The Final fiasco and Dwayne's back

I am still pondering that World Cup Final you know. Speaking to a few colleagues out here and the same thing sweeps over them, too. How can five officials get it so wrong?

Anyway, I managed to clear my head after the Final to do another podcast direct from the ground. Click here to listen to Podcast 17. I deal with the show chronologically for this show. I start at 6am by speaking to my taxi driver, then it's both sets of fans before hearing from Percy, Sri Lank's most-loved cricket supporter, who always has a story each time I meet him. And Mike Gatting gives us some ranting to end the show. The best is saved until last, as I bump into our man Dwayne Leverock. We were going to the press conference when I spotted this look-a-like in a XXL Bermuda shirt. On closer inspection it was Dwayne. After Bermuda were knocked out, he rested his tweaking arm and has been holidaying around the islands which culminated in watching the World Cup Final.

World Cup podcast

Download another World Cup special podcast here. I'm in St Lucia where I spoke to Mike Gatting at possibly one of the world's greatest airport departure bars... on the beach. I also ventured to the premiere of Hit for Six - the first Caribbean film based on cricket and the biggest film release to date to come out of Barbados. It has its moments but the $700,000 budget often shows up. Anyway, I spoke to music legend Eddy Grant and Rudolph Walker, otherwise known as Patrick from Eastenders, at the red carpet affair.

Click here for your last chance to win a signed England shirt from SEVEN former England captains. Asnwer an easy question to enter and be in with a chance. Click here for more info.

Lara audio tribute

Catch my latest podcast (by clicking here from 12pm BST) with a tribute to Brian Lara's career.

Take out the negatives of dealing with the WICB's political wranglings, sponsorship fiascos and general Carribean malaise which dogged Lara in his captaincy, and you are left with memories of a player who, on his day, did things no other batsman could live with. He was also a menace to captains who tried to produce fields for the left-hander as his touch and skill mustered the Prince of Trinidad run after run.

Hey, and I even get to speak to Caribbean music legend Eddie Grant. It's official, the Electric Avenue singer is one cool customer.

Why not subscribe to the remaining World Cup podcasts? Click here for itunes links.

Do you have any memories of Lara the player except perhaps the world record knocks he produced? Comment below...

World Cup podcast

Another WC podcast will be up and running here at 12pm BST. On this week's show I speak to Nasser Hussain at the Kensington Oval as Michael Vaughan becomes the latest in line of failed England ODI skippers to flop at a World Cup. I also catch up with South African legend Barry Richards. And to top it off, I went to the Barbados Guinness Book of Records Festival to hear why Bajans just love to run backwards.

Holding out for a hero

How do you dress to meet a national hero? This thought briefly crossed my mind at the weekend when I had a morning interview with Sir Garfield Sobers.

Any other country you would no doubt where shirt and tie, as I have done when I've met him in England. My conscience was heightened when speaking to a Barbadian policeman and how the force always salute Sobers as a sign of respect when they come across him (and thanks to his playing days with the Police Cricket Club).

In the end I went for t-shirt and flip-flops and Sir G turned up wearing the same: that's how you dress in the Caribbean!

Pics and podcasts

There's another Daily Mail podcast up: click here. I spoke to Andy Strauss and Mail man Mike Dickson as the Super 8s took shape.

I've also put more pics up at flickr. Go on have a peek here.