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The filming of , based on the life of the late South African captain, has been completed by his brother Frans Cronje, who says he went through his “own King Commission” during the “incredibly tough” year of shooting. Frans told Cricinfo the movie, completed on Monday, will be released across Africa on September 24 with a possible international release to follow.Frans said the film’s DVD set will include a special documentary on Hansie and will feature interviews with his family, team-mates and friends including Jonty Rhodes, Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, Peter Pollock, Andrew Hudson, Gary Kirsten and Kevin Pietersen., which was shot in South Africa, England and India, traces the cricketer’s “internal journey from stardom to losing everything and then the journey to rebuilding his life”. Cronje was a role model and a national hero till his involvement in the match-fixing scandal was exposed eight years ago. He was banned from the game subsequently and died in a plane crash in 2002.One of the most poignant moments during the making of the movie, Frans said, was the scene when Hansie breaks down in tears after confessing his involvement with illegal bookmakers to the King Commission that was appointed to inquire into the match-fixing scandal of 2000.”He was very emotional and my dad and I were crying with him,” Frans said. “When we filmed this, it was like seeing the real event happen again. The acting in this scene was really magnificent. While filming, I just sat there with tears in my eyes. Fortunately, when I looked around me, I realised that everyone else on the sets were crying as well.”The other scene that will touch people’s emotions is one where Peter Pollock, the former South Africa allrounder, talks to Hansie after the King Commission. “Peter was instrumental in helping Hansie to begin the process of rebuilding his life,” Frans said.The movie has been produced by Global Creative Studios, a Cape Town-based production venture headed by Frans, who has won an Italian award for his earlier movie .The filming went through a tough phase last year, he said, when an American firm that promised advance funding pulled out of the deal. “It was incredibly tough. In a sense, it felt like I went through my own ‘King Commission’ at a stage. Especially the last week in November last year, when we heard that the funding was not there, was difficult. Fortunately, some very capable businessmen got involved. Without their assistance, it would have been almost impossible. The fact the movie has been successfully completed has helped a lot.”South African actor Francois Rautenbach will play Hansie in the movie. Frans said he decided not to use cricketers as actors as the “movie is primarily a drama”. He was assisted in filming the cricket action by Gordon Parsons, his brother-in-law, and former county player.”We decided to use actors to play the parts of Hansie’s team-mates like Allan Donald and Jonty Rhodes,” Frans said. “As the movie is primarily a drama, it was important that we have experienced actors. To ensure that the cricket action was done well, we cast younger cricket players from a few different academies in South Africa and India. I was on the sets to ensure that the cricket sequences look real.”Cricket South Africa (CSA) has given their “official endorsement and support” for the movie after Joubert Strydom, then convener of selectors, read the screenplay “to ensure that the story is told with integrity”.”The International Cricket Council (ICC) were happy for us to continue, knowing that the CSA endorsed it,” Frans said. “I think they were happy to see that we did not choose to try and uncover any more match-fixing dirt. Rather, we chose to tell the story of Hansie’s internal journey.”

Megan Schutt, Australia’s Player of the Match against Ireland in Delhi, has welcomed the prospect of a possible semi-final showdown with England at the same venue on Wednesday, after helping put her team’s quest for a fourth consecutive World T20 title back on track with figures of 3 for 29 in a comfortable seven-wicket victory.Australia’s victory, which was wrapped up with 40 balls to spare, has drawn them back level with New Zealand on six points in Group A and their spot in the semi-finals was sealed after New Zealand beat South Africa Women.Assuming there are no further upsets in the women’s draw, England will finish top of Group B if they can overcome Pakistan in Chennai on Sunday, which means that the only two teams ever to have won the women’s World T20 are on course to tussle for a solitary place in the final. England won the inaugural event at Lord’s in 2009, but Australia have claimed each of the last three titles, in 2010, 2012 and 2014.”It’s always a good match-up whenever we play England,” Schutt said. “I don’t think there’s ever been a match when either of us has blown the other out of the park. No matter what the conditions are, we will both have to adapt, but I think it will be a cracking game.”Schutt admitted that her team’s prior knowledge of the conditions at the Feroze Shah Kotla could prove to be handy on Wednesday, and backed her team’s spinners, Jess Jonassen and Kirsten Beams, to put the squeeze on a slow surface. Alongside the medium pace of Rene Farrell, who took 2 for 11, the trio conceded just 39 runs in their 12 mid-innings overs.”Obviously it’s a bit of an advantage to see the ground before the opposition,” Schutt said. “I think here in the subcontinent it is very effective having the spinners, getting though overs quick, bowling back to back while tying down the runs. Hopefully we can keep up that strategy going forward.”On Australia’s overall campaign, Schutt insisted they were back in control of their destiny following their “hiccup” against New Zealand. The speed of today’s victory was also a boon to Australia’s net run-rate, which Schutt admitted had been at the back of the team’s thoughts.”We were all thinking about it,” she said. “Obviously we have to win the game first and that was what we went out there to do today. The batters did really well to chase it down as quickly as they could and it’s in the hands of the other game now.”Obviously we had a bit of a hiccup against New Zealand but I’d rather get that out of the way in the group stages than the semi-finals. Obviously there’s lots of improvement to go, we still haven’t put out that perfect game, but hopefully we can produce that if results go our way and we get to the semi.”England haven’t been at their best throughout the tournament either. Twice they have taken apparently comfortable run-chases down to the wire, including an inordinately tight finish against West Indies in Dharmasala on Thursday, and Schutt was hopeful of preying on their anxieties if they do end up meeting in Delhi next week.”I was watching their run chase the other night,” she said. “It came down to the last ball and the last wicket, so hopefully we can get them juggling those wickets as well.”

ScorecardWill Gidman made a bright half-century and took two late wickets as Gloucestershire won the day•PA Photos

Gloucestershire recovered from 46 for 5 to seize control against Leicestershire at Grace Road. After squeezing into a first-innings lead of 30, two late wickets for Will Gidman handed them the initiative.Benny Howell, Will Gidman and Jack Taylor all hit half-centuries as Gloucestershire’s last five wickets added 234 runs to guide the visitors to a total of 280. Gidman followed that up by dismissing both Leicestershire openers.Michael Thornely bagged a pair, popping up an easy catch to mid-on off the first ball of the innings, and Niall O’Brien was lbw for 7 as Leicestershire closed an eventful second day on 32 for 2, to lead by two runs.Gloucestershire, starting the day still 219 runs behind on 31 for 2, endured a nightmare first half-hour, losing 3 for 15 runs in six overs. Michael Klinger and Alex Gidman were both caught behind flicking at deliveries down the leg side, and nightwatchman David Payne lost his off stump during an impressive spell from Ollie Freckingham.Hamish Marshall and Howell steadied things with a resolute partnership of 61, although Howell survived a chance to Robbie Williams at mid-on when he mistimed a lofted drive off Jigar Naik. He celebrated that escape with a straight six off the same bowler but Marshall, three runs away from a half-century, was trapped lbw by Freckingham soon after lunch.Will Gidman joined Howell in another fine stand of 67, reverse sweeping left-arm spinner Claude Henderson to the boundary to reach his fifty off 51 balls with eight fours, before falling lbw to Naik.The much more cautious Howell reached his half-century off 152 balls hitting two sixes and one four. But, when he was also out lbw to Henderson for 52, Taylor went onto the attack. He reached his fifty off 52 balls and finished unbeaten on 61, having shared a last-wicket partnership of 51 with Craig Miles, who contributed a valuable 23.Freckingham had a career-best return of 4 for 69 and Williams also claimed four wickets. But it was very much Gloucestershire’s day.

Ray Price, the left-arm spinner, was dropped from Zimbabwe’s limited-overs squad for the upcoming tour of West Indies, but he would join the team for the Test series that follows the ODIs and the Twenty20s. Left-arm seamer Brian Vitori, who has been part of all three squads since making his debut in August 2011 against Bangladesh, was dropped for the tour.Left-hand batsman Sean Williams, who has played 47 ODIs and a T20 before, was included for the Tests for the first time while he has been left out of the limited-overs team. He played his last international match – an ODI against Canada – during the 2011 World Cup.Another new name to feature in both Test and limited-overs squads is Tendai Chatara, the Mountaineers right-arm seamer, who has picked up 13 wickets in three first-class matches this season.The team will play three ODIs, two T20s and two Tests in what happens to be Zimbabwe’s first tour of the West Indies in 13 years. It is the first time they are playin a two-Test series since playing India in 2005.Four members of the limited-overs squad – Craig Ervine, Chamu Chibhabha, Tino Mutombodzi and Natsai M’shangwe – will return after the ODIs and T20s and will be replaced by Sean Williams, Timycen Maruma, Ray Price and Graeme Cremer for the Tests.ODI and T20 squad: Brendan Taylor (capt), Hamilton Masakadza, Vusi Sibanda, Tino Mawoyo, Kyle Jarvis, Tendai Chatara, Chris Mpofu, Prosper Utseya, Regis Chakabva, Malcolm Waller, Keegan Meth, Craig Ervine, Chamu Chibhabha, Tino Mutombodzi, Natsai M’shangweTest squad: Brendan Taylor (capt), Tino Mawoyo, Vusi Sibanda, Hamilton Masakadza, Regis Chakabva, Malcolm Waller, Kyle Jarvis, Keegan Meth, Tendai Chatara, Chris Mpofu, Prosper Utseya, Sean Williams, Timycen Maruma, Raymond Price, Graeme Cremer

ScorecardAn aggressive knock of 74 from Tamim Iqbal and a spell of 4 for 18 from seamer Ili Tugaga led Wellington to a comfortable 57-run win over Canterbury in Rangiora, and took them to second in the points table.In 7.1 overs, their openers Jesse Ryder and Tamim put on 71 runs to establish a platform for domination. Spinner Ronnie Hira ended the stand by getting Ryder out for 37, but another one, worth 77, ensued, till Iqbal was dismissed in the 16th over. By then, they were cruising at 148 for 2, and to boost the rate Michael Papps scored 32 off 17 deliveries towards the end to get his team to 190.Canterbury lost wickets in a hurry. Tugaga destroyed the top order as the first four batsmen in their line-up scored 18 runs together. After 10.3 overs, they were reduced to 60 for 5. Middle-order batsman Andrew Ellis scored 48, but when he got out in the 15th over, the contest was virtually over. Thirty-year old left-arm spinner Luke Woodcock was the other bowler to prove effective, claiming three wickets.
ScorecardA 95-run stand between Ryan ten Doeschate and Nathan McCullum, both of whom scored half-centuries, and a combined bowling effort helped Otago inflict a 93-run win over Central Districts at the University Oval in Dunedin. The win, Otago’s sixth this season, consolidates their position at the top of the table, while Central Districts’ sixth loss kept them at the bottom.Chasing a stiff 195, Central Districts lacked a steadying hand to halt the collapse. Only four batsmen scored in double-figures, with opener Jeet Raval, who made his Twenty20 debut, top scoring with 20. By the 17th over, they were bowled out for 101. The wickets were shared around, with seamers James Fuller and Jimmy Neesham, and spinners Nathan McCullum and Nick Beard, all taking two wickets each.The win was set up by a commanding batting performance from Otago. At the halfway mark in their innings, they were scoring at a run rate of 7.5 per over, but ten Doeschate, who scored an unbeaten 59, and McCullum struck eight sixes and six fours between them to boost the rate. The final total of 194 for 4 proved enough to defend.
ScorecardA blistering knock from Colin de Grandhomme and restrictive bowling from Michael Bates and Kyle Mills carved a 28-run win for Auckland over Northern Districts in Mount Maunganui.Set a target of 181, Northern Districts managed 152 in their 20 overs led by Steven Croft and Brad Wilson (39). Michael Bates and Kyle Mills, both gave only 19 runs each in their four overs and picked up five wickets together. They were ably supported by Bhupinder Singh (1-22) who also gave less than six runs per over and picked up the wicket of Wilson.Earlier, when Auckland were put in to bat, they lost their openers within six overs for 37. Captain Gareth Hopkins led the side from there, first with Anaru Kitchen and then with Grandhomme. Grandhomme smashed an unbeaten 30-ball 66 which included eight fours and two sixes and pushed the run-rate from under seven to nine when their innings ended.Auckland picked up four points from the match and moved to fourth place in the points table.

George Bailey is expected to add the stand-in captaincy of Australia’s ODI team to his leadership of the national Twenty20 side when the squad for the first two matches against Sri Lanka is named on Sunday, with Michael Clarke set to be given time to recover from the hamstring strain he has carried through two Tests.As Shane Watson remains unavailable due to a calf injury, and David Warner and Matthew Wade are also expected to be given time off after a demanding Test match schedule, ESPNcricinfo understands George Bailey will have the chance to enhance his standing as a specialist captain, in the ODIs at the MCG on January 11 and Adelaide Oval on January 13.The national selector John Inverarity’s high opinion of Bailey’s captaincy and leadership skills may yet see him surprise many by being included in the Test squad to tour India, though he will need some substantial scores over the next month to press that case after making an indifferent start to the Sheffield Shield season with Tasmania.Michael Hussey’s international career may not go on past the SCG Test as the selectors look to try others for the future, with the likes of Aaron Finch to be considered. Phillip Hughes has also a chance to be handed his ODI debut after a strong run of scores in the format over the past year, while Brad Haddin may be recalled to don the gloves in the ODI series during a period of break for Wade.Depending on the progress of his hamstring, Clarke may then return for the third match of the series in Brisbane on January 18. The national selectors are conscious of not over-stretching Clarke after the events of last summer’s triangular series involving Sri Lanka and India, when the captain returned swiftly from one hamstring strain and then suffered one to his other leg. That injury kept him out of the limited-overs portion of the West Indies tour that followed.This time around Australia’s next assignment following the limited-overs leg of the summer is a Test series in India, meaning Inverarity’s selection panel is far less likely to risk a less than fully-fit Clarke – to lose the team’s captain and best batsman to injury for Test matches in the subcontinent would most likely be disastrous.Since leading Australia to the semi-finals of the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, Bailey has been a quiet participant in the Australian summer, failing to make a Shield century and contributing only a trio of cameos to the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League (BBL). But he showed a cool head when introduced to the ODI team in 2012, making runs in difficult circumstances in the West Indies and then being the only batsman to enhance his reputation during the dire ODI tour of England in June and July.In 13 limited-overs appearances for Australia to date, Bailey has 445 runs at an eminently respectable 40.09 and a strike rate of 77.50 with a trio of half-centuries and a top score of 65. His ascendance to the captaincy of the Australian T20 team without previously playing an international match had been the source of much debate, something dredged up again recently when Shane Warne questioned Bailey’s quality as a batsman during a BBL joust in Melbourne.A pair of edges by Bailey when facing Warne led the former Australia legspinner to remark while miked up to the broadcasters: “You would think the Australian Twenty20 captain would smack me out of the park, wouldn’t you? Rather than keep nicking me?”Bailey responded to the taunt with good grace, and will now have the chance to audition for further national duty. The possibility that runs and victories against the Sri Lankans could mean a place in the Test squad to travel to India is not out of the question.

When John Hastings stepped out on to the WACA two months ago to the day, it was nearly as big a moment as his trip to Perth this week. Hastings was lining up for Victoria in his first match at first-class level for nearly two years, having missed all of last summer due to a serious shoulder injury suffered while diving for a catch at a training session. Shoulder reconstructions and fast bowlers don’t make for a happy mix, so simply returning to state level was an achievement.But five Shield matches and an Australia A appearance later, Hastings was going so well in his comeback season that he found himself catapulted into Australia’s side for the Perth Test. A tap on the shoulder from the selectors a quarter of an hour before Australia started their warm-up was all the warning Hastings was given that he would become Australia’s 430th Test cricketer.”It was a pretty special moment,” Hastings said. “I didn’t have too much time to think about. It was probably a good thing actually. I found out about 15 to 20 minutes before the warm-up. Last night I had a pretty good sleep and I wasn’t thinking about it too much. I knew my role already if I was to play. Then it’s just about getting out there, warming up and all of a sudden you’re taking the new ball for Australia. It definitely is a boyhood dream.”It’s been a pretty big start to the year, playing all the Sheffield Shield and all the one-dayers and it was nice to get the performances on the board. You sort of have it in the back of your mind that you’d love to be playing Test cricket, or for Australia in any format, but for me it was all about getting my body right, getting back into it, feeling what cricket was like again and hopefully putting some good performances on the board. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind the last six months.”Hastings’s mother and his fiancée were in the crowd to watch him being presented with his baggy green by Adam Gilchrist, and before he knew it he was being asked to take the new ball for Australia. It’s a job he only occasionally performs for Victoria, particularly when they need an into-the-wind workhorse, and that was the case at the WACA, where the breeze was working for the left-armers, Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson, at the other end.After a nervous start, Hastings found his rhythm and drew a loose shot from Hashim Amla, who flicked the ball off his pads to midwicket only to be reprieved by Ed Cowan. But, in his next over, Hastings was rewarded with his first Test victim when AB de Villiers nibbled outside off stump and the edge was snapped up by Michael Clarke at first slip, leaving South Africa at 5 for 67.”It was a good feeling to get one early,” Hastings said. “I was pretty nervous to start with actually. I wasn’t into a rhythm at all for the first eight or ten overs and then I came out after the break and there was a little bit of swing there, which was good. I had a good bowl during the lunch break and ironed a few things out, put it all behind me, the nerves and then to get that wicket of AB was really nice.”It was the only wicket for Hastings, who finished his first day of Test cricket with 1 for 51 from 20 overs. But he can be content that he played an important role on a day on which Australia knocked South Africa, the world’s No.1-ranked Test side, over for 225. Whatever the future holds for Hastings, working his way back from such a serious injury to earn a Test call-up is a fine achievement in itself.

Mohammad Asif, the Pakistan bowler who was imprisoned in England for spot-fixing, has criticised the ICC, claiming cricket’s governing body prejudiced his case ahead of the criminal trial in London by the timing of the verdict of its independent inquiry. Asif was speaking in Lahore, following his return from England five months after completing half of his one-year sentence.Asif, along with Salman Butt, was found guilty at Southwark Crown Court in November 2011, on charges of conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to accept corrupt payments over deliberate no-balls bowled during the Lord’s Test between Pakistan and England in August 2010. Mohammad Amir, the third player accused by the Crown Prosecution Service, had pleaded guilty to the charges.However, the three players had already been found guilty by an ICC tribunal on February 5, 2011, and were banned for various durations. Asif’s ban was for seven years and that punishment was announced a day after the CPS levied its charges against the players.”It was quite difficult time, but thank god it is over,” he said. “The way ICC has prejudiced my case, there are lots of things which are not yet clear and nobody knows it, even you people [the media] have not highlighted it, but I will do it.”I didn’t do anything wrong. There was one no-ball and, whatever the scenario was behind it, I described it in the court. There are lots of things and it will be in my book, which will be launched very soon.”Asif claimed he was going to appeal against the ICC’s ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland and a hearing, he said, would take place in February 2013. “There’s a hearing in February, second or third week, and it will be decided. Hopefully I will get justice there because it’s just the ICC and me, and Inshallah everything will be all right.”I’m fighting my own case, I have my own legal team,” Asif said, criticising the Pakistan board as well. “They [PCB] have their own policy and they took a back step, when I think they should have taken a step forward.”

Northamptonshire have confirmed that Jack Brooks, the pace bowler, has been allowed to utilise a get-out clause in his contract to further his international ambitions.Brooks, who made a late start to his professional career having come through Minor County cricket, played for England Lions against the West Indians this season on his home ground. In the Championship he took 23 wickets at 35.69 in a campaign disrupted by injury and overall has 118 first-class wickets at 28.95″I’ve taken this decision to leave Northants because I want to compete at the highest level possible,” Brooks said. “The opportunities being offered to me are too good to turn down, and I owe it to myself to explore all avenues as I continue my quest for international honours.””I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Northants and fully appreciate the support I’ve been given by all at the club. Hopefully, I’ll be remembered for my performances and wholehearted approach to the game.”Head coach David Ripley said: “I am saddened by Jack’s departure, we will miss him both on the field and in the dressing room as he is a real character. He is striving for international honours and domestic trophies, which I believe are both achievable here, but I fully understand and respect his decision to leave. We wish Jack all the best in his future.”David Smith, the chief executive, added that this was a situation clubs are becoming used to these days. “Jack leaving us is a reflection of our more mobile cricket society and of more flexible employment laws that allow players to move between county cricket clubs on a more regular basis than in the past.”The club wants to place on record its appreciation of Jack’s service over the past four years and wish him all the very best for the future. Jack has been a very popular member of our dressing room.”

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is close to appointing Haroon Lorgat, the former ICC chief executive, as a consultant to assist the board in revamping its domestic cricket structure, as well as potentially advising it on finances and governance. An SLC official told ESPNcricinfo that negotiations have been going well and they are optimistic about bringing Lorgat on board.SLC, who have faced a turbulent 15 months, are interested in Lorgat’s services because of his vast experience in cricket administration. Lorgat served as ICC chief executive for four years before stepping down at the end of June. He has also held several posts in South African cricket, including that of chairman of selectors, and was on the finance and organising committees for the 2003 World Cup. His appointment is likely to be for a period of three or four months.Nuski Mohammed, the SLC treasurer, told the that Sri Lanka cricket needed fresh ideas. “First we must get his [Lorgat’s] expertise as far as possible with regard to the restructuring programme and find ways of bringing modern thinking into the process,” Mohammed said. He also suggested that Lorgat, who is a qualified chartered accountant, could help the board examine its finances and suggest ways to tap the ICC for assistance. Lorgat did not respond to an email seeking comment.Among the problems faced by the Sri Lankan board, has been their finances; they ran up debts of close to $70 million to finance the building of two international stadiums in Hambantota and Pallekele, and to renovate the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, for the 2011 World Cup. It was also forced to hold its first elections in seven years in January, 2012, to comply with ICC regulations.The new board, headed by Upali Dharmadasa, has decided to make changes to the country’s domestic set-up. SLC’s domestic structure centres on the club system, with the best clubs traditionally located in Colombo. The board is currently planning on cutting the two-tiered club tournament down to one and reducing the number of teams from 20 to 14.There was another proposal, outlined by Sidath Wettimuny, the former opening batsman, that would have clustered the clubs of a region together to form one of seven provincial sides. The teams would be made up of the best players from each club within the region, and compete with other provinces on a more regular basis. However, a number of clubs opposed the proposal and Dharmadasa said that the board has “to go with the club structure”.