Brisbane, Feb. 13: Rain has delayed the start of the final one-day match between Australia and New Zealand, giving a little more time to Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke to go through with a fitness Test.

The covers haven''t been moved off the cricket pitch at the Gabba, increasing the chances of the final match of the series being abandoned and allowing Australia to retain the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.

Brisbane, Feb. 13 : Skipper Ricky Ponting believes that Australia's policy of resting its star players is controversial and self-defeating.

Speaking ahead of the final Chappell-Hadlee one-day match between Australia and New Zealand that has begun at the Gabba in Brisbane, Ponting said that while there was a need for Australia's cricketers to rest between matches to avoid a burnout, the current strategy was far from perfect.

Melbourne, Feb. 12 : Former Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne on Wednesday spent some time with children who had survived the bush fires that have ravaged most parts of Victoria.

According to Fox Sports, Warne, dressed in faded jeans with torn hems, had the kids gather around him at the local skate-ramp to sign their bats, balls and T-shirts autographed.

Brisbane, Feb. 12 : New Zealand have included four new faces, including the older brother of wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum, in their squad for Sunday''s Twenty20 clash with Australia at the SCG.

Off-spinning allrounder Nathan McCullum, pace duo Ian Butler and James Franklin, and batsman Peter McGlashan will join the Black Caps for the first time on their Australian limited-overs tour.

The quartet, all boasting international experience, according to The Sun, replace Trent Boult, Craig Cumming, Brendon Diamanti, Peter Fulton, Gareth Hopkins and Jeetan Patel who return to NZ after Friday''s Chappell-Hadlee decider at the Gabba.

Johannesburg/Brisbane, Feb. 12: South African vice-captain Ashwell Prince has expressed his bitter disappointment over being left out of the side for the first two Tests against Australia, while Oz skipper Ricky Ponting has expressed surprise over his omission.

Middle-order batsman Prince made a strong case for selection with 900 Test runs at 64.28 in 2008, but missed South Africa''s historic 2-1 triumph in Australia because of a broken thumb.

Karachi, Feb. 12: Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ijaz Butt is in a serious trouble for refusing to quit, as the Senate's Standing Committee on Sports is now thinking of filing a dispensation motion against him .

"I will be consulting my fellow committee members over the remarks made by the PCB chief, and there is a possibility that we may file a privilege motion again him, The News quoted Senator Enver Baig, as saying.

Senator Baig said the committee has the power to charge Butt, and this would be indicated to the PCB chief at its next meeting.

Baig attacked Butt for ruining the Pakistan cricket.