CRICKET

CRICKET

Allan Lamb, the Northamptonshire captain, is to be given full control over the club's first-team affairs this season. Northamptonshire announced the move after revealing they will not be replacing Phil Neale, who resigned as director of coaching to join the county champions, Warwickshire, two weeks ago.

This year's Benson and Hedges Cup winners will take home a cheque for £35,000 - an increase of £4,000 on the amount won by Warwickshire when they beat Worcestershire in last season's final at Lord's. The runners- up will be £2,000 better off with a £17,500 award, and the beaten semi- finalists will each take home £8,750, an increase of £1,000 apiece. There will also be greater cash incentives for the counties who reach the quarter- finals, and for the winners of group matches.

The Surrey captain, Alec Stewart, raised a club-record £202,187 during his benefit year last season. The county reported record pre-tax profits of £335,072 for the year at Monday's annual meeting. The Glamorgan captain, Hugh Morris, raised £118,837 during his benefit season last year - also a county record. Hampshire's former England batsman, Paul Terry, earned £143,277 from his benefit last year.

The Queensland fast bowler, Carl Rackemann, has been named as the replacement for the injured Craig McDermott for Australia's forthcoming Test series against the West Indies. It is Rackemann's first Test call-up since 1991.

Shane Thomson has been recalled to the New Zealand team less than a week after being dropped. Thomson was rushed back into the team to replace the injured Mark Greatbatch for the second limited-overs international against Sri Lanka at Trustbank Park.

TOUR MATCH (Castries, St Lucia) Third day of four: Australia 322 for 5dec (M Slater 90, S Waugh 73no, M Waugh 73); West Indies Cricket Board of Control President's XI 261-5 (D Joseph 83). Match abandoned due to rain.