Cricket: McGrath and Warne face county dilemma

THE AUSTRALIAN Test players Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath will have to renegotiate deals with English county sides Hampshire and Worcestershire after a decision to play a mid-year series against South Africa. Warne and McGrath were expected to be free for county duty after the New Zealand tour ends on 5 April but may now miss up to two months of the English season.

Under a radical new schedule announced by the Australian Cricket Board yesterday, the Australian team will play South Africa from 12-16 April and again in August under cover in winter in Melbourne.

"Obviously it's something I've got to talk over with Worcestershire now," McGrath told The Australian newspaper. "I'd heard rumours about this upcoming trip to South Africa. My main priority is always the Australian team. We'll see what we can come up with at Worcester and go from there. I don't think the contract is for a specific time. These matches could cut a month and half or two months off."

The August matches will concern several other players with 14 Australians having played in England last year. They include an international three- match indoor series against South Africa on 16, 18 and 20 August at the new 52,000-seat Colonial Stadium in Melbourne.