Warwickshire make enquiry for Lara

Warwickshire are sounding out Brian Lara about a return to Edgbaston as their overseas player for 1998. Their chief executive, Dennis Amiss, confirmed that "tentative inquiries" have been made through the West Indian batsman's London agents.

Amiss said: "The 1998 season is a long way off, and we certainly wouldn't want Brian back unless he was hungry to play county cricket again."

Lara helped Warwickshire to the treble in 1994 but pulled out of a contract to return this summer after complaining of "burn-out" following non-stop cricket around the world. Warwickshire next season will welcome back Allan Donald for probably his last campaign in county cricket.

England A will wait on fitness tests for three players before deciding their line-up for the opening match of their Australian tour against a New South Wales XI in Tamworth tomorrow. The Yorkshire opener Michael Vaughan is suffering with a back strain while the spinner Peter Such and the Derbyshire fast bowler Andrew Harris, hit on the hand and foot respectively in yesterday's practice, also face checks upon arrival in Tamworth.

England's main selection concern is whether to follow the lead of the New South Wales' selectors, who chose two spinners in their squad. If they pick Such alongside Warwickshire's left-armer, Ashley Giles, either Harris, Dean Headley or Glen Chapple are likely to miss out.

ENGLAND A (from): A J Hollioake (capt), M A Butcher, J E R Gallian, W K Hegg (wkt), M P Vaughan, M A Ealham, C White, O A Shah, A McGrath, A F Giles, D W Headley, G Chapple, P M Sutch, A J Harris.

NEW SOUTH WALES XI (from): M Haywood (capt), P Alley, J Armberger, S Clark, D Freedman, C Glassock, S MacGill, P Maraziotis, A McQuire, G Rummans, R Soper, S Thompson.