Cricket: Vox Pop: What lessons has English cricket learned from the World Cup?

TONY PIGOTT

SUSSEX CHIEF EXECUTIVE

The World Cup revealed that the demand for tickets for every game far exceeded the host-ground capacities. The match at Hove could have been sold three times over and for those of us who wish to increase our capacities we should be encouraged by all authorities to effect those increases. The success of the match hosted by Sussex showed that international cricket should no longer be restricted to just six grounds. With permanent floodlights, the idea of Hove hosting an international day-night game is not so far-fetched.

BOB WOOLMER

FORMER SOUTH AFRICA COACH

It is difficult for me as an outsider to make any specific comment. One can argue all sorts of things but until you are actually involved in the set-up it is very difficult to answer. However, I do think that what English cricket has learned is that they probably have to be better than they are. I thought that last year David Lloyd and his team looked as though they were doing a really good job with the side. But they were not winning as much perhaps as everyone wants them to in England. I think people have to be patient.

DENNIS AMISS

WARWICKS CHIEF EXECUTIVE

I think it has been a great success, and the cricket has been of a high calibre. As far as we are concerned administratively we just feel that perhaps the tickets being sold centrally was one area we'd like to look at again, because we did not feel that we were in total control, as we are with Tests and inter-nationals. Overall, though, I think the organisation has been good and I think it was good taking the event around the counties. It is important to spread the gospel, even at the expense of the financial side of things.

DARREN BICKNELL

SURREY BATSMAN

It has been great seeing what Pakistan have done for this World Cup. In England we have gone for bits and pieces players, so it was very refreshing to see the Pakistanis fielding a team full of individuals with flair. Australia and Pakistan have both come over here with that approach. I think if we in England have learned anything from this World Cup it is that perhaps we have been a bit too conservative in our approach. And also I think that the white ball needs to be worked on for English conditions, where it favours the bowler.

WILL KENDALL

HAMPSHIRE BATSMAN

The white ball has come out on top in this tournament and they probably need to look at it when it is used in English conditions. Most of the games have been weighted towards the ball rather than the bat and that does not make for quite the spectacle. The 50-over game has undergone a lot of changes and had been something of a "smack it around" game, especially since the 15-over rule was brought in. I think there may be a rethink on pinch-hitting - neither Sanath Jayasuriya nor Adam Gilchrist really worked.

JAMES WHITAKER

LEICESTERSHIRE CAPTAIN

There is a great deal to be learned from the Pakistanis, where individual flair is encouraged, as is spontaneity; then there is the way that South Africa have approached it with their preparation, planning and discipline, and we should learn from how Australia have demonstrated a sheer will to win. All these are the attributes of brilliant sides. I believe we have the quality players, it is a question of getting even more out of them. I am optimistic, provided we do learn from what we have seen.