World champions Australia used eight bowlers on Tuesday without managing to dismiss Zimbabwe in the first of their two World Cup warm-up matches. After Michael Clarke had scored 82 from 81 balls and Shane Watson 81 from 89 in Australia’s 290 for seven, Zimbabwe reached 184 for seven.
Brian Lara will miss the three-match one-day cricket international series against Pakistan starting on Wednesday after the West Indies selectors decided to rest the 36-year-old left-hander. Team manager Tony Howard said he does not believe Lara’s absence is going to have much of an effect.