Sri Lanka in England

Mark Butcher is ready to delay an operation on his left knee in order to play in next week's final Test against Sri Lanka.

Butcher, the Surrey left-hander who has racked up more than 1,000 runs at an average of 46.22 since his Test recall last year, requires key-hole surgery and rates his chances of playing only "50-50".

He had a scan on the joint in Sheffield on Wednesday, which showed he had damaged a pad in the knee which cushions the stresses and strains of running.

Surgery would enable the joint to be cleaned out and tidied.

Butcher's agent, David Ligertwood, told BBC Sport Online: "He probably won't know anything for sure about playing at Old Trafford until he gets out and runs around.

"He's hopeful that he'll be able to play in the final Test and then have the operation afterwards."

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England batsman Mark Butcher has been ordered to appear before a disciplinary panel following newspaper comments about Sri Lankan seam bowler Ruchira Perera's bowling action.

News of his summons to appear before the England and Wales Cricket Board's Discipline and Standing Committee came only hours after Butcher admitted he was doubtful for the third Test at Old Trafford because of a knee injury.

The hearing, to be chaired by Gerard Elias QC, will take place within the next fortnight.

Perera is currently working with Sri Lankan bowling coach Daryl Foster to smooth out his action after being reported to the International Cricket Council following the first Test at Lord's.

Pakistan in Australia

Pakistan plan to use their short tour to Australia to try and persuade their hosts that it is safe for them to make reciprocal visits later this year.

Waqar Younis' side have arrived for the three-match Super Challenge II series, which will feature two games played indoors at Melbourne's Colonial Stadium.

But they have a double agenda, with Australia due to play one-day internationals in Pakistan in August and then return the following month for a Test series.

That trip is in serious doubt because of the current military stand-off with India and last week the Foreign Ministry urged all Australians in the two countries to leave because of fears for their safety.

Despite that, Pakistan coach Mudassar Nazar said: "We're hoping it will go ahead. It is my earnest desire that the Australians come to Pakistan.

"Yes, I can easily understand their reluctance. If it doesn't take place in Pakistan, then hopefully it will take place somewhere else."

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Australia's one-day series against Pakistan next week will offer Shane Watson the chance to show his all-round talent before next year's World Cup, captain Ricky Ponting said on Thursday.

Watson made his one-day international debut on Australia's tour of South Africa this year, scoring 37 runs and taking one wicket in four appearances as Ponting's team thrashed the home side 5-1.

The 21-year-old from Ponting's home state of Tasmania is the only all-rounder chosen in Australia's 13-man squad for matches in Melbourne on June 12 and 15 and in Brisbane on June 19.

"I wouldn't say that (all-rounders Ian) Harvey and (Andrew) Symonds are gone," Ponting told reporters in Brisbane.

World Cup 2003

Australia's cricketers are leading the way towards a potential World Cup disaster in South Africa by refusing to sign the contract that would allow them to participate in the global showpiece.

The contract, which all players are compelled to sign before they compete, deals with marketing and sponsorship rights and the chief executive of the Australian Cricketers' Association, Tim May, is not mincing his words about the possible consequences should the contract not be amended.

"The ultimate action is that players could refuse to play in the World Cup," May, who is also joint CEO of the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations.

"Both sides would like to steer away from that. I would like to think fair negotiations would prevail."

So far May has found little to encourage him during his dealings with the ICC and their chief executive, Malcolm Speed: "I'm no more than "10 percent satisfied," May said in Melbourne two days ago.

Miscellaneous

Former Pakistan captain Asif Iqbal has suggested an immediate review of the leg-before-wicket rules to give umpires more authority.

He believes the current rules are needlessly complicated and that batsmen should be given out if an umpire judges a ball would have hit the stumps, no matter where it pitches on the wicket.

Such a change would prevent batsmen from simply padding away deliveries and help make the game more exciting.

"The present rules are at best as ridiculous and are badly harming the long term development of cricket," Asif told BBC Sport Online.

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Following widely publicized comments by Australian umpire Ross Emerson - the last umpire to call Murali for throwing in a match - the Sri Lankan bowler now says he is uncertain if it is worth his while touring Australia where he feels he is being unfairly targeted.

A report in the latest edition of The Sydney Daily Telegraph suggests that Murali does not want to become embroiled in heightened controversy in an event that is being held just a month prior to the world Cup.

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Voting is underway in the new Professional Cricketers' Assocation (PCA) Fans' Player of the Month Awards.

Fans are able to cast their votes online for the Awards by visiting cricnet.com, the official website of the PCA, and there are four separate categories for voting.

Tim Munton, the former England seamer and commercial director of the site, said: "Any award a player receives in his career is a real accolade and high point, but an award voted for by the public is something else."

The PCA already runs the Cater Allen Bank PCA Monthly Performance Awards.

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