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Martin Gough | 14:10 UK time, Thursday, 22 March 2007

Martin GoughSt Lucia - A police siren fills the air, a motorcycle out-rider appears followed by minibuses with lights flashing and an ambulance, cars are ordered to pull to the side of the road.

Finally, with the sort of security afforded a visiting head of state, the Canada team is ferried to the big game.

Meanwhile, back at the England team hotel, anyone can walk in from the street and receive his or her own personal blank stare when wishing coach Duncan Fletcher a good morning.

Amid the worry and whispering that has followed the tragic death of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer there has been plenty of talk about the security surrounding World Cup teams.

In the stadium it is pretty high. For instance, one veteran broadcaster who forgot his accreditation on Wednesday was prevented from entering the ground to interview .

Bracewell came to the broadcaster instead, then jogged back to the team hotel unaccompanied, while the rest of the team waited for the out-riders and the ambulance.

Despite some speculation, security has not been stepped up around the England team's hotels at least. Doing so would be difficult as the teams share their hotel with holidaymakers.

England take with them the same security retinue that they used during this winter鈥檚 Ashes tour.

Players and coaches are never seen alone in public so there are clearly guidelines in place but day-to-day arrangements make the pre-match parade look even more over the top.

Another sparse crowd has gathered at the , with the early excitement centring around New Zealand opening batsman Lou Vincent getting off the mark for the tournament at the third attempt.

This is the only meaningless match in Group C, with most thoughts already on Saturday鈥檚 knockout match between England and Kenya.

The tournament has not seen a match go to a reserve day yet but the regular rain here has left some checking the small print for tiebreakers.

If it pours all weekend and 20 overs a side are not possible, both teams will finish on three points.

The decider would be net run rate in completed matches and, as England have an advantage there at the moment, that would be enough for them to progress.

Meanwhile, was the man in front of the microphones at England鈥檚 morning news conference.

Asked about the challenge Kenya鈥檚 attack would pose he described their pace bowlers as 鈥渄ibbly-dobblers鈥 then checked himself.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 a bit extreme 鈥 that鈥檚 what I get called myself.鈥

颁辞尘尘别苍迟蝉听听Post your comment

  • 1.
  • At 02:39 PM on 22 Mar 2007,
  • Clive Beaubrun wrote:

I live in St. Lucia and have quite taken to Martin's ability to highlight and sense the St. Lucian atmosphere while at the same time commenting on cricket.

Will be interesting to see how England fares against Kenya on Saturday.

  • 2.
  • At 03:27 PM on 22 Mar 2007,
  • Paul wrote:

Martin, enjoyed your blogs whilst we've been here at Windjammer.

Listening to Aggers broadcasting back to the studio whilst sitting on a deckchair on the beach made me realise we're going home too soon.

Look forward to reading the blogs back home - will be able to continue to feel the atmosphere which you have described so well.

thanks - enjoy the rest of your stay

  • 3.
  • At 04:47 PM on 22 Mar 2007,
  • Martin Gough wrote:

Clive, I read your piece in the newspaper over breakfast. I must say I thought having Flintoff as a spokesman for the St Lucia Tourist Board could be quite fun!

The whole debate over the World Cup legacy for the island is an interesting one, though. Hopefully I'll have a chance to get into it more over the next couple of days.

  • 4.
  • At 05:30 PM on 22 Mar 2007,
  • cricket fan wrote:

I can tell you right now with 110% certainty that India is going to win the match tomorrow, the game between India & Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka will be all out for 200 runs or less and India will win the match with 3 wickets in hand. How do I know it- there is going to be a definite match fixing. There is lot to lose, by the sponsors and 鈥榦thers鈥 鈥 if India dose not make it to the supper 8.

  • 5.
  • At 07:26 PM on 22 Mar 2007,
  • Clive Beaubrun wrote:


Martin, thanks for the response.
Actually I would like to make the point that I do NOT think (and made that point) that we (St. Lucia) should use Flintoff as a spokesman but need to find a way to finesse the PR surrounding his indiscretions, so as to show St. Lucia as a fun place to let your hair down. Linking his behaviour too directly to our St. Lucia product would be detrimental.

Having said that and from what I have read he appears to be a tremendeous individual and a great competitor who sometimes deals with stress a little too strenuously for his own good !
I hope he puts in a wonderful performance on Saturday. I鈥檒l be there and keep up the good work.

Thanks to Oprah, Obama camp claims biggest crowd yet

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