Cricket: Kent bowlers on treatment table for intensive stretch

ALAN IGGLESDEN and Martin McCague, two Kent fast bowlers very much at the forefront of the England selectors' minds, are spending the week having intensive treatment on their injuries at Lilleshall.

Igglesden, who pulled out of the England side on the eve of the Old Trafford Test, has a groin strain, while McCague, who has been mentioned frequently as an England possible by the manager, Keith Fletcher, has a hamstring problem.

Both will miss Kent's Championship game against Hampshire, which starts tomorrow at Basingstoke. Kent will also be without their Australian pace bowler, Duncan Spencer, who is with Igglesden and McCague at Lilleshall.

Paul Smith, the Warwickshire all- rounder who spent the winter in dispute with the county over his contract, has been called up to face the Australians at Edgbaston in a three- day game starting today. Smith, who eventually signed a two-year contract, has been involved only in one-day games so far this season.

Middlesex, the joint Championship leaders, will be without opening batsman Mike Roseberry against Durham at Gateshead Fell tomorrow because of a cracked bone in his finger.