coup de grace. He belted 10 fours and three sixes in a 59-ball onslaught, and was left just eight short of his hundred when the overs ran out.Following on from their Twenty20 victory over the Professional Cricketers’ Association at Arundel, the Australians proved once again that they are fully focused ahead of a tough tour. They won the toss and chose to bat first, and though Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting both fell cheaply, the Leicestershire attack was unable to stem the runs.Charl Willoughby, with figures of 0 for 37 from seven overs, was the best of the bowlers, but the spinners Jeremy Snape and Claude Henderson were taken apart, with 17 runs coming off one Henderson over. With England’s top-order faltering at The Rose Bowl, Australia have just ramped up the pressure another notch.

The domestic season may be less than a fortnight old, but some of the players and officials are already unhappy with the schedule, with accusations that the Red Stripe Bowl is dragging on too long.The centre of the unease is Barbados, where Tony Martin, their manager, has blamed the organisers for a punishing fixture-list which means that his side have to spend almost three weeks constantly travelling and playing matches. “This year has been the same as years before and the administrators should look at a rethink,” Howard told the Nation newspaper. “If we had two grounds here we could have completed the preliminaries in a week, and then have the semis and final the following week. In that way the tournament would be over in two weeks.”And Howard is also critical of the competition rules which allow for no rain day in the semi-finals and final. “There should be reserve days allocated,” he explained. “It makes no sense spending days waiting around then to have your semi-final rained out and you’re on your way home.”

The first 20 over-a-side international club tournament is set to go ahead at Grace Road, the home ground of Leicestershire, after the ECB gave clearance for the event. Despite being knocked out in the semi-finals of the Twenty20 on Saturday, Leicestershire are expected to be one of the sides taking part. has reported that one other English county will take part along with a South African side, a World XI as well as Indian and Pakistani teams. The Professional Cricketer’s Association would also produce a Master’s XI.An ECB spokesman told BBC Sport: “It’s not an official ECB competition but we have no objection at all to it going ahead.” The ECB hold the rights to the “Twenty20” branding so a small change of title will be required for this new tournament.The venture is being organised by Investors in Cricket (IIC), the consortium which is now in charge of running Leicestershire. They are keen to tap into the huge Asian market in the area and also aim to take this club version of the game to other countries in the near future.

Digicel, the current sponsors of the West Indies team, have expressed “concern and disappointment” over the leaked report recently prepared by Justice Anthony Lucky, the chairman of the sponsorship negotiations review committee. The report – which observed that the Digicel deal could be declared null and void – was handed over to Ken Gordon, the chairman of the board, and was not expected to be made public.Ben Atherton, Digicel’s group marketing director, said in a press release, “We feel that the release of such unofficial reviews and leaked information does not serve the best interest of West Indies cricket or the objectives of the West Indies Cricket Board [WICB] Sponsorship Negotiations Review Committee in helping to move West Indies cricket forward in a positive manner.”We have co-operated to the fullest extent with the Sponsorship Review Committee’s initiative established by the WICB and respectfully await the official review of the committee report by the president of the WICB Mr Ken Gordon and the full board of the WICB.”He added that Digicel had entered the agreement in “good faith”, reaffirming their commitment to support the development of the regional game.”Digicel entered its sponsorship contract with the WICB in good faith with a view to encourage the return of West Indies cricket to its true potential. We are committed to helping West Indies cricket move forward in a positive manner, a development which will be welcomed by all parties and we are offering our support to both the WICB and WIPA [West Indies Players Association].”The release also said that Digicel’s main focus was “providing the necessary resources and support for players and fans to enjoy all of the benefits of the game now and in the future.”

All reigning domestic Twenty20 champions from around the world will take part in a six-team tournament at Leicester between September 15 and 17. Pakistan’s Faisalabad Wolves and Sri Lanka’s Chilaw Marians will both participate in the inaugural International Club ChampionshipOrganisers are pleased with the levels of interest in the event, and the aim of getting all the major club sides appears to have been fulfilled. In addition to the Pakistan and Sri Lankan sides, two other domestic champions – Somerset (England) and Titans (South Africa) – will be taking part.The number will be made up by Leicestershire and a PCA Masters XI which will feature a number of England players, both past and present.In the first round group stage teams will be awarded two points for a win and one for a tie with the top two teams in each group going through to the semi-finals.

West Indian fast bowler Vasbert Drakes is to join the Scotland side for one match only – their final home game in the National League on Sunday September 18, against Warwickshire.Drakes, 36, has played 12 Test matches and has taken more than 600 wickets in first-class cricket in a career spanning 13 years.He has played in Scotland before, making his first appearance in a benefit match for Gordon Greenidge when he was the professional at Greenock Cricket Club, and most recently as a member of the celebrity Lashings team which played Scotland in a Twenty20 match last year.

Career-bests from Goolam Bodi (143) and Renato Almeida (5 for 18) provided the catalyst for Easterns who inflicted a humiliating defeat over Gauteng. Facing a target of 219 runs, after Bodi’s near six-hour innings, Gauteng collapsed in dramatic fashion to the pace bowling of Almeida to be scuttled for a mere 85 runs, giving their neighbours an unexpected 133-run victory.Nick van Woerkom’s knock of 53 allowed the home team, Northerns, to declare at 218 for seven, setting North West a tricky target of 279. With wickets falling all around him, and facing a big target, Driaan Steyn showed a lot of composure to go to his maiden hundred that allowed North West to walk away with a creditable draw. Pierre Joubert followed up his first innings six-wicket haul taking 3 for 29 as North West reached 190 for 8 when time ran out.Bowlers had the upper hand in the KwaZulu-Natal Western Province clash with 21 of the 30 wickets falling going to three bowlers. First it was Rory Kleinveldt for Western Province taking 5 for 42 as Natal were bowled out for 164 in their first innings. Robert Frylinck then replied with 6 for 94 as Western Province scored 244 thanks to an unbeaten 115 from Kleinveldt. Natal’s second innings saw Quentin Friend add 7 for 31 to his 3 for 48 for the first innings as the home team only managed 150. Western Province wasted no time in knocking off the 71 for victory without losing a wicket.