DEVON MALCOLM has been strongly criticised for raising the, issue of colour in his dispute with England cricket manager Ray Illingworth. Derbyshire's Jamaican born fast bowler seems certain to be fined for breach of contract after a public outburst, following his miserable tour of South Africa.

"I have to ask would this have happened if I had been a white bowler?", Malcolm said in yesterday's Daily Express while commenting on his treatment

England in South Africa. "That is an offensive remark," countered, Test and County Cricket Board, spokesman Richard Little. "We always pick the best possible players and take no account of any other element."

Malcolm, who played in only two Tests, has received plenty of sympathy for the way he was apparently handled by Illingworth and coach Peter Lever from the early days of England's campaign. They tried to make him change his action and, when that failed, virtually ignored him in the nets.

Malcolm says his confidence was destroyed by Illingworth, the chairman of selectors, and says he would have packed his bags and gone home if his team mates had not dissuaded him. According to the article Malcolm claims Illingworth swore at him and ordered him to leave the nets on Christmas Day.

Martin Crowe (33) who has scored more runs and centuries than any other New Zealand Test player, is to retire from international cricket because of a longstanding knee injury. He has not played since aggravating the injury in the later stages of New Zealand's tour of India last November.

Crowe scored 5,444 runs, including 17 centuries, in 77 Tests at an average of 45.36.