Carnival and cricket combine in Caribbean

LONDON, Feb 20 (Reuters) Carnival and cricket will combine next month for the ninth World Cup spread over as many Caribbean nations and climaxing with the final in Barbados on April 28.

''There's so many different things in the Caribbean that we can enjoy,'' former West Indies captain Viv Richard told Reuters.

''We are a fun-loving, unique people. Apart from that we have got some good sounds. This will be a good opportunity to light the World Cup with some of the sounds of the Caribbean -- they will be amazing.'' Cricket in the West Indies is staged to the sounds of ska and calypso and played before crowds as knowledgeable as any in the world. They will be joined by an influx of visitors determined to savour the heady delights of sun, sea and a two-month, non-stop party.

''We have been playing test cricket since 1928,'' said Wes Hall, one of the great Caribbean fast bowlers. ''All the major countries have had the World Cup so it's our turn.'' Tickets for the Barbados final were sold out in the first round of sales and the shortage of accommodation on one of the world's more prized holiday destinations will be partly offset by cruise ships.

''A significant number, we understand between 14 to 18, have applied for berths in Barbados during the week of the final,'' said Stephen Alleyne, chief executive officer of the Barbados local organising committee.

''Because the infrastructure is not as developed as in Britain or Australia it will mean there will have to be special arrangements made.'' Alleyne also said fears of travel chaos were unfounded.

''The majority of the fans will travel by scheduled carriers and there are also arrangements being made for chartered airlines,'' he said.

AUSTRALIA FLOUNDER Events within the boundary over the past month could not have been better timed to generate interest in the Cup.

Australia, the defending champions who were unbeaten in the 2003 tournament, started the new year as they had finished the old.

They romped through the early stages of the endless tri-nations series with England and New Zealand, prompting speculation that they might well go through the entire year without losing a match.

Then in a staggering swing of the pendulum England, who were providing a good imitation of Napoleon's army in retreat from Moscow after their 5-0 Ashes demolition, suddenly started winning.

They beat Australia to qualify for the best-of-three final, which went to only two matches as England won twice. Australia then crossed the Tasman and promptly lost by 10 wickets to the Kiwis, the first such margin in their one-day history.

They then lost the second international to relinquish first spot in the test rankings for the first time since the table was introduced in October 2002.

While Australia floundered, South Africa, the new world number ones, completed a series win over Pakistan after making light work of India.

Australia and South Africa are drawn together in the first of the four four-team groups with the winner taking two important points through to the super-eight series.

Despite their recent travails, Australia are still the team to beat and those with a sense of history would love a final featuring them against West Indies in a repeat of the original 1975 final at Lord's.

West Indies, led by the incomparable Brian Lara have the talent to go all the way. They won the 2004 Champions Trophy, the mini-World Cup, and were beaten by Australia in last year's final.

''No country who has ever hosted the World Cup has ever won it,'' said Richards. ''I believe this is a great motivating factor for the team to do that.'' Reuters PM DB0914