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Half of the 12 umpires who will stand in this World Cup are excellent. The other half are not. Why? Because the International Cricket Council feel they have to operate a quota system, so that even countries which do not have an umpire of international standard supply somebody, anybody - even Javed Akhtar, of Pakistan, who had a comically poor Test match at Headingley last summer.

At least one important game, somewhere along the line, is likely to be decided by incompetence - albeit impartial incompetence. But good will come of it if in future World Cups the ICC is emboldened to pick a panel that selects the umpires on merit, not quota.

There are several excellent umpires in the world beyond the six here Eddie Nicholls, of West Indies, and Australian Daryl Harper for two. The good news is that eight experienced umpires from England's first-class list have been chosen to act as the television umpires adjudicating on slow-motion replays, a job which is now as important as that performed by the men in the middle.

The list of 12 umpires who have been selected to stand in the matches during the World Cup is as follows:

David Shepherd (England): Not the most mobile but still one of the best. Like Dickie Bird, the embodiment of cheerful neutrality. Rightly chosen to umpire the last World Cup final. If in doubt, a 'not-outer'.

Peter Willey (England): The confrontational nature which made him a fine batsman against the best fast bowling still liable to surface, but still one of the best. When in doubt, tends to side with the batsmen.

Darrell Hair (Australia): One of the best, and ready to stick his neck out like an old cop, whether giving batsmen lbw for padding up without playing a stroke, or no-balling Muralitharan. Has been steered clear of Sri Lanka's qualifying matches.

Srini Venkat (India): The most successful Test player to turn umpire, sympathetic and excellent, prone to give too many batsmen out if anything.

Steve Bucknor (West Indies): Has done the last two World Cup finals in recognition of his status. Has his lesser moments and takes longer than anyone else over his decisions, but always unflustered.

Dave Orchard (South Africa): Now resident in Western Australia, a nice fellow and good umpire who took a brave decision at the climax of the Barbados Test when he rightly called Glenn McGrath for a wide to Brian Lara.

Rudi Koertzen (South Africa): Recent appointment to the Test panel who tends to talk too much to the players with forced or nervy bonhomie.

Steve Dunne (New Zealand): Has more of a feel for the game than many other southern hemisphere umpires - he represented New Zealand at Under-23 level - but can be flustered, as he was during the Atherton versus Donald duel at Trent Bridge last year.

Doug Cowie (New Zealand): Nice guy who lacks experience but who won't have to do much to be better than most Kiwi umpires.

Javed Akhtar (Pakistan): Had one of the all-time bad umpiring Tests at Headingley in '98, not hearing the snicks before giving lbw and unconcerned if the ball pitched outside leg.

K T Francis (Sri Lanka): His country's longest-standing umpire, and fair, but too much of a 'not-outer' who disappointed in Sharjah.

Ian Robinson (Zimbabwe): English-born emigrant to Zimbabwe, he also had a bad series in Sharjah, being too much of a 'not-outer' who then granted marginal lbws.