The Pakistan Cricket Board has urged the International Cricket Council to study medical reports on Shoaib Akhtar before taking any further action against the fast bowler. Shoaib was reported for a suspect action during the recent Sharjah Trophy tournament, the third time in his career that he has been reported and the second time this year."We will approach the ICC to have a closer look at the medical report by the University of Western Australia last April on Shoaib," the PCB's director, Munawwar Rana, said. "We feel the problem lies in his peculiar physiology with respect to hyper-mobility of his joints, including the bowling arm."The ICC said that it had appointed the former West Indian fast bowler Michael Holding to work with Shoaib on his bowling action. An assessment of Shoaib's action will be submitted to the ICC and the PCB within three months. The ICC said that Shoaib would be permitted to continue playing international cricket during that period.. England's opening match on their tour of India is to be switched to Bombay's Wankhede Stadium Test ground because of security fears about the original venue. The first amendment to the tour schedule has been made because the Bombay Gymkhana ground has no perimeter fencing. England's opening match on their tour of India is to be switched to Bombay's Wankhede Stadium Test ground because of security fears about the original venue.

The first amendment to the tour schedule has been made because the Bombay Gymkhana ground has no perimeter fencing. Even though refurbishments are unlikely to be completed at the Wankhede before the two-day match against the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) on 18 and 19 November, the hosts have decided it is safer in the current political climate to make the switch.Nasser Hussain's side voiced concerns over touring India at all while the war against terrorism continues to rage in nearby Afghanistan – and two original members of the 16-man party have pulled out of the trip. But, with the tour given the go-ahead by organisers and players two weeks ago and following a security fact-finding visit to India by English cricket representatives, the hosts are clearly taking steps to ensure safety.The MCA joint secretary Mayank Khandwalla explained the reasons behind moving the match by saying: "We have been asked to host the match at the Wankhede Stadium for security reasons."An England and Wales Cricket Board spokesman, Mark Hodgson, said: "The security of the players has always been the ECB's No 1 priority.". Australia's opening pair of Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden both hit centuries to put the home side into a strong position after being put into bat by New Zealand on the opening day of the first Test here yesterday. Australia's opening pair of Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden both hit centuries to put the home side into a strong position after being put into bat by New Zealand on the opening day of the first Test here yesterday. The left-handed duo, in only their second outing as a Test opening pair, compiled a new record stand of 224 for the first wicket against New Zealand as Australia moved to 294 for 6 by the close. Hayden made 136, including 20 fours and two sixes, while Langer cracked 104.It was confirmation that after being dropped from the No 3 spot during last summer's Ashes series in England, Langer has successfully reinvented himself as an opener after replacing Michael Slater. In their only previous opening partnership, in the final Test at The Oval, Hayden and Langer put on 158."At one stage Matthew said to me: 'How good is this'?" Langer said.

"I said it was like playing back-yard cricket, not because of the New Zealand attack, but because we were having so much fun out there, like we did in the last Test in England. That's the way the game should be played."Australia appeared set for a mammoth first-innings total with Hayden and Langer at the crease, but their dismissals – both by Chris Cairns – sparked a middle-order collapse. Six Australia wickets fell for just 39 runs in the final session, with Craig McMillan – the sixth bowler to be used by captain Stephen Fleming – dismissing Steve Waugh, Damien Martyn and Langer to finish with 3 for 13 off seven overs.First day of five; New Zealand won tossAustralia – First InningsJ L Langer c Vettori b McMillan 104M L Hayden c Richardson b Cairns 136R T Ponting c Vettori b Cairns 5M E Waugh lbw b Astle 0*S R Waugh c Parore b McMillan 3D R Martyn c Vettori b McMillan 4? C Gilchrist not out 13S K Warne not out 18Extras (lb3, w1, nb7, pens 0) 11Total (for 6, 90 overs) 294Fall: 224-1, 233-2, 235-3, 256-4, 260-5, 263-6.To bat: B Lee, J N Gillespie, G D McGrath.Bowling: Cairns 23-4-95-2; Nash 18-6-39-0; O'Connor 14-3-55-0; Vettori 12-0-60-0; Astle 16-7-29-1; McMillan 7-1-13-3.New Zealand: M H Richardson, M D Bell, M S Sinclair *S P Fleming, C D McMillan, N J Astle, ? C Parore, C L Cairns, D J Nash, D L Vettori, S B O'Connor.Umpires: S A Bucknor and D J Harper.. Carlton Palmer, the well-known former England midfielder with no coaching experience or qualifications, this week accepted the manager's job at the First Division strugglers Stockport County, becoming only the third serving black manager in English football "It's a difficult situation but a well-run club," he said. "I like the chairman [Brendan Elwood] and get on very well with him." Carlton Palmer, the well-known former England midfielder with no coaching experience or qualifications, this week accepted the manager's job at the First Division strugglers Stockport County, becoming only the third serving black manager in English football "It's a difficult situation but a well-run club," he said. "I like the chairman [Brendan Elwood] and get on very well with him." Black people in football are hoping that the 35-year-old Palmer will fare better than most of the few others who have been given managerial opportunities in the game.This season, Noel Blake, who left Exeter City, and Gary Bennett, who stepped down as Darlington's manager, have been among football's lamentably high number of 22 managerial cast-offs. Only Andy Preece remains, having survived nearly a year and a half at Bury.