His decision was announced yesterday, and Alan Ealham, Foster's assistant, is expected to take a more prominent role.

Foster, 58, was a long-distance commuter, dividing his time between Western Australia and Kent cricket in their respective seasons.

The Australian tried to bring a level-headed, analytical approach to Kent and he made his mark. Championship form was variable bottom in 1995 and fourth the following year, for example - but he helped end Kent's 17-year wait for a title when they won the Sunday League in 1995.

Kent have been attempting to contact Carl Hooper, their overseas player, to discuss availability. He could miss the first two months of the season to honour West Indies commitments against India and Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka Tour Of West Indies.- May 28: Trinidad & Tobago (Queens Park Oval, Trinidad). 30: One-day international (Queens Park Oval). June 1-3: Leeward Islands (Antigua Rec). June 6-10: First Test (Antigua Rec). 13-17: Second Test (Arnos Vale, St Vincent).

Saurav Ganguly and Pankaj Dharmani, two India players, have been fined 25 per cent of their match fee by Barry Jarman, the referee, for a fielding incident during the third Test against South Africa in Johannesburg. They are alleged to have ``charged'' at umpire Peter Willey when he turned down an appeal for a catch.

Brian McMillan, the South Africa all-rounder, is to rest an inflamed ankle tendon for the triangular series against India and Sri Lanka, starting on Saturday.

The Lancashire Cricket Board have received 29 applications from clubs for their proposed 12-team Premier League in 1998.

Glen Robinson, 16, a promising bowler from Newbottle, near Sunderland, who was expected to gain a place in Durham's under-17 side this summer, has died after falling ill with meningitis.