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| March 7, 2003 | Friday | Muharram 3, 1424 |
World Cup takes unexpected route
JOHANNESBURG, March 6: World Cup executive director Dr Ali Bacher does not admit to mixed emotions.
Still on the eve of the second round, even the ebullient Bacher must be wondering about the shape of a tournament which has taken an unexpected direction.
Bacher dreams of a truly global game, one reason for allocating matches to Kenya and Zimbabwe as well as South Africa despite logistical and political problems.
Essentially for the latter reason, Kenya and Zimbabwe both qualified for the Super Six, an undoubted stimulant for other minor nations.
But what will be the consequences for the overall quality of the tournament without four traditional powers in England, Pakistan, West Indies and South Africa, two of whom would have normally advanced?
Most neutrals will not mourn the departure of England, a declining force in the one-day game since reaching the 1992 final in Australia.
But the Cup is now bereft of the volatile Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and the left-arm wizardry of his partner Wasim Akram.
Trinidad batsman Brian Lara, who demonstrated his undoubted genius in the opening match against South Africa, is also on his way home.
Kenya, a team of club cricketers, were given four free points when New Zealand refused to play in Nairobi for security reasons. But at least they beat one of the 10 Test-playing nations with an upset win over 1996 champions Sri Lanka.
Zimbabwe similarly benefited when England declined to play in Harare and moved into the second round courtesy of wins over lowly Namibia and Holland.
At least defending champions Australia, looking invincible at the moment, are through. Australia meet Sri Lanka at Centurion on Friday while India play Kenya in a day-night match in Cape Town. The other qualifiers New Zealand play Zimbabwe in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Contrary to expectations, the pitches in South Africa have not unduly favoured pace and seam bowling at the expense of spinners, apart from the second innings in the scattering of day-night matches.
Consequently specialists have had the opportunity to flourish, again playing to Australia’s strength.
Under Ricky Ponting’s predecessor Steve Waugh, who is watching the tournament from afar, Australia embraced a policy of playing their best players in both Test and one-day games with the exception of Michael Bevan. Bevan confirmed he is still the best finisher in the game by guiding Australia to victory when they seemed down and out against England.
Australia take the field against Sri Lanka without Shane Warne, banned after a positive drug test, and the injured Jason Gillespie.
Their strength in depth is such that they can call up to the squad left-arm paceman Nathan Bracken, tipped by Waugh to be the success of the 2001 Ashes tour of England before he was injured.
Sri Lanka rely, possibly too heavily, on captain Sanath Jayasuriya although Marvan Atapattu hit a marvellous century against South Africa and Aravinda de Silva is coming into form at the right time.
“Our objective is to win every game we play,” said Ponting. “We are not even looking at the fact that we only have to win one Super Six game to make sure of a place in a semifinal.”
India have the peerless Sachin Tendulkar and a useful support staff while New Zealand, a team who do not fear their trans-Tasman neighbours Australia, possess a team for all seasons.
Captain Stephen Fleming, leading from the front at opener, has switched his batting line-up repeatedly to take advantage of changing conditions. The Kiwis, though, take only four points with them from the first round, ahead only of their first opponents Zimbabwe who have 3.5.
At the other end of the table, Australia have 12, Kenya 10 and India and Sri Lanka are usefully placed with eight and seven and a half.—Reuters
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