Former England captain Mike Denness no more

Mike Denness, the only Scotsman to captain England, has died of cancer at the age of 72, on Friday.

Denness, a stylish right-hander who led England in 19 of his 28 Tests, dropped himself for the fourth Test at Sydney on the 1974-75 tour of Australia after he was unable to cope with the pace and fury of quick bowlers Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson.

He scored 188 in the final match at Melbourne but Thomson was absent through injury and Lillee bowled only six overs before breaking down.

Both bowlers were back in action in the first Test of the 1975 series, which Australia won by an innings on a rain-affected pitch, and Denness did not represent England again.

After retiring, Denness became a match referee but his decision to sanction six Indian players, including Sachin Tendulkar, during a Test against South Africa in Port Elizabeth in 2001-02 sparked a row that led to both teams barring him from officiating in the next match.

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Flintoff queries Pietersen's future

England batsman Kevin Pietersen may consider quitting Test cricket after this year's back-to-back Ashes series against Australia, his former team-mate Andrew Flintoff said on Thursday.

 

Pietersen, 32, has been ruled out of next month's two-match Test series at home to New Zealand because of a knee injury he sustained during fielding practice in the away series against the same side last month.

"I wouldn't read too much into his not playing New Zealand, Kevin will be ready (for the Ashes)," retired all-rounder Flintoff told Sky Sports News.

"There are 10 Tests against Australia in the next few months, I expect England to win and expect Kevin to be part of that.

"But I would be quite interested to see if Kevin tries to play test cricket after that."

Last year, Pietersen committed to playing for England in all three forms of the game until at least 2015 after making peace with the England and Wales Cricket Board in a row over ‘provocative’ text messages that led to him being dropped.

The former England captain said he would play "as long as my body allows".

England and Australia are playing back-to-back Ashes series this year to move the series out of its position directly ahead of the World Cup in the international cricket calendar.

"We'll see what happens after that, if he is lured away to play IPL (Indian Premier League) and Twenty20 cricket around the world," Flintoff said.

"I've got a sneaking suspicion he'll be looking at those 10 Tests and then consider his future."

Pietersen has played 94 Tests since making his debut against Australia in 2005, scoring 7,499 runs at an average of 49.01. He has hit 22 Test hundreds.

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Pietersen ruled out of NZ series

Star England batsman Kevin Pietersen has been ruled out of next month’s home Test series with New Zealand due to a knee injury, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Tuesday.

The 32-year-old had already been ruled out of the final Test match away to New Zealand due to the persistent problem in his right knee.
He was originally expected to miss six to eight weeks and has now been discounted from the two-match series.
“@kevinpp24 [Pietersen] has been ruled out of the Investec Test series vs @BLACKCAPS [New Zealand] as he continues his recovery from bone bruising to his right knee,” said the ECB on their @ECB_cricket Twitter feed.
“Pietersen will have a repeat scan next week to determine when he is able to resume training.”
The flamboyant batsman said he was keeping his “fingers crossed” that he will return to fitness in time for England’s defence of the Ashes against Australia, which begins at Trent Bridge on July 10.
Writing on Twitter, he said: “Injuries are a sportsman’s worst nightmare! This one is hurting me the most..”
Responding to supportive messages from his followers, he said that he was “trying” to be fit for the Ashes series and had his “fingers crossed”.
The Surrey and Delhi Daredevils right-hander first suffered pain in his knee during a warm-up game in New Zealand before the drawn away Test series in March.
The talented batsman was withdrawn from the 2013 Indian Premier League season, which takes place in April and May, due to the injury, which consists of bruising on the bone and cartilage damage in the kneecap.
The South African-born player only returned to the England fold in October following a controversial spat with ex-England captain Andrew Strauss.

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Eng focus on World Cup

Champions Trophy tournament director Steve Elworthy believes it is vital this summer’s competition is a success for English cricket and used as a platform to build for the 2019 World Cup.
England are hosting the premier event in six years’ time using what will be a similar format to this summer’s eight-team competition. The 15-game Champions Trophy will take place over 17 days at Edgbaston, The Oval and the Swalec Stadium this June.
“It’s incredibly important it is a success now so we can build for 2019, when we host it,” said Elworthy. “It’s a shame it [the Champions Trophy] is pencilled in to be the last one, it really is a fantastic tournament. I think it will reflect a lot closer to what the 2019 World Cup will be — a 10-team tournament.”
He added: “I definitely think it is about that shorter period, getting a global event played within a month — and that is definitely an attraction.
“It can tend to drag on, but this particular tournament is three weeks and has the top eight teams, it has an attraction.
“From a media, promotion and broadcaster’s perspective it is absolutely appealing.”
That appeal could have been dampened with the tournament taking place during an Ashes summer, but with seven of the matches sold out barring returns, there is certainly interest.
“At the back of your mind there is always going to be a bit of a niggle — I would be lying if I said that wasn’t the case,” Elworthy said.
“It does attract the other nations. The Ashes of course is a huge event in itself, but the Sri Lankans, Pakistan, West Indies fans are drawn. Those supporters are very passionate and will come out in their thousands to support their team.”

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England pick 4 uncapped players

England named four uncapped players on Thursday in a provisional 30-man squad for the ICC Champions Trophy in England and Wales in June.

The selectors included uncapped Yorkshire batsman Gary Ballance, Warwickshire opener Varun Chopra and seamers James Harris and Chris Wright in the squad which will be cut to 15 players by May 5.

"This is a balanced squad which will provide the selectors with strong options in all areas and reflects players' performances for both the senior England teams and the England Lions and EPP squads over the winter period," said national selector Geoff Miller in a statement.

England are hosting the tournament, featuring the best eight one-day international teams playing across 15 matches in 18 days, for the first time since 2004.

The opening game will be in Cardiff on June 6 while the final is at Edgbaston on June 23.

SQUAD:

Alastair Cook (capt), James Anderson, Gary Ballance, Jonny Bairstow, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Varun Chopra, Rikki Clarke, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, James Harris, Craig Kieswetter, Stuart Meaker, Eoin Morgan, Graham Onions, Samit Patel, Kevin Pietersen, Joe Root, Graeme Swann, James Taylor, James Tredwell, Jonathan Trott, Chris Wright, Luke Wright, Chris Woakes

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Tremlett returns to England squad

Surrey fast bowler Chris Tremlett was on Tuesday named in England’s 30-man squad for the mid-year international season. The 31-year-old has not played a Test match since January 2012 due to a long-standing back problem and last featured in a first-class match in July last year.

But he has been handed an opportunity to prove he is fit enough for the rigours of international cricket, having played an important role in England’s 2010-11 Ashes success in Australia.

There was no place for Nottinghamshire batsman James Taylor, however, despite gritty performances in the two Tests against South Africa last year.

He did not feature in either of the two most recent Test series and was the captain of the England Lions side routed 4-0 by Australia A in their one-day international series earlier this year.

England Performance Squad 2013

Alastair Cook (Test and one-day captain), Stuart Broad (Twenty20 captain), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Jos Buttler, Nick Compton, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, James Harris, Craig Kieswetter, Michael Lumb, Stuart Meaker, Eoin Morgan, Graham Onions, Monty Panesar, Samit Patel, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior, Joe Root, Graeme Swann, James Tredwell, Chris Tremlett, Jonathan Trott, Chris Woakes, Luke Wright

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Swann on track to return for Ashes showdown

England spinner Graeme Swann has revealed he is on course to return from an elbow injury in time for this year’s Ashes showdown against Australia.

Swann was sidelined for England’s recent drawn Test series in New Zealand after undergoing surgery in the United States earlier this month in an attempt to cure the long-standing problem.

He first visited the specialist clinic in Minnesota in 2009 and the treatment allowed him to feature as England reclaimed the Ashes from Australia later that year.

But the elbow problem flared up again just before the first Test in New Zealand earlier this year, leading to concerns over Swann’s long-term future.

Fortunately the surgery appears to have been successful and Swann plans to be bowling by the end of next month and available for the return series against New Zealand in May which serves as a warm-up for the Ashes.

“I feel great. I want to be back as soon as possible because I’m bored stupid already,” Swann said on Thursday.

“I think it would kill me if I sit down and watch too much cricket at the start of the summer without being an active part of it. I want to play as much as I can.”

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Pull up your socks: Andy Flower

England coach Andy Flower admits his players will need to show significant improvement from their drawn series against New Zealand if they are to retain the Ashes against Australia this year.

Flower’s side narrowly avoided a shock defeat in the Test series in New Zealand this week after grinding out a nerve-jangling draw in Auckland after the previous two matches had also ended in stalemate.
England were relieved to avoid the embarrassment of losing to a team who came into the series in disarray following a poor run of results and controversy over Ross Taylor’s removal as captain.
But Flower knows that kind of lacklustre showing won’t be enough against Australia, who travel to face England before hosting a second Ashes series later this year.
“We’ve got a big year of international cricket and we will need to be sharper, better and more skilful,” Flower told BBC Radio Five Live.
“But it has been a wonderful winter and to win in India was a really special moment. The only series we have lost was the one-day series in India.”
While England were struggling to avoid defeat in New Zealand, Australia were slumping to a dismal 4-0 series loss in India, where Flower’s men won 2-1 three months earlier.
Even so, Flower refused to write off the Australians and preferred to focus on England’s forthcoming rematch against New Zealand on home soil, which serves as a warm-up for the Ashes.
“They had a tough time out there [in India]. It’s a really tough place to tour,” said Flower.
“The Ashes are a little way off. There is some great cricket to be played in the meantime, by us, we hope.”
England, ranked the second best Test side in the world, were criticised for showing complacency against New Zealand, yet Flower insisted they had not taken their opponents lightly.
“We place importance on all international series and it would be disrespectful to do anything other than that — there was no complacency in our camp,” he said.
“We understood it would be a tough challenge to come here and win. Just because you are ranked above another team it doesn’t give you the right to win any series.”
Flower was unimpressed with some of England’s play however, and he conceded their problems were entirely of their own making.

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Kiwis win Cook’s heart

England captain Alastair Cook acknowledged New Zealand as moral winners of their drawn series on Tuesday, saying the David and Goliath battle had definitely gone David’s way.

England started the series ranked second in the world to New Zealand’s eighth placing. Even though none of the three Tests produced a result, New Zealand were the dominant side in two of them.
“They had the best of the first match, we had the best of the second Test match and they’ve outplayed us here, but at no stage did we underestimate them,” Cook said after the dramatic end to the third Test.
The first two drawn Tests were both abbreviated by rain, but with fine weather throughout the five days in Auckland the deciding match went down to the wire.
In a desperate final session, England were down to their last pair for 19 balls but Matt Prior, who made 110, and Monty Panesar held on for the draw.
Panesar narrowly missed playing-on with the first ball he faced and later almost ran himself out when he dived well short of his ground on a quick single to get off strike.
England also counted their luck at one point when the ball hit Prior’s stumps but failed to dislodge the bails.
However, what mattered for England was that he survived.
“There’s a huge amount of relief,” Cook said when stumps were drawn.
“We’ve had to fight over these five days. New Zealand have outplayed us in this game but I can be very proud of the English guys led by Matty Prior and Ian Bell, (who) were fantastic.
“The never say die attitude and that fight you need in Test cricket, we showed a lot of that in this series.”
The fighting spirit was no better expressed than by the record effort of Stuart Broad as England batted for survival in their second innings.
He went 102 minutes without scoring, one minute more than the previous scoreless record set by New Zealand’s Geoff Allott against South Africa 14 years ago.
Cook said the one consolation for England was that despite being outplayed they proved they were a difficult side to beat.
“If we’re being honest we didn’t play as well as we’d have liked, but that should not detract from how well New Zealand played,” he said.

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NZ thwarted by Prior

A defiant, unbeaten century by Matt Prior saw England snatch an unlikely draw in a dramatic end to the third Test Tuesday as a fired up New Zealand attack were denied an historic victory by one wicket.

England were holding on by a thread at the close as Prior sought to shield last man in Monty Panesar from the bowling for the last three overs in a cliff-hanger finish to the Test and the series. At the close, Prior was unbeaten on 110, his seventh Test century, and England were 315 for nine.

A despondent New Zealand were left wondering what the outcome would have been had two regulation catches in the final over before lunch not been dropped.

New Zealand, with innings of 443 and 241 for six declared, batted England out of the Test and the tourists were never serious about chasing their 481-run second innings target.

Instead they faced a battle for survival and when they resumed the final day at 90 for four the odds were heavily in New Zealand's favour.

At lunch, the Test still belonged to New Zealand with England at 158 for five and Joe Root gone for 29. Bairstow was gone for six soon after play resumed but Bell made the most of his opportunity as he and Prior put on 78 before he was removed in the last over before tea and England were 237 for seven.

But luck stayed with Prior who beat two appeals for caught behind that went to review on 18. On 20 he was dropped by Neil Wagner and on 28 the ball deflected off his helmet and on to the stumps but the bails did not come off.

As he continued to march towards his seventh Test century after tea he was joined by a record low-scoring Stuart Broad who blocked and shouldered for 61 deliveries and 102 minutes before finally getting off the mark. His scoreless reign beat the previous record of 101 minutes without scoring set by New Zealand fast bowler Geoff Allott against South Africa 14 years ago.

With a possible victory slipping away, New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum again turned to part-time spinner Kane Williamson who had removed Alastair Cook and nightwatchman Steven Finn the previous day.

Again Williamson delivered. In the space of three deliveries he had Broad and James Anderson caught at first slip by Ross Taylor and England found themselves nine down with only Panesar left to support Prior and 19 balls remaining.

Prior was able to protect Panesar from all but five deliveries which the England spinner was able to keep out.

England 204 (Prior 73, Boult 6-68) and 315/9 (Prior 110*, Bell 75, Williamson 4-44) drew with New Zealand 443 (Fulton 136, Williamson 91, Finn 6-125) and 241/6 dec (Fulton 110, McCullum 67*)

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Kiwis have England firmly on ropes

Two crucial wickets to part-time spinner Kane Williamson put New Zealand firmly in charge of the final Test on Monday as England, facing a world record target of 481, slumped to 90 for four at stumps.

On a day that belonged to the Black Caps, with recalled batsman Peter Fulton blasting his second century of the match, England made a disastrous start to the daunting run chase on a turning Eden Park wicket.
By the close of play they were batting for survival with any hope of an unlikely victory long gone, and even a draw looking improbable.
For England to win, they would have to post the most successful fourth-innings chase in Test history. The current record is held by the West Indies, who scored 418 for seven to beat Australia at Antigua in 2003.
But that never looked likely as Tim Southee claimed Nick Compton for two in the second over and Jonathan Trott followed for 37, caught behind off Neil Wagner, to have England at 60 for two.
Captain Alastair Cook, who was dropped on one, set about consolidating the innings with Ian Bell as they put on 30 runs in 25 overs.
But in the dying moments of the day occasional tweaker Williamson claimed two wickets in four balls as Cook went for 43 and nightwatchman Steven Finn failed to score.
Williamson had the remarkable figures of two for five off 6.1 overs.
Bell, intent on preservation, was not out eight after facing 89 balls in nearly two hours—in sharp contrast to the lusty batting spree earlier by Fulton and Brendon McCullum who mocked the England attack.
They belted 117 runs in a 101-ball partnership as they raced to put New Zealand into an imposing position before declaring at 241 for six midway through the afternoon session.
The 34-year-old Fulton, after posting 136 in the first innings, scored 110 in his second turn at bat to become only the fourth New Zealand batsman, and the first in 22 years, to score back-to-back centuries in a Test.
New Zealand resumed the day at 35 for three and cracked 141 off 26 overs in the morning session.
Dean Brownlie, who had done a sterling job with Fulton to resurrect the innings after New Zealand were eight for three on Sunday, was the only wicket to fall before lunch.
He fell to an exceptional catch by Bell who ran 25 metres from mid-on to clasp the ball in a desperate lurch which left him sprawled on the ground.
McCullum then joined Fulton to belt the England attack around the small ground with Fulton, who was dropped on 31, showing no sign of the nervous 90s as he brought up his century by smashing Stuart Broad over his head for six.
It was the fifth time he had cleared the ropes in an innings that also included 14 fours.
McCullum was 67 not out in an innings that included three sixes and five fours when he declared with the dismissal of BJ Watling for 18.
For England, Monty Panesar took two wickets, although his 9.2 overs conceded 53 runs while Broad took two for 54 off 17 overs.
The first two Tests in the three-match series were rain-affected draws.

England 204 & 90/4 (Cook 43, Williamson 2-5) need another 391 runs v New Zealand 443 & 241/6 dec (Fulton 110, McCullum 67*)

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Kiwis gain big lead

New Zealand imploded at the start of their second innings as they set out to build on a daunting 239-run first innings lead on the third day of the final Test against England on Sunday.

At stumps at Eden Park in the series-deciding final Test, New Zealand were three for 35, leading by 274 after dismissing England for 204.
Opener Peter Fulton, who scored his maiden Test century in the first innings, was unbeaten on 14 which included three boundaries, with Dean Brownlie on 13.
In a chaotic final session of play, eight wickets fell for 39 runs as the England tail collapsed and the New Zealand top order followed suit, increasing the chances of a decision in the deadlocked series.
The rain-abbreviated first two Tests were drawn but only fine weather is forecast for Auckland over the next two days.
New Zealand decided not to enforce the follow on after ripping out the England tail after tea as they gambled on bowling last on a deteriorating wicket.
But the strategy appeared to backfire as Hamish Rutherford fell on the third ball he faced to start a collapse that reduced New Zealand to eight for three after eight overs before Fulton and Brownlie steered them through to stumps.
The New Zealand batting failure came after their strike bowlers Tim Southee and Trent Boult had ripped through the England tail, taking the last five wickets for 31 runs.
The eight dismissals after tea occurred in the space of 18 overs as the wicket which supported the New Zealand batsmen to a first innings 443 began to show assistance for the bowlers.
For New Zealand, left-armer Boult produced his best Test figures of six for 68 while Southee finished with three for 44.
Broad had the remarkable figures of two for seven from seven overs for England.
He removed Rutherford for a duck with a rising delivery that was flicked to Ian Bell in the gully and trapped Ross Taylor (three) leg before wicket.

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Finn keeps England in hunt

Fast bowler Steven Finn equalled his career best Test figures of six for 125 as England fought their way back into the deciding third Test against New Zealand at Eden Park on Saturday.

At stumps on the second day, England were 50 for two, 393 runs in arrears after dismissing New Zealand for 443 soon after tea.
Finn, who in the morning session claimed the prized New Zealand scalp of Peter Fulton for 136, ripped out the tail taking the final four wickets in the space of 21 balls.
England made an uncomfortable start to their reply when Alastair Cook was snapped up down the leg side by wicketkeeper BJ Watling off Trent Boult for four at the start of the third over.
Jonathan Trott reached 27 before he followed Cook back to the pavilion when Boult beat him off the pitch to be leg before wicket and England were two for 44.
Nick Compton (12 not out) and Ian Bell (six not out) then took a no risk approach through to stumps with only six runs scored in the final nine overs.
While New Zealand had reason to feel satisfied with their bowling, it was a disappointing end to the innings after resuming the day at 250 for one.
The overnight pair of Fulton and Kane Williamson added a further 10 runs before the final nine wickets fell for 183 on a placid wicket as Finn equalled his best figures of six for 125 set against Australia at Brisbane in 2010.
Wicketkeeper Matt Prior was the other standout performer for England, taking five catches behind the stumps, including a spectacular one-handed diving effort to remove Fulton.
The 34-year-old Fulton, who posted his maiden Test century, was in the middle for nearly eight hours and featured in a 181-run stand for the second wicket with Williamson (91).
However, New Zealand will be disappointed no other batsman was able to reach a half century.
Tim Southee managed 44 in a late cameo that included two sixes and four fours, but his dismissal in the third over after tea triggered a rapid end to the innings as the last three wickets fell in four overs.
Finn ended sitting on a hattrick after removing Watling (21) and Boult in successive balls.
England took three wickets in the morning session starting with the removal of Williamson who was in sight of his fourth Test century when he edged James Anderson to Prior.
Fulton’s marathon innings came to an end at 136 when he whipped Finn down the leg side only to see the athletic Prior just manage to get a glove to the ball and make the catch stick.
Former New Zealand captain Ross Taylor produced a quick 19 before he was caught and bowled to give Monty Panesar his only wicket of the innings.
Brendon McCullum’s dismissal on the second ball he faced was overturned on review.

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Fulton puts New Zealand in control

A maiden century from opening batsman Peter Fulton put New Zealand on track for a big first innings total on day one of the third and deciding Test against England at Eden Park on Friday.

New Zealand were 250 for one at stumps with Fulton unbeaten on 124 and Kane Williamson 83 not out after a frustrating day for England’s bowlers.
England skipper Alastair Cook was punished after winning the toss and making New Zealand bat on a drop-in Auckland wicket that was expected to offer his attack more pace and bounce than the lifeless pitches in Dunedin and Wellington.
Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum said it was ‘judgement day’ for his batting line-up after they were put in for the first time this series—and they came through with flying colours.
Eden Park proved another flat track that harboured no demons, allowing them to dominate, with England’s only wicket for the day coming from a rash shot by Hamish Rutherford (37) just before lunch.
While England’s bowlers were tight, sending down 27 maidens through the day, the New Zealanders kept the runs ticking over thanks to the short boundaries at Eden Park, which is normally used as a rugby venue.
Fulton’s century was the highlight, reviving a Test career he feared over before he was recalled for this series after more than three years in the wilderness.
‘I’ve played a few Test matches and now I’ve got one (a century),’ the right-hander said. ‘If I’m being brutally honest, at the start of this season I thought maybe my time had come and gone.’
Fulton, whose previous best was 75, managed a 79-run partnership with Rutherford then combined with Williamson for an unbeaten 171 in New Zealand’s best batting performance in the series.
The 34-year-old looked nervous as he stalled on 99 for nine deliveries before finally securing a century that included 14 fours and three sixes to a standing ovation from the home crowd.
He used up a life on 16 when a James Anderson inswinger nicked the edge of his bat and narrowly avoided the slips cordon before running away to the boundary.
Another mistake a few overs later off a short Broad delivery flew away for six.
He worked patiently with Rutherford to see off the new ball, the pair content to take just 17 runs off the first 10 overs.
Rutherford showed flashes of aggression hitting two sixes off Monty Panesar but came undone trying to do the same to Steve Finn minutes before lunch.
Williamson was uncomfortable early on but settled into a solid supporting role, notching his seventh Test half century to build on his 55 not out in the second Test in Wellington.
After an energy-sapping day in the field for the tourists, Fulton said the Black Caps needed to press home their advantage in the search for a series-clinching victory.
‘We’ve just got to get out there again tomorrow and carry on, when you get there and you get in you want to make the most of it,’ he said.
While the weather forced draws in the first two Tests, clear skies are forecast until early next week in Auckland, increasing the likelihood of a result.

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Cook defends Pietersen decision

England captain Alastair Cook was forced to defend the decision to allow top batsman Kevin Pietersen to play the first two Tests against New Zealand despite being hampered by a knee injury that forced him out of the series decider starting today.

Pietersen withdrew late on Wednesday for the third and final match at Eden Park after he played the first two Tests of the series.
The 32-year-old was experiencing discomfort in a warm-up match prior to the first Test at University Oval and spent time off the field in Dunedin, where he looked out of sorts while fielding.
He played the second game at the Basin Reserve but the England team management and medical staff decided not to risk aggravating his injury any further in Auckland as Cook’s side prepare for back-to-back Ashes series later this year.
‘It was done on a game by game basis. Before every game ... you do what you do with every player and assess them before every game,’ Cook told reporters at Eden Park.
‘Clearly he felt, and we felt, he could get through those two games and this game might be a step too far.
‘It has got progressively worse so we made the decision that he would now go home and it will be looked at.’
Pietersen will return to England later on Thursday to see a surgeon, Cook said, where a full prognosis would be made.
Initial assessments had said Pietersen would need
up to six weeks off to recover, suggesting he could be available for the return series against New Zealand before Cook’s side host the Champions Trophy one day tournament and then play Australia for the Ashes.
While having a player of Pietersen’s calibre, presuming he did not require surgery, well rested ahead of their heavy domestic summer workload, Cook was not over the moon at the prospect of the right hander needing time away from the game.
‘At the moment it’s not good for English cricket because one of our biggest players and better batters has got injury concerns heading into the English summer. That’s not ideal,’ he said.
‘If the injury is not as bad as we hope and it’s just a bit of rest needed and no surgery needed then on the plus side he does get some time off and is ready to go for the Ashes.
‘But you don’t really want time off injured.’
Cook’s side, like the rest of the series, enter the match at Eden Park as heavy favourites to seal victory. But with the first two Tests badly affected by rain, the match has added significance as the decider - something Pietersen would be sorely missed for.
‘Clearly, it’s a very important game. To win any series against any nation away from home is a great achievement,’ Cook added.
‘We have got five days of very tough cricket and we want to finish the winter as well as we can (and) you want your best players available.
‘He has played through pain the first two games, but he has not been 100 per cent fit. There has to be a time when you try and manage the situation as best you can.’
Johnny Bairstow would come into the side in place of Pietersen and would bat at six, Cook said. Ian Bell and Joe Root would both move up a spot to accommodate Bairstow

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England seek to clinch series without Pietersen

New Zealand and England face off in a winner-takes-all third and final Test this week, with the tourists striving for a series-clinching victory despite the absence of star batsman Kevin Pietersen.

After rain-affected draws in Dunedin and Wellington, hopes are high for a result in the match beginning Friday at Auckland’s Eden Park.
New Zealand eye a rare series win and England will seek to cement their position as the number-two ranked Test nation.
England are short-priced favourites to prevail in Auckland. Anything less against the unfancied Black Caps would be widely seen as a failure despite Pietersen’s absence with a knee injury.
The batsman will miss both the last Test and the Indian Premier League due to the injury which may sideline him for up to eight weeks, the England and Wales Cricket Board said in a statement Wednesday.
Clear weather is forecast for the Test and Eden Park’s drop-in wicket promises more bounce than the docile pitches of the opening two fixtures, which have drawn criticism from the England camp.
‘In an ideal world a pitch with more pace and bounce would make for a more exciting wicket,’ England captain Alastair Cook said.
‘But whichever pitch we get in Auckland we’ll try to find the best way to win the game.’
New Zealand, ranked eighth in Test cricket, have not won a series against England since 1999, with their sole series victory on home soil back in 1984.
Skipper Brendon McCullum, whose only other Test series since taking the helm late last year resulted in two innings defeats to South Africa, said a victory would provide a huge boost for his team.
‘We go into every game trying to win. Certainly, for us, it’s not about trying to hang on for a draw,’ he said.
‘We see this as a great opportunity to clinch a series win against England and that’s something that we’d all hold very fondly.’
For England, victory would maintain their momentum with back-to-back Ashes series against Australia looming later this year.
But Cook said his side had to ignore the pressure and simply play according to the conditions in Auckland.
‘It’s now a one-match Test series and you can’t go into the game fretting about the outcome from the start,’ he said.
‘You need to set up the game then worry about the result. There are no easy matches in international cricket.’
Few pundits predicted a close series when the tourists arrived, with England tipped to continue the dominant form they showed in India.
Instead, the early tour jitters that have plagued England in recent years emerged as their powerful batting line-up self-destructed with a succession of rash shots trying to bludgeon the Black Caps into submission.
Rain delays meant New Zealand ran out of time chasing victory in Dunedin. The situation was reversed in Wellington, where England had the Black Caps on the ropes only for the weather to intervene again.

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NZ, England hope rain relents

New Zealand and England head into the final match of their three-Test series on Friday more evenly matched than many observers felt they were at the start after the second game ended in a damp draw on Monday.

Bad weather has played a significant part with around 100 overs lost because of rain in the first match in Dunedin and more than 150 wiped out in the second in Wellington as both contests ended in draws.

The visitors have exhibited their class in patches against a New Zealand side who are trying to re-establish their credentials in the test arena.

The home team, pilloried after the Test series late last year in South Africa where they were bowled out for 45 in one innings, have so far proved competitive.

Complacency from England may have played a part in their poor first innings in Dunedin and benign pitches have undoubtedly blunted the effectiveness of world-class pace bowlers James Anderson, Steven Finn and Stuart Broad.

New Zealand have shown they are prepared to fight. Their batters have been tenacious all through the order and a young pace attack have been enthusiastic for long periods.

That willingness has been evident in the performance of left-arm medium fast bowler Neil Wagner.

He was a late addition to the first Test squad as the 13th player but has impressed with his bristling aggression and an urge to keep plugging away on pitches that offer little help in return.

CUP FINAL

Both sides head into the last test on a drop-in wicket at Eden Park, Auckland for a match the British media have described as a 'cup final'.

"I guess both teams will be reasonably comfortable it is 0-0 at this point in time and I guess it's all to play for in Auckland," New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum told reporters.

"We could win the series and that's what you set out to do at the outset. We've played some good cricket and there have been times when we haven't played some great cricket.

"Another good wicket up at Auckland and the team who are able to dominate for long enough periods of time are going to be the team that come out on top."

England are the second-best test side in the rankings and many pundits expected them to waltz through the series to an easy victory.

The hosts, however, have not been cowed by reputation, a point England captain Alastair Cook acknowledged after the second test.

"There are no easy games in international cricket," Cook said when asked if he had been surprised at New Zealand's performances.

"It's tough and you have to earn the right to win. You have got to earn the right to get yourself into positions to win the game.

"We came here to try and win the series and if we manage to do that then we have had a really good winter. Both these games have been hampered by the weather and both sides want to play five days and in a one-off match the best side will win."

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New Zealand-England 2nd Test drawn after washout

England’s hopes of snatching a win in the second Test against New Zealand dissolved in the Wellington rain on Monday, with the match declared a draw after the final day’s play was washed out.

The clash at the Basin Reserve ended with New Zealand at 162 for two in their second innings, still 49 runs in arrears after the tourists set an imposing first innings total of 465 and enforced the follow-on.
Not a ball was bowled Monday in a finish England captain Alastair Cook admitted was frustrating after his team dominated but ran out of time pressing for victory.
With the series still evenly poised, Cook said there were some positives to take into the third and final Test in Auckland beginning on Friday, pointing to a much-improved display after the first Test in Dunedin.
‘We got ourselves in a really good position to win the game, so we can take a lot from that (after) our first performance,’ he told reporters.
England’s batting was far better than in Dunedin, with centuries to Jonathan Trott and Nick Compton, while Matt Prior made 82, and Kevin Pietersen (73) was also among the runs after two failures in the first Test.
Stuart Broad also returned to his potent best, taking six for 51 in New Zealand’s first innings.
Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum admitted his side were outplayed but said the result evened out the ledger after the drawn Dunedin Test, where New Zealand were on top but rain delays let England off the hook.
‘It was a draw at the end of the day and if it’s viewed as a points decision I guess England will take this one,’ he said.
‘Both teams go to Auckland and we’ll just try to make a result in the last game.’
The weather is forecast to clear for the Auckland Test and the wicket is expected to provide more bounce than the docile pitches in Wellington and Dunedin, boosting the chances of a series-deciding result.

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Kiwis follow on after Broad’s 6

A six-wicket haul by England paceman Stuart Broad left New Zealand fighting for survival as they were forced to follow on in the second Test at Wellington’s Basin Reserve on Saturday.

At stumps, with two days remaining, New Zealand were 77 for one in their second innings, requiring a further 134 runs to make England bat again as they struggle to keep the series all square.
After the early loss of Hamish Rutherford, Peter Fulton (41 not out) and Kane Williamson (16 not out) negotiated the rest of the final session.
Earlier, Broad destroyed New Zealand’s first innings with six for 51, his seventh five-wicket haul in 54 Tests, as New Zealand collapsed to 254 all out in reply to England’s first innings 465.
The home side started the third day precariously poised at 66-3 and after overnight batsmen Kane Williamson (42) and Dean Brownlie (18) departed Brendon McCullum and BJ Watling put on 100 for the sixth wicket.
As the last recognised batsmen, New Zealand needed the pair to remain in the middle as long as possible but both foundered in the 60s, opening up the tail.
The only other sign of resistance for the Black Caps came from Bruce Martin, in only his second Test, who finished unbeaten on 21 after producing figures of 4-130 in England’s first innings.
McCullum was able to keep Broad out but was undone by Steven Finn, edging the ball to the slips where Jonathan Trott made no mistake after earlier dropping Watling.
New Zealand fell apart after McCullum’s departure for 69, losing their last five wickets for just 65 runs, ending up 12 runs short of avoiding the follow-on.
Broad, who removed Hamish Rutherford and Ross Taylor in consecutive balls on Friday, took the first wicket of the day when he had Williamson caught and bowled.
After Finn exposed the tail by dismissing McCullum, Broad removed Watling, who had looked comfortable until he nicked the ball through to wicketkeeper Matt Prior when on 60.
The Broad-Prior combination then accounted for Neil Wagner, who faced 13 balls without scoring, and Trent Boult, who contributed two as the last man.

The third and final Test starts in Auckland on Friday.
New Zealand 254 (McCullum 69, Watling 60, Broad

6-51) and 77/1 (f/o) (Fulton 41*) trail England 465 by 134 runs

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Successful Surgery of Swann

Swann, a 50-Test veteran, had to pull out of the squad to face New Zealand on the eve of the first Test in Dunedin this month so he could fly to the United States for the operation.

The 33-year-old will hope to be fit when England host New Zealand in May and June before the one-day Champions Trophy and then back-to-back Ashes series against Australia.

"(Swann) has undergone an uncomplicated operation on his right elbow to excise excess bone formation that had re-accumulated following his previous operation (on the same elbow) four years ago," said the ECB statement.

"Swann will now start a six-eight week rehabilitation and back to bowling programme before returning to competitive cricket early in the summer."

The elbow had caused Swann problems since his first surgery but it flared up again in England's four-day match against a New Zealand XI in Queenstown.

He had scans on arrival in Dunedin and the results, having been seen by the specialist in the United States, confirmed he would need the procedure to ‘clean up’ floating bone fragments in the joint.

"It is a huge year for English cricket and a huge year for me but if this means I take a more active part in it, so it's something I have to do," he had said before leaving New Zealand.

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