I liked Zafar firing the first salvo against England's tiny cricketing infrastructure. Both Pakistan and India had to be content with pathetic crowd response for no fault of theirs. Bristol and Hove are alright for the elderly and their canine species to enjoy county cricket for whatever its worth. But for World Cup fixtures likePakistan vs West Indies and India vs South Africa, we must not discount the fact that quite a few world reputations were at stake. Primarily for that reason alone, the players deserved better and bigger stages to perform.

Please bear with me as I elaborate three dismissals. First, Sachin Tendulkar got out trying to run down a poor Lance Klusener delivery through to the third man. Second, Saeed Anwar would hate to see the replay of his own dismissal and finally Brian Lara's casual heave over mid-wicket landed in the safe pouch of point. All very similar dismissals, with only Anwar finishing on the winning side. No big deal that. What I am trying to convey is all the three batsmen are feared one-day opponents. But were they really turned on by the atmosphere? I don't think so. Hence, they vanished without leaving a trace of their greatness.

I know cricket has a brilliant knack of converting the glitter into gloom in a matter of seconds but the spirit of cricket for the highest competition lost out on itsomnipotence.

Honestly, I cannot imagine Lata Mangeshkar giving off her best in a community hall. For the most recorded human voice, it has to be the Royal Albert Hall for a live performance, nothing more or less. Please, I am not trying to absolve three of world's top batsmen for poor application. My food for thought is purely for the organisers.

As the World Cup '99 is unfolding gradually, we will probably see pinch-hitting out of sync with English conditions and the shiny Duke's ball. The strategy which will pay good dividends is having wickets in hand to go for the tank in slog overs. Jonty Rhodes and Akram set good examples.

Indians were disgraced at Hove. But the confusion in the latter part of the game may have left the Indian camp bewitched, bothered and bewildered. Hansie Cronje's ear piece innovation has not really caused a flutter or has it? If the colour of the skin can really speak, then Cronje and his coach will go down famously in history. However, if an Asian had indulged in such agimmick, the right of veto in the ICC would have been revived.

One cheeky white journo has likened it to ``bright thinking than sharp practice''. The same pen pusher, I know had defended Vaseline on a cricket ball not many months ago. That makes me wonder if apartheid is really dead. Certainly not of the cricketing sort.