GAYLE RULED OUT

West Indies and Jamaica captain Chris Gayle will miss the first Jamaica match in the Stanford 20/20 Tournament. Gayle sustained two injuries in South Africa while playing for the West Indies and returned home prematurely. The 28 year old left handed veteran of 176 One Day Internationals and 70 Tests has not yet fully recovered and the Jamaica Cricket Association has sought and received approval for him to be replaced in the squad by Andre McCarthy.

SHARMA FINED

India’s Rohit Sharma has been fined 10 per cent of his match fee after being found guilty of breaching the ICC’s Code of Conduct during his side’s ODI against Sri Lanka in the Commonwealth Bank Series on Tuesday. The punishment was handed down by Jeff Crowe of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees following a hearing that took place in Brisbane after the match was washed out.A Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct carries a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and/or a fine of up to the equivalent of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee.

VICTORIA TEAM

After a thrilling victory on the weekend over Western Australia and four wins in their last five Ford Ranger Cup games, the VB Victorian Bushrangers go into tomorrow’s clash with Queensland with an eye on a berth in the Final.The Bulls defeated Victoria in last year’s Final, adding some extra spice to the match at the MCG, which they, too, need to win. The 12-man VB Victorian Bushrangers squad is:Cameron White (C), Aiden Blizzard, Adam Crosthwaite, Aaron Finch, Brad Hodge, David Hussey, Andrew McDonald, Bryce McGain, Clint McKay, Darren Pattinson, Rob Quiney, Peter Siddle.

CANTERBUTY SQUAD

State Canterbury Wizards team named for the State Shield match versus the State Northern Knights to be played at the Village Green, QEII Park, on Wednesday 6 February 2008. The start time is 12noon. State Canterbury Wizards v State Northern Knights – STATE Shield– Wednesday 6 February 2008. Kruger Van Wyk Captain, Hamish Bennett, Shane Bond, Darren Broom, Ryan Burson, Leighton Burtt, Chris Harris, Brandon Hiini, Johann Myburgh, Michael Papps, Iain Robertson, Shanan Stewart.

LORDS FINAL

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have today announced that they are recommending Lord’s to the International Cricket Council (ICC) as host for the ICC World Twenty20 2009 final. It will also be recommended that Lord’s be approved by ICC as hosts for a package that includes warm up, group and Super 8 matches as well as the final in the ICC World Twenty20 2009. The ECB’s independent Major Match Group, chaired by Lord Morris of Handsworth, has also identified The Oval as a ‘preferred bidder’ for a semi-final as well as warm-up, group and Super 8 games.