Wagh told to seek help after ban for throwing

Warwickshire's Mark Wagh has been banned from bowling after having his action reviewed by the England and Wales Cricket Board's throwing panel.

Warwickshire's Mark Wagh has been banned from bowling after having his action reviewed by the England and Wales Cricket Board's throwing panel.

The ECB has recommended that Wagh, primarily a batsman who bowls his off-spin only occasionally, should seek help to remodel his action.

An ECB spokesman said: "If Warwickshire CCC and Mark Wagh consider the problem to have been solved during the winter, an ECB throwing panel will be convened before the start of the 2001 season to review the situation."

The county have strengthened their bowling attack by signing the former Durham seamer Melvyn Betts on a three-year deal.

The Sussex fast bowler James Kirtley has been cleared of having a suspect bowling action after the Sussex coach, Peter Moores, produced a video analysis which showed Kirtley's unusual action was caused by a hyper-extended elbow.

South Africa's Jonty Rhodes, one of the world's best fielders, has retired from Test cricket, while his fellow batsman, Daryll Cullinan, will no longer play one-day internationals.

Rhodes, 31, who has played 52 Tests, and Cullinan, 34, who played 138 one-day internationals, said their decisions were caused by the pressures of having to balance their home life with rigorous international schedules.

"I'm very passionate about the game, but I've got a greater love, and that's my family," Rhodes said. "I also want to play for South Africa in the 2003 World Cup."