Newcastle Falcons sign retired ex-England fly-half

Former England fly-half Andy Goode has come out of retirement and signed a three-month deal with Newcastle. The 35-year-old announced his retirement in September because of injury problems. Falcons have also signed scrum-half Justin Booth, 21, on a three-month deal from New Zealand side Manawatu Turbos. Goode and Booth will provide cover for Mike Delany and Ruki Tipuna, who are both injured and not expected to play again until the spring. Both newcomers may make their debuts in the Premiership against Bath on 2 January.

Martin Guptill became the highest run scorer

 Martin Guptill became the highest run scorer in one-day international cricket this year as he guided New Zealand to a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the first game of their five match series on Saturday. Guptill, who scored 237 not out in the World Cup quarter-final against West Indies and was the highest run-scorer at the tournament, was dismissed for 79 within sight of the 189 needed for victory at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Ross Taylor was on five with debutant Henry Nicholls hitting the winning runs to move to 23 as New Zealand raced to 191 for three in 21 overs. Captain Brendon McCullum scored 55 from 25 balls in an 108-run opening partnership with Guptill, who moved to 1,366 runs from 30 matches in 2015. Compatriot Kane Williamson, who has a knee injury and missed the match, has scored 1,317 runs this year with South Africa's AB de Villiers third on 1,193. While Guptill and McCullum made light work of the run chase, victory had been set up in Sri Lanka's innings when opening bowlers Adam Milne and Matt Henry reduced the visitors to 27-5 inside the first 10 overs with the latter taking four wickets. Both Henry and Milne, who started in place of the rested regular new-ball pair of Trent Boult and Tim Southee, were consistently faster than 140 km per hour in their opening spells with the fiery Milne exceeding 150 kph on several deliveries.

New Zealand captain to retire in February

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum is to retire from international cricket. The 34-year-old batsman has confirmed that the two-Test series against Australia in February will be his last. McCullum is second on the Kiwi's all-time Test run scorers, with 6,273 runs from 99 matches, including 11 hundreds. "I've loved my opportunity to play for, and captain the Black Caps. But all good things have to come to an end, and I'm just grateful for the wonderful experience," he said. Kane Williamson will captain New Zealand at the World Twenty20 in India, which starts on 8 March.

Exeter sign Australia prop from Queensland Reds

Exeter have signed Queensland Reds' Australia prop Greg Holmes on a two-year contract from the summer of 2016. The 32-year-old has spent his entire career at the Australian Super Rugby franchise, playing 132 times for the club in 10 years. He has won 24 caps for his country, the last of them coming in October's World Cup final loss to New Zealand. Holmes is the first new signing that Exeter have made for next season. "We watched a lot of his games for Queensland and the games he featured for Australia in the Rugby World Cup and anyone who looked at Australia's scrum will see they were one of the most destructive units in the tournament and Greg played a large part in that," Exeter boss Rob Baxter said. "Since then I have looked at a lot of his games and he looks like a guy who has a lot left in the tank and he's running around playing a lot of good rugby. "We're big believers here at the club of developing young English players, but I've said before part of the way you develop those young players is with the people who they meet and the people they have time with. "There is no doubt our other front-rowers will benefit from having Greg around, but at the same time he's very determined to be successful in his own right," Baxter added.

'Sri Lanka minister suggests 'conspiracy' over doping charge'

Kusal Perera's failed drugs test could be part of a "conspiracy" against the wicketkeeper-batsman, according to Sri Lanka's sports minister. The 25-year-old tested positive for a banned substance and was sent home from the tour of New Zealand last week. Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera told parliament that authorities will send a B sample to the International Cricket Council for testing. "We are doing all we can to defend him," said the minister. "We are wondering if this allegation is a conspiracy to keep him out of next year's T20 World Cup."

New Zealand beat Sri Lanka in first Test in Dunedin

 Neil Wagner's "miracle" ball helped New Zealand complete a 122-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test in Dunedin. Set 405 to win, Sri Lanka resumed on 109-3 looking to bat out the final day to secure a draw and Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal survived an hour. But Wagner followed two short balls to Mathews (25) with a fuller delivery to bowl the Sri Lanka captain and break a 56-run fourth-wicket partnership. Chandimal (58) went 17 balls later and the tourists subsided for 282. "Neil Wagner really stepped up for us," New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum said of the left-arm seamer who was recalled after a year out to play his 18th Test. "Once he got that breakthrough, got Angelo out, then we certainly relaxed the shoulders and were able to push home the advantage.

'Essex sign Kiwi paceman on three-year contract'

 

Essex have signed New Zealand A fast bowler Matt Quinn on a three-year deal. Auckland-born Quinn, 22, holds a UK passport and will not therefore count as an overseas player. He is the first signing by the county since Thursday's appointment of former England paceman Chris Silverwood as head coach. "Matt is a tall, fast bowler who can swing the ball. We've made no secret of the fact we want to bolster the bowling attack," said Silverwood. "Having looked at Matt play, alongside his record in New Zealand, he's got a good pedigree."

Matt Quinn: Essex sign Kiwi paceman on three-year contract

Essex have signed New Zealand A fast bowler Matt Quinn on a three-year deal. Auckland-born Quinn, 22, holds a UK passport and will not therefore count as an overseas player. He is the first signing by the county since Thursday's appointment of former England paceman Chris Silverwood as head coach. "Matt is a tall, fast bowler who can swing the ball. We've made no secret of the fact we want to bolster the bowling attack," said Silverwood. "Having looked at Matt play, alongside his record in New Zealand, he's got a good pedigree."