The stadium works were “now substantially complete” with the exception of the last remaining seats which will be installed in early September, the statement said. Work remains to be done on drainage, the roof and building management systems. WNSL chief executive Michael Cunnah said yesterday that a team of more than 6,200 people were geared up to begin the final stages of training inside the stadium when Multiplex had finished its works. It added it had advised WNSL of its entitlement to extensions of time to October 2007. However, Multiplex said the likely completion date had been pushed back because it said WSNL had not yet started work which it was responsible for.

The statement read: “WNSL is responsible for obtaining approvals from various authorities in order to ensure the stadium is fully operational for events. “To obtain these approvals a series of test events will be required at the stadium to demonstrate that the integration of the safety and control facilities are working properly such that a 90,000 spectator event can take place. “Unless and until WNSL hold and successfully complete this series of test events, and obtain the required approvals, Multiplex will be prevented from achieving practical completion.” Multiplex said it consulted an expert in the operation of major stadia who indicated it was unlikely that the stadium will be able to hold a test event before June 2007. Wembley National Stadium Limited (WNSL) stated yesterday it remained confident the rebuilt stadium would be complete by the end of the year, even if Multiplex missed its September deadline. The stadium was due to open in August 2005 but the Australian construction firm announced a series of delays which forced the Football Association to keep the FA Cup Final in Cardiff and arrange England fixtures at Old Trafford. Wembley stadium is “unlikely” to open for business until at least June next year, builders Multiplex revealed today.

In a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange, the firm predicted the stadium would not be finished this year and may not be ready to hold a test event for spectators before June 2007.
The delay would mean next year’s FA Cup Final will again be played at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. Scanning a tour party list to find your name omitted can be unpleasant; to be dropped with the campaign in full flow is brutal.. The dropping, mid-series, of Geraint Jones has clear echoes of the way Read, having been groomed to succeed Alec Stewart, was himself stripped of his duties with one Test remaining of the West Indies- England series of 2004 It is not a nice way in which to lose a job. In his joy and relief that two years and more of professional frustration have been ended in the best possible way, Chris Read has probably not dwelt for long on the plight of his ousted rival in the contest for the England wicketkeeping gloves Yet he will be feeling a certain empathy. Jones has had a poor summer with the bat, averaging just 13.7 in five Tests against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, yet it still came as a surprise to hear that he had been dropped rather than rested.. But rather than take the expected options, David Graveney, Geoff Miller and Duncan Fletcher chose to drop Jones after 31 consecutive Tests and give Chris Read a third chance to show that he can make it as a Test cricketer. The England selectors yesterday gave Andrew Strauss’ side a timely reminder that they should not take their places in the team for granted when they dropped Geraint Jones from the squad for the third Test.

In the afterglow of a comprehensive victory over Pakistan at Old Trafford, and after watching Jones claim five dismissals behind the stumps, it would have been easy for the committee to either reselect the wicketkeeper, or omit him because of his fractured right ring finger. Lots of credit goes to the bowlers, who toiled on a very difficult pitch. Muttiah Muralitharan was brilliant – his achievement was remarkable. It was difficult for me to get the ball off him.”It was a very good toss to lose as I was planning to bat as well As for our batting, we did maintain an excellent run rate It is a good feeling to be playing our brand of cricket.”. “I think it was the result of the hard work we put in on the first three days. He added figures of 6 for 131 to a four-wicket first-innings haul.Jayawardene, who scored 374 in a world-record stand for any wicket of 624 with Kumar Sangakkara in Sri Lanka’s innings, was delighted with the victory in the first of two Tests.”It’s a very satisfying win for us,” he said.