Live FINAL: Australia V SL(updates) - Page 2

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8.30am Good morning and welcome to our coverage of the ninth World Cup final. Teams, toss and all that stuff to follow shortly. We have all our commentary team in action today, so it will be a mix of me, Martin Williamson, Sriram Veera, Will Luke, George Binnoy, Jenny Thompson and Siddhartha Vaidyanathan. If this was a group stage match we would outnumber the crowd.

8.35am Andrew Miller send this gloomy report. "A touch overcast this morning. A stiff breeze coming across the ground, and some ominous black clouds out behind the media centre. In fact, it's just started to rain. Only a passing shower, but I think we can expect more of the same as the day goes on."

So, some 47 days since the tournament started ... it seems like it was only yesterday ... and we have finally reached the final. Unlike so many other games, however, this should be a cracker.

8.40am Puddles now forming on the covers ... still raining. " Doom and gloom pervading the echoing stadium," reports Miller. He is a glass-half-empty man on a good day. We will try to ignore him. If you have any comments, send them in and it will help pass the time as the rain falls.

8.50am Brightening up a little but still damp. Rules for the final are the same as with earlier rounds, so a late start means that overs are docked off, even though we have a reserve day. So the ICC could have their Twenty20 final a few months early if this carries on.

8.55am "Stopped raining, but the clouds are still lurking," chirps Miller, happy for about three seconds ... then he says: "Actually, it's just started raining again. That's it, I quit." Another victim of the ICC's never-ending tournament ... Now, not wishing to add to the gloom, but at the other Oval, the one in Kennington, it's hovering around 80 degrees and Shane Warne is bowling in quite glorious sunshine.

Teams confirmed, as expected, Fernando keeps his place.

Australia 1 Matthew Hayden 2 Adam Gilchrist (wk), 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Clarke, 5 Andrew Symonds, 6 Michael Hussey, 7 Shane Watson, 8 Brad Hogg, 9 Nathan Bracken, 10 Glenn McGrath, 11 Shaun Tait.

Sri Lanka 1 Sanath Jayasuriya, 2 Upul Tharanga, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 4 Mahela Jayawardene (capt), 5 Chamara Silva, 6 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 7 Russel Arnold, 8 Chaminda Vaas, 9 Dilhara Fernando, 10 Lasith Malinga, 11 Muttiah Muralitharan.

9.00am Here are the teams then ...

9.05am Covers in place, low and leaden clouds in place. Andrew Miller adds to the gloom. "And now it's hammering down again ..." All a bit depressing. To reiterate ... rules for the final are the same as with earlier rounds, so a late start means that overs are docked off, even though we have a reserve day.

9.07am Andrew Miller: "It's streaking in from the South East, apparently. A big fat lurking cloud that really doesn't like the ICC ... Ok, now this is properly damp now ... like utterly minging."

9.10am "Ooh, now it's lovely bright sunshine again. This weather is as schizophrenic as my first girlfriend," says the always sensitive Miller. But, in fairness, she was a bit strange. The groundstaff are stirring ...

Meanwhile, a fun article in The Daily Telegraph where Jim White lays into Malcolm Speed, and why not, He is paid more than US$550,000 a year and should have broad shoulders ... "Malcolm Speed, the chief executive of the International Cricket Council, despite presiding over the most over-stretched, bloated shambles of a competition, despite his organising committee redefining the term criminally short-sighted, is to carry on, refusing so much as to contemplate handing over to someone else."

We've only been on air 30 minutes and already we've provoked somebody. And we haven't even mentioned the ICC yet. "It's not raining there," screams and blasphemes a furious Bruce Freedman. "What kind of stunt are you trying to pull?" Yes it is raining, Bruce, unless you disagree with our man at the ground, Andrew Miller. Careful: we'll set him on you.

9.15am Some of the players are heading out onto the outfield and the tarpaulins are slowly being removed. The sky remains gray but it's stopped raining ...

"Your reports say it's raining," Scott Latham says, "but the TV commentary we're getting in Australia shows blue skis with no sign of rain, which is apparently live from the ground." This is completely wrong. The skies are about as blue as lump of coal. Forty minutes ago it was lovely, but less so now. You are watching pre-recorded stuff.

9.20am Oh fiddle. The big cover is coming back on again. It's not raining but the groundstaff are looking towards the heavens suspiciously. Despite that, the powers that be say the toss will be at 9.40am and we will start, rain permitting, at 10.10am. Lunch will be half an hour and, as yet, there are no over deductions, so it's still 50 a side. "An excess of Aussie fans at midwicket. The entire stand is yellow," notes Andrew Miller.

Someone chips in with some trivia: "This is the second World Cup final delayed by rain. The 1999 Lord's game was delayed by half an hour. Also, the 1996 final between the two teams saw some early rain though there was no delay at Lahore." I had to sell my ticket for the 1999 final as my daughter rather selfishly decided to be born in the early hours. I did watch the 1979 and 1983 finals though ... enough of that.

9.25am Both teams are out warming up. The main cover is still there, guarded by the all-yellow groundstaff, but that's a precaution. It will come off just before the toss. Andy Atkinson, the head groundsman, is pacing like an expectant father.

Looks like we're about 45 minutes from play starting...but, donning your anorak, you can keep an eye on the satellite above Barbados.

9.35am Bad news. It's started raining again. Not heavy, just a shower, and everyone is remaining Canute-like in the middle. The groundstaff are continuing to drag the rope across the outfield to remove excess moisture. A spectator says: "One side of the ground we have blue sky with white clouds, and the opposite at the other side from where the rain is coming."

9.40am Sorry that this is becoming more like the Meteorological Office website ... rain has stopped, covers being unpegged in preparation for the toss ... but although there has been no announcement, it's been delayed as it should be happening now. But we are told the start will now be at 10.15am.

"This is so frustrating and irritating," emails Hital. "I feel like banging a watermelon on Malcolm Speed's head." We've just sent someone down to the shops ...

9.45am We are told the toss is imminent ... the covers are almost all off. Andrew Miller says that the pitch looks "hard and full of runs ... but I would still bowl if I won the toss". The charming tournament mascot, Mello, soggy and probably very smelly after seven weeks, is terrorising small children in the stands ...

9.50am The toss remains imminent. The stumps are in the pitch and the players are looking more and more ready to rumble.

Australia 1 Matthew Hayden 2 Adam Gilchrist (wk), 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Clarke, 5 Andrew Symonds, 6 Michael Hussey, 7 Shane Watson, 8 Brad Hogg, 9 Nathan Bracken, 10 Glenn McGrath, 11 Shaun Tait.

Sri Lanka 1 Sanath Jayasuriya, 2 Upul Tharanga, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 4 Mahela Jayawardene (capt), 5 Chamara Silva, 6 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 7 Russel Arnold, 8 Chaminda Vaas, 9 Dilhara Fernando, 10 Lasith Malinga, 11 Muttiah Muralitharan.

9.55am The captains on their way, the trophy is joining them as well . We have the toss. Australia win the toss and bat. Ponting called heads, and heads it was. A massive cheer from the stands.

Ricky Ponting: "We're going to have a bat first. The wicket, ah, looks nice with a bit on top. The team's up and ready. We've been looking forward to this moment for a long time. Aw, there will be a few nerves, but we've got a lot of experienced guys there. It's a big day for them."

Mahela Jayawardene. "Ah, it looks pretty flat for me. We were thinking of batting first but after seeing the conditions we were unsure what to do. I am happy losing the toss, basically! It's a brilliant atmosphere for us and we're here to have some fun."

10.00am Experts analysis can't decide if this is a good toss to win or lose! The pitch was covered throughout the downpours, so it should still be true.

10.05am As Supertramp once sang, it's raining again. Not that heavy but the main cover is back on. Looks no more than a brief squall, but the sky is very dark.

Mad V emails to point out that Channel 9 and Fox delayed showing the toss while their experts predicted that Australia would bat if they won it. And, lo and behold, when they showed the delayed transmission, that's what happened.

10.10am The rain is now heavy and all the covers have been rushed back into place. We won't start at 10.15am, that's certain. One sky beyond one side of the ground is bright, the other dark.

10.15am It's really rather nasty now, people huddled under umbrellas and most trying to find shelter under the stands. The only people dry (on the outside) are those packed in the corporate boxes. If we don't start soon then we will have to begin docking overs ... and if we don't start soon then Percy Sonn may start singing.

Just to clarify. If it continues raining then overs get knocked off as the rules are that we have to get the game finished today. The only time we spill over is if each side cannot get 20 overs in today.

10.20am Sadly for the ICC, the delay is giving several TV stations the chance to savage the format of the competition. And they are really piling in. Back at the ground, the crowd are being pretty patient. Lots of beach-balls bouncing around the Aussie contingent. They are probably seeking asylum from the Gabba fun police.

If there is no play today, aside from the entire Cricinfo staff resigning, the captains toss again and they can change their team selections.

10.25am A bit depressing. Everyone has deserted the outfield and is seeking shelter. No sign of any relief, either. In view of that, email us and say what you think of the tournament ... good, bad or downright ugly? Send in your views.

Otherwise, check out Sambit Bal's blog from the final. He likes blogs, does our Sambit.

10.30am The off-on-off nature of the day continues. The rain has eased and the covers are coming off. The players remain in the dressing-rooms.

10.35am Back come the main covers as the drops of rain that remained become heavier. This is all very tedious. The delay means that over deductions will kick in fairly soon. We are trying to find out exactly when.

Until not so long ago, they would have started the match today and carried on into a second day to ensure both teams got the full 50 overs. The change is for TV companies, who hate their schedules being mucked up. But this is the biggest match in the game. Everything else has been sold out by the ICC, surely for one match they could put cricket before cash? Rant over.

"This is a very, very, very ugly tournament," emails Sam, echoing the views of hundreds of others. "Everyone lost interest after it dragged on and on and on. If the final is washed out by rain for both the days then it will be a fitting end to the shambles. The ICC is on a mission to kill the interest in the game."

"The tournament has been a failure and could begin the end of one day cricket, at least in its current format," adds Justin.

Many others ask why, given all the cash spent on the tournament and pouring into the ICC's coffers, the final is not played in a stadium with a retractable roof.

10.50am It's all rather nothing. The rain has almost stopped, but not enough to allow the covers to come off. A few people are milling around the perimeter, but more in hope than expectation that things are about to happen.

"The tournament has lost its charm right from the beginning with India and Pakistan being out in first round, rain spoiling so many matches and now final too," emails Piyush.."Its been dragging on and on." Many have argued that the World Cup has been poor because of India and Pakistan's elimination. A few have suggested that both should be guaranteed semi-final berths ...

10.55am And the cover comes off ... that's been the highlight of the fun so far today. Our man in the stands says: "Just a few seats still to be taken - the music is loud and clear and at midwicket the Aussie fans are still keeping themselves entertained by hitting around a big inflatable ball."

Being really miserable, if there is no play today or tomorrow then the teams will be declared joint winners.

11.05am Very bad language from many sitting near me as the covers come back on. We had some blue sky but the dark clouds have come back.

Re the number of overs that will be deducted ... we won't know how many until we get a start time, then it will be calculated.

We have just heard that if there is no play by 2.15pm (18.15GMT) then we all get to go home and come back tomorrow. How on earth do I explain to my wife that I can't take her to the coast because it's raining in the Caribbean ...

11.10am "I don't like cricket," sings Jenny. " I really hate it." Not quite what 10CC (or the ICC) had in mind, but she has a point. We have eaten the entire day's biscuit supply already. The covers, meanwhile, are as stuck in place as Will's hand in his pocket when it comes to buying a drink. "I'm not tight," objects Will, before admitting that he has not bought anyone a beer since Sri Lanka last held the World Cup.

11.15am Covers on, drizzle in the air. The corporate guests have now been inside their air-conditioned and booze-laden boxes for three hours. Even if the match starts today, none of them are likely to notice. Outside, the authorities have taken things in hand and turned up the volume on the music. Gnasher suggests they have only done so to drown out the sound of Percy Sonn belting out "My Way" in the ICC bolt hole.

Forget Cricinfo 3D," emails Nigel. "What you need to produce is an internet based alarm system for those of us waiting around at 1:30am Sydney time to see if the match will actually start?" It will be suggested ...

11.25am This is not looking at all good. The drizzle is steady ... and we have confirmation that overs are being lopped off.

11.35am Our man on the spot says now the rain is really heavy and he has seen signs of people building lifeboats. I suspect the weather has got to him, but he doesn't reckon there is much chance of the game starting today. And he is usually relentlessly optimistic. But nothing official as yet, so there is still hope.

Here's the thing ... the powers that be will not want this match to start unless it does very soon as it will be reduced a crash-bang 20 or 30 overs affair and then they will be even more lambasted for the format than they already have been (I know it seems impossible that they could be). So while there was the will to get underway up to the last hour, that's diminishing faster than the booze in the ICC president's box. All back tomorrow for another toss and a fresh game? We will see.

Back in the real world, Charlton have scored at Blackburn.

11.40am No sooner have we been told a tale of gloom, that the covers are again coming off and the umpires have appeared. It's still drizzling, though. Could it be that TV channels are dictating that the game ought to be played today?

This is so frustrating for everyone in Australia as they are staying up in the hope that the match starts ... and they know that if they go to bed then no sooner will they have done so that the rain will stop. Stay with it ...

We are told that there is a row brewing in India where people are angry because Mandira Bedi is sporting a saree that has different flags stitched on it ... and the Indian flag was near her feet and that is supposed to be an insult.

Blackburn are now beating Charlton. What on earth else can go wrong today?

11.45am Massive cheers as the last of the covers comes off, and the Sri Lankans come onto the outfield to warm-up ... again. "At least the raindrops have been musical," says a bored Andrew Miller. "The one dripping next to me fits the soca rhythm very nicely ..." Now we are told a 12.15pm start and 38 overs a side. Believe it when it happens.

11.50am So, 38 overs each, three bowlers can bowl eight overs, two seven, and the third Powerplay is ditched. The pitch is dry, there's a breeze blowing across the ground ... cue Ian Botham: "This pitch won't change. It looks flat, I don't expect it to do a great deal."

The first World Cup final in 1975 was 60 overs a side, started at 10.30am and finished at 8.43pm. And it was sunny and hot all day. What a contrast ...

12.05pm The sky is blue and we are ready to rumble. Surely they aren't going to bother with wasting time with national anthems ... let's just get on with the cricket.

12.05pm The sky is blue and we are ready to rumble. Surely they aren't going to bother with wasting time with national anthems ... let's just get on with the cricket.

12.10pm The Sri Lankan side is on the boundary edge, stretching and looking understandably slightly nervous. After such a long wait they just want to get going.

Meanwhile, Mandira Bedi has changed her saree ...

12.15pm Here we go. The players are ready, the officials are ready ...
Martin Williamson, Sriram Veera, Will Luke, George Binnoy, Jenny Thompson and Siddhartha Vaidyanathan are your commentators ... Gilchrist to take strike and Chaminda Vaas to open up from the Joel Garner End almost three hours late ...

Yay its started, update guys!!!!

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