A confidential hotline which can be used by players making allegations about match-fixing is to be set up, the England and Wales Cricket Board has confirmed.

However, the ECB has dismissed claims by former Essex bowler Don Topley that there was a "whitewash" over the allegations he made concerning two matches between Essex and Lancashire in 1991.

The ECB said: "Gerard Elias QC [chairman of the disciplinary committee], at the request of the ECB management board, carried out an ECB investigation and interviewed a substantial number of witnesses and potential witnesses.

"Mr Elias concluded that the matter required further external investigation and he subsequently made all the transcripts of these interviews available to the police.

"The Greater Manchester police then conducted their own investigation and, after a full review of the evidence, concluded that no further action should be taken."

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