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The World Cup predictably got off to a stuttering start. Why the English would want to stage the ultimate cricket show on earth at this time of the year may well be one of the mysteries of our times. It was proved once again, if proof at all was needed, that the English play the wrong game at the wrong time of the year. What must also boggle the mind is why the rest of the world got conned into it.

The opening match of World Cup 99 began with a blanket of tension hanging over a worldwide audience of millions.Rain threatened right from the start. Only the fact that the Sri Lankans continued to lose wickets for no apparent reason, at regular intervals, ensured that the first of the two innings of the day could be completed.

The world champions looked anything but. The lankans have been having a miserable time of late. They have been rusty in recent times and it showed palpably in the way they batted. Even with the normally organised and in-form Mahanama opening with Jayasuriya opening the innings, the Lankan gameplan came unstuck. This was primarily due to some inept batting and surprise, surprise some penetrative English bowling.

Mahanama after helping to put on a sedate but decent opening stand in seaming conditions, committed harakiri for reasons best known to him. Attapattu played one airy fairy shot too many and Aravinda De Silva hung his bat to dry, before even getting off the mark. Tillekaratne did not overly trouble the scorers and only a tenacious partnership between Ranatunga and little Kalu, brought some sanity in the Lankan ranks.

Gough bowled an inspired first spell and the highly ungainly Austin had the temerity to keep Jayasuriya quiet. Mullaly angled the bowled well getting the required edges. The catches stuck and before the next bout of rain could dictate terms Sri Lanka were well on their way to being put out of misery.Kalu scored a rampant fifty odd putting the bowling in proper perspective. But 204 always looked too thin to make a difference.

Alec Stewart ran into form at the most opportune time for England. The start of the innings was slow, as indeed all starts in this competition are likely to be. The weak link in the Sri Lankan bowling armour, the wayward pace attack created no impression on Stewart who had been woefully short of runs until now. English batting was obviously out to prove a point, not just to Arjuna Ranatunga, with whom there is no love lost as far as Stewart is concerned.

There was a more than perceptible hint of things to expect in this World Cup. Strategies may be devised and runs are likely to come from the wrong end of the batting order, and the old ways of yore when slogged in the end overs may be back in fashion. The outcome of the match was of little consequence. I am still convinced that these two teams are the no-hopers of this competition.

England simply had one of their rare good days. Sri Lanka had one of their usual bad ones. It is inconclusive from England's point of view but Sri Lanka's future in England this summer look grim and bleak as the weather.