The warm up matches have suggested that Australia have put their run of defeats to England and New Zealand behind them while South Africa, the new one  day ICC Champions,have had a torrid time, their batting failing against Pakistan and Ireland. Quite what the host nation's batsmen thought a 'warm up' match was for is difficult to tell but it hardly augurs well for their prospects starting March 13th with the opening Competition match.

With small grounds and relaid pitches expected to be slow the outcome is difficult to predict in the extreme. Much will depend on the individual teams ability to adapt and the leading batsmen to be patient.

As more and more questions are being asked about this World Cup and the half empty grounds so commentators around the world begin to query ICC & WCB's strategy.Simon Wilde wonders if we have seen the end of Calypso Cricket Timesonline and Sam Kydd wonders why everything is banned at the 'Accountancy World Cup'. Thunderer 

Youthful challenge of Bangladash who ousted India has fizzled out with heavy defeats by New Zealand and Australia while hosts Windies have gone from worse to worse.

At last an official admission that not all is well with the Caribbean World Cup that sadly lacks the Calypso Atmosphere, Stephen Alleyne determines to put things right in Barbados  More

Bangladesh refind their form and shock ODI champions South Africa to throw open Super 8s possible semi finalists.

England plumb new depths as they race to defeat by South Africa squandering chance offered by Sri Lanka  writes Mike Selvey Guardian Unlimited

Brian Lara is run out 18 in last match.Before a full house he leads Windies to an improbable  1 wicket defeat

Australia and Sri Lankan win semi-finals comfortably to set up repeat of 1997 final. South Africa were thrashed writes Oliver Brett BBC  Sri Lanka shatter Flemings dream writes Paul Grunill BBC

World cup needs a thrilling final writes Jonathan Agnew BBC Cricket correspondent

Australia thanks to a superb Gilchrist innings of 149 wins third successive World Cup by 54 runs on a wet and dark day in circumstances of considerable farce Scorecard 

This was the worst sporting event in history writes Simon  Barnes  imesonline