Subscribe In the April 2003 edition of The Cricketer

After a World Cup disfigured by politics and controversy, Christopher Martin-Jenkins takes the organisers to task and looks at the dilemmas facing the ICC thrown up by the tournament, notably the unevenness of floodlit contests and the integration of minnows:
"We shall see now what the ICC is made of. The concept of opening the doors to too many non-Test nations has failed. In principle it is a splendid idea; in practice it has not worked."

Ronnie Irani looks back wistfully on another disappointing England campaign:
"You can dress it up as much as you want ... but by my reckoning it still comes down most of all to Zimbabwe being awarded a walkover when we decided not to go to Harare."

Peter Roebuck pays tribute to Henry Olonga and Andy Flower, two players making a premature exit from the international stage following their brave protest highlighting Zimbabwe's political plight:
"Both men stood their ground in adversity, and only the mean-spirited will deny them the right to make their point."

One player to make a dramatic entry onto the international scene was England's tyro fast bowler, James Anderson, who reflects on his meteoric rise:
"Suddenly I was there with lads I had watched from the stands. With England, it was with guys I'd seen on the telly. They've all been great."

Plus Ashley Mallett picks his England team to beat the Aussies next time round; we look at the potential cricketing benefits of proposed changes in the school calendar, review the women's Ashes series and examine the problems facing Scotland ahead of their National League debut.

The April issue of The Cricketer is on sale from March 26, price £3.25.

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