Quick singles: Zimbabwe fears scorned

South African safety minister Charles Nqakula has dismissed security fears cited by New Zealand and England, who refused to play cup fixtures in Kenya and Zimbabwe.

"When people say they don't want to go to places because of security fears, they are not telling the truth," Nqakula said yesterday.

He said England and New Zealand had ignored an offer to cut short their time in Zimbabwe and Kenya by flying in and out of both countries as soon as possible.

"We were certain that all people, including spectators as well as demonstrators, would have been secure," Nqakula said.

Wanted: one spinner

Australian coach John Buchanan yesterday said that Australia needed a specialist spinner to join their squad as soon as possible.

"We don't want to go for too long with 14 players. We need a 15th player," he said.

Buchanan said tournament organisers had agreed to allow Australia a replacement if legspinner Shane Warne, who has flown home to face a disciplinary hearing after failing a drugs test, was not cleared.

The leading candidates are offspinner Nathan Hauritz or Stuart MacGill, Warne's long-time legspin rival.

Shortest odds

British bookmaker William Hill has made Australia 2000-1 on favourite to beat minnows the Netherlands in their match at Potchefstroom tonight.

Hills spokesman Graham Sharpe said the odds were the shortest the firm had ever offered for any sporting contest.

"It will cost punters £2000 to win £1 if they fancy a bet on them," he said.

England strategy

England aim to carry on from where they left off against the Netherlands when they play pool A long-shots Namibia at St George's Park, Port Elizabeth, tonight.

England, who forfeited four points after boycotting their opener against Zimbabwe in Harare on security grounds, cannot afford any slip-ups.

"We are running out of chances. There's no coming back from a loss. We have to win convincingly," he said. "We have to look at it like a knockout cup run."

Bowden covers

New Zealand umpire Brent Bowden has stepped in as cover after an English counterpart refused to officiate in World Cup matches in Zimbabwe.

Aucklander Bowden, at his first cup, has been appointed to control the group A match between Zimbabwe and Australia in Bulawayo next Monday.

He takes the place of Peter Willey, who yesterday withdrew from matches in Zimbabwe. Joining him was another Englishman, former Otago fast bowler Neil Mallender, who was scheduled to work as the third umpire.

World Cup schedule

Points table