Cricket: McCague in shape: England A paceman has confidence in his remodelled action

MARTIN McCAGUE, the injury- troubled Kent fast bowler, is on target in his campaign to rebuild his career during the England A tour to South Africa.

McCague is free of the stress problems on his spine that dogged him last season, and has developed a remodelled 'chest-on' action. 'I have bowled flat out for a half-hour in the nets, and have suffered no ill-effects,' he said.

McCague has not played a competitive match since breaking down in last July's fourth Test against Australia at Headingley. 'I feel more confident about my bowling than I did throughout the whole of last summer,' he added.

Today, England will name their side to play a one-day match against a Transvaal Invitation XI at Alexandra tomorrow.

Norman Cowans, the former England fast bowler, has joined Hampshire on a two-year contract. Cowans, 32, was released by the champions, Middlesex, in September. He played only a handful of county matches last season because of a groin injury, but still led the Middlesex bowling averages with 16 wickets at an average of 14.62.

Cowans is hoping to form a strike partnership with Winston Benjamin, the West Indies pace bowler who has replaced Malcolm Marshall as Hampshire's overseas player.