SPORTING DIGEST: Cricket

CRICKET

Gloucestershire have signed the Australian one-day international all- rounder, Ian Harvey, as their overseas player for the 1999 season. Harvey, who has played 11 limited-overs games for his country, has essentially been recruited because of his medium-paced bowling, but he is also expected to make a valuable contribution as a middle-order batsman.

Paul Hutchison, the left-arm England A swing bowler, has been ruled out of Yorkshire's pre-season tour to South Africa because of his troublesome back injury.