The latest edition of ICC Cricket World will be broadcast in the UK on Channel 4 at 8.30am on Saturday 23rd March. Viewers are promised a feast of exhilarating batting and plenty of runs from the bats of Messrs Astle, Thorpe, Flintoff, Hussain, Gibbs and Mongia; not to mention Hoggard and Caddick's performances with the ball. The programme focuses on the First Test between New Zealand and England, the final Test between South Africa and Australia and the fascinating conclusion to the India v Zimbabwe one day series.

Double centuries are a rare enough feature of any form of cricket so to get two in one Test Match is a spectacular event especially when the style and adventure of both innings are taken into consideration. Nathan Astle's innings on the last day provided the home fans, and cricket lovers across the world, with magnificent entertainment as he achieved the quickest double century in Test history, unfortunately for him and his New Zealand team mates it was not enough to prevent England going ahead 1 - 0 in the series.

England's victory was down to the achievement of Graham Thorpe, the match's other double centurion, along with Andrew Flintoff, making his debut Test 100, and Captain Nasser Hussain whose first innings century was seen by many as crucial to the game's outcome. England bowlers also produced match winning performances as Mathew Hoggard in the first innings and Andrew Caddick in the second put paid to the efforts of New Zealand's batsmen - until, of course, that magnificent innings from Astle.

Whilst events were unfolding in New Zealand South Africa was up against Australia in the final match of that series. Already two down and the series lost South Africa rallied and prevented a three nil defeat through a magnificent team effort led by Herschel Gibbs with a pivotal century in the second innings.

The run feast continued in India as the hosts took on Zimbabwe in the series decider, Dinesh Mongia hit a quickfire 159 from only 147 balls to put his team in an unassailable position - India won the game by 101 runs to clinch the series. Highlights of games 3,4, and 5 feature in this weeks programme.

The programme is completed with an insight into England's Andrew Caddick and a roundup of news from across the world.

Media information:
David Clarke
ICC Communications
Tel: 07774 476398
E Mail: david.clarke@icc-cricket.com

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