Cricket: Border deliberates

THE FORMER Australian captain Allan Border says he would be interested in taking over from Geoff Marsh as the country's cricket coach.

"It has appeal but there'd be a lot of things that have to fall into place in the meantime," Border said yesterday.

The Australian Cricket Board chief executive, Malcolm Speed, said an interim replacement would be appointed for the Zimbabwe tour in October prior to a permanent coach joining the national side before the domestic season.

Mark Waugh hit a stylish 84 to provide the backbone to Australia's innings of 241 for 9 from 50 overs in their one-day triangular match against Sri Lanka in Colombo yesterday.

Following Waugh's 83-run opening partnership with Adam Gilchrist, Sri Lanka fought back after their spinners joined the bowling attack. Upul Chandana and Muttiah Muralitharan reduced the tourists to 84 for 6, each capturing three wickets, before Australia reached 241.

n Sussex are prepared to release Michael Strong, the pace bowler, so that he can look for a new county next season. Sussex will keep the 25- year-old on their staff if he is unable to find employment elsewhere.