Cricket: NZ and England players give welcome mat a miss

GROS ISLET - New Zealand's and England's cricketers are evidently not in the West Indies to win a popularity contest after the World Cup drawcards snubbed an official welcome hosted by St Lucia's Governor-General last night.

Dame Pearlette Louisy had been expecting to extend the hand of friendship to captains Stephen Fleming and Michael Vaughan and their respective players at a Caribbean-themed function. She made a brief speech at the event.

But several seats remained empty and food went untouched as only group rivals Canada and Kenya bothered to attend with their playing roster.

New Zealand and England sent managerial staff - although not coaches John Bracewell and Duncan Fletcher.

The festivities started an hour behind schedule at 9pm (local time) after the four teams' charter flight was late arriving from Jamaica, where the Cup's opening ceremony was held last night.

Neither New Zealand nor England team representatives could be reached for an explanation although it is understood the delayed arrival at their Gros Islet hotel influenced their decision.

The plane flight was followed by a longer-than-expected journey north from the island's main airport to the resort shared by all four nations.

- NZPA