Kasprowicz pulls out of Glamorgan contract

Michael Kasprowicz has cancelled his Glamorgan contract because he believes a season of county cricket will harm his chances of keeping his place in the Australian Test side. Kasprowicz, 34, broke the news to the side this week, adding to their problems as they are already waiting to find out whether Matthew Elliott, their other overseas signing, will be fit.

"The news on Michael is very disappointing but at the end of the day we can't do that much about it," Mike Fatkin, Glamorgan's chief executive, said. "But we have to be philosophical about it and get on with things. We thought Michael was all set to come over for the whole season and until the last 24 hours didn't have any inkling of this.

"I can understand his ambitions, especially with the Ashes coming up again in the winter, but it leaves us looking for a replacement with just over four weeks to go until the season begins."

Elliott, who underwent surgery on a long-standing knee problem last month, has been given until the weekend to decide whether he can play. "The prognosis is that he won't be fit to play for us until mid-May," Fatkin said. "And if he is given the all-clear, how is his knee going to stand up to the rigours of the county season? Matthew has asked us for three weeks from the operation before we make an assessment and that's what we will do." If Elliott is ruled out, then Glamorgan will have less than a month to find two overseas players.