LONDON: England skipper Nasser Hussain has urged a shakeup of the English county cricket system if they want to play on a par with other Test playing nations. Hussain was reacting to England's series defeat against New Zealand which condemned them to the status as the worst Test nation in the world. Speaking on BBC's Onside last night, he said: ``We have the cricketers but we need a system of selection and unity to get the best out of them.''

Aussie coach Marsh to call it quits

SYDNEY: Australia's World Cup winning cricket coach Geoff Marsh will quit at the end of the current tour of Sri Lanka for personal reasons, the Australian Cricket Board said. ACB chief executive Malcolm Speed said Marsh's family commitments and personal priorities prompted the decision, which comes just a month after he signed a two-year contract.

American quartet surges into quarters

HOUSTON: Four US fighters -- four more than two years ago -- advanced to the quarter-finalsof the World Amateur Boxing championships yesterday.

Unlike 1997, when no American managed to get past the second round, featherweight Ricardo Juarez, bantamweight Clarence Vinson, heavyweight Michael Bennett and light heavyweight Michael Simms Jr. All advanced to the quarter-finals, giving the US team a total of six fighters in that round.

Brian Viloria, of Waipahu, Hawaii, advanced in the 48 kg class on Sunday as did John Medina, of Fort Carson, Colorado, at 50.8 kg.

Norris is Tyson's next opponent

LAS VEGAS: Orlin Norris has emerged as the likely comeback opponent for Mike Tyson, whose first fight since getting out of a Maryland prison will take place in late October. Sources close to Tyson's camp said Norris is expected to sign this week for a fight that will take place either October 22 or 23 at the MGM Grand Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas. The fight was originally set for October 2, but was postponed because of troubles finding an opponent for Tyson.