Australian captain Ricky Ponting conducted one-on-one meetings with his team members to know if there was crisis of confidence or confusion about their roles ahead of the World Cup. Ponting said he wanted to bring is team back on the track after Australia suffered five succcessive one-day international losses — against England and New Zealand — in the run up to the World Cup. “I asked them about their roles, if they were confused about their roles within the team. The responses I got were really positive,” he said.Ranking immaterial, says Buchanan• Melbourne: Australian coach John Buchanan has said his side would rather take confidence from their impressive win over England in the warm-up game than worry about the number one ranking ahead of their World Cup opener. “I don’t really buy into whether we are the best team in the world or the second-best team in the world or the team to beat,” Buchanan said. “I think we are going to be very hard to beat if we get our strategy right and then deliver . we have got the playing potential and ability and skills to really execute our one-day game.”Media blast Windies• Bridgetown: Media outlets across the Caribbean were highly critical in the wake of the West Indies’ loss. “Part-time cricketers would not have embarrassed themselves in the manner as the West Indies professionals did,” The Nation newspaper in Barbados said. The Jamaica Gleaner described it, simply, a “Shocker.”.But Lara denies • Montego Bay: West Indies captain Brian Lara has strongly dismissed rumours about his team members’ late night party on the eve of their nine-wicket thrashing at the hands of India in their warm-up match at the Trelawny Stadium. “I don’t know anything about it. (But) I doubt that with the sort of importance of this tournament that would have been the case,” Lara said. “Until proven that, that is not the case, I am going to say the source may be wrong. I don’t believe it happened,” he added.Special security boost • Georgetown: Guy- ana’s Parliament is expected to quickly pass three bills to boost security for the World Cup, including one giving foreign security agents special protection under local laws, an official said Saturday. The so-called “visiting forces bill” will give foreign officers working alongside law enforcers in Guyana the “same powers that local officers enjoy during the period,” Rohee said. Some of the officers will be following specific teams from venue to venue.
