It will be fascinating to discover how big the queue is to download the e-mail in which Sir Paul Condon's words of wisdom will be released. After what seems like six years but is apparently only six months the first official interim report on match fixing will be released at 6.30am on Wednesday. It will be fascinating to discover how big the queue is to download the e-mail in which Sir Paul Condon's words of wisdom will be released. The reason for the seemingly long passage of time is partly because it is now known that match-rigging was a staple part of the game, partly because Sir Paul Condon's flights round the cricket globe have been so well chronicled and partly because his initial report as head of the International Cricket Council's Anti-Corruption Unit has been the subject of almost daily leaks.The ICC insist they can give no credence to the substance of the leaks, largely consisting of tit-bits varying from expunging the records of the guilty, blaming the ICC for being dilatory and warning that match-fixing is continuing. Fewer than 10 people are supposed officially to have seen the report. Sir Paul has said that no individuals will be named.Recent one-day matches involving Pakistan and New Zealand have been questioned but it would be a surprise if Sir Paul has had time to unearth the truth of went on. Equally, it would be no surprise if it turned out that there was sharp practice and it amounted to Pakistan playing badly in an effort rid themselves of a coach, Javed Miandad, with whom they were at odds.Rigging is the subject of a Panorama television programme tonight and while it may not significantly advance the story it could reignite public interest. Ian Botham will tell viewers: "I think we've just touched the tip of the iceberg I think it goes a lot deeper.
It's not just the players that are are involved, it's a much wider network. I've heard figures of as much as $1m changing hands in one Test match one Test match result so $50,000 is small fry."Such a statement makes a nonsense of the claim made often by Malcolm Gray, the ICC president, who has said that players' rewards make no difference to their willingness to fix matches. If the game is making money the players will want their share, as the Indian team made clear last week by suggesting a grading system which would make them fully-fledged professionals for the first time and ensure they were paid when injured.If Sir Paul's report will dominate the cricketing week, the considerations of the ICC Cricket Committee (Playing) might have implications as far-reaching. They will discuss international playing conditions and whether technology should be used to help umpires. It is possible that by September lbws could be judged by TV.The use of lights in Test matches is also being discussed, as is the number of players and the fielding restrictions in one-dayers. Australia have suggested that one-day teams should have 12 members with 11 in use at any one time.
Sounds a bright idea, but the trouble is it may be one more for the bookies to bribe.. The salvage operation did not quite go to plan. The Champions' intent was clearly to put the foot down and go flat out for maximum batting points But they failed to take into account two critical factors. The first was that even champs can bat like chumps, which Surrey's upper order most certainly did. Secondly, Carl Crowe is not to be underestimated as an off-spinner. In his entry in the latest edition edition of The Cricketers' Who's Who, under the subtitle "Role", Crowe describes himself as a "waste of space off spinner." Utter tosh The salvage operation did not quite go to plan.
