World Cup Update

The little man from Mumbai, towers like a colossus on the cricket scene. He is the hot favourite of punters, bookmakers, writers, quiz and competition runners alike, fetching top billing on everyone8217;s charts.

From mainline British newspapers, tabloids to exclusive multipage colour World Cup special pull-outs, all sport Tendulkar with one or the other classic batting pose in full-page colour blow-ups, screaming at the readers.

The Daily Telegraph in the first World Cup pullout labels to the readers 8212; six of the best 8212; has Tendulkar heading the list with comments 8220;will excel with the bat8221;.

The Sun8217;s guide to the big guns, who will light up the World Cup 8212; six hitters 8212; has again Tendulkar leading.

Donald ducks for cover

HOVE: South African fast bowler Allan Donald today tried toplay down a highly-publicised row with West Indian captain Brian Lara ahead of the World Cup.

The Daily Express newspaper published an extract from Donald8217;s forthcoming autobiography which described how Donald told Lara to get out from the South African dressing room.

In Hove today, though, Donald said the extract had been taken from an early draft of the book, White Lightning, which will be published in London on Monday. 8220;I was very disappointed with the way it came out,8221; said Donald, who claimed he had told ghost writer Pat Murphy not to use the section.

8220;I was hyped up when I started writing it,8221; said Donald, 8220;but when the proofs were sent to me while I was touring New Zealand I said it needed toning down.8221;

Daily Express reporter Colin Bateman said the extract had been checked with publisher Harper Collins.

Donald, admitted he was not sure what was in the final version of the book, although he said Murphy had read a revised version over the telephone.

Ranatunga forstump mikes

LONDON: Sri Lankan captain Arjuna Ranatunga has began the psychological battle with England counterpart Alec Stewart by suggesting stump microphones be allowed to broadcast continually during the World Cup tournament.

Cricket8217;s rulers have always been reluctant to allow television companies to braodcast from stump microphones fearing that sledging or general chit-chat between opposition players could harm the image of the sport.

That was underlined when Stewart was heard to call Ranatunga8217;s behaviour appalling8217; during the infamous clash in Adelaide last January.

England face Sri Lanka in the opening match at Lord8217;s next Friday and Ranatunga could not resist taking a different stance from Stewart over the contentious subject of stump microphones.

Ranatunga offered a different view and urged the tournament organisers to open up the game to the public.

8220;My personal view is that they should be on 24 hours a day,8221; stressed Ranatunga. 8220;If people are not concerned about doing anythingwrong, they shouldn8217;t worry about the microphones.8221;

8220;The whole world would know what is happening in the middle and I don8217;t have a problem with that 8212; we8217;re here to entertain the crowd and they should know what8217;s going on.8221;

Stewart, though, insisted: 8220;As far as I8217;m aware the microphones should only be on from the moment the ball is released until it is hit or missed by the batsman.8221;