December 31 was the deadline for all facilities at the World Cup to be ready but in true laid-back Caribbean style, most venues (except St. Kitts and Nevis) are still work in progress! It’s not as bad as it sounds, though. The work remaining at these venues is minimal and relates to electrical fittings, sewage work and in some cases, the crucial air-conditioning.
Teams could make do with or without air-conditioning for a while, but what about the conditioning of their players? Michael Vaughan, for instance, is about to make his third comeback in almost as many months! But this time, he seems to have made a wise decision naming Andrew Flintoff the stand-in captain even before England depart for the tournament. Vaughan played a few matches here and there during the Commonwealth Bank Series in Australia, but was hardly impressive. Flintoff initially seemed to be withering under the responsibility of captaining, but came to terms with it at the right time leading the team to victory in the finals.
Mahela Jayawardene, the Sri Lanka captain, too seems to be suffering from an anxiety attack. He has suddenly remembered his performance from 2003 when he managed only 21 runs in 9 matches! But this time around, he is captain and a lot is expected of him. Thankfully, he is also getting into form! “I know my personal contribution has not been that great during the last six months or so, but I am looking forward to get back among runs,” said a circumspect Jayawardene. Captains do seem to be having a tough time of it!
But one personality that seems ready for the World Cup is Bob Marley’s ghost! Well, not so much his ghost, but a tour guide who is all set to show visitors to Jamaica around Marley’s old home in Trench Town. It was here that Marley had written his famous song, “No Woman, No Cry”… wonder what captains want to ensure there is “No Cry”!