Ryder hospitalised with serious head injury

New Zealand batsman Jesse Ryder is in hospital with serious head injuries after being involved in a fight in Christchurch. 

A Christchurch Hospital spokesperson told local media that Ryder was in intensive care with a fractured skull. Calls to the hospital were not immediately returned. 

New Zealand Police said they were investigating an incident at a bar in Merivale, a suburb of Christchurch, early on Thursday and that Ryder had been involved. 

Ryder, 28, had left the bar with a group of people when he became involved in the incident, police said in a statement. 

Police were called at 12:44 a.m. local time (1144 GMT) and Ryder was rushed to hospital by ambulance. 

"We are piecing together what took place and speaking to witnesses to understand how this incident unfolded," Detective Senior Sergeant Brian Archer said in the statement. 

"I would ask anyone who witnessed the incident or were part of the group involved with Mr Ryder to contact police." 

Ryder was in Christchurch playing for Wellington against Canterbury in the semi-final of New Zealand's domestic one-day competition on Wednesday. 

An eye witness told New Zealand's Fairfax Media that the cricketer had been punched and kicked by at least four men. 

Source :- http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/54900/ryder-hospitalised-with-serious-head-injury

Injury-hit Pietersen out of final NZ Test, IPL

England batsman Kevin Pietersen will miss the last Test against New Zealand and the Indian Premier League due to a knee injury which may sideline him for up to eight weeks, officials said Wednesday. 

"The injury is likely to require ongoing assessments and a likely 6-8 week period of rest and rehabilitation," the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in a statement, two days before the start of the series-deciding game. 

The ECB said the 32-year-old suffered pain in his right knee while fielding earlier this month in preparation for a warm-up game in New Zealand, before the Test series began. 

"This has failed to resolve satisfactorily," it said. 

Recent scans confirmed bone bruising and possible cartilage damage to the kneecap, and Pietersen would return to Britain "for further investigations and specialist review". 

He had been withdrawn from all cricket including the Indian Premier League, it said. 

New Zealand will eye a rare series win and England will try to cement their position as the number-two Test nation in the third and final Test starting Friday in Auckland, following rain-affected draws in the first two games. 

Source :- http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/54808/injury-hit-pietersen-out-of-final-nz-test-ipl

Make Stephen Fleming the coach: Warne

Shane Warne has revealed his plan to put Australian cricket back on track. In Part 1 of a detailed document released on his website, the legendary spin bowler makes a number of recommendations, among which is the suggestion to make the former New Zealand captain, Stephen Fleming as the coach of the Australian national cricket team, raising quite a few eyebrows across the cricketing fraternity back home because of the Trans-Tasman rivalry. "I believe he brings a lot to the table, a calmness, an intelligent understanding of the game and a very good cricket brain. He's a good communicator too as well as a good leader of men," writes Warne. He further stated that Fleming was the best opposition captain he played against. 

Source :- http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/54270/make-stephen-fleming-the-coach-warne

De Villiers suspended for two ODIs for slow over rate

South Africa captain AB de Villiers has been suspended for two ODIs while his teammates have been fined 100 per cent of their match fees for maintaining a slow over rate during their one-wicket defeat against New Zealand in the first ODI in Paarl.

David Boon of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed the suspension after the Proteas were ruled to be six overs short of their target at the end of the match on Saturday when time allowances were taken into consideration.

De Villiers pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction so there was no need for a formal hearing.

In accordance with Article 2.5.2 and Appendix 2 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which deals with serious over rate offences, the captain receives two suspension points while the players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for each of the first two overs short and 20 per cent for every additional over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time.

Kiwis capitulate on 'tour from Hell'

The Black Caps' latest humiliation on their "tour from Hell" to South Africa shows the team is rudderless and has been woefully outclassed, New Zealand media said Tuesday.

"A mismatch of epic proportions" was the Christchurch Press's take on New Zealand's capitulation in the second and final Test in Port Elizabeth, where the hosts enjoyed a thumping innings victory.

Former national coach David Trist said New Zealand's players "will need counselling in some cases" after a similarly lopsided score in the opening Test, where the Black Caps managed only 45 runs in their first innings.

"It's been the tour from Hell, in more ways than one," Trist told Radio New Zealand. "Nothing has gone right really. It's been a wake-up call for New Zealand cricket."

Steyn captures 300th Test wicket

South African fast bowler Dale Steyn captured his 300th Test wicket when he bowled Doug Bracewell on the first morning of the first Test against New Zealand at Newlands on Wednesday.

Steyn, 29, was playing in his 61st Test. Only Australia's Dennis Lillee, who achieved the feat in his 56th Test, and Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka (58) have reached the milestone in fewer matches.

Steyn, currently the world's number one ranked Test bowler, joined West Indian Malcolm Marshall and New Zealand's Richard Hadlee in taking 300 wickets in 61 matches.