Leading article: World beating

When the cricket World Cup comes round, there is a temptation to groan at the six-week length of the tournament. And sometimes with good reason – the competition can be a sprawling mess with dull and meaningless early group matches. But not this time. There were some sensational early games in the 2011 World Cup. England's tie with India and subsequent defeat by Ireland will long live in the memory.

And today's final, between Sri Lanka and India in Mumbai, promises sensational drama too. This will be the last ever professional match for the world's most successful bowler in history, Muttiah Muralitharan. Murali needs just four more wickets to pass the Australian Glenn McGrath's World Cup record. And the Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar, playing in his home city, will be hoping to score his 100th international century. Two greats of the game will do battle in one of the most cricket-obsessed cities in the world for the highest prize in the sport. There will be no groans of boredom in Mumbai today.