Bob book to include match-fixing

The discovery of Woolmer's body almost immediately sparked rumours he was set to blow the whistle on gambling cartels involved in cricket. That was quickly denied, but a scientist, Thomas C. Gilfillan, has been recruited to examine the data of all South Africa's one-day matches since the 1990s.

During much of that period they were captained by Hansie Cronje and coached by Woolmer, and co-author Tim Noakes - formerly South Africa's team doctor and a professor of sports science at Cape Town University - told the Times: "Gilfillan will have a range of probabilities of matches fixed. Part of the reason is to shed new light on Cronje."

Gilfillan, himself a South African, believes by examining the form of both sides, it is possible to predict the outcome of 70% of matches and that, in the remaining 30%, the weaker side won.

He is looking at events in these matches, such as bowling changes and patterns of scoring, which would arouse suspicion.

Noakes, who also confirmed the print run on the book is to be increased from the planned 5,000 copies to 100,000, also insisted the additional material is something Woolmer would have agreed to.

"We would have mentioned match-fixing if Bob and I had thought in the past there was a science about it," he said.

"Bob was editing the original 600 pages, of which he wrote 80%, a week before he died and the page proofs arrived at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston the day after his death.

"So they were not the manuscripts said to have been stolen from his room. I think that was a red herring."