London, Apr. 2 : Acting England cricket team coach Andy Flower may be the frontrunner for the post of full-time coach or team director, but rumour mills are agog with news that Indian crcket team coach Gary Kirsten is also in the race for the coveted assignment.

While The Telegraph reports that Flower is expected to continue his partnership with captain Andrew Strauss into the summer, the Daily Express says that Kirsten has emerged as a strong possible challenger.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has said that it will begin the interview process as soon as the England team arrives home next week, with an appointment set to be announced before the West Indies tour starts at Lord's on May 6.

Karachi, Apr. 1 : While Shoaib Akhtar may have declared himself fit for national duty, Pakistan team selectors have made it clear that he should be 100 percent match fit to be considered for the scheduled one day international series against Australia in the UAE.

According to a team official, all the players would have to clear the test to be able to qualify for the April 22-May 7 series. All eyes would be on controversial speedster Akhtar, who has declared himself fit.

The selectors and team management, however, are not convinced by Akhtar’s claims.

Durban (South Africa), Apr. 1 : Carpenter and pace bowler Ben Laughlin is hoping to make his one-day international debut some time in April in South Africa.

Just a year ago, the Melbourne-born Queenslander was ready to give up on his hopes of playing state cricket.

“I had a decent grade summer (in Brisbane in 2007-08) and I didn''t really feel like I was getting anywhere,'''' Laughlin said ahead of Friday''s opening ODI match against South Africa.

Melbourne, Mar. 31 : With 47 in three home and away series in 2008-2009, Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson is all set to become the nation''s highest-paid cricketer.

In the 25-man contract list likely to be announced next week, Australian selectors may promote Johnson to the No. 2 spot, the Herald Sun reports.

Here’s a big moral booster for the South African cricket team. According to some media reports team skipper Graeme Smith has recovered from an injury and is expected to come back for the one-day series against Australia.

The five match ODI series between the two teams is all set to begin in Durban on Friday with a bang.

It can be recalled that Smith injured his little finger of the right hand when he was struck by a delivery from Aussie fast bowler Mitchell Johnson during the second Test in Durban.

Mitchell Johnson is one of the most talked about Australian cricketers these days. The in-form Aussie all-rounder is all set to become the second highest paid player in the 25-man contract list of Cricket Australia.

The Courier Mail, a leading Australian daily said, “Mitchell Johnson will be the big mover in Australia's new contract rankings and is closing in on the cherished mantle of the nation's highest-paid player.”