I just hope its a close final. I've been disapointed with this World Cup. I hope we see a cracker of a final!

I don' think that there is that much gulf between the teams with either batting or bowling. The Australians appear to be invincible becasue of their bullish approach, psychological dumbing down of the opposition and their perception by others. Of course they have a great team with some very talented and in-form players, but at the end of the day they are just as human and falliable as any other team. Sri Lanka realise that aspect more than any other team that has faced the Oz so far and I don't think they'll be cowed down by the holders in the final. I am now beginning to see the thinking behind that "resting" of key players for the two teams' Super-8 meeting. It was not to hide their best bowlers from the Aussies - who know all about them anyway; I think Sri Lanka did it to avoid loss of confidence in their own team should they lose - which they did. They could all ways tell themselves afterwards "we were under-strength and so can do much better if we get to the final". I still do not agree with that plan, but at least it makes sense now.

Much has been said about the "vast gulf" in the two teams' middle batting order. I am not so sure that there is such a big difference after all. Symonds and Hussey are very good, but can be vulnerable early in their innings; Hussey has shown that he struggles if asked to score quickly soon after getting to the crease. Silva and Dilshan have conducted themselves well so far and while they may not be as powerful hitters as their Oz counterparts, the Sri Lankans are capable of keeping the scoreboard moving at a lively rate. Watson and Arnold are about the same level in batting although their styles are different, as are Vaas and Hogg; and the Oz final trio of Bracken, Tait & McGrath are no better than Maharoof, Murali and Malinga; in fact, Maharoof's inclusion in Fernando's place (as seems to be the case) will strenghten the SL batting down the order a little bit.

Sri Lanka should stop telling themselves that "If we have to win, Jayasuriya has to fire"; well, great if he does fire, but it is not the end of the world if he does not. There are 10 other players in the team, each with a role to play and if they do a good job. I believe that SL can pull this one off.

I have a hunch that more than just a trace of overconfidence is creeping into the Australian camp just now. It has been a bit too easy for them thus far and if Sri Lanka are able to throw a small spanner in the works early on, the fortress might just start to develop a few cracks.

A big X factor is that Sri Lanka's coach Tom Moody is an Australian world cup champion player. As is Srinath Jayisuria.

I'm sick of jealous non participant fan's begrudging us our night. Both Sri Lanka and Australia rejoice and bring it on.

Still in high spirits before the game another chant

This time to Tony Basil's Mickey

Hey Rickey - you've been around all night
And that's a little long.
You think you've got the right but I think you've got it wrong.
Why can't we say goodnight? So you can take me home
Rickey.
'cause when you say you will
it always means you won't.
You're givin' me the chills

Baby
please baby
don't
ev'ry night you still
Leave me alone
Rickey.

Oh Rickey
what a pity you don't understand.
You take me by the heart when you take me by the hand.
Oh Rickey
you're so pretty
can't you understand.
It's guys like you
Rickey
ooh what you do
Rickey

Do
Rickey
don't break my heart
Rickey.
Hey
Rickey - now when you take me by the who's
Ever gonna know
and ev'ry time you move
You let a little more show.

There's something you can lose - so don't say no
Rickey.
So come on and give it to me anyway you can

Anyway you want to do it
I'll take it like a man.
But please
baby
please don't leave me in this jam
Rickey.
Oh Rickey
what a pity you don't understand. . . .
Oh Rickey
what a pity you don't understand. . . .
Oh Rickey
what a pity you don't understand. .

Its guys like you Rickey...........

Unlikely in my opinion, but I hope your hunch turns out to be true.... At least we will have a decent final to conclude a most boring world cup ever.

One of the most interesting World Cup's ever except for the also runs.

1 hour and 57 minutes to go can I stay awake...

By now both teams will be discussing as to which opposition bowler(s) they are going to target to go after. IMO, this policy is a bit risky because it is possible that a bowler singled out as a weak link might suddenly put in an inspired performance on a helpful pitch; but they will speculate anyway and so it is worth looking at the options.

The Australian batsmen will probably be thinking of attacking Maharoof and the Sri Lankan 5th bowling option. IMO, Maharoof will be all right on the pacey and bouncey KO wicket. He is very tall and despite not being an out & out fast bowler, can get a steep lift off the pitch, making free scoring a bit difficult. He is not a death bowler anyway and so SL should try and get his 10 overs in during the earlier part of the Oz innings when Maharoof is likely to be most effective with the harder ball. It might be an idea to rest Malinga after he has bowled 4 overs at the start and bring Maharoof in for a longish spell. We know how dangerous the Slinga is with the older ball.

The SL "5th bowler" has to be chosen and used with care depending on the conditions. I think it would be risky using Jayasuriya, Arnold or Dilshan during the powerplays or at the death and so they will have to do the 10 overs between them in the 'middle part' of the innings to minimise any potential damage. Dilshan with his flatter trajectory can sometimes be difficult to get away, especially if Oz are chasing in the second half of the game.

The Sri Lankan batsmen will probably believe that they can get a few runs off Watson, and they could well be right. His bowling has been very ordinary so far. Oz do have the option of Symonds and Clarke filling in so that Watson does not have to bowl his full complement of 10 overs, but I don't think either of those two will pose too many worries to the opposition.

I think the toss could be vital, particularly from the Sri Lankan point of view since they seem to be going in with just 3 pacemen. If SL win the toss and bat first, they can try to post a good score without the pressure of falling behind the required run rate and then Murali and the other slow bowlers are likely to be more effective when the Aussies give chase.

I reckon the Sri Lankan batsmen will succesfully pick the Hogg wrongun today and prosper. Also they will handle Bracken OK.

McGrath will be difficult because he will bowl at pace and not worry if his muscles start hurting or if sprains something because its his last match.
Tait will cuase the biggest problems or give the biggest blessings.

For the batters Ponting wont go out cheaply tonite nor Gilchrist they have to much riding on it.

Allthough former team-mate now opposition coach Tom Moody will be deep inside thier minds.

One private discussion that would have happened prior to this match is Ricky Ponting and Glenn McGrath

Along the lines we both played and lost the WC to Sri Lanka in 1996. We will not let it happen again.