KINGSTOWN (St Vincent), March 3: A small light plane crashed some 200 metres from where the cricket world champions Australia were practising on Saturday ahead of the forthcoming World Cup.

The single-propeller aircraft appeared to lose control in strong winds near the Arnos Vale Ground, St Vincent, and crashed into a small river.

The pilot and three passengers emerged from the stricken plane, eye witnesses said.

Australia were conducting their second practice session since arriving on the Caribbean island. The World Cup opens on March 11 and the first match will be played two days later.

The champions play a warm-up match in St Vincent against Zimbabwe on Tuesday and another there against England on Friday before opening their campaign proper against Scotland in St Kitts and Nevis on March 14.—Reuters