A-Z of the 2007 World Cup which came to end here on Saturday with Australia beating Sri Lanka in the final.

A is for Australians, everywhere. As well as the champion team, there were Australian players in the Ireland and Scotland squads while India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and West Indies all started with Australian coaches.

B is for biceps, particularly those of Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds whose participation had been put in doubt because of arm surgery.

C is for crying and the tears of Bermuda’s 17-year-old seamer Malachi Jones who wept after taking the wicket of India opener Robin Uthappa with his fourth ball.

D is for drinking with a group of England players, and Andrew Flintoff to the fore, exercising their right arms with so much vigour that the all-rounder was dropped for one match while others were fined. South Africa were also at the centre of ‘late-night booze shame’ tabloid frenzy.

E is for empty stadiums which became a constant, depressing sight throughout the tournament as locals stayed away in protest at the price of tickets. It got worse when India and Pakistan failed to reach the second round.

F is for four wickets in four balls. The unique feat was achieved by Sri Lanka seamer Lasith Malinga in Guyana although his efforts were not enough to prevent South Africa from securing a one-wicket win.

G is for Herschelle Gibbs. South Africa batsman Gibbs made history by becoming the first man to hit sixes in an over in a one-day international, achieving the landmark against hapless Netherlands in St. Kitts.

H is for Hayden with the Australian opener hitting the fastest ever World Cup 100 in just 66 balls and going on to dominate the scoring charts.

I is for Inzamam-ul Haq. The proud Pakistan skipper saw his team humiliated by Ireland and devastated by the death of coach Bob Woolmer. Inzamam won the hearts of the Kingston crowd and millions watching around the world when he made a tearful exit at Sabina Park after announcing his one-day international retirement.

J is for Johnston. Ireland’s Trent Johnston danced as close to an Irish jig as his ageing Aussie bones could manage every time he claimed a wicket. His teammates likened it to a chicken.

K is for kids. In a trademark sign that a tournament is failing to woo the locals, World Cup organisers were reduced to bussing in thousands of bemused school pupils to fill acres of empty seats. In Barbados, 4,000 of them added their shrill voices to the proceedings.

L is for Brian Lara. The West Indies batting great wept as he bowed out of international cricket unable to stem the decline of a once-feared team. L is also for Dwayne Leverock, the 255-pound (116kg) Bermuda policeman-spinner whose ungainliness perfectly illustrated the team’s problems on their debut appearance.

M is for Lasith Malinga, the bleach-blond Sri Lanka seamer with the slingshot action which befuddled South Africa. M is also for Glenn McGrath, the veteran Australian bowler, who claimed the all-time World Cup wickets record.

N is for no-hoppers. Hang your heads in shame Bermuda, Scotland and Canada who played nine games and failed to muster a point between them.

O is for over-rated. Step forward India, the financial powerhouse of the international game who lost to minnows Bangladesh and beat a hasty retreat home.

P is for the Pegasus Jamaica which briefly became one of the most famous hotels in the world. It was where the Pakistan team stayed and where coach Bob Woolmer was murdered. On a lighter note, P is also for pedalo, Flintoff's transport of choice on his infamous night out.

Q is for quit and plenty of people were doing it at the Caribbean — Lara, Inzamam, Greg Chappell, Dav Whatmore, Duncan Fletcher and Clive Lloyd amongst others.

R is for resting. Sri Lanka caused controversy when they gave Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan a breather for the Super Eight match against Australia. Australian players said it was something they would never do while Sri Lanka wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara accused critics of double standards.

S is for Shields. Jamaica police’s deputy commissioner Mark Shields was the urbane and articulate detective leading the hunt for Woolmer’s killers.

T is for teenagers. Bangladesh’s young side, which defeated mighty India and South Africa, was packed with fearless talent and made such an impression that they are already being considered as a potential threat when the 2011 World Cup takes place in the subcontinent.

U is for unsung heroes. The pre-tournament hype and publicity revolved around the marquee names but it was the likes of Andrew Hall, Scott Styris and Brad Hogg who were manning the barricades.

V is for Lou Vincent. The New Zealand opener made two noughts and then a century. But just when he thought his World Cup was up and running, he was ruled out with a broken wrist inflicted upon him by teammate Shane Bond in the nets.

W is for Woolmer. Former England batsman Bob Woolmer was admired for his even-handed relationship with players and for his innovative methods. Woolmer was murdered on March 18, the very next day after Pakistan’s shock loss to Ireland.

X is for X-factor and X-rated. Bangladesh had both, the former with their stunning wins over India and South Africa, the latter for their tame, lame defeat to Ireland.

Y is for youth. Just 20 years old but fresh enough to suggest mid-teens, Stuart Broad held his nerve in his first World Cup match to hit the runs which give England a one-wicket win over West Indies. It also sent Brian Lara into retirement on a losing note.

Z is for Zimbabwe. They managed a tie with Ireland and very little else. Disenchanted on their return home, two of their most promising players, Vusi Sibanda and Anthony Ireland, left to take up lucrative club contracts in Australia and England respectively.

AFP