ECB offers fixing amnesty to players

The England and Wales Cricket Board has offered an amnesty to players who report past match-fixing approaches, after an Essex cricketer admitted to a corruption charge relating to spot-betting in a one-day game in 2009.

Mervyn Westfield became the first English cricketer to be guilty of spot-fixing, admitting to accepting or obtaining a corrupt payment to aid spot betting during a 40-over match against Durham.

The Old Bailey heard Westfield had agreed to bowl his first over in a way that would let Durham score a set number of runs.

He could face jail when he is sentenced in February and the offence carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Failure to report an approach related to corrupt activities is an offence but the ECB has established a "reporting window" until the end of April.