I WAS stunned when I heard the initial news of Bob Woolmer's death.

When it was later announced that Bob had actually been murdered I, like many of the people out here in the Caribbean who knew a fine man, was absolutely devastated.

We now need the police authorities to establish what happened in Bob's hotel room. Until that happens it's inevitable that the speculation will develop about motives for his murder, such as betting stings and match fixing.

Bob's death is beyond belief. It's more like thriller fiction. Clearly he knew at least one of the people in his room. There was no forced entry and you just don't associate murder with the game of cricket.

A few hours earlier, Bob's Pakistan team had surprisingly lost their match to Ireland.

People must accept that one of the proven facts in international cricket is that on one day Pakistan can beat any team in the world. On another day they can lose to any team.

Unfortunately, given the match-fixing allegations that have circulated for many years, people do fear the most sinister reasons if things go badly for unpredictable Pakistan.

I'm afraid that until the reason for Bob's murder is established a welter of rumours and innuendo will continue to bounce around the world.

During my playing days I was dragged into Lord Condon's enquiry into match-fixing.

My name, along with another eight or 10 high-profile cricketers, was mentioned in 2000 regarding links with illegal bookmakers. It was alleged that I had passed on weather and pitch information to a bookie and it was a long eight months before the ICC, through Lord Paul Condon and his anti-corruption unit, totally cleared me from any wrong-doing.

I was in the England team that won the infamous Test match at Centurion Park against South Africa.

That was the match Hansie Cronje did throw. I have to admit that as I walked off the field with Michael Vaughan I felt we'd had a tough time accumulating runs. It never crossed my mind that the opposition skipper had fixed the game.

Yet looking back I can recall some strange field placings and an accumulation of little things that just weren't right.

On the other hand I can tell you about a game that definitely wasn't fixed but it went like this. I was batting with Graham Thorpe for Surrey in a one-day quarterfinal against Lancashire.

We needed 22 runs to win with nine wickets standing. We lost nine wickets for 18 - and the match.

An outsider might think the game was thrown. I can assure you it was nothing of the sort. That's cricket.

I chatted to Bob Woolmer on many occasions and his love for the game was immense and always shone through.

I've been spending time in the Caribbean with Graham Gooch and Geoff Miller. Both men played with Bob on England duty. They knew him better than me and they're both shattered by events in Jamaica.

A conversation with Bob was invariably based on cricket. His knowledge and love of the game was immense. That's why he became widely known as Mr Cricket.

That's also why I support the fact that the World Cup should go on - in Bob's honour. I hope whoever eventually lifts the trophy remembers Bob in their moment of triumph.