Derbyshire keep faith with Botham

Derbyshire underlined their support for Ian Botham as a prospective England selector yesterday and dismissed suggestions that they are waging a campaign against Raymond Illingworth, the current chairman of selectors, because of his treatment of Devon Malcolm on the tour of South Africa.

Reg Taylor, the county's secretary, said: "We nominated Ian Botham in good faith because we feel it would be in the best interests of English cricket. That nomination still stands unless Ian tells us otherwise."