Sporting Digest: Cricket

Warwickshire are being frustrated in their efforts to complete the return of Brian Lara as their overseas player for next season by his demands for a two-year contract. Lara helped Warwickshire win three trophies in his only previous season at Edgbaston in 1994 and has been lined up as a replacement for Allan Donald, who is unavailable because he is touring England with South Africa. But although the West Indian left-handed batsman is keen to return to England, he wants to extend his stay until 1999 - forcing Warwickshire to choose between the merits of their two overseas players.

Australia's captain Mark Taylor said yesterday he would not hesitate to join a players' strike if the country's first-class cricketers voted for industrial action in pursuit of a pay claim. On the eve of the second Test against New Zealand, at Perth's WACA Ground, Taylor confirmed his total support for the Australian Cricketers' Association.