Champions at the Trophy

* This is actually turning out to be a fairly interesting tournament - the first time in a long, long while for a multi-nation tournament. With two of the last three matches being knockout, it is winding up nicely. Also, there have been no gazillion run-jamborees, some old-fashioned keep-wickets-in-hand, bowler-friendly surfaces, hat-tricks, upsets - we've had them all. Fascinating to watch.

* I've just seen Mark Boucher pick up probably the best catch by a wicket-keeper off a pacer that I've ever seen. And Pakistan being crumpled at Mohali. If the Indians are watching, they'll be terrified - the Aussies on a lively pitch await.

* We're in danger of having no subcontinental teams in the finals. But the teams that have made it have been the best so far at bowling and at scrapping their way through tough situations.

* Ian Chappell just made an excellent point - he says a large part of the current generation of world batsmen have got so used to expecting flat tracks that they have never learnt how to battle tough pitches.

* And finally, are the new Pepsi "ooh aah India" ads surrogate ads for Iodex? Nothing else explains the inanity of the jingle (if you can call it that)