Donald may retire after 1999 World Cup

Cricket

Allan Donald, South Africa's premier fast bowler since the country's return to international cricket, has indicated he may retire from the international game in two years' time.

''I'll give serious thought to my international career after the World Cup in 1999, if I make it that far," Donald said after the final one-day international against Australia in Bloemfontein on Sunday.

Donald, 30, who claimed 41 wickets in eight Tests in successive series against India and Australia as well as 58 wickets in the past 26 one-day internationals, is to settle in England where he has played for Warwickshire for 10 years.

The county champions, Leicestershire, will know this week whether the West Indian Phil Simmons will be continuing as their overseas player this season. There is a serious doubt about Simmons' availability because of his Red Stripe Cup commitments and the possibility he could be included in the West Indies' squad for the Tests against Sri Lanka.

English cricket's county scorers have failed in their attempt to gain greater recognition from the game's major sponsors.

Cornhill Insurance, who back England's home Test programme and Benson and Hedges, will continue to refuse to award scorers a similar medallion to those received by players, umpires and groundsmen. Only NatWest give them parity.

Ted Lester, the former Yorkshire batsman who is now chairman of the Association of County scorers, had announced that England scorers would be awarded medallions this season, but the sponsors disagreed.

"I am however delighted to announce that in future England scorers will be presented by the English Board, with a framed certificate to mark the appointment,'' Lester said.

Somerset have appointed the long-serving batsman Richard Harden, 31, as vice-captain to new skipper Peter Bowler.

Warwickshire's slow left-arm bowler Ashley Giles could be forced to miss England A's Tetley Bitter Shield game against the Rest starting at Edgbaston on Friday because of a knee injury.