NOTTINGHAM: England: New Zealand's Roger Twose really put his head down as he prepared for New Zealand's World Cup clash against India -- he sat a three-hour university exam in his hotel room.

The English-born opener has been studying for a degree in Business Management at Massey University back in New Zealand and the date for the exam was set for Friday . New Zealand tour manager John Graham, a former headmaster, was drafted in as the invigilator, sitting in silence at the other end of the room to make sure Twose was not tempted to bend the rules.The next day Twose showed the same application with a match-winning 60 not out against the Indians as New Zealand reached the final four.

What's in a ball?

LONDON: Opposition captains have infuriated Pakistan by what has become dubbed `the white ball tactic.'

Australia's Steve Waugh and South Africa's Hansie Cronje both found a convenient way of thwarting Pakistan's famous `reverse swing' late in the innings. After 40overs, they asked the umpires to change the white ball, claiming it had got dirty and was hard to spot in fading light. The umpires, with a duty to protect the batsmen's safety, granted their request and introduced a brighter ball.

Pakistanis, however, argue they work hard on the ball throughout the innings, using strictly legal methods to polish and shine it and make one side heavier than the other, enabling their bowlers to find reverse swing in the crucial final overs.

Captain Wasim Akram has been caught on television vigorously arguing with the umpires. He will have noticed that Australia and South Africa have only complained about ball visibility while playing against Pakistan.

Party, party ...

LONDON: Zimbabwe may have been hammered by Australia and Pakistan in their last two outings, but you would never guess if you entered their dressing room afterwards. The Africans have established themselves as the happiest team in the World Cup -- and who throw the best parties.

Win, lose, ormatch abandoned -- the fun is always flowing in the Zimbabwean camp. ``We're often still in our dressing room two hours after the game,'' says vice-captain Andy Flower.

``We're always happy to have a drink with the `oppo' but not too many have stayed. So we invite our supporters to come in and have a beer with us instead.''

Donald defends Akhtar

LONDON: South African paceman Allan Donald has sprung to the defence of young rival Shoaib Akhtar of Pakistan.

Akhtar, the sensation of the World Cup after clocking 95mph deliveries, was accused of losing Pakistan their second-round match against South Africa with his wild bowling. But Donald said: ``I thought it was really unfair on Shoaib to be blamed for losing the game against us.''

Donald insists he is not bothered at figures showing that he is five miles per hour slower than Akhtar, arguing speed is not everything. ``It's quite spectacular for the crowd to see someone like Shoaib bowling as fast as he can, but ultimately it's not how fast youbowl, it's the results you get. I don't even notice the speed read-out.''

Indian fans sing, dance to the bitter end

TRENT BRIDGE: Around 6,000 Indian spectators still had their hearts in it here on Saturday. The body language of the 11 that mattered, how ever, suggested they were already thinking of home.

Mohammad Azharuddin's side, playing for pride in their final fixture failed to defend that total as New Zealand got home in a dramatic finish. Nobody could accuse the Indians of not trying. But the keen competitive edge that has characterised their play in the Cup seemed To have evaporated. Their faces told the story.

A tired-looking Sachin Tendulkar, the best batsman in the world but whose tournament was undermined by the death of his father, winced when he was bowled middle stump.

Rahul Dravid, the top scorer of the tournament, shook his head all the way back to the pavilion when he was caught. He swiped with his bat at the ground but even that gesture seemed half-hearted.

SauravGanguly, whose 183 against Sri Lanka was the best individual score of the competition, just looked sour when Geoff Allott yorked him while skipper Mohammad Azharuddin, after putting on 90 for the fourth wicket, grimaced.But even the ultra-aggressive Debashis Mohanty was not quite himself as here he just looked exasperated as the fans, to their credit, kept on dancing and kept on chanting.