http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/...8-27561,00.html
Boof's dream torn apart
By Malcolm Conn
February 10, 2005

DARREN Lehmann has been dumped from Australia's one-day side to tour New Zealand, almost certainly bringing an end to his international career.

A new-look 14-man squad was announced today for the five-match series, with the intriguing inclusion of West Australian batsman Mike Hussey and Queensland all rounder James Hopes.

The immediate future of Matthew Hayden is clear, with the four-man selection panel of chairman Trevor Hohns, Allan Border, David Boon and Andrew Hilditch including the big Queenslander in the squad.

Lehmann, 35 last Saturday, has paid dearly for a poor finish to the recent one-day series, when he played sloppy cricket to register three single-figures scores including a first-ball duck reverse-sweeping.



http://www.news.com.au/story/0,1011...781-421,00.html
ABC makes secret bid for Ashes coverage
By Steve Lewis and Geoff Elliott

ABC TV has made a secret bid to show this year's Ashes series on free-to-air televsion / file CRICKET fans may still be able to watch Australia compete against England for the Ashes on free-to-air television, with the ABC in secret negotiations to snare the rights for the much-loved event.

The national broadcaster is close to presenting a plan to the Howard Government that could see full television coverage of what is tipped to be the most competitive Ashes contest in years. ABC managing director Russell Balding will tomorrow discuss the cricketing issue when he meets federal Communications Minister Helen Coonan in Sydney.

The Australian has learned the ABC's head of television, Sandra Levy, has been in secret talks with the English Cricket Board over the free-to-air rights.