Sporting Digest: Cricket

VIV RICHARDS, the former West Indies captain, may be sued by the Cheshire League club, Denton, after changing his mind about playing for them this year. The club believed they had a commitment from Richards, and will now take legal advice. Richards is to do promotional and charity work for a hotel chain in the West Indies.

HUGH MORRIS will lead England A against the county champions, Middlesex, at Lord's for the Tetley Bitter Shield from 21 to 24 April. The bowlers Martin McCague and Martin Bicknell, both injured during the winter tour of South Africa, will have to prove their fitness prior to the season's curtain-raiser.

ENGLAND A SQUAD (Tetley Bitter Shield v Middlesex, Lord's, 21 to 24 April): H Morris (Glamorgan, capt), J P Crawley (Lancashire), A Dale (Glamorgan), A P Wells (Sussex), M B Loye (Northamptonshire), S J Rhodes (Worcestershire, wkt), R D B Croft (Glamorgan), D G Cork (Derbyshire), M C Ilott (Essex), P M Such (Essex), M J McCague (Kent), M P Bicknell (Surrey), J P Taylor (Northamptonshire).

INDIA have lost the services of their experienced all-rounder, Manoj Prabhakar, for the remainder of their tour to New Zealand, because of an ankle injury. Venkatesh Prasad, an uncapped medium-pace bowler, has replaced him. A knee injury keeps Chris Cairns out of the New Zealand side for the one-off Test match starting in Hamilton today.

SHEFFIELD SHIELD Second day of four: Sydney: New South Wales 412 for 6 dec (S Lee 104); Queensland 200. Adelaide: South Australia 489 (G S Blewett 214); Tasmania 209 for 0 (D F Hills 98no, J Cox 97no). Perth: Victoria 118 and 155 (G J Allardice 53; B A Reid 5-34); Western Australia 112 and 119 for 5.