Men and the cup

Sachin heads Walcott's list of exciting batsmenLONDON, May 18: Sir Clyde Walcott says he will not mind travelling half way around the wor...

Sachin heads Walcott8217;s list of exciting batsmen

LONDON, May 18: Sir Clyde Walcott says he will not mind travelling half way around the world to see Sachin Tendulkar in action. Sir Clyde, whose legendary deeds changed the face of West Indies cricket in the fifties, feels that though the game has undergone tremendous changes, still there are enough players who compel one to travel half the globe to see them, Sachin heads that list which includes Aravinda de Silva, Jonty Rhodes and Brian Lara. Asked if any Englishman finds place in his list, Walcott paused for a moment and then said 8220;no I don8217;t think so.8221; Asked about the World Cup, he felt that South Africa have better chances because 8220;they have a lot of players who bat, bowl and their fielding is superb.8221;

Sir Clyde, who is here for the launch of his book 8220;Wisdom of the Years8221; admitted that his enthusiasm for the game has waned of late for another reasons, he has been closely involved with setting up the inquiry, announced last week, into matchfixing allegations involving several Pakistan World Cup players and the separate betting row involving Australian Mark Waugh and Shane Warne.

The fear of Chris Harris

CARDIFF: New Zealand cricketer Chris Harris may be one of the world8217;s most unfashionable and under-rated players but Australia will not be fooled when they face him in their World Cup group B match here on Thursday. Harris is a busy 8216;bits-and-pieces8217; player rather than a genuine all-rounder. He would be unlikely to be selected as a pure batsman or as a bowler. The sum of his parts, however, make him a highly-effective one-day operator.

Australia, who like New Zealand won their opening game, have not forgotten the Last World Cup, when he scored 130 off 123 balls in their quarter-final in Madras only to finish on the losing side.

His bowling, in particular, would not look out of place on a local park. Harris, who is related to former All Blacks captain Zinzan Brooke, mixes up looping leg cutters and floaters, taking all the paceoff the ball and making the batsman take initiative. Harris, who confesses to being quot;a bit hyperactivequot; on the field, knows his bowling is tight rather than terrifying.

Dangerman Mahmood takes aim at Scots

World Cup minnows Scotland, preparing for Thursday8217;s match against mighty Pakistan, will spend hours discussing the talents of Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar and Saqlain Mushtaq. They may be making a mistake, however, if they overlook Azhar Mahmood. The 24-year-old Mahmood made his home Test debut against South Africa two years ago with a century and half-century in his first match without being dismissed. He followed that up with another hundred in the final Test, to end the series with an average of 65.

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Then, when Pakistan made the return trip to South Africa last year, Mahmood hit 111 not out in the first Test and 138 in the second. Not bad for a player picked primarily as a bowler. Unlike his illustrious predecessors Imran Khan and current captain Wasim Akram, who were genuine quick bowlersand, initially at least, belters with the bat, Mahmood is a medium-paced seamer and orthodox batsman.