Sporting Digest: Cricket

Hansie Cronje, the South African captain, was named yesterday as the player who speared a stump through the door of the umpires' room after the third Test against Australia in Adelaide earlier this month. No action was taken after Cronje apologised.

Northamptonshire are to experiment with a later start in three home Championship matches this season. Play on the first three days of the fixtures against Lancashire, Middlesex and Derbyshire in June and July will begin at 12 noon, with close at 7.30pm Leicestershire will also try the experiment in the games against Kent, Sussex and Northants at Grace Road.