Cricket Notes

The cricket World Cup has just started to warm up now that the final eight are in place. The first round produced a few upsets and a surprise last eight team in Ireland, but the majority of minnows looked well out of their depth.

Highlight thus far has been Matthew Hayden (pictured) launching the ball to all parts of some small Caribbean grounds.

Of course, the whole event has been shrouded by the death of Bob Woolmer in very suspicious circumstances.

Also in cricket news, to mark the launch of the 2007 edition of Wisden, a player of the year has been picked for every year since 1900. The list is on The Times’ website. The earliest of these I saw in person was Mike Proctor (1971), the Gloucestershire all-rounder who used to look as though he bowled off the wrong foot.

Glamorgan have announced that Matthew Elliot will return for the beginning of the season. He will be around until the middle of May when Jimmy Maher arrives.