Cricket: Somerset's overseas shortlist of three

SOMERSET HAVE announced a shortlist of three Australians from which they will select their overseas player for next season. The county will choose from Tasmania opener Jamie Cox, New South Wales all-rounder Shane Lee and young Western Australia batsman Mike Hussey.

The Somerset chief executive, Peter Anderson, and the county's new cricket chairman, Vic Marks, will interview all three players during the fifth Ashes Test, which starts in Sydney on 2 January. "We will insist that our overseas player is available for the season," said Anderson, determined that World Cup calls will not rob his team early next summer.

Somerset will offer their overseas recruit the chance to be captain after Peter Bowler relinquished the post earlier this month.

Michael Gough, of Durham, will captain the England Under-19s for the tour of New Zealand this winter. The 15-man squad will play three Test matches and three one-day internationals. The first Test is in New Plymouth (2-5 February), the second in Wellington (8-11 February) and the third in Dunedin (18-21 February).

ENGLAND UNDER-19: M Gough (Durham, capt), I Bell (Warks), I Flanagan (Essex), M Carberry (Surrey), R Dawson (Yorks), G Haywood (Sussex), J Maunders (Middx), M Symington (Durham), J Fearick (Lancs), M Wallace (wkt, Glam), G Bridge (Durham), M Bulbeck (Soms), R Logan (Northants), J Tucker (Soms), M Whiley (Notts).