Cork injury scare for England

Dominic Cork has given England another injury scare four days before their World Cup quarter-final against Sri Lanka.

The Derbyshire all-rounder was taken to hospital in Karachi for a scan on his troublesome right knee after twisting it during fielding practice.

Detailed examination revealed no new damage, but Cork's fitness remains a worry for Saturday's match in Faisalabad.

"Dominic will have physiotherapy for the next 48 hours and hopefully will be available for selection for the quarter-final," the assistant manager, John Barclay, said.

Cork has been troubled, on and off, by a tendon problem for most of this winter and is doing only a minimum amount of bowling in the nets between games.

England considered giving him a cortisone injection a couple of weeks ago but, after consultation with both the player and his county, decided that as much rest as possible between matches ought to keep him in action.

Cork experienced similar problems with the tendon just below his other knee two seasons ago and eventually needed an operation. That injury almost certainly delayed his arrival on the Test scene but, since then, he has been highly successful against West Indies last summer and in South Africa earlier this winter.

England regard Cork as a key member of their World Cup party. So far the results are not sparkling - eight wickets from five matches and a slightly disappointing economy rate of 4.5 runs per over - but they will be desperate to include him.

n Derek Pringle, the Independent cricket writer and former England all- rounder, yesterday joined the small band of players who have hit six sixes in an over. Pringle compiled his perfect 36 playing for the English Press team against their Pakistani counterparts at the Karachi Gymkhana Ground. He scored 58 runs off just 15 deliveries as the visitors beat their hosts by 81 runs in a limited-overs match.