Guess who is batting for Madras Rubber Factory in the first match of the eighth World Cup between South Africa and West Indies?

Brian Lara, is who.

When Wavell Hinds's short, unhappy stint at the crease was ended by the combination of Shaun Pollock and umpire Darryl Harper, all eyes turned towards the West Indies dressing room.

And out walked the former half of the "Sachin versus" debate, with a brand new bat that had the three letters that have become familiar to cricket fans across the world: "MRF".

The signing up of Lara by MRF marks a small coup of sorts for one of India's premier tyre manufacturers. Sachin Tendulkar already sports the MRF logo on his willow, and Steve Waugh joined the MRF team a couple of years ago.

After a close shave early-on, when an outside edge eluded Jacque Kallis at slip, Lara then settled down with his new bat to the more important task of steadying the West Indian boat with Shivnarine Chanderpaul in company.