India's young wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel announced his entry to adulthood on Sunday by paying from his pocket for a sumptuous treat he gave his teammates in a South African restaurant on his 18th birthday.

His mother said the family had called to wish him. "We sang him his birthday song over telephone and wished him the best in life and for India's crucial matches ahead in the World Cup," she said.

"He told us he cut a cake and treated his teammates to dinner."

She said her son is happy to just be with the team for the World Cup though he is yet to get a game in the premier event.

However, the family is worried Parthiv might lose out on education as he may not be able to appear for his 12th standard board exams, starting on March 25.

"We will inform the concerned education officials to consider his case as an exception and that Parthiv would appear for exams after returning from the tournament," his mother said.

But exams seem to be last thing on Parthiv's priorities. He says he is too engrossed with the World Cup and can hardly spare any time for studies.

India captain Sourav Ganguly said there was every reason for his opposite number to choose to bowl first, after India's 183-run victory over Sri Lanka at The Wanderers.

"There was a lot of moisture in the pitch early on so I knew he was going to put us in to bat, but we just batted very well." Ganguly said.

"We're very happy with the way we played today, we've done a very good job here today. We're a good unit, we know our strengths and we play to our strengths and we have match-winners in every position -- that is the key."

Ganguly was particularly fulsome in his praise for Sachin Tendulkar, who hit a six and seven fours in a 120-ball innings of 97, taking his run tally for the tournament to 571 in just eight matches.

"He's playing as well as I've ever seen him, I think," said Ganguly. "The key this time is his consistency because he's doing it in nearly every match.

"We've won again and winning is a good habit to get into. I thought Sri Lanka would put up a bit more of a fight, but it must be said that we batted superbly as a team."

Durham fast bowler Steve Harmison has tipped county team mate Paul Collingwood as a future England one-day captain.

The England selectors are looking for someone to lead the one-day side following Nasser Hussain's decision to give up the job after the World Cup.

Marcus Trescothick, Michael Vaughan and Adam Hollioake are believed to be the leading candidates - with Collingwood seen by some journalists as a long-shot.

And Harmison thinks the opportunity has come too soon for Collingwood, who has made 38 one-day appearances since his debut two years ago.

But Harmison said "He's had a great winter. They're talking about him being the one-day captain. He's probably not quite ready for it yet - but I can't see why not in the future."

"They're talking about a short-term replacement for Nasser - for two years. Paul will hopefully have played between 50 and 70 one-day internationals (by then). He is captaincy material...hopefully he'll get the chance to do the job."

Veteran fast bowler Waqar Younis wants to continue his international career despite Pakistan's World Cup failure.

There have been calls for the selectors to draft in a new generation of players to replace the likes of Waqar, Wasim Akram, Saeed Anwar and Rashid Latif.

Saeed is expected to confirm his retirement in the next few days, but skipper Waqar has no plans to call it quits.

Batsman Inzamam-ul Haq has announced, however, that he wants to give up the vice-captaincy after a dismal tournament, which saw him score only 19 runs in six innings.

Waqar issued a personal apology to supporters following the team's exit from the World Cup at the end of the first round stage.

"We worked hard, but could not deliver on the field," he said.

Asked about his own future, Waqar replied: "As long as I am fit, I am going to serve my country."

He refuted suggestions by coach Richard Pybus that the team was unwilling to learn.

"It's absolutely not true. Each and every member of the team was more than willing to eradicate his mistakes, and I don't think Pybus is right."

Zimbabwe fast bowler Henry Olonga claimed on Monday he had been banned from talking about his anti-Robert Mugabe protest on orders from the very top of the regime.

"I would love to talk to you guys but I am not allowed to," Olonga said at Goodyear Park in South Africa where Zimbabwe play their next Super Six match against Kenya on Wednesday.

"You can guess who has got the power to prevent me from speaking to you."

Olonga hasn't played in Zimbabwe's World Cup campaign since the opening group match against Namibia in Harare on February 10 although he has carried out 12th man duties.

The bowler and leading batsman Andy Flower won worldwide praise for their decision to wear black armbands and issue a statement condemning what they called the "death of democracy" in Zimbabwe.

They pledged to carry on their protest throughout the World Cup despite coming under severe pressure to abandon the gesture with both men threatened with having their international careers terminated.

"It's very difficult to assess your form when you are carrying drinks all the time," added Olonga who is likely to sit out the game against Kenya which Zimbabwe must win if they are to have any chance of reaching the semi-finals.

Sledging reached a new low in cricket when a Sydney first grade match was deemed a forfeit when two opening batsmen walked off in disgust after just 10 balls.

Openers Nathan Pilon -- the New South Wales reserve keeper -- and Nathan Catalano faced just 1.4 overs in St George's second innings against Parramatta on Saturday before leaving Hurstville Oval "shaken".

An inquiry by the Sydney Cricket Association will be held this week.

The batsmen failed to inform the umpires of their dramatic walkoff and St George subsequently lost on forfeit -- the club's finals chances ruined.

Witnesses claim the sledging among players became so violent that St George captain Paul Ryan offered his two openers the chance to walk off, an offer they accepted.

One witness who watched the match degenerate said: "All hell broke loose.

"To say the (batsmen) were a little shaken would be an understatement. There was some serious stuff being said," said Ryan.

"During the 10 balls, one of our players hit a four when there was verballing from the Parramatta guys. The game was stopped for two minutes and the umpires tried to sort things out.

"As captain I didn't see the point in denigrating cricket for a game that was already done and dusted. I asked them if they wanted to come off and they did. That was in the best interests of keeping the game respectful."