Chris Cairns charged with perjury

             NZ allrounder faces seven years in prison

British prosecutors have charged New Zealand cricket great Chris Cairns with perjury.

The charge relates to a 2012 libel action that Cairns successfully brought against former Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi over a tweet accusing the allrounder of match-fixing during his time in the now-defunct Indian Cricket League (ICL).

While Cairns, 44, has been charged with one count of perjury, a friend who appeared as a witness at the libel trial, lawyer Andrew Fitch-Holland, has been charged with perverting the court of justice.

The two men were formally charged on Thursday after attending a central London police station and are due to appear before a court in London on October 2.

Cairns could face seven years in prison if found guilty.

The Metropolitan Police said that two other people arrested over the investigation, a 33-year-old woman and a 36-year-old man, had been released without charge.

Cairns, who won STG90,000 ($A164,000) in the libel action against Modi, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

Speaking after Britain's Crown Prosecution Service confirmed he was to be charged with perjury earlier this month, he said: "I'm obviously extremely disappointed.

"However, at least there will now be an opportunity to face my accusers in an open forum, with some rigour and proper process around that, so that I can clear my name once and for all."

Fitch-Holland, 49, was previously involved in a case against the England and Wales Cricket Board when they banned players who had appeared in the ICL in 2008.

Cairns's former teammate Lou Vincent, who was banned for life earlier this year for match-fixing, has alleged that a world-famous international dubbed 'Player X' lured him into a murky world of corruption that included offers of cash and sex to rig matches.

Cairns has said that he believes he is the player to whom Vincent was referring, but has questioned his accuser's credibility, describing the allegations he faces as "absurd, bizarre and scary".

Cairns retired from international cricket in 2004 after becoming one of only 12 players in Test history to complete the 'double' of 200 wickets and 3,000 runs.

CA

Crowded field of contenders with five months to cricket’s World Cup 2015

After what at one stage this month looked like a vast game of musical chairs, reigning champions India ended up topping the world rankings when the five-month countdown to the 2015 World Cup started last week.

With just three rating points separating the top four nations, the 11th version of the quadrennial showpiece of 50-overs cricket, which is being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, looks like being one of the closest ever.

Here is a look at how the 10 Test-playing nations (in order of world ranking) are shaping up 154 days before New Zealand meet Sri Lanka in Christchurch to launch the February 14-March 29 tournament.

INDIA

Led by MS Dhoni and boasting some fearless strokemakers in their ranks, the top-ranked ODI side in the world look serious contenders to defend their title.

A much-improved fielding side, India appear to have benefited from the Indian Premier League, which has given their players the opportunity to play regularly against the leading bowlers in the world.

Even the most junior batsman in the Indian side has faced bowlers such as Dale Steyn and Mitchell Johnson in the Twenty20 tournament and gained enough confidence to hit them out of the park when the need arises.

With their pace bowling underwhelming, India will again build their attack around their spinners, who had a big impact in their World Cup win at home in 2011.

A lot will depend on how Ravichandran Ashwin and the plethora of part-time spinners fare on the relatively bouncy pitches in Australia and New Zealand.

SOUTH AFRICA

Recent series victories in Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, where they played a triangular tournament involving Australia, have boosted the confidence of the Proteas, even if both were achieved in conditions they will not find at the World Cup.

Their strong batting line-up has been solidified by the emergence of Faf du Plessis at No 3, coming in after proven openers Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock.

In AB de Villiers, they have arguably the best one-day batsman in the world, but there is concern over their one genuine power-hitter, David Miller, who is out of form.

The South Africans also lack an all-rounder to bat at seven, with this duty shared in recent times by Ryan McLaren and Wayne Parnell with mixed success.

Steyn remains the linchpin of the bowling line-up and rarely has an off-day, and JP Duminy and Imran Tahir present genuine spin options.

SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka will be hoping next year is third time lucky after being beaten in the final of the past two World Cups, and the 1996 champions seem to have the resources to finish the job this time.

Mahela Jayawardene, 37, and Kumar Sangakkara, 36, got a fitting 20-over farewell when Sri Lanka won the World Twenty20 title in Bangladesh in April, but winning the 50-over event in Australia would be a better parting gift.

Sri Lanka’s compact batting side is complemented by a balanced bowling unit, which is likely to include the mercurial Lasith Malinga, whose yorkers, delivered with his sling-shot action, can make him almost unplayable.

The rise of Thisara Perera and Dhammika Prasad have eased the pressure on Malinga but Sri Lanka have been forced to have a fresh look at their spin options after off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake was banned for an illegal action.

AUSTRALIA

Australia relinquished the No 1 ranking, lost their captain, Michael Clarke, to injury and fell to Zimbabwe on their recent trip to Harare, but that will do little to dent optimism that they can win a fifth world title next March.

With the likes of openers David Warner and Shane Watson to return to the side before the World Cup, Australia can afford to be circumspect about the setbacks experienced by an understrength and experimental side in Zimbabwe.There remain concerns, not least about whether Clarke’s back will be up to the amount of cricket he will be asked to play during the next five months, and whether they will ever unearth another world-class spinner.

On the plus side is the prospect of Johnson and his fellow pacemen renewing their often lethal relationship with Australia’s hard and bouncy decks. Coach Darren Lehmann has laughed off talk of a split with Clarke over selection and will be satisfied that the likes of all-rounder Mitch Marsh have given him more depth in his squad should he need it next year.

ENGLAND

England go into the World Cup, which they have never won, with minimal expectations after a dismal run of form in the 50-over game.

The lowest average net run-rate of all Test-playing nations in recent times, an outdated approach to the format and huge question marks over the captaincy and make-up of the team do not inspire ­confidence.

Former spinner Graeme Swann said recently the team have “no chance” of winning the tournament, and there is a strong case for replacing Alastair Cook as captain because of doubts about his leadership style and limitations with the bat. England do have talented one-day players: Alex Hales is a destructive opening batsman, Eoin Morgan a specialist finisher, wicketkeeper Jos Buttler a flamboyant middle-order player and Harry Gurney a potentially imposing death bowler. With Test batsmen Joe Root and Ian Bell skilled in the one-day game there is a solid core, but the approach needs to change because 240 metronomic runs do not win 50-over matches at international level in the modern game.

PAKISTAN

A bunch of talented but unpredictable players with a tendency to implode inexplicably, Pakistan received a huge blow to their preparations when spinner Saeed Ajmal was banned for an illegal bowling action earlier this month.

Ajmal has five months to correct the action and seek a reassessment, but whether he will ever again show the form that has made him the top-ranked ODI bowler in the world, only time will tell.

The 1992 champions are also grappling with a captaincy dilemma. Misbah-ul-Haq has remained a rare stable figure in a volatile dressing room, but his modest sub-74 strike rate is no longer tailor-made for the format. After last month’s ODI series defeat in Sri Lanka, the clamour has grown to replace him with all-rounder Shahid Afridi, whose batting and personality are the polar opposite to Misbah’s.

NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand’s batting has been settled for several years with Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and captain Brendon McCullum likely to fill four of the top-five positions. The biggest issue is finding a new opening partner for Guptill, with few expecting hard-hitting batsman Jesse Ryder to be recalled to the side because of his behavioural issues. Tim Southee, Kyle Mills, Trent Boult and Mitchell McClenaghan are likely to be the main pace bowlers, with young quicks Adam Milne and Matt Henry vying for the fifth spot.

Former captain Daniel Vettori, who is still one of the most economical bowlers in limited overs cricket and a handy lower-order batsman, is also likely to be included, if fit.

WEST INDIES

West Indies are without a coach after the sudden departure of Ottis Gibson last month, and caretaker Richie Richardson could still be in place when they warm up for the World Cup with trips to India and South Africa.

A series of top-order collapses in recent limited-overs matches mean the fitness and availability of the often brilliant opener Chris Gayle would appear to be vital to the hopes of the twice champions enjoying any success at the World Cup.

Likewise, persuading mystery off-spinner Sunil Narine to put West Indies before lucrative Twenty20 contracts would further bolster an otherwise solid bowling unit.

BANGLADESH

The 50-over format remains Bangladesh’s best chance to impress at the world stage, but their growth as a force in world cricket has stagnated.

The team rely heavily on spinners, who might find it difficult to ply their trade effectively in the seamer-friendly conditions in Australia and New Zealand.

Bangladesh also have had their problems with all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan over disciplinary issues, but the former captain remains their best bet to surprise higher-ranked opposition and cause an upset during the World Cup.

ZIMBABWE

Zimbabwe showed they can be competitive in the recent home triangular series against South Africa and Australia, where they defeated the latter and came close to upsetting the Proteas.

The batting line-up could be described as flaky at best, but they do have decent hitters and, in Brendan Taylor, who relinquished the one-day captaincy to Elton Chigumbura last month, a player to build an innings around.

Consistency in performance with bat and ball has been elusive and that is not likely to change between now and the World Cup.

The National

Chris Rogers digs in with double century to save match against Somerset and ease Middlesex's relegation worries

                 Somerset (523-9 dec) drew with Middlesex (223 & 328-4 dec)

In a cricketing world enthralled by strike rates and T20 sixes, the art of stubborn, endurance batting, accumulating hundreds to frustrate the opposition, has perhaps gone out of fashion.

But to the greats of that old genre – the Wall, the Barnacle, and of course, Sir Geoffrey – should be added the name of Chris Rogers, the immovable Australian nugget.

On a day made for him to rivet himself to the Taunton pitch, Rogers did not disappoint. An unbeaten 203 sucked the life out of a game Middlesex seemed destined to lose and almost single-handedly ensured the visitors held firm against the relegation jitters on this final day.

In seven-and-a-half hours, facing 386 balls, the 37-year-old nudged, glanced and drove the Somerset bowlers to submission – using his feet to dead bat the spinners with particular skill – in making his 11th double hundred. It was also the 70th century of his career; making him, with West Indian Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the most prolific century-maker still playing the game.

“It’s something I never expected when I was younger,” said the bespectacled Rogers, as understated off the pitch as he is on it. “I guess I’m not as fluent or talented as other players in many respects, so I’ve got to rely upon other things like decision making, intelligence, and the willingness to fight. I play my best innings when I’m up against it – and I was starting to feel the heat here.”

After Somerset had amassed 523 in the first innings, Middlesex capitulated to 67 for seven by the close of the second day.

“That was probably rock bottom,” Rogers said. “There was a lot of criticism flying around and as a captain you have to throw some of that criticism to the players. But to be able to do that you also have to stand up yourself. That is something I can be proud of.”

The draw puts Middlesex 19 points ahead of Lancashire, their final opponents, in the fight against relegation. They are now favourites to stay up, despite being open to the elements of a pitch tailored for a result at Old Trafford next week.

“We couldn’t afford a loss,” Rogers said. “If we hadn’t got anything out of this game, and then gone to Manchester next week, it would have been wide open. This has changed things a bit.”

For Somerset fans, watching their team toil in the field for more than 200 overs as Middlesex followed on, it was the kind of situation which made them thankful for the snooze-accommodating cinema seats in the Old Pavilion.

They will be sorely missed, and a crowd of 250 supporters stayed to mark the official demise of the building, constructed in 1881, which is being torn down as of next week to be replaced by a £3.8 million building.

There was a noticeable lack of ceremony, by comparison, to bid farewell at his last home game to Dave Nosworthy, Somerset’s director of cricket, who is departing 18 months into a three-year contract. Ashley Giles is understood to be leading a three-horse race to replace him against former Somerset captain Jamie Cox and Matthew Maynard.

Trott and Hain punish Northants

Jonathan Trott reached a new milestone in his rehabilitation as Warwickshire stepped up their challenge for LV= County Championship prize money on the second day against Division One stragglers Northamptonshire at Edgbaston.

A typically proficient innings took the England batsman to his first hundred on his home ground since he was forced to leave the Ashes tour last winter through a stress-related illness.

Sam Hain, Warwickshire's 19-year-old batting discovery, also completed a near-flawless fourth Championship century in his debut season and at the halfway stage in the contest the most likely outcome is an 11th defeat for Northamptonshire.

For the 11th match out of 14 this season they conceded at least one individual century as Warwickshire cruised past the visitors' total of 273 and opened up a lead of 140 on closing at 413 for 3.

With the fourth-wicket stand so far worth 271, Trott has collected 17 fours and a six in his 128 not out and Hain, who made his maiden century against Northants in June, accelerated in the final session to an unbeaten 148 having hit 20 fours and a six.

In a matter of weeks Trott has again become the run-hungry batsman who took county attacks apart until his move into the international arena curtailed his service to Warwickshire.

Having scored two one-day hundreds in a season for the first time since 2008, he has now hit two Championship centuries in a summer for the first time since making his Test debut against Australia five years ago.

In many ways the day was the story of Northants' unhappy season in the top-flight. Having been reasonably competitive in restricting Warwickshire to 76 for 2 in the morning session, they inevitably felt the pressure of being a bowler down.

A back problem kept David Willey off the field all day and in his absence the attack was gradually ripped apart by a team chasing a performance-related pot of cash.

The difference between third, their position now, and second, currently occupied by Nottinghamshire, is more than £100,000.

When Warwickshire resumed at 79 for 1, Varun Chopra got to 53 with his ninth four but this proved to be his last scoring shot before Neil Wagner got one to bounce and leave the home skipper for a routine catch by Adam Rossington.

William Porterfield, meanwhile, was almost becalmed, contributing only 17 in 21 overs before he was lbw for 46, a deserved success for offspinner James Middlebrook in a 20-over stint.

From that point, the closest Northants came to a wicket was when Trott, on 48, chanced a single to mid-on and received the benefit in a close call when Kyle Coetzer's throw hit the stumps.

In a sign of maturity, Hain was content to take 34 balls to get off the mark, but once under way he matched his partner - they are lookalikes in their style and mannerisms - in setting a new fourth-wicket record for this fixture.

Their hundreds came up in successive overs. Trott pinged his 13th four through midwicket from the 173rd ball he faced and Hain got there in two fewer deliveries when quietly pushing a single to mid-on.

CRICINFO