BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa, 12 March 2003 — According to Andy Flower, there are two categories of batsmen: Sachin Tendulkar, and the rest. “He is the best in the world,” Flower said of the Indian player. “The rest of us, who are more human, make mistakes sometimes. “But people watch him bat and they think all of us should play as well as he does. It doesn’t quite work like that.” Flower had been asked why he, as one of the game’s premier batsmen, had not cashed in against the weaker teams in the World Cup. Flower scored 39 against Namibia and 71 against the Netherlands. Zimbabwe will have their last opportunity against a minor side when they play Kenya in Bloemfontein today. Shouldn’t Flower be looking to score a century against his African cousins? “I agree. All of our batsmen should aim to score hundreds against them,” Flower said. Flower’s World Cup career record could also do with the boost of a century today.

First Mickey,

Now It’s Jerry

JOHANNESBURG — First it was cricket at Disney World, now American tabloid TV is courting the grand old game. Chat show host and former mayor of Cincinnati Jerry Springer, best known for presiding over the squabbling and foul-mouthed representatives of America’s underbelly on his US television show, was at Centurion to see Australia annihilate Sri Lanka last week. “He very much enjoyed his day and he thinks cricket’s a bit like baseball,” Springer’s agent Bobby Heaney told the BBC website. “He frankly feels it’s not as exciting as baseball though. He said that with cricket you’ve got two guys who smack the ball and one guy who bowls it. “But whereas there’s several plays happening at once in baseball, cricket is a lot more simplistic. That’s what Jerry feels, anyway.” Springer’s interest in the game comes just two days after the International Cricket Council (ICC) admitted that some fixtures in the 2007 World Cup, to be staged in the West Indies, may be played in the United States with Disney World, home of Mickey Mouse among others, one of the favored venues.

Less Is More for

Record-Breaking Sachin

JOHANNESBURG — Three ounces would hardly tip the scales at a Bombay food market but for Sachin Tendulkar it has been the difference between feast and famine. Three ounces is the weight Tendulkar had shaved off his famously heavy bat before the start of the tournament. Tendulkar came into the World Cup having made two runs in his last three One-Day Internationals against New Zealand in January. But on Monday against Sri Lanka he made 97 to pass his own record for runs scored at a World Cup, with the possibility he could bat three more times yet. “He (Tendulkar) has taken three ounces off his bat,” former India all-rounder turned television commentator Ravi Shastri told Reuters.

Wake Up or Perish,

Whatmore Blasts Team

JOHANNESBURG — Sri Lankan coach Dav Whatmore lashed out at his World Cup squad yesterday, saying they had no one but themselves to blame for facing an early flight home. “It is difficult to have sympathy for the boys when they play like that,” Whatmore thundered a day after Sri Lanka crashed to a humiliating 183-run defeat by India at the Wanderers on Monday. The 1996 champions have all but bowed out of the tournament after losing their first two Super Sixes matches against reigning champions Australia and India. Sanath Jayasuriya’s men must now not only win by a big margin against Zimbabwe at East London on Saturday, but also hope the results of the other matches go their way.

Beware Aussies, Indians

Are on Song: Papers

NEW DELHI — The Indian media yesterday lauded its cricket team’s crushing victory over Sri Lanka, saying Saurav Ganguly’s side could stop formidable Australia in the ongoing World Cup in South Africa. “Ponting beware, Indians are on fire,” proclaimed a Times of India headline after India routed Sri Lanka by 183 runs in their Super-Six clash at Johannesburg on Monday to storm into the semifinals. Ricky Ponting’s Australians, unbeaten so far in the tournament, have already made it to the penultimate round. “On a bright and sunny Monday morning at The Wanderers (venue of the match), the Indians went hunting and returned with 11 Lankan lions and five ducks,” said the Times of India. “Sri Rips Lanka,” said the Indian Express front-page headline, referring to Srinath’s incisive spell which reduced the match to a no-contest. The Asian Age also said India could pose a serious threat to Australia after their emphatic win over Sri Lanka. “Beware Aussies, here we come,” screamed a headline.