THE line-up for cricket's debut in the Commonwealth Games has been finalised - with England confirmed as the headline absentees.
The dates of the Games in Kuala Lumpur, from Sept 10 and 20, ruled out the participation of an England team worthy of the name, and the suggestion that an amateur side take part was unacceptable to the Council for England, who oversee selection policy.
David Dixon, secretary of the Commonwealth Games Federation, admitted there was ``surprise and disappointment'' in Malaysia that England will be absent. ``I think they see it as a bit of an affront,'' he said.
The West Indies will be represented by Barbados, Jamaica and Antigua, while the other seven Test-playing countries are all sending a side. Scotland, Canada, Bangladesh, Kenya, Northern Ireland and Malaysia complete the 16-team line-up.
The cream of English cricketers may be available for the last two weeks of the domestic season, but more than half the counties could lose their overseas player if countries pick their best sides for the Games.
Peter Anderson, the Somerset chief executive, sees that as a remote possibility. ``I don't see players with healthy county contracts wanting to spend the last couple of weeks of the season in Malaysia,'' he said.
The opposition vaguely equate to second XI standard but it is another significant milestone for France and their ex-pat captain Simon Hewitt, an arts writer who has seen the game blossom from one side when he moved to Paris in 1984 - to 40 teams competing in three leagues.
It is particularly appropriate that Sussex should be on the tourists' mini itinerary: former player and respected MCC coach Les Lenham has made a number of trips to France and helped set up a coaching association, while Sussex chairman Robin Marlar has also lent support.
Alongside Coppinger's career in banking was an almost fanatical zeal for gathering cricketana. His squirrel-like endeavours left his Hampstead home heaving under the weight of 16,000 books, not to mention scorecards, cigarette cards and every county handbook published.
Brokered by Giles Lyon, of the Fulham-based Bodyline Books, a deal was struck with a City businessman who pledged to keep the collection intact. The precise figure has not been revealed but it is described as ``well over £250,000''.
As reported briefly in our news pages yesterday, a bat used by W G Grace fetched a staggering £26,450 at a Phillips auction. Lack of success, it seems, does not detract from the value. The good doctor scored a pair with the bat in question.