Quick singles: Umpire puts safety first

Top umpire Peter Willey has asked to be removed from officiating in two World Cup games in Zimbabwe.

Former England allrounder Willey was to be television replay umpire for Zimbabwe's games against Australia on February 24 and the Netherlands four days later in Bulawayo.

"I've never been to Zimbabwe before in my life and my concerns are the same as those of the England players. I am worried about my safety," Willey, who played 26 tests and 26 ODIs from 1976 to 1986, said.

Willey is not the only umpire to voice doubts. Darryl Hair, of Australia, has also spoken about standing down from the match he is due to attend tomorrow night between Zimbabwe and India in Harare.

Anderson's day

James Anderson produced the best cup bowling performance by an English cricketer for 20 years as England beat the Netherlands by six wickets in their pool A game at East London yesterday.

The 20-year-old speedster, bowling 10 overs on the trot, recorded career-best figures of four for 25, and won man of the match, as the Dutch side were restricted to 142 for nine after being put in.

But England's opening performance in the tournament was still rusty, even though they won after just 23.2 overs of their reply.

Nick Knight and Michael Vaughan both made 51 in the England innings of 144 for four.

Pakistan rout

Pakistan routed Namibia for 84 in just 17.4 overs to win their pool A match by 171 runs in Kimberley.

Wasim Akram took five wickets and Shoaib Akhtar four as Pakistan dismissed the African side for the fourth lowest innings total in cup history.

Namibia's last-wicket pair, Bjorn Kotze and Rudi van Vuuren, shared the highest partnership of the innings, 42.

Shrink on board

Australian leg spinner Shane Warne is planning to call in his psychologist to explain how the leg spinner's weight problems led to his taking a diuretic.

Sydney's Daily Telegraph yesterday said the psychologist would be part of a team of experts hired by Warne for his Australian Cricket Board hearing.

Warne is still awaiting the result of his B sample after the A sample from a test performed in Sydney last month tested positive for a diuretic. He has been charged with using a prohibited substance and faces a two-year ban from all cricket.

Wait and see

England cricket chiefs hope that Nasser Hussain will stay on as captain despite his announcement that he could quit after the cup.

Hussain made his outburst after England were forced to forfeit their pool A match against Zimbabwe for refusing to play in Harare because of security and ethical concerns.

England and Wales Cricket Board chief Tim Lamb said: "I don't know [if he will stand down], I think perhaps in the emotion of the moment he said what he did, we'll have to wait and see.There is no intention of replacing him."

Hussain said on Saturday he and his team felt let down by the International Cricket Council and the ECB. The players feel the ICC did not take their security concerns seriously and the ECB wanted the match to go ahead to avoid any compensation claims.

World Cup schedule

Points table