England wait for return of `foreign legion'

Basketball

Laszlo Nemeth, the England coach, is hoping his "foreign legion'' of players return in time for the European Championship semi-final game against Latvia at Granby Halls on Wednesday night, writes Richard Taylor.

Steve Bucknall and John Amaechi, who played against each other for their Greek clubs on Saturday night, Spencer Dunkley and Ian Whyte (France) and Delme Harrison (Italy) are "crucial to our success," Nemeth said.

Matches in the Budweiser League and 7-Up Trophy underline his concern. The 24 top scorers included 19 Americans, one Spaniard and a Barbadian.