The Surfer

For a boy who grew up in a poor home in Tacarigua, Trinidad, raised by a single mother alongside two younger sisters, this new world presents him with an opportunity. Pollard, 22, wants to ensure his newborn son Kaiden never suffers the hunger he experienced and that his mother is rewarded for her toil.

When Andrew Strauss pulled out of the tour to Bangladesh that starts this month, the reactions of dismay or understanding explain neatly why the John Terry affair has only a passing relevance to England’s chances in this summer’s World Cup finals in South Africa.

The more achieving captains — Kardar, Hanif, Mushtaq, Imran, Miandad, Wasim — all led the right mix. To the people who go hoarse shouting that we should have fresh blood in the team or those who hark for experience, I would say just go for balance and range in thinking in all aspects that affect performance in management, coaching and on the field. You are all barking up the wrong tree.

When the country picks U13, U15, U17 sides, they are generally on merit and there are a lot of black Africans. What happens between that point and franchise cricket? And for those who get there, are these guys being advanced as they should within their franchises? How are we going to ensure, amidst the reality of it being 2010 in South Africa, that nine times out of 10 we can pick a player who is, indeed, good enough? That’s where you need more attention, more money being thrown at the problem, even … it’s better than the present landscape where people are being fired left, right and centre because nobody really knows (the true requirements).

Anderson is a vastly experienced businessman of high renown, noted troubleshooter and cricket administrator of considerable substance, who knows the ins and outs of the game better than most.

I've got great respect for Darren Gough after what he did during his England career and perhaps he'd fit the bill if he's back on the cricketing track rather than the celebrity one. If Gough is happy to fill the role part-time, that's the way I might do it short-term.

As players not bought at one of the auctions generally cost their owners less, the cover is proportionately lower - a Rs 25 lakh to one crore personal accident policy and a Rs 5 lakh medical cover. Finally, there's also a cushion in place for a staging association, in case of any mishap - a stampede, a fire in the stands etc - Rs 10 crore for each of the 60 matches.

Not since Chaplin made a gourmet meal of his shoes in Gold Rush has feasting on unexpected objects looked so hilarious on the screen. Chewing on leather in a movie is funny; chewing on leather in a cricket match with the aim of helping a fast bowler is ridiculous. The only thing more ridiculous is the ICC’s gentle rap on the wrist of the player who has been in trouble before for trying to alter the condition of the pitch illegally.

It was surely the daftest, most comical thing ever done on a cricket field – and probably the second most infamous bite in the history of sport after Mike Tyson’s attack on Evander Holyfield in 1997...daft though this action is, it can’t be condoned because of that reason – that it was so incredibly stupid. Stupidity can’t justify crime.