THE weather in South Africa has been very wet over the past week and heavy shower clouds and thunderstorms are still possible for tomorrow’s final.
Temperatures will be around 24 degrees centigrade in Johannesburg, but thankfully the threat of showers recedes for the reserve days and good sunny spells will prevail.
Johannesburg caught about 50mm (two inches) of rain on Wednesday, with Bloemfontein and East London nearer 80mm over two days.
The showers will continue into the weekend, including tomorrow, but improved conditions for next week is typical of the climate in this part of the world as the drier season becomes established.
Australia to win the World Cup has been my sporting banker for several months and I see no reason to change my opinion.
India went through a bad patch after their tour of England last year but have now recovered their form and will be dangerous opponents, especially if Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar maintain their form.
Zaheer Khan continues to take wickets against all opposition and will be a danger to the Australian top order.
This is the final everyone has wanted since the start of the Super Sixes and it promises to be a fitting climax.
As a spectacle, the World Cup has alternated between excellent and moderate, with arguably the format and outside influences conspiring to upset the likes of England, West Indies, Pakistan and South Africa in the early stages.
England showed their obvious potential when they played Australia and hopefully that performance should be the springboard for the triangular NatWest Series this summer.