Farewell to one of the greats

When the schedule for the Super Eights was released, the final match between West Indies and England always looked like being one full of drama and meaning. Their woeful displays over the past few weeks has rendered the game a dead rubber, but the retirement of Brian Lara, one of the game's greatest batsmen, will give it added significance.

Lara has decided to retire from all forms of international cricket after the match and at the age of 37, who can blame him? He will go into his 299th and last one-day match averaging 40 while one Tests, he hit 11,953 in 131 matches, and still holds the world record Test score of 400, set against England in 2004.

The match will also be Duncan Fletcher's last as England coach but Lara's retirement will overshadow that and everything else. There is, though, still a match to be played and bet365 make West Indies 4/5 (1.80) favourites, with England even money (2.00).

Neither side has impressed at all in this competition though West Indies have been marginally the better side, only because England have been terrible, looking clueless and outdated in their approach to the one-day game.

The crowd will be praying that Lara signs off with something special and bet365 make him 4/1 to hit the top score for his side.

Ramnaresh Sarwan, the man most likely to take over from Lara as captain and who made a fine 91 against Bangladesh on Thursday, joint favourite with Shivnarine Chanderpaul at 7/2.

Chris Gayle, who has been hugely disappointing, is alongside Lara at 4/1, while Marlon Samuels is 11/2 and Devon Smith 7/1.

England's problems in one-day cricket are deep-rooted. They don't attack at the top of the innings, putting huge pressure on the likes of Kevin Pietersen in the middle order, and then with Andrew Flintoff horribly out of form with the bat, they have no depth.

They are unlikely to change anything though, which means Michael Vaughan will lead the side - perhaps for the last time in one-day cricket - and they will struggle again.

Pietersen is the obvious favourite at 11/4, while bet365 can't split the next four - making Ian Bell, Andrew Strauss, Ed Joyce and Paul Collingwood all 7/2 - with Vaughan 5/1.

Flintoff is 13/2 and Ravi Bopara 16/1 and beyond that Jamie Dalrymple is a 20/1 shot even though he is far from guranteed a place in the side.

There is no room for sentiment in betting but sometimes the head has to listen to the heart in these things and West Indies will surely be going all out to provide Lara with a fitting send-off, so they look the bet at 4/5.