Squash: Forthright Englishmen

A CAREER-BEST win over the second-seeded Australian, Brett Martin, by England's No 11, Danny Meddings, has ensured that for the first time on the world circuit four Englishmen will occupy the semi-final places. Meddings, who has beaten Martin before but never at this late stage of an important event, triumphed 8-15, 15-6, 15-13, 14-15, 15-10 at the Canadian Open in Calgary, writes Richard Eaton.

He now plays the England captain, Phil Whitlock, who also had a good win, by 15-13, 17-16, 15-3 over the rising French No 1, Julien Bonetat. This means a final is possible between the man who deserted the boycott of the English National Championships and the rebels' leader, Tony Hands.

Hands, who announced the day before that Whitlock had been sent to Coventry by the boycotters, came through by beating a Pakistani qualifier, Zubair Jahan Khan, in straight games and now plays Stephen Meads, the England No 8.

The top-seeded world champion, Jansher Khan, pulled out with a knee injury and will have to produce a medical certificate if his case is not to appear before the Professional Squash Association disciplinary board. All three of Tristan Nancarrow's recent misdemeanours will be discussed at the same time if the report from the Canadian Open of a warning and a code of conduct penalty point in the first four rallies against Zubair reaches Cardiff in time. Nancarrow, of Australia, was also in trouble in the Pakistan Open and the Super Series final in Zurich.

The PSA board will further hear a complaint from the English referee, Mike Picken, alleging misbehaviour on and off the court from another Australian, the former world champion, Rodney Martin.