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.”

Here’s sad news for Chennai Super Kings. Kiwi all-rounder Jacob Oram might pull out of the much awaited Indian Premier League (IPL)'s second season, if a pesky Achilles tendon injury, which has been ailing him for sometime now, stops his involvement in the domestic State Championship final on April 6..

Chennai Super Kings picked the Kiwi all-rounder for a massive 675,000 dollars last year. Oram played a big role with both bat and ball in Chennai's first three wins in the last season of the IPL.

Wellington (New Zealand), Mar. 31 : West Indian umpire Billy Doctrove has been replaced for Friday''''s third cricket test between New Zealand and India at the Basin Reserve as he continues to recover from illness.

Doctrove had to pull out of the second test in Napier last Saturday after two days play when he was diagnosed with a chest infection. He was replaced by New Zealand''''s Evan Watkin, the NZPA reports.

Two neutral umpires will stand in the series finale.