CARDIFF: Revenge comes no sweeter. Beating Australia is usually enough for a New Zealander. But Chris Cairns had the added satisfaction of proving his critics wrong. Former New Zealand coach Glenn Turner branded the all-rounder both indisciplined and prone to uncontrollable rages. Others said he was an underachi ever who could not cope with pressure. At Sophia Gardens, everything was at stake and Cairns, struggling as a bowler, delivered as a batsman.

Akhtar -- Man among boys

CHESTER-LE-STREET: Shoaib Akhtar, the world's fastest bowler, could not wipe the smile off his face. It wasn't malicious, nor arrogant. For just a second, he seemed to find himself astonished by the extent of the talent with which he has been blessed. Scotland's Gavin Hamilton was rubbing his bruised leg, after being caught by one of Aktar's near 100-mph deliveries, and the Pakistani bowler gave him a friendly tap on the helmet as he walked back to his mark, as if to say: "isn't itamazing? I don't even know how I manage to bowl so fast myself." In truth, it was men among boys when Pak unleashed Akhtar on the Scots in Durham yesterday. Olonga laps up stardomLONDON: Zimbabwean pace bowler Henry Olonga was, wisely, lapping up his sudden and unexpected World Cup stardom on Friday. He knows as well as anyone that it may not last.

Olonga turned from villain to hero in the space of five balls against India on Wednesday. The journey back could be just as quick. Zimbabwe captain Alistair Campbell admitted it was "a gut decision not a cricketing one."