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LONDON, May 14: Not a single major daily in the English capital were enthusiastic enough to carry the World Cup story on its front page the day the last cricket carnival of the century got underway at the game's elysium - Lord's. The day began just as another for most commuters who stuck their head into more relevant matters such as Ginola's record signing and Graham's challenge to United. Yup! In spite of the cricket World Cup, cricket could only take over half the sport stories in most dailies.

Already England's game against none other than tournament favourites South Africa on May 22 is threatened by the FA Cup final.

The apathy of the game's founders to the game could be summed up from the comment of the ticket master at Woodford underground station, Northeast of London. On failing to tell this journalist which tube station would be nearest to Lord's - Marylebone or Baker Street - he excused himself by saying, ``I am not that much interested in cricket.'' And, would you believe it - they were hosting the cricket World Cup. His deficiency is as grave as would be of a shopkeeper in Badda who would not know where Dhaka Stadium was.

Unlike Hair, however, you have got to give the guy the benefit of doubt. For truly, history has been reversed. The game of the Lords lives today only because of the fanaticism generated by the game's true believers in the subcontinent.

Magazine racks in bookshops are still dominated by football, golf, rugby and what not? There in the nasty competitive market of the mass media, cricket survives in England because of the loyalty of The Wisden and The Cricketer - a case of survival one could say. They colourful specials of the two loyalists would be the only contestants against the ebullience of the press in Bangladesh.

On the morning of the England-Sri Lanka match, dubbed by some as Muralitharan's Test of patience should any hostile English supporter emulate the poor taste of the Australian crowd, the sky was overcast from early morning. But to keep Sri Lankan supporters interested, the sun did appear as the early birds gathered at the gate of Lord's. There was a bit of drizzle later, but as the officials hustled and bustled in time for the opening ceremony, the weather looked as English as it could get - overcast with the sun trying its utmost to smile on the few that have braved the Friday morning chill.

The indoor wicket at the Lord's has been converted into the working area for journalists when they are not sitting atop the Press Box, as we call it back home. The centre has computers, printers, a free flow of hot and cold drinks, facsimile service, but no email facilities. Unlike people elsewhere in and around the capital, most people here know about cricket and what the World Cup is all about. More importantly, each and everyone looked up each time this correspondent mentioned Bangladesh. It pays to be in the top twelve of the class.

The Natwest Media Centre, where up to 250 working journalists sat to cover the opening match at Lord's, stands about a 70 feet above the pitch, spanning the Compton and Edrich stands, behind the bowler's arm at the Nursery End. Totally out of place in the traditional setting of Lord's, the futuristic Press Box, seems to have descended from outer space. Not totally out of context though, for to some Londoners cricket today does appear to be something extraterrestrial.