Cricket Buzz: Australia hand coach Lehmann contract extension

Australia coach Darren Lehmann has been rewarded for his integral role in turning around the fortunes of the team with a one-year contract extension until June, 2017, Cricket Australia said on Friday.

The former Test batsman took over from South African Mickey Arthur in the wake of last year's calamitous tour of India and helped guide the side to a 5-0 Ashes sweep and a series triumph in South Africa that saw them briefly top the world rankings.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed the time I have had in the job and am proud of what we have achieved so far," Lehmann said in a statement.

"I want to continue with the work we have done on and off the field with the team, as I feel we are heading in the right direction.

"I'm grateful that the board has shown faith in me to continue in the job."

Lehmann, widely known by his nickname ‘Boof’, has been credited with bringing a more relaxed atmosphere to the Australian dressing room and encouraging the players to enjoy their cricket first and foremost.

The team's success under Lehmann and captain Michael Clarke has also been built on an aggressive style of play that he carried with him from his own playing career, in which he played 27 Tests.

Cairns given perjury trial date

Former New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns will stand trial on charges of perjury next October after being bailed until January by a London Crown Court on Thursday.

The charges stem from a 2012 libel action he brought against Lalit Modi, the former head of the Indian Premier League. The court ruled in Cairns's favour and ordered Modi to pay 90,000 pounds in damages.

The 44-year-old Cairns, who played 62 Test matches and more than 200 one-day internationals, flew to Britain in May to be interviewed by police and the sport's anti-corruption officials in a separate investigation into allegations of match-fixing.

He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

Former New Zealand batsman Lou Vincent was banned for life in July from all cricket after admitting to match-fixing in games in England.

Black Caps Taylor, Milne to miss South Africa ODIs

New Zealand's former skipper Ross Taylor and paceman Adam Milne will miss the upcoming one-day international series against South Africa because of injury, New Zealand Cricket said on Friday.

Top order batsman Taylor, a veteran of 137 ODIs, has a calf problem, while Milne is struggling with an elbow injury and both were ruled out of a warm-up match for the series against Ireland in Hamilton on Saturday.

Fast-medium swing bowler Tim Southee is battling a shoulder injury but should be fit to face the Proteas in the first of three one-day matches in Mount Maunganui on Tuesday.

Batsman Kane Williamson, who has a wrist problem, will miss the Ireland match and the first of the South Africa encounters but should be available for the final two matches of the series in Mount Maunganui next Friday and Hamilton on October 27.

New Zealand are ranked seventh in the world rankings and will be looking to the series against the second-ranked South Africans to help with their preparations for the World Cup, which they are co-hosting with Australia early next year.