Sporting Digest: Cricket

Northamptonshire have been cleared by the England and Wales Cricket Board's disciplinary panel of making an illegal approach to the Yorkshire player Gavin Hamilton.

Worcestershire's Graeme Hick is to play one-day cricket for Auckland in New Zealand this winter, after playing for England in the Sharjah one- day tournament in December.

Stuart Law has agreed to return as Essex's overseas player next season. The 28-year-old Australian has made more than 5,000 runs in all competitions in his two seasons with the county.