Searing Shaun is Ponting146;s best bet

Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes fast bowler Shaun Tait can be the reigning champions8217; ace card during the World Cup.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes fast bowler Shaun Tait can be the reigning champions8217; ace card during the World Cup.

The 24-year-old South Australian quick has only played four one-day internationals since making his debut last month against England in Sydney.

That debut match, where he took two for 68 in 10 overs, revived concerns about Tait8217;s ability to keep the runs down but Ponting was in no doubt he could be both a wicket-taker and a run-container. 8220;He got the ball reversing and he8217;s certainly going to be a threat,8221; said Ponting.

Wes Hall8217;s son drowns

8226; Bridgetown: Former West Indies fast bowling great Wes Hall8217;s eldest son has drowned on a holiday in the Caribbean. John Woodroffe, 42, died on Wednesday within a few hours of arriving for a holiday in Barbados with his family from Toronto.

Police public relations officer, Inspector Barry Hunte, said that Woodroffe was pulled from the sea, apparently unconscious, around 5.30 pm local time. A life-guard on duty at the beach started cardio-pulmonary resuscitation CPR before he was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead, three hours after stepping off his flight.

It8217;s the Cup effect

8226; London: The World Cup, could hit Britain8217;s economic productivity by 270 million pounds, according to an independent study.

8220;Even to those only half interested, watching cricket is one of the best ways of avoiding work known to man,8221; said the study by the Centre for Economics and Business Research CEBR. 8220;Two of England8217;s matches, against New Zealand on 16 March and against Pakistan on 30 March, are on Friday afternoons and will be very tempting to those who feel inclined to stay on in the pub after lunch,8221; said CEBR chief executive Douglas McWilliams.

Fulton breaks finger

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8226; Bridgetown: Peter Fulton added his name to New Zealand8217;s growing injury list after he broke a finger during the World Cup warm-up match against Sri Lanka on Friday. Fulton was taken to hospital after he broke the little finger on his left hand taking a catch.

Although he held on to the ball to dismiss Kumar Sangakkara in New Zealand8217;s 18-run victory at the 3Ws Oval, the effort could prove to be costly for the Black Caps8217; World Cup hopes.