The two teams from Down Under, two from the Asian sub-continent and two from the African background would give you a fair idea of popularity of cricket in these parts. If the Laras and Stewarts find themselves in the company of Kenyans, Bangladeshis and the Scots, they have themselves to blame. By the way, the holders Sri Lankans too found the burden of living up to the reputation a shade too much.

Of all the teams ousted from the Super Six, my heart reaches out for Caribbean cricket. With all the past and recentgiants of the game still very active in administration, cricket in the West Indies is seemingly going down the drain. A great pity for the finest entertainers the game has known. Sir Viv Richards was inducted only when Malcolm Marshall had to be hospitalised. Clive Lloyd, the winning captain of the first two World Cups, is a big disappointment. Michael Holding, now as good a commentator as he was in the shape of `Whispering Death', told me last year, ``Lloydy maan, he is wasting time as a baggage man. Must get out of that rut and do something more constructive for the islands.''

I quite agree.

English cricket is a bit like Indian hockey. Having taught the world how to play the two disciplines, both England and India are presently the butt of all ridicule. David Lloyd was clever in seeing the writing on the wall early. He will surely find life in the commentary box a lot more fun. Alec Stewart and Brian Lara may not be strangers in the same boat, but both will need to take the wrath of the media.

Theplaying format of the World Cup '99 will duly come in for a lot of flak. The league stage is already history with many queries unanswered. Both India and Australia have to win all three plus two to win the Cup, while Zimbabwe have to cross one plus two hurdles to surprise themselves and the world. A very tall order for all three teams. But the teams with points carried over can afford to be smug only at their peril. One bad game due to nature of man-made errors (read: umpiring!) and the going can become uncomfortable.

I was pleased to read `our team...' by Bobby Simpson with reference to India. Two Aussies -- Simmo and Kokinos -- are expected to perform like hired assassins, a plot more suited for celluloid world than in reality. What is the difference between a `promise and commitment?' Well, we'll know the answer in the next twelve hours or so.

The players due to come good are Tendulkar, Mark Waugh, Azhar and Gilchrist while Ganguly, Dravid, Warne, Kumble and McGrath cannot afford to sit on their recentform. The toss and good weather will be vital for the brave and lucky. I would hate to miss a single delivery. The contest is going to be so engrossing.