Strauss 'refreshed and Invigorated' for England Return

Andrew Strauss made a breezy 39 on his debut for Northern Districts in New Zealand yesterday as he prepared for his return to the England Test squad, and spoke of feeling "refreshed and invigorated", though he could not prevent his side sliding to another defeat.

The England opener announced his decision to join Northern Districts in December after being omitted from England's tour of Sri Lanka. He was subsequently recalled to the Test side for their forthcoming tour of New Zealand, and could also feature in the one-day set-up.

Strauss told BBC Radio 5 Live: "This is almost like a fresh start for me, and there is nothing better than coming into a Test series feeling motivated, fresh, comfortable with your game.

"That final ingredient - being mentally switched on - is the only thing that holds most players back. I feel really refreshed and invigorated after having three months away. I'm really excited about 2008, hopeful it's going to be a big year for English cricket and myself."

Batting first in yesterday's State Shield match, Northern Districts got off to a confident start with Strauss reaching 39 from as many balls. After hitting eight fours, he was bowled by Bradley Scott to spark a middle-order slump in which Northern Districts lost five wickets for 32. Set 225, Otago were steered home by another Englishman, Alex Gidman, the England A captain, who made 54.

West Indies' Marlon Samuels has been reported to the International Cricket Council for a suspected illegal bowling action. Umpires Simon Taufel, Aleem Dar and Brian Jerling were unhappy with one particular delivery bowled by the part-time off-spinner in his side's third-Test defeat against South Africa in Durban.

ICC match referee Roshan Mahanama said: "Concerns have been raised by the match officials over the legality of Marlon's bowling action with particular reference to his 'fast ball' when viewed with the naked eye." South Africa completed a win by an innings and 100 runs in three days on Saturday to take the series 2-1.

Uncapped opening batsman Chris Rogers has been added to Australia's squad for the third Test against India in Perth as cover for the injured Matthew Hayden. Hayden has a hamstring injury sustained in the second Test and Rogers has been called up in case the Queenslander does not recover in time for the start of the match on Wednesday.

The tour will definitely now continue as scheduled following a week of uncertainty and negotiations after a contentious three-Test ban imposed on bowler Harbhajan Singh. Sharad Pawar, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India has confirmed there is "no question" of it being called off. The BCCI initially threatened to suspend the tour if the ban on Harbhajan for alleged racist abuse directed at Andrew Symonds in an ill-tempered second Test in Sydney was not overturned by the International Cricket Council.

But the BCCI, while still denying the allegations against the 27-year-old spinner, has relaxed its stance on a boycott and Pawar confirmed the tour will continue irrespective of the result of its appeal.