Derrick wins third spell at Glamorgan helm

Glamorgan have confirmed the appointment of John Derrick as their coach for the 2002 season.

Derrick was the assistant coach alongside the Australian Jeff Hammond, but has been promoted following Hammond's departure after a season which ended in the county's relegation from the First Division of the Championship.

The 39-year-old has had two previous spells in charge of Glamorgan in 1996 and 1998 and has also represented the county and the Wales national team as a player. "Our main aim will be to get this club back into the First Division and to continue the good quality of cricket we played in the National League," Derrick said.

Lancashire have moved to fill the gap left by the retirement of Michael Atherton by signing the Northamptonshire batsman Alec Swann. The 25-year-old, brother of the England off-spinner Graeme Swann, has left Wantage Road after six years.

"Lancashire are one of the big clubs with lots of fine players and I'm delighted that they have offered me this opportunity," he said

The Lancashire cricket manager, Mike Watkinson, added: "The retirement of Michael Atherton has left us a little light on opening batsmen. Our better junior batsmen are a couple of years off being ready for first XI cricket and Alec will hopefully bridge that gap. It will be an excellent opportunity for Alec, who had a useful record with Northants and we believe he will increase the competition for batting places at Old Trafford."

The England Under-19 side yesterday lost their one-day international against their Australian Cricket Board counterparts by five wickets as they prepare for this month's Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand.

Batting first in Adelaide, England made 178 for 9 in their 50 overs with Worcestershire's Kadeer Ali top-scoring with 51 off 71 balls. The visitors looked to have taken control when they reduced the ACB to 74 for 4 but the Australian captain Cameron White struck an unbeaten 68 as the hosts reached their target with nine overs and five wickets in hand.

Pakistan's Test series with the West Indies will be held in Sharjah after the latter voiced concerns about travelling to Pakistan, where political tensions with neighbouring India are high.

Meanwhile, India's limited-overs series in the West Indies scheduled for April has been reduced from seven to five games. A spokesman for the Board of Control for Cricket in India said the original schedule of five Tests and seven one-day internationals would have stretched India's tour until the first week of June, with the team due to arrive in England on 12 June.

The opener Shadab Kabir, who played the last of his three Tests over three years ago, hit 92 as Pakistan drew their opening tour match with Bangladesh A. Pakistan declared on 242 for 6, and Bangladesh A, chasing 345 to win, reached 53 for 3 at stumps.