Lara celebrates his majestic century (Getty Images)

By Neal Collins

What a start to the cricket World Cup. Is there a better way to spend a Sunday?

After those two 1-1 draws between the Premiership's top four sides - I include Manchester City only because they were desperately unlucky to have a winner against United disallowed - the first game of this cricketing feast was a joy to behold.

Okay, I'll be boycotting my telly for Namibia against Zimbabwe in Harare, but New Zealand v Sri Lanka at Goodyear Park in Bloemfontein might just provide a second cracker on Monday. Remember, I'm tipping the Black Caps to go all the way.

Look, I'm not saying those two much-hyped Premiership games didn't have their talking points.

The pub was on its feet when Shaun Goater levelled for City with his first touch and there was widespread shock when Laurent Robert levelled for Newcastle against Arsenal - and then received his unneccessary red card.

But we had to keep switching over to the cricket which was far, far better entertainment.

Is it because we simply get too much footie on the box... or because we don't get enough cricket?

The West Indies are supposed to be a spent force internationally. And most South Africans believe that, but for a botched single in the Edgbaston semi-final against Australia in 1999, the Proteas would be the defending champions going in to this tournament on home soil.

They may be second favourites to Australia, but the feeling on Saturday night seemed to be: We won the Rugby World Cup here in 1995, we'll do the same with this one thanks.

But somebody forgot to tell the Windies they were only part of the supporting cast after that glitzy opening ceremony.

They started dreadfully. First they allowed the South Africans to bowl three successive maidens then they lost two early wickets. Oh how the Castle drinkers were smiling when the first single came off the 20th ball of the innings.

But then we were treated to a wonderful Brian Lara century - after he'd been dropped at slip by Jacques Kallis off his first ball from Makhaya Ntini. Some great late hitting from Powell and Sarwan saw them to a very competitive 278, but most South Africans had no doubt it was gettable.

But the magnificent Newlands Stadium, packed with 25,000 fans, fell silent as they were taken to task by a side which has blended together so well under captain Carol Hooper. Remember this lot went to India and won a one-day series last year. They're no mugs.

South Africa responded manfully. A long Gary Kirsten innings was followed by a gutsy knock from wicketkeeper Msark Boucher.

But when Boucher fell to the canny Chris Gayle with eight overs left, the South Africans needed 80 and they only had two rabbits left in the hutch - Makhaya Nthini and Allan Donald.

So with eight wickets down and the game apparently over, Lance 'Zulu' Klusener decided to get going after a quiet start. Both Hooper and Gayle saw their best stuff dispatched deep into a now-hysterical crowd by the ultra-heavy Klusener bat which dominated so much of the 1999 tournament in England.

Suddenly South Africa were favourites. With Nicky Boje prodding singles at the other end, the 50 partnership came up off just thirty balls.

Klusener slapped his sixth six to reach 54 off just 43 balls after a distraught Pedro Collins had trod on the rope trying to catch him in the deep.

But then, with nine needed off the last over, it all fell apart. Klusener was caught off ball three by Hooper, who had just moved to long off. The batsmen forgot to cross, leaving Ntini to face. He put his second ball down Hooper's throat. Game over, though Boje, needing an improbable eight off the last ball, managed four.

Defeat by three runs. But what a game.

So what about the drama off the pitch?

England's on-off trip to Zimbabwe on Thursday is a saga which feels like it's been running longer than Coronation Street.

Tim Lamb, under-pressure head of the ECB, waffled on about new information (believed to be death threats from a shadowy group called 'The Sons and Daughters of Zimbabwe' and more details from something called the Krol report) and left us firmly in the dark.

We were supposed to get a decision at 8.30am on Sunday morning, then Lamb told us nothing at 4pm.

I hear that the players are united (by a unanimous vote of 15 to nil) in demanding to know why these threats against the side had been kept from them. Despite reports in some Sunday papers I'm assured by one player "There is no split. We all feel the same way. If there have been threats, we should have been told."

Apparently the ECB would be happy to take two points from the game, insisting this late information should force an abandonment rather than a boycott. I suspect it's more likely England will end up with nought points if they don't turn up.

The players, who looked happy enough at the Opening Ceremony (where we saw Marcus Trescothick taking pictures of his own face, strange lad) are apparently keen to get on with preparations for next Sunday's game against Holland at Buffalo Park in East London.

Personally I've had enough of this saga.

The Zimbabweans, who play Namibia on Monday, are desperate. The ground is in perfect condition and England is seen as THE game... remember, Australia are playing their game against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, a city even less keen on President Mugabe and more prone to trouble.

I'm told there will be over 1,000 police and soldiers at the Sporting Club if the game goes ahead on Thursday... with a 10,000 capacity, that's one security man for 10 fans.

I don't think England should boycott Harare for security reasons. If they do, they deserve to lose the points, like New Zealand, who are refusing to play in Kenya for safety reasons.

But if they had the gumption to say: "We're not going because we think Mugabe is an unacceptable leader" I'd be right behind them.

Still, with all this doubt about there are some bright points for England, who will probably go home early if they lose the points against Zimbabwe.

Pakistan's Saeed Anwar was injured in the nets by the Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar (personally I survived my session with him, though I suspect he was not at full pace) and Australia's great finisher (and the man with a one-day average which suggests an element of self-preservation) Michael Bevan is also struggling after injuring his hamstring in the recent VB series.

I don't go out until England's game against Pakistan in Cape Town on the 22nd. I have to report on England's opening Six Nations game against France. Until then, I'll see you in front of Sky Sports 3. It's the only place to be, unless you've got a Long Wave radio!