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The results of Bob Woolmer’s post-mortem, conducted on Tuesday morning at a Kingston hospital nearly 48 hours after his passing away, were inconclusive. The pathologists have asked for further tests to be conducted.Earlier, it was decided that once the autopsy results were given to the police in the afternoon, the body will be handed over to the Pakistan team, who will then keep it in a funeral parlourbefore the long journey to Cape Town. The casket will go with the team toLondon, with Murray Stevenson, the Pakistan trainer, then accompanying it to Cape Town, whereWoolmer lived with his wife, Gill, and two sons.”The deputy commissioner, Mark Shields, and the superintendent, explainedthe police procedure to us,” said Pervez Mir, the Pakistan team’s mediamanager. “Gill Woolmer authorised Murray Stevenson and the team managementto officially identify the body. The autopsy would have started at 9:30this morning, and the body will be released to us later this afternoonprovided everything’s fine. A [death] certificate will then be asked for.”In view of the sensitivity of the circumstances surrounding the death,the police have sealed his room. The forensics have been in there, and thefingerprinting has been done. We won’t know till afternoon what thefindings are.”Nasim Ashraf, the board chairman, has also instructed Mir and Talat Ali,the manager, to journey to South Africa for the funeral service. The teamleaves for Montego Bay on Thursday, and will then fly to London beforeheading home.Woolmer, 58, was found unconscious in his hotel room in Jamaica yesterday morning and later pronounced dead. Reports have alleged Woolmer suffered from diabetes and had recently experienced breathing difficulties.”It was about 10:45 Jamaica time yesterday morning when a housekeeper let herself into the room and found Bob unconscious. A nurse was called and a doctor very soon after that and he was rushed to the University of West Indies Hospital, which is about 10 minutes away, where he was pronounced dead at around 12 noon.”Shields’ understanding is that at no stage did Woolmer regain consciousness. “As far as I know, he didn’t. He was unconscious and may even have been dead when he was found but that’s yet to be confirmed. That’ll be part of the post-mortem, to discover exactly what time he died.”I do know they treated it as though he was still unconscious and did everything they could to get him to hospital for resuscitation. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead at the hospital.”Shields assuaged claims of the death being treated as suspicious. “We would always treat any sudden death – even in the UK – as suspicious until we can prove otherwise. We’ve had maximum co-operation from international cricket, the Pakistan team and everybody else involved at the hotel. I’m hoping we can wrap this up as soon as possible.”

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), along with the rest of the cricket world, is anxiously following developments in Zimbabwe following the government’s take-over of the administration of the game on Saturday.The move and a continuing strike by members of the Zimbabwe Professional Cricketers’ Association (ZPCA) over contracts and governance issues have put Zimbabwe’s scheduled tour of the West Indies from April 15-May 15, for two Tests and five one-day internationals, in considerable doubt.Zoral Barthley, the WICB’s cricket operations officer, said yesterday he was awaiting clarification on the situation from Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC). “We really have only a few weeks to finalise bookings for their travel and accommodation,” he said. “The critical time is the end of January.” He noted that it was too early to make any contingency plans. “We’ll wait until we are further appraised of the situation but time is obviously a consideration,” he added.The Zimbabwe players are angry over what they claim is mismanagement and corruption within the ZC and non-payment of their fees for last year’s series against New Zealand and India and other contract issues. They have already refused to participate in the Afro-Asia A team series in Bangladesh next week and an Under-23 tour of South Africa next month.They reiterated their stand Wednesday that they would not tour the West Indies unless Peter Chingoka, Zimbabwe Cricket chairman and Ozias Bvute, ZC chief executive, are removed from office. But Gibson Mashingaidze, Army Brigadier, also the head of the government’s Sports and Recreation Commission, announced yesterday that Chingoka would be retained in the same position on an interim board. As a paid employee, Bvute is also likely to remain on.Mashingaidze added that all previous white and Asian directors were dismissed because of “their racial connotations and serving their own agendas and not government policy”. He was defiant in the face of the possibility that the ICC would withdraw Zimbabwe’s Test status, as it did for two months in 2004 during another strike by some leading players.Tatenda Taibu, former Zimbabwe captain, quit to take up a contract in Bangladesh last month and other players have gone to Australia and India since the impasse. Others are planning similar moves. One of the senior players, Andy Blignaut said after the players’ meeting Wednesday that they did not wish to damage the ICC tours programme nor “make things difficult for West Indies”.”But we have no option but to carry this through,” he added. “We are hoping all these issues can be resolved but I must say that at present the prospects look bleak. We are all determined about our course of action. It represents our only hope of proper treatment.”Zimbabwe have played 83 Tests since being granted official status in 1992, including six against the West Indies. The ICC had previously declined to intervene in what it described as “an internal matter”. But last night it promised a statement on the issue within 24 hours.

The Pakistan team management has denied the rape allegation levelled at a team member, but the board has launched an investigation into the matter. has reported that the unnamed player accused of the crime denied it through his manager.The board has asked Haroon Rashid, the team manager, for a report before it begins the investigation. Zakir Khan, the manager of cricket operations for the PCB, who was alerted to the allegation by his Australian counterpart, said, “The fact is nobody knows what is the real story,” and admitted that they were baffled.”I cannot say anything more until we get to the bottom of what has happened,” said Zakir. “It has taken nearly three weeks for this woman or girl or whoever she is to come up with this. There is no police report and nothing else. We don’t know what is the legal procedure, so we will definitely be consulting people, lawyers also, on how to tackle this situation if it is true. It’s distressing for everyone.”The woman, who wanted anonymity, reported the matter to the Centre Against Sexual Assault, who informed Cricket Australia (CA) a while ago. A spokesperson for CA said that they had informed the Pakistan management of the allegations this late because the preparations for the tsunami relief game had been intense.”We should have told the Pakistan team management and we didn’t,” said the spokesperson. “There’s no excuse for that, although I should say that the last two weeks have been probably the most extraordinary two weeks in Australian cricket history in terms of what we’ve done and the outcome.”Bob Woolmer admitted that the team members were shocked when they heard the news. “There was stunned silence really. Everyone sort of looked at each other. Personally I don’t think anyone in the dressing-room was involved.”It’s totally against Islamic law. It’s totally against everything they believe in.”

Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand will open on December 8 with a three-day match against Canterbury at Hagley Oval while Auckland will play the tourists in the second of their pre-Test warm-up matches. The first Test is scheduled to begin on December 19 in Hamilton.As a bridge between the Tests and one-day internationals, a one-day match against Wellington will be played at the Basin Reserve, where Pakistan will have just completed the second Test match of the series. Northern Districts will host the opening one-day match against South Africa on February 12 while another major association side will play a three-day match as a warm-up for the South Africans before the Test matches from March 5-7.New Zealand’s domestic four-day programme, the State Championship will open on December 1 with matches continuing throught the Christmas-New Year period which has traditionally been when one-day matches have been played. However, Major Associations have been critical that they have suffered a drop-off in crowds in this period while State Shield one-day matches clash with New Zealand’s international games. By staging the one-day programme between the Pakistan and South African series, although there is a conflict for the early part of the programme with the Pakistan tour, there should be a chance for greater local interest in the domestic matches.When the Championship programme ends on January 9, the teams placed first, second and third will play their final three games against fourth, fifth and sixth, and with points carried on, the two highest scoring teams after eight rounds will play off in a final played from March 4-7.The Shield programme will start on January 8 with the final scheduled for Waitangi Day, February 6, New Zealand’s national holiday.The State Championship programme is:Monday Dec 1 – Canterbury v Otago, Aorangi Park, TimaruThursday Dec 4 – Northern Districts v Auckland, Westpac Park, Hamilton; Wellington v Central Districts, Basin Reserve, WellingtonSunday Dec 7 – Northern Districts v Central Districts, Harry Barker Reserve, GisborneWednesday Dec 10 – Auckland v Otago, Eden Park Outer Oval, AucklandFriday Dec 12 – Wellington v Canterbury, Basin Reserve, WellingtonThursday Dec 18 – Auckland v Wellington, Eden Park Outer Oval, AucklandSunday Dec 21 – Central Districts v Canterbury, Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North, Otago v Northern Districts, Carisbrook, DunedinSaturday Dec 27 – Auckland v Central Districts, Eden Park Outer Oval, AucklandTuesday Dec 30 – Canterbury v Northern Districts, Hagley Oval, Christchurch, Otago v State Wellington, Carisbrook, DunedinSaturday Jan 3 – Canterbury v Auckland, Hagley Oval, ChristchurchTuesday Jan 6 – Central Districts v Otago, Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, Northern Districts v Wellington, Westpac Park, HamiltonOn the completion of the series of five rounds, all teams will be placed from 1 – 6 according to the points obtained. A draw for the remaining three rounds of the competition will be based on teams finishing 1, 2, 3 each playing the teams finishing 4, 5, 6. Points earned in the first five rounds will be carried forward to the remaining three rounds. At the conclusion of the eight rounds the two teams with the most points will play off in the final.Saturday Feb 14 – 1 v 6Tuesday Feb 17 – 2 v 5, 3 v 4Friday Feb 20 – 1 v 5Monday Feb 23 – 2 v 4, 3 v 6Thursday Feb 26 – 1 v 4Sunday Feb 29 – 2 v 6, 3 v 5Thursday Mar 4 – Sunday Mar 7 FINALThe State Shield draw is:Thursday Jan 8 – Northern Knights v Wellington Firebirds, Westpac Park, HamiltonFriday Jan 9 – Central Stags v Auckland Aces, Pukekura Park, New Plymouth , Otago Volts v Canterbury Wizards, Molyneux Park, AlexandraSunday Jan 11 – Wellington Firebirds v Canterbury Wizards Basin Reserve, Wellington, Central Stags v Northern Knights Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North, Otago Volts v Auckland Aces, Molyneux Park, Alexandra.Tuesday Jan 13 – Canterbury Wizards v Auckland Aces, Rangiora Recreation Ground, Northern Knights v Otago Volts, Harry Barker Reserve, Gisborne, Wellington Firebirds v Central Stags Basin Reserve, Wellington.Friday Jan 16 – Auckland Aces v Wellington Firebirds Eden Park, Auckland, Canterbury Wizards v Northern Knights, Rangiora Recreation Ground, Central Stags v Otago Volts Queen Elizabeth Park, Masterton.Sunday Jan 18 – Auckland Aces v Northern Knights Eden Park, Auckland, Central Stags v Canterbury Wizards Waikanae Park, Waikanae, Otago Volts v Wellington Firebirds Centennial Park, Oamaru.Wednesday Jan 21- Northern Knights v Canterbury Wizards Westpac Park, Hamilton (D/N), Otago Volts v Central Stags Carisbrook, Dunedin, Wellington Firebirds v Auckland Aces Basin Reserve, Wellington.Friday Jan 23 – Central Stags v Wellington Firebirds New Plymout , Canterbury Wizards v Otago Volts Aorangi Park, Timaru,Northern Knights v Auckland Aces Westpac Park, Hamilton (D/N)Sunday Jan 25 – Auckland Aces v Central Stags Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland, Canterbury Wizards vWellington Firebirds, Hagley Oval, Christchurch,Otago Volts v Northern Knights, Queens Park, InvercargillTuesday Jan 27 – Auckland Aces v Otago Volts Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland, Wellington Firebirds v Northern Knights Basin Reserve, Wellington, Canterbury Wizards v Central Stags Hagley Oval, Christchurch.Friday Jan 30 – Auckland Aces vCanterbury Wizards Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland, Northern Knights v Central Stags Westpac Park, Hamilton (D/N),Wellington Firebirds v Otago Volts Basin Reserve, Wellington.Monday Feb 2 – Semi- Final (2 v 3)Tuesday Feb 3 – Reserve DayFriday Feb 6 – FinalSaturday Feb 7 – Reserve Day

Matt Bulbeck just can’t wait for the start of the 2002 season,when he can get back to where he was and “start taking wickets again.”The left arm seamer who celebrated his twenty second birthday just recently told me of his frustrations during 2001. “I want to put two bad years behind me and get back to where I was before all of this happened” he said.Certainly Matt, who announced his arrival on the scene in 1998 by taking 26 wickets to top the Somerset averages,has been working hard to ensure that he back to full fitness by the time the 2002 season gets underway.Every morning for the last couple of months he has been a regular visitor to The Academy Fitness Centre at The County Ground where he has been following a rigorous training programme under the watchful eye of Club Physio Darren Veness and Fitness Trainer Andy Hurry.The Physio told me “Matt is training very hard, and his fitness is better now than it has ever been.He’s naturally fit so we have to step things up a gear for him.”What about next year I asked him. “We are looking for Matt to start 2002 as a definite first team prospect” the Physio replied.Matt will have the added bonus of training in the sunshine during the winter months because he is jetting off to Australia just before Christmas where he will be spending three months at The Paul Terry Cricket Academy in Perth.During his time in Perth Matt will continue with his fitness programme and will have daily nets working with former Aussie bowler Bruce Reid. He will also play cricket for a local club at the weekends.By the time he returns to Taunton in March “I want to be better than I was before I got injured” Matt told me, a sentiment that will be echoed by all Somerset supporters.

Opener Regis Chakabva and Tinotenda Mutombodzi struck 61 each to help Masholand Eagles chase down a revised target of 225 in 48 overs against Matabeleland Tuskers with 12 balls and four wickets to spare by Duckworth-Lewis method in Harare.Chamu Chibhabha was dismissed cheaply but Chakabva kept the scorecard ticking as Eagles reached 52 for 1 before the rain arrived. Cephas Zhuwao was bowled by Tiwanda Mupariwa off the first ball after resumption but Chakabva and Mutombodzi added 36 together, after which Ryal Burl applied the finishing touches to the chase.Earlier a collective bowling effort saw Eagles restrict Tuskers to 227. Seven batsmen passed double figures but none managed to make a big score. Mbekezeli Mabuza hit 39 off 47 balls with the next best score being Mupariwa’s 31-ball 37. He clubbed two fours and two sixes but the total of 227 was not adequate in the end.Mountaineers beat Midwest Rhinos by 18 runs in the Pro50 Championship fixture at the Kwekwe Sports Club in Harare. Mountaineers made 242 for 4 on the back of half-centuries from Timycen Maruma (69) and Hamilton Masakadza (65). Donald Tiripano, the pacer, then recorded figures of 5 for 47 off 10 overs, his best List-A performance, as Rhinos were bowled out for 242 in the penultimate over.Rhinos’ top order floundered as they were reduced to 53 for 4, before Prince Masvaure (91) and Remembrance Nyathi (46) came up with the rescue act. The pair added 125 for the fifth wicket before falling in successive overs. Nevill Madziva made an unbeaten 27 to keep their hopes alive, but that was scant consolation as the last four batsmen could manage just nine runs between them.

As per reports from Spain, Tottenham Hotspur, and by extension transfer chief Fabio Paratici, are now eyeing a move for West Ham United defender Ben Johnson.

The Lowdown: Conte eyeing full-back upgrade?

According to reliable sources, Lilywhites boss Antonio Conte, was eager for the club to sign a right wing-back upgrade in January who would be tailored for his back-three formation.

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Spurs attempted to sign a makeshift option in former Wolves star Adama Traore for most of the month but to no avail as Barcelona swooped in to hijack the winter move.

This has left Conte with Emerson Royal and Matt Doherty as his options on that side, and while the latter may have played his way into the Italian’s plans after a stunning performance against Leeds, doubts surround his team-mate.

Indeed, there are question marks hanging over Royal’s ability to create in the final third, with Paratici now eyeing an unlikely alternative from one of Spurs’ London rivals.

The Latest: Spurs eye Ben Johnson move…

According to Spanish sources, Tottenham are one of the clubs in a three-way battle to sign West Ham starlet Johnson in the summer, even after the Hammers apparently activated a two-year contract extension option.

Indeed, Paratici and co are allegedly targeting the homegrown ace to add both offensive and defensive quality for Conte’s side.

The Verdict: Great option…

The 22-year-old would come as a very good signing for Conte going by his early promise.

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West Ham manager David Moyes recently called Johnson a ‘really important’ player for his team, while pundit Noel Whelan has recently raved over the ‘exciting’ and ‘very aggressive’ full-back (Football Insider).

However, after the Irons triggered the two-year extension option in his contract, and with a potential reluctance to do business with a positional and geographical rival in Spurs, this move could be a tricky one to pull off for Paratici.

In other news: ‘Worrying’…Insider shares what ‘in the know’ source is now ‘reporting’ at Tottenham, find out more here.