Sourav Ganguly redux?

Sourav Ganguly famously frustrated Steve Waugh by keeping him waiting for the toss. Mahela Jayawardene may be trying a similar stunt! Let’s hope it doesn’t backfire. Ganguly could pull it off, but the challenge and the stakes are much higher for Mahela. The Aussies, of course, are not amused:

“For the Australia captain to be kept waiting for nearly an hour after a day of travel just 36 hours before a World Cup final and for 100 journalists to have their shots ruined because the sun had gone down because the Sri Lankan captain didn’t turn up was clearly unfortunate,” Australia media manager Phil Pope told Reuters on Friday.

Steve Bucknor, meanwhile, is going to officiate in his fifth successive World Cup final. He would have preferred to sit and watch had his team made it through, but alas and alak… he has to officiate yet again. This time, though, he will be partnered by Steve Bucknor and not David Shepherd. Bucknor, it is reported, was happy:

“It is a dream come true,” Bucknor said in an ICC news release announcing his appointment. “I was happy knowing I was umpiring in a Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean and now being asked to stand in the final again makes it even more special.”

What makes me happy is this circus finally ends tomorrow. About time.