Cricket: Ambrose out of India tour

INDIAN hearts were beating a little less fearfully yesterday when Curtly Ambrose withdrew from the West Indies' forthcoming tour of the subcontinent because of a persistent shoulder injury which requires surgery.

Ambrose, who led the English first-class bowling averages despite being bothered by the injury all summer, and missed Northamptonshire's last two fixtures of the season because of it, has been diagnosed as suffering from rotator cuff tendinitis, a common complaint among baseball pitchers. He is expected to be out for up to three months but hopes to recover in time for next year's tour by Australia.

Barrington Browne, a 27- year-old fast-medium bowler from Guyana, will replace Ambrose on the two-month tour which starts on 5 October.

Worcestershire have appointed the former Zimbabwe captain David Houghton as coach on a three-year contract. Houghton impressed during his initial season at New Road as second team captain and assistant coach.