World Cup squads littered with players who can't do much at the minute

The world's selectors are awash with optimism. This is partly explained by the fact that they can replace players in their squads if they're unable to play, thus rendering the squad-naming process a bit farcical.

That's the way we understand it anyway. We read words to that effect on the BBC website, so if we're wrong, you can speak to them rather than us. We get enough emails 'disagreeing' with us.

Australia have selected Adam Gilchrist, who will miss 'some games' to attend the birth of his third child. They've also selected Andrew Symonds who's currently injured.

Pakistan have named Umar Gul in their squad as well as Shoaib Akhtar, who's doubly injured - hamstring and knee. Shahid Afridi's also in their squad, despite being banned for the first two matches.

New Zealand have named Shane Bond, who, technically speaking, isn't currently injured, but, you know - it's Shane Bond.

England will most likely select James Anderson, Jon Lewis and Kevin Pietersen, all of whom are injured. Then there's the daddy of them all: Michael Vaughan. Hopefully surgeons will have replaced his entire skeleton and and all of his cartilage with something more robust, like pastry.