Rain plays spoil sport in World Cup final

Bridgetown, Barbados, Apr 28 (UNI) Elements have played spoil sports in the cricket World cup final between Australia and Sri Lanka here today.

Rain began to fall even as people were filling the 28,000-seat stadium and continued intermittently through the morning. Every time it appeared that play would be possible -- the toss itself delayed till 9.55 am (local time) -- the sky would open up again.

Both the teams announced their playing XI on schedule half-an-hour before the scheduled start, but the bright morning was suddenly obscured by a massive bank of clouds. It just got worse thereafter, but then elements again intervened again at around 10.15.

The toss had been completed, Ricky Ponting surprised everyone by opting to bat even under the heavy overcast, ''We're going to have a bat first. The wicket looks nice with a bit on top. The team's up and ready. We've been looking forward to this moment for a long time. There will be a few nerves, but we've got a lot of experienced guys there. It's a big day for them,'' explained Ponting.

His counterpart Mahela Jayawardene said: ''It looks pretty flat for me. We were thinking of batting first but after seeing the conditions we were unsure what to do. I am happy losing the toss, basically! It's a brilliant atmosphere for us and we're here to have some fun.'' Even as Sri Lanka prepared to take the field and umpires Steve Bucknor and Aleem Dar got set to walk out, the rain returned, this time much harder than before and back came the covers.

With covers on for the third time within the space of 90 minutes, word was that it could be mucch reduced tie. In a way that is probably the appropriate way to settle this tournament, that has been doomed from the start by a combination of poor planning, a complete disconnect with local ideas and needs, high ticket prices.

Everything has gone one wrong with the event from the start. The murder of Bob Woolmer simply capped a tragic stage and then India got knocked out. The cricket became less important, with the two crowd pulling teams gone, and the focus shifted to damage control.

Most of the 16 coaches who were here have quit their job for one reason or the other. Brian Lara has already called it a day. Glenn McGrath is playing his last live match for Australia. Sanath Jayasuriya is almost certainly playing his last World Cup as are a host of his compatriots from around the world.

It is in many senses, it indicates a changing of the guard.

UNI