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.

Brisbane, eb. 12 : Australian cricket skipper Ricky Ponting believes it will be difficult for his players to continue playing all three forms of the game - Tests, ODIs and Twenty20s - as increased workload could lead to greater frequency of injury and lack of rest.

The cloud hanging over injured vice-captain Michael Clarke places the vexed issue of resting and managing player workload back in the spotlight, especially with crucial tours of South Africa and England on the horizon.

Clarke is among an ever-thinning number of Australians who consistently play Test, one-day and Twenty20 cricket - which also currently includes Ponting, Haddin, Mike Hussey and Mitchell Johnson.

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.

Brisbane (Australia), Feb. 12: Indian-born surgeon Dr. Jayant Patel a. k. a. "Dr. Death" lied to the families of patients he operated upon, claimed a nurse.

Bundaberg Base Hospital intensive care unit nurse Karen Stumer told a Brisbane Magistrates Court here today that Patel often lied about the success of his operations, even as his patients'' health was deteriorating.