It’s back to basics for the South African squad

• Montego Bay: West Indies coach Bennett King dismissed fears over captain Brian Lara’s lack of action in the middle and backed the record-breaking batsman to star in the World Cup. The 37-year-old Lara hasn’t played since his team’s 160-run defeat to India in Vadodara on January 31 where he was run out for three. “Within the space of one or two days Brian is usually back to his best because of how much work he has done before,” said King. “He has played 16 years. He is very keen to play, he is like a spring chicken at the moment. He is jumping out of his seat to play.”

‘Going through hell’

• Islamabad: Disgruntled Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar today said his failure to make it to the World Cup in the Caribbean had caused him great pain. “I am going through hell. I can’t describe it in words what it means to miss an event like the World Cup,” Akhtar said, a week after he was withdrawn from Pakistan’s squad on fitness grounds.

“I have been waiting for this event for two years and to play in a cricket-loving region like the Caribbean was my dream. Not being able to play in the World Cup is like taking all my dreams away.”

Oz Achilles’ heel

• Kingstown: Kevin Pietersen believes Australia could now be as vulnerable as England were in the wake of their 2005 Ashes series win because of injuries to star players. Pietersen compared how understrength England had been in their lean spell during 2006 with how Australia’s standard had dropped in their recent five-match losing run.

“I saw that the Australians lost (Ricky) Ponting for the New Zealand series, Brett Lee is out, Matthew Hayden is out, there’s a few of their big players out as well. I think a team does become vulnerable when they lose big players.”

Andrew Symonds (biceps) and Hayden (broken toe) have already been ruled out of tomorrow’s game at Arnos Vale, while Lee had to withdraw from the tournament and was replaced by Stuart Clark in Australia’s squad two weeks ago.