Cricket's crystal ball: 2003 (Jan - May)

By Martin Gough BBC Sport Online

If cricket learned anything from 2002 it was to ignore the BBC Sport Online crystal ball at its peril.

The predictions of last year may not have been exactly on the button, but some even stranger things happened in the 12 months that followed.

Month by month

January

February

March

April

May

We said England would unveil Ian Austin as their new weapon for the World Cup, having brought him out of retirement.

Instead,England recalled all-rounders Adam Hollioake and Ronnie Irani for recent one-day engagements.

We also predicted England would arrive in Australia for the Ashes without Darren Gough, who had overslept.

In the event, Gough arrived OK, but didn't get round to the playing bit.

Last year: Cricket's crystal ball for 2002

Only the foolhardy within the cricket community would ignore the crystal ball in this most important of years.

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January:

After Australia secure another victory in the fifth and final Ashes Test, rival factions unite at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Home fans, annoyed that the Ashes urn will never be allowed away from Lord's, and visitors incensed by their side's performance unite to torch the England dressing-room, and create a new trophy in the process.

Is it really worth all the fuss?

It is a good job, as they are relieved of the ICC Test Championship trophy when South Africa beat Pakistan 2-0.

Frazzled England having withdrawn from the one-day series, Sri Lanka take on Australia in the best-of-three finals.

But, with Muttiah Muralitharan unveiling his much-heralded new delivery on his return to fitness, only two matches are needed to see off the Aussies.

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February:

To back up his claims that the Cricket World Cup will be the "biggest party ever", organiser Ali Bacher makes a personal appearance at the opening ceremony, wearing a tutu in one of the dance routines.

India's sponsorship row is resolved in their opening match when Sourav Ganguly places a fielder on the boundary in front of any advertising hoarding with which he does not agree.

The fielders are instructed not to move, even if the ball is within reach. India crash out of the tournament, but return home to a heroes' welcome, from their sponsors.

Pakistan set a one-day record 1036 for two when they take on Namibia in Kimberley.

Unbelievably, the African minnows set off at the required 20.72 runs per over, but wickets soon tumble once the 15-over fielding restrictions are relaxed.

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March:

Mugabe: Destructive opening batsman

Having proved though six matches in Bulawayo and Harare that sport and politics do not mix, Zimbabwe Cricket Union president Robert Mugabe gives a lead to the selectors.

Getting into the Super Six for the second consecutive tournament by virtue of some surprising group stage results, Zimbabwe introduce a new opening batsman in, erm, Robert Mugabe.

March is the rainy season in southern Africa so, unsurprisingly, many of the matches in the knockout stages are abandoned, resulting in a six-way tie for the World Cup.

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April:

After much speculation, Steve Waugh is axed from the Australia side for the tour of the West Indies, to be replaced in the line-up by Austin Waugh, his six-year-old son.

"There were plenty of superb candidates available," says chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns, "but, with an eye on the average age of the current side, we are determined to invest in youth."

Australia down a young - but not that young - West Indies side to reclaim the ICC Test Championship, but South Africa captain Shaun Pollock claims he cannot remember where he put it.

April is still winter in England and several university batsmen go down with frostbite as they open the county season.

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May:

The touring Zimbabweans suffer a blow upon their arrival in England when in-form opener Mugabe is denied entry because of Commonwealth sanctions.

Several other members of the side are also stopped at immigration because work permits require that they be "cricketers of international standard".

English county cricket's newly-relaxed rules on overseas players cause further confusion when Leicestershire field their 18th foreign player this season, explaining that the other 17 are on international duty.

Look out for Part II - June-December - on Monday