Reports are circulating in the English press that Lancashire are preparing to relieve John Crawley of the captaincy. Lancashire narrowly avoided relegation from the first division of the CricInfo Championship in the last match of the season and to add to the Old Trafford club's problems, coach Bob Simpson has resigned.

Although there is no official comment from Lancashire, the chairman, Jack Simmons, is reported to have said that Crawley's ability to score runs was being adversely affected by the captaincy.

The man tipped to succeed him is the wicket-keeper Warren Hegg who has been recalled to the England camp for the winter tours to India and New Zealand. Hegg had an outstanding season with the bat as well as behind the stumps.

Zachary Morris, who was with his native Yorkshire before moving to Hampshire in 1998, has been released by the county and intends to join the Royal Marines. The left-arm spinner and seam bowler, whose brother is a regular member of the Hampshire team, has made only two first-class appearances since moving south, appeared for the England Under 19 side in 1998.

The England and Wales Cricket Board had ear-marked Bisham Abbey in Buckinghamshire as the home of the new national academy. However, extended planning problems associated with extending the existing facilities at Bisham - on the banks of the Thames near Marlow - has resulted in the ECB looking at alternatives.

Twelve possible sites are being considered, including one in Cambridge where a suitable area of land might be available near the existing Queen's College playing fields.

While discussions take place regarding a suitable site, the academy will be housed at the Australian academy in Adelaide, where newly-appointed director, Rod Marsh, has been operating so successfully.

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