Cricket: 'A' team in townships

ENGLAND A will play three matches in the black townships this winter during their first official tour to South Africa for 30 years.

The two-month tour features seven four-day matches against provincial sides and ends with a five-day match against South Africa A from 27-31 January. The games in Alexandra in Johannesburg, Zwide near Port Elizabeth and Langa in Cape Town, are the first such matches to be held in the townships.

Tim Lamb, the Test and County Cricket Board's cricket secretary, said: 'Without doubt this is the most competitive tour yet undertaken by our A team.'

ENGLAND A TOUR ITINERARY TO SOUTH AFRICA: 30 November: Arrive in Johannesburg. 4 December: Transvaal Invitation XI (Alexandra). 6: Western Transvaal (Potchefstroom). 8 Eastern Transvaal (Springs). 10- 13: Transvaal (Johannesburg). 15: Eastern Province Invitation XI (Zwide, Port Elizabeth). 17-20: Eastern Province (Port Elizabeth). 23: Western Province Invitation XI (Langa, Cape Town). 26-29: Western Province (Cape Town). 1-4 January 1994: Natal (Durban). 7-10: Northern Transvaal (Centurion Park, Pretoria). 12: Griqualand West (Kimberley). 14-17: Orange Free State (Bloemfontein). 21-24: Border (East London). 27-31: SOUTH AFRICA A (Port Elizabeth). 1: Depart for London.