New boys flunking first-term examinati

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Mar 16 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's crushing victory over debutants Bermuda suggests that if the World Cup is a learning ground for cricket's new boys, then the lessons will be of the stick rather than carrot variety.

Yesterday's 243-run victory by the 1996 champions was the second biggest in nine editions of the World Cup.

Bermuda actually made 33 runs more than they mustered against England in a warm-up game by being bowled out for 78 in reply to 321 for six so it was progress of sorts, although such a defeat could hardly have improved their confidence.

Hot on the heels of a similarly one-sided trouncing of Scotland by champions Australia, the results have given more ammunition to critics of an ICC policy to allow as many as six non-test playing nations into the World Cup mix.

They predicted one-sided thrashings and so far those doom-laden forecasts have proved spot on. The world number one team South Africa have not even had the chance to turn their firepower on the Netherlands yet. That comes today.

OFTEN UNTALENTED Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene seems determined to cast himself as the sternest of school-masters to the untutored and often untalented who step in his way.

In 2003, he was part of a Sri Lanka lineup which bowled out Canada for a World Cup record low total of 36 runs and he is behaving in equally domineering fashion four years later, scoring 85 against Bermuda yesterday.

Somewhat surprisingly, though, Jayawardene is a big supporter of a stage which allows the cricketing small-fry to be humiliated in such a public fashion.

''When Sri Lanka played in the 1975 World Cup we were thrashed as well by West Indies and a few other countries,'' he told a news conference. ''That is how you learn.'' Jayawardene supported the International Cricket Council (ICC) move to add more teams, mainly aimed at globalising the game and building on the ever-growing television audience.

'PROPER DEVELOPMENT' ''We didn't stretch West Indies or England in the 1975 World Cup,'' he said. ''We came back strongly to win in 1996.'' ''There should be a proper development and I'm sure ICC is monitoring the progress of these countries.

''As a Sri Lankan who has seen our progress, for us it is always good to have these countries playing in big tournaments.'' Jayawardene's argument is not supported by Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who was his usual unsentimental and ruthless self in hitting a fourth World Cup century against Scotland on Wednesday.

Scotland at least lasted till the 41st over before capitulating to a 203-run defeat, consolation for the team but a boring spectacle for millions of TV viewers. Bermuda folded in 24.4 overs.

Jayawardene's argument would appear to have one major flaw. His nation and Bangladesh, to name another relative newcomer to the test scene, have a cricket culture and a steady stream of fresh talent.

That is not the case with the associate nations, Canada, Ireland, Scotland, Bermuda and the Netherlands, who all depend on expatriates to prop them up in West Indies.

Canada skipper John Davison likened his team to a village outfit on Wednesday after their seven-wicket defeat by Kenya, who lie 11th in the one-day rankings.

More such lop-sided results could leave fans convinced they would be better off playing at that level.

Reuters DH DB230