Cricket: Complete Guide To The World Cup

PERFORMANCE OF THE DAY

HENRY OLONGA

Zimbabwe's 22-year-old snatched victory from the jaws of defeat at the end of a gripping match against India. The remarkable denouement to the day saw the paceman finish with 3 for 22 in four overs, having had figures of 0 for 17 after three.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

I am making this request on behalf of the entire nation.

Pakistan's PM, Nawaz Sharif, after asking his country's state-run TV station to stop screening adverts during World Cup matches. He added that viewers were being deprived of seeing players' facial expressions.

MATCH BETTING

WHOEVER YOU fancy to win the Antipodean showdown between Australia and New Zealand today, there is some great value to be had. Australia were available at 1-2 with Coral last night, while Stanley were offering 9-4 against New Zealand, who could spring a surprise to confirm their potential as the tournament's dark horses. If you can get to a race-course (no tax payable) before 10.45 this morning and secure these odds, then sell your house and back both sides. You cannot lose. Small investments on Australia's Michael Bevan (8-1 with Hills) and Kiwi Chris Harris (20- 1, Ladbrokes) to top score for their sides might pay dividends. Pakistan are unbackable (between 1-20 and 1-50) to beat Scotland, whose George Salmond (9-2, Hills) could top score. MEDIA MONITOR

IT'S NOT just the bowlers who have remarked on the different properties of the Duke balls. Australian captain Steve Waugh has broken four bats since he's been in Britain owing to their hardness and coach Geoff Marsh has cited the hard balls on cold hands as one possible reason for the Australians' poor fielding exhibition against Scotland. The Duke manufacturers have dismissed such suggestions, claiming the polyurethane skin on the balls to help them resist grease and dirt and keep their colour simply makes them feel colder and harder, and the firmness of a cricket ball is dictated by the inner core which remains the same for red and white balls alike. The Australian seeks explanations for a poor show from Waugh and Co.

WEB SITE

http://www.scu.org.uk/home.htm

The web home of Scottish cricket has details of club and international sides, lots of links and a good history page, detailing 200 years of the game in Scotland back to a match in September, 1785.

CRICKET TALK

A guide to the language of a cricket carnival. No 3: Urdu.

Kiya Koi In Ba'jon Ko Band Karay Ga Keyunkay Aesa No Ho Kay Mein In Ko Suntay Bahru, Pagal Ya Dono Mein Say Aik Ho Jaoun.

Will someone stop those bagpipes before I go deaf, mad, or both.

MISSING IDENTITY

Who is the World Cup player described below? The answer will appear tomorrow.

This Devon-born player became a first-team choice in his adopted southern hemisphere country after qualifying for citizenship. A left-handed batsman with an average of almost 20 in one-day internationals, he has scored almost 1,000 runs, with a highest score of 92. An influential and concentrated player, he is a good reader of the game. He is able to attack or deny the opposition as needed. He is also occasionally used as a partnership- breaking bowler. His military-medium pace has earned him a best of 2 for 31, although his economy rate is more than five an over.

Yesterday's answer: India's Nayan Mongia.