Stuart Law granted British citizenship

Stuart Law lifts the Pura Cup for Queensland in March 2000 © Getty Images

Stuart Law, who played in the 1996 World Cup final for Australia, has been granted British citizenship following his decision to move to England permanently. He counts as a non-overseas player in county cricket.

Law, 36, was the first player to captain Queensland to victory in the Sheffield Shield, in 1994-95 - a title they won five more times before he retired from Australian domestic cricket in 2003-04.

He had played for Essex for six summers before joining Lancashire in 2002, and has been one of the most productive overseas players. With 1833 runs in 1999, he was the leading runscorer in English domestic cricket, and only once in the last nine years has he failed to pass 1000 runs in a season.

Speaking from his home in Cheshire, Law said, "I'm glad that it's happened quickly and with no problems. I can now start the New Year and new season as an English player and hopefully in the long run benefit Lancashire."

Now he has a British passport Law could, in theory, play for England. With over 23,000 first-class runs at an average above 50, stranger things have happened. It is nearly six years since he played the last of his 54 ODIs for Australia, and he scored an undefeated 54 in his only Test innings, against Sri Lanka at Perth in 1995-96.