Bridgetown: The 2007 World Cup, bloated as a whale run aground, ends on Saturday.

It has blubbered on from the soul-destroying murder of Bob Woolmer to the exits of India and Pakistan to poor turnouts wrought by ignorant rules to one-sided semifinals that do no short-term good.

The importance of an uplifting final can't be over-emphasised. In time, this World Cup will be no more than a riffle of yellowing pages. But, the final will endure: World Cups are remembered by their last acts.

Cricket owes the generous people of the Caribbean a great final. Angered by insensitive regulations at entry, the West Indian fan hasn't always turned up; but the transistor set hasn't been abandoned.

Better conditions

Things have been better here in Bridgetown with the local authorities relaxing restrictions. It might not have mattered, for Barbados — which retains traces of its colonial lineage, enough at any rate to still be called Little England — is cricket country.

The best thing that can be said about the World Cup's format is it hasn't prevented the two best teams getting to the final. Michael Atherton had it pegged down a month ago.

Australia, three-time champion, unbeaten in its last 28 World Cup games, and aiming for an unprecedented hat-trick, was a dead cert.

Talk of this being the most open World Cup in recent history wasn't without reason. But, Andrew Symonds's return from injury significantly altered matters.

And when Shaun Tait found expression in brutal pace and unpredictability, the facet of Australia's play — wicket-taking through the middle overs — that had diminished with Shane Warne's retirement and Brett Lee's pullout was set right.

There were signs that Sri Lanka, champion in 1996, would make it this far. The quality and variety of its bowling ensured seamless transition between the different surfaces in the Caribbean.

Also, Sri Lanka seemed quietly confident, secure to a point of disinterest. That its senior members — Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan, and Chaminda Vaas — were taking responsibility confirmed the impression.

The two sides share an uneasy back-story. It started during Sri Lanka's tour of Australia in 1995-96 with Arjuna Ranatunga, Muralitharan, and Darrel Hair playing lead roles. Fractious clashes marred the subsequent tri-series.

Australia was surprised Sri Lanka didn't back down. A most curious dynamic was set up. There's a perception down under that while South Africa aspires to be hard-bitten like Australia, it's Sri Lanka that comes closest. Sri Lanka responds coolly to this perception — Australia thinks it's the highest compliment — and this further piques Australia.

Mahela Jayawardene's decision to rest Muralitharan and Vaas in the Super Eight game to keep them fresh for bigger battles is a case in point. With Lasith Malinga injured, Sri Lanka went into the match without its three strike bowlers.

Sri Lanka didn't deny a tactical overtone: Australia's batsmen, who haven't played these unique bowlers in 14 months, were denied sighters. It provoked a reaction from Ricky Ponting.

Doubly formidable

Australia is doubly formidable in finals. The side hits its opponent early, often determining contests in the first 20 overs. It does so with sustained intensity and menacing body language ingrained in Australia's high-class domestic structure.

Australia can hurt its opponent many ways: with bat, ball, and, as Shane Watson showed by running A.B. de Villiers out, in the field. While they won't admit it publicly, Australians say the only chance an opponent has lies in evoking outstanding individual efforts.

Sri Lanka has men capable of such acts. The batsmen play Malinga in the nets so neither Tait's action nor pace will shock them.

Moreover, Sri Lanka can match Australia in the field. And thanks to coach Tom Moody, Sri Lanka will have a sense of how Australia thinks.

Battle between the best

The final has been built as the world's best bowling attack against the world's best batting line-up. One can't dispute Matthew Hayden, Ponting, and Michael Clarke being the world's best. But, Glenn McGrath, who will play his final international match on Saturday, said his bowling group's claims were as good as Sri Lanka's.

With a record 25 wickets, McGrath leads the bowling charts; Tait's 23 puts him in joint second with Muralitharan, while Brad Hogg's left-arm wrist spin and Nathan Bracken's routine of swing up front and cutters later on have them in the top seven with 20 and 15 wickets respectively.

True to form, McGrath pointed out that Australia has dismissed every opponent save Bangladesh, against whom it had only 20 overs.

Interesting surface

The Kensington Oval's wicket-square is of interest. In the first five Super Eight games its tracks volunteered pace, bounce, and early movement. They tended to ease as the game waned; turn was on offer to the skilful.

But, the last match between the West Indies and England featured an excellent batting track — it's likely the strip for the final will play similar though perhaps a touch quicker.

Australia will mostly play unchanged. Sri Lanka could bring in Farveez Maharoof for Dilhara Fernando.

Finals often fail to live up to expectations, for nerves come into it. If you're a neutral, pray that both sides handle it well: if the conditions are right, Australia and Sri Lanka can put on one heck of a spectacle.

The teams (from):

Australia: Ricky Ponting (capt.), Adam Gilchrist (wk), Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Michael Hussey, Shane Watson, Brad Hogg, Nathan Bracken, Glenn McGrath, Shaun Tait, Stuart Clark, Mitchell Johnson, Brad Hodge and Brad Haddin.

Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (capt.), Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Chamara Silva, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Marvan Atapattu, Malinga Bandara and Nuwan Kulasekara.

Umpires: Steve Bucknor (WI) and Aleem Dar (Pak). TV umpire: Rudi Koertzen (RSA).

Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZ).

Hours of play (IST): 7 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. and 11.15 p.m. till close.

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