NZ cricketer drives home drunk because of dead parrot

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) Black Caps cricketer Doug Bracewell has pleaded guilty to a third charge of driving under the influence of alcohol and told a New Zealand court he was hurrying to console his partner over a dead parrot.

Bracewell, 27, was ordered to perform 100 hours of community work after being convicted on Thursday by a court at Masterton of driving while having a blood alcohol reading more than three times the legal limit.

The New Zealand fast bowler was previously convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol in 2008 and 2010.

Bracewell's lawyer said the cricketer was attending a social function when he was phoned by his girlfriend, who was upset that their pet cockatoo was killed by dogs they were minding for a friend.

Defense counsel Ron Mansfield said ''the cockatoo was of some significance to his partner and she was quite distraught.''

Bracewell told the court he made an error of deciding to drive home immediately, rather than waiting for a taxi.

He said outside court, ''It was an unfortunate situation, but that's no excuse driving a vehicle while having a few drinks.''