Cricket: Woolmer to Warwicks

WARWICKSHIRE HAVE stolen a march on England by persuading Bob Woolmer to return to Edgbaston. The 51-year-old has chosen to return to county cricket rather than the international game.

Warwickshire will not be renewing the contract of their current coach, Phil Neale, at the end of the year, and the county's chief executive, Dennis Amiss, said of Woolmer: "He's had more lucrative offers from other countries and from other counties, but we contacted him at an early stage.

"He has got a lot of affection for the club and if he was going to come back to county cricket it was going to be with Warwickshire." News of Woolmer's appointment follows his refusal to be considered for the England coaching post. Woolmer said he wanted a break from the game but has now decided to return to the scene of his previous triumphs in the domestic game.

In another coup, Worcestershire have agreed a two-year contract with Glenn McGrath. Graeme Hick, Worcestershire's captain next season, said the Australian pace bowler would be a "brilliant signing".

The 29-year-old New South Wales paceman will join the county next season and will return for the summer 2002. He will miss the season in between because of Australia's Ashes tour. McGrath will replace his compatriot Tom Moody as Worcestershire's overseas player.

The Glamorgan captain, Matthew Maynard, believes Lance Klusener is the man his team needs to replace Jacques Kallis if the South African all- rounder fails to recover from a stomach injury. The county secretary, Mike Fatkin, however, said that the county are refusing to rush into a decision until more is known about the seriousness of his stomach injury.

Peter Lever is considering an offer to coach Kenya for the next four years. The former Lancashire and England paceman has already been involved in the development of Kenyan cricket and acted as their bowling coach in the World Cup.