1.55pm Good afternoon and welcome, as at least two radio presenters I know are wont to say, thus making sure they say hello twice and make you feel doubly at home. If it's Monday, then it must be a major international cricket finale - in this case, though, it's the ICC Champions Trophy final at SuperSport Park on the first day of work for just about all South Africans. A final on Monday? It just doesn't sound right at all, what were they thinking? Australia and New Zealand have been the form teams in the tournament and deserve to be here. We're hearing talk from the New Zealand camp that Grant Elliot might be out, although we'll wait and see. Speaking of injuries, I have an inflammed eardrum, which I will blame on the excessive noise coming from the PA system at this very ground. If the camera swings towards the press box, I'm the lad with the big wad of, well, wadding, sticking out of my ear and well wired on anti-inflamms, Actifed (the taking of which could get me banned from cycling, but more on that later) and anti-biotics. I'll be back shortly for the toss.

2pm Bad news for New Zealand, who have had to replace their inspirational captainDaniel Vettori, who has tweaked his right knee and is out of the game. Brendon McCullum takes over the captaincy and wins the toss and decides to bat. Grant Elliot is fit enough to play, which means Scott Styris has warmed up for nothing. Australia will play the same team as they did in the semifinal, which, in turn, means Ben Hilfenhaus's great warm-up was in vain. Jeetan Patel will replace Vettori. There are ominous clouds in the sky coming from Joburg and I'm not entirely sure we will get an entire game in.
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