Smith in reckoning for World Cup

ROBIN SMITH is aiming to put himself back into the World Cup reckoning this weekend. Smith is certain to make his 65th one day international appearance either in Johannesburg today or in Pretoria tomorrow.

The 32 year old Hampshire batsman might even find himself playing in both back to back games - a punishing prospect which will inevitably mean both England and South Africa resting certain players on one of the days.

Mark Ramprakash's continuing South Africa tour nightmare is the other factor in Smith's favour where World Cup selection is concerned.

Ramprakash, run out for one during Thursday night's victory in Bloemfontein which squared the seven match one day series 1-1, has now made only five runs in his last five innings - an amazing catalogue of both bad form and sheer bad luck which stretches back to the end of November and which leaves him facing probably just one last chance to stake his World Cup claim this weekend.

Ray Illingworth, the England manager, said yesterday: "Everything that could have gone wrong for Ramps has gone wrong. It was odds on that Jonty Rhodes would hit the stumps then - even though he had missed with every previous throw both last night and on Tuesday in Cape Town.

"Ramps was very down last night, but that's understandable. It's a very difficult situation, but I am certainly not ruling him out of the World Cup yet because he's an outstanding fielder and a fine runner between the wickets.

"He will definitely play in one of the games this weekend, but we will not sort out our selection until we look at the Wanderers pitch in the morning."

England's final 14 man World Cup squad will be named on Monday week - the morning after the last one dayer in Port Elizabeth - but Illingworth agreed that by tomorrow night the line up will have all but taken shape.

Smith is aware of the importance of this weekend's two games and that, up to now, Ramprakash has been favourite to claim the sixth and last batting place available in the final squad despite his shocking run of form.

But Smith has a fine one day record to support his case. He currently averages 40 and in his last 20 one day internationals has topped 1,000 runs.

Smith said: "I am really just looking forward to getting a game of cricket. I haven't played since the Cape Town Test and, in fact, I've only had four innings since the Durban Test finished in mid November.

"I am happy to bat anywhere - I had a good net yesterday and can't wait to play."

Illingworth wants Smith to open the batting in these one day matches rather than go in lower down and yesterday did not rule out the possibility of Smith being chosen in that role for the World Cup.

. Ian Botham led affectionate tributes from cricket personalities around the world yesterday following Dickie Bird's decision to retire as a Test umpire.

The charismatic Yorkshireman, renowned for always wearing his emotions on the rolled up sleeves of his umpiring coat, will call it a day after the second Test between England and India at Lord's in June.

It will be 62 year old Bird's 66th Test, bringing to an end an international career that began at Headingley for England's series against New Zealand in 1973 and also encompassed 92 one day internationals and three World Cup finals.

Former England all rounder Botham, who memorably once caused Bird to flap comically around by planting a mobile phone in his pocket and then ringing the number in between overs, claimed: "There's been no one to touch him as an umpire.

Botham, speaking on BBC Radio 5, said: "He knew there was a lot of pressure on players and used tolerance, but was a hard man when he needed to be.

"He diffused a lot of situations and acted as a mediator a lot of times. Dickie was a great communicator, which is essential in sport."

Ray Illingworth said that Lord's would be a fitting venue to mark Bird's last Test. "There has never been any hatred in him, and everyone loves him."

Botham and Illingworth both said they were glad Bird had made the decision to quit now. He's done the right thing by getting out when he's at the top. All credit to him for doing that, but that's the way he's done everything in his life," said Botham.

"The bottom line with Dickie," said Illingworth, "is that he has been a very good umpire and the main thing about him is that he's always managed to deal with any problems that have arisen with a smile on his face."

Tony Brown, the former Gloucestershire captain who is now the administration secretary of the TCCB, said: "What shone through was his love of the game and his determination to make sure that the players enjoyed their cricket as well."

Matthew Engel, editor of the Wisden Cricketers Almanack, said: "He has been so much more than an umpire. He has contributed hugely to the humour of the game.

Bird, in announcing his decision yesterday, commented: "I always said that I want to go out at the top, I want to go out gracefully and I want to be remembered. I don't want to go on too long and people to say that Dickie Bird's slipping and I think it's the time to go.

"I think we have got to look to bring young umpires into the Test match arena, to give them the opportunity to try to gain some valuable experience as soon as possible.

"The time has come to give somebody else the chance. I have always enjoyed umpiring."