And in Australia the cricket community was stunned by the sacking of Graham Halbish, the board's chief executive, after less than four years. The 14-member Australian Cricket Board voted 11-3 to remove Halbish at a stormy meeting in Perth last week.

The West Indies situation affects Gloucestershire, who stand to lose Courtney Walsh, their captain, and Kent, who could lose their all-rounder Carl Hooper.

Vasbert Drakes, of Sussex, and Phil Simmons, of Leicestershire, are less likely to be required for the series.

The West Indies Cricket Board had agreed to host the World Cup winners when a suitable opportunity arose and the period from May 4, immediately after India's five-Test tour, had been earmarked for some time.

The series will be over two Tests, culminating in St Vincent, a worthy new Test venue, on June 17, which effectively excludes Walsh and Hooper from the first two months in England.

Philip August, Gloucestershire's cricket secretary, said: ``It's a disturbing development outside Courtney's control and we shall probably send someone to sort it out''.

If they do decide his position is untenable, it allows for the intriguing prospect of the reinstatement of Australia-committed Andrew as an overseas player.

This latest conflict of interest is symptomatic of a wider malaise, which the International Cricket Council must address urgently.

In Australia, Halbish is seeking legal action after being sacked on Friday. His autocratic management style and a deteriorating relationship with Denis Rogers, the ACB chairman, were cited as dismissal reasons. Halbish said: ``Obviously there are two sides to a story like this, and it's for this reason I have taken legal advice.''

An innovative administ- rator widely credited with advocating a national coach (Bobby Simpson in 1986) and the setting up of the Australian Cricket Academy, Halbish had been with the Board since 1981, succeeding David Richards, now the ICC's chief executive.

Recently his policies caused unrest among delegates. These included designs on restructuring the Board, rushing through deals for advertising on sightscreens, without consulting the relevant state authorities, and introducing gimmicks like rock music at first-class games.