CRICKET/DIGEST: A group of British investigators has concluded Pakistan's World Cup coach Bob Woolmer died of heart failure from natural causes and was not strangled as local police concluded, a newspaper reported.Scotland Yard declined to comment on the report in the Jamaica Gleaner about Woolmer's death, and said it would not discuss an analysis of toxicology tests conducted on behalf of Jamaican authorities. "This is an inquiry being conducted by the Jamaican authorities," said a spokesman. "It's down to them to comment on developments."

The report was the latest in the line of mixed messages since Woolmer was found unconscious in his Kingston hotel room on March 18th and pronounced dead at a hospital. Mark Shields, the lead Jamaican police investigator, has refused to comment on the reports, saying he was awaiting independent verification in a British government-owned lab of toxicology tests that were done in Jamaica.

CRICKET:Zimbabwe yesterday rejected an offer for its team to play Australia at a neutral venue. Australia barred its national team from travelling to Zimbabwe for a scheduled three-match tour in September prompting the Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland to suggest the world champions could play Zimbabwe at a neutral venue.

"That is wishful thinking . . . the International Cricket Council says Zimbabwe can host the Australians and any other cricket country here," the Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu said in Harare yesterday.

A number of senior Australian players said that they were relieved the government had taken the decision out of their hands.

Opening batsman Matthew Hayden said he had been thinking about a private boycott if the tour had gone ahead.

"I was seriously considering my position this time, as to whether I would go if the tour went ahead," Hayden said.