CRICKET : Richardson back for West Indies

Richie Richardson will return as the West Indies captain for the forthcoming series against Australia in the Caribbean. The announcement comes after Richardson missed the recent tours of India and New Zealand because of acute fatigue. The fast bowler, Courtney Walsh, who led the team in Richardson's absence, is vice-captain.

Two batsmen, Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer, were yesterday named to fill the final two batting spots in the 15-man Australian squad to tour the West Indies.

Ponting and Langer were named alongside the six batsmen who played the final Ashes Test in Perth earlier this month, as Mark Taylor's side aims to regain the Frank Worrell Trophy for the first time since 1975-76. Australia lost the 1991 series in the West Indies 2-1, and suffered another 2-1 defeat in 1992-93, losing the decisive Test in Adelaide by just one run.

The seam bowler, Paul Reiffel, will fill the fourth fast-bowling position alongside Craig McDermott, Glenn McGrath and Damien Fleming. Michael Slater returns to the squad after missing the short tour of New Zealand to rest an injury.

AUSTRALIAN SQUAD: M A Taylor (capt), I A Healy (wkt), G S Blewett, D C Boon, D W Fleming, J L Langer, C J McDermott, G D McGrath, T B A May, R T Ponting, P R Reiffel, M J Slater, S K Warne, M E Waugh, S R Waugh.