Cricket World Cup 2007
Calypso Cricket has long thrilled fans with its arrogant approach to an often unnecessarily complicated gentlemen’s game. “Why find a hole in the field when you can just hit over the top?” Argued the great West Indies driver Sir Vivian Richards. Also, as a spectator sport, cricket in the Caribbean has always been a world apart. It is best described as a ‘lively party’ painted in color and outfitted with seasoned shells, drums, and various other instruments to add to the day with rhythmic flavor. Imagine, in Australia even beach balls are confiscated upon entering; In Barbados, ushers guide ‘noisy’ fans to mounds where animated spectators and DJs play calypso and soca chutney.
Organizing the cricket exhibition event is a huge task for any nation, much less for a region as distinct as the West Indies.
“Ten years ago, if you said that nine governments would combine to pass legislation for the World Cup, and that this scale of construction would happen, people would have said you were crazy. Since the 1930s we have taken cricket for granted in the Caribbean, but now we have the opportunity to change the game forever. We have spent over $ 300 million and used it to review everything. It has been a fantastic exercise. ” -World Cup Chief Executive Chris Dehring
Whether Dehring’s enthusiasm translates into a smoothly organized tournament is a matter of some concern to an eager cricket crowd. However, one thing is for sure, when the tournament opens in Jamaica on March 13, any speculation about the fate of the 2007 Cricket World Cup will smoothly fade into the rhythm of the diverse crowd as all eyes are focused on that bright red ball.
Advance
So who will win the 2007 World Cup? Well …
1. Australia
Prediction: Champion
The reigning World Cup champions are in a sinister shape. They secured the Champions Trophy in India in November, then defeated England and New Zealand at home. Their belligerent approach on the field has earned them some criticism, but it has also won them many close matches. Captain Ricky Ponting is a master tactician who knows how to strangle opposing teams. Goalie-hitter Adam Gilchrist is capable of destroying powerful attacks, Brett Lee has matured into a devastating one-day bowler, and Michael Hussey has built a reputation as a clinical finisher. World domination never goes out of style for this mob. Reason enough to keep them safe.
Player to watch: Andrew Symonds
An electrifying exponent of the modern game, Symonds is a zinc-lipped master locked in terror – seek out his mid-order chaos with the bat. Symonds is also more than skilled with the ball. He can throw off-spin pitches or poll at a medium pace, and his fielding is simply the best in world cricket.
2. South Africa
Prediction: Semifinals
South Africa is still a well-drilled unit, with a seasoned top shelf. Captain Graeme Smith heads a talented hitting lineup that draws on the hits of Jacques Kallis and Herschelle Gibbs. Throw in two tough off-roaders in Justin Kemp and Andrew Hall, plus the vigorous Makhaya Ntini, and most teams will have a hard time staying out.
Player to watch: Mark Boucher
Vice Captain Mark Boucher is a tremendous lower-level hitter and a world-class glove who makes an excellent fielding team. The 30-year-old thrives in tough situations, but can also speed up an inning upon death. If asked, it rarely fails.
3. Pakistan
Prediction: Semifinals
Coach Bob Woolmer will seek consistency from his fresh-faced Pakistani team, which showed promise on the 2006 tours of South Africa and India. Only the much-maligned captain Inzamam-ul-Haq remains from the star-studded 1992 World Cup winning team, but key hitters Younis Khan and Mohammed Yousuf (currently ranked # 1 in the world) are a formidable middle-order presence. . The youngest sprinter Mohammed Asif has become a great receiver of terrain. If the starting hitters can come to terms, then Pakistan will surely threaten the big boys.
Player to watch: Shoaib Akhtar
Pakistan’s chances of World Cup glory received a huge boost recently when speed demon Shoaib Akhtar was given a two-year ban on steroid use by the Pakistan Cricket Board. Love him or hate him, the high-flying playboy is a proven match winner. He has great rhythm and an uncanny ability to reverse the swing of the ball. If he’s fit and shooting, Pakistan will go a long way.
4. New Zealand
Prediction: Semifinals
A one-day stunt team, the Black Caps are a tenacious defensive team, with enough firepower to cause some upset. The bowling attack features a world-class spinner in Daniel Vettori, who has become a fine orthodox left-arm artist in flight, the rejuvenated pacemaker Shane Bond, and the underrated sailor Mark Gillespie. Captain Stephen Fleming leads a flexible batting lineup, with a scripted bottom order. If the higher order can shake off the tendency to self-destruct, New Zealand will take advantage of its weak grouping.
Player to watch: Jacob Oram
Oram is crucial to the balance of your team. A muscular left-handed hitter, he has resurrected countless Black Caps innings with a blend of power and grace. Importantly, Oram also offers a useful mid-pace, allowing Kiwi selectors to include another specialist hitter, or up-and-coming spinner Jeetan Patel. An injury-free Jacob Oram is the key for New Zealand.
5. West Indies
Prediction: Super 8’S
The host nation can rarely be ruled out in a major tournament, and the West Indies are the kind of team that wins it just for fun. Or at least they used to be. This current crop is talented, the inconsistency continues to baffle its legion of frustrated fans. The ubiquitous Brian Lara will give one last hooray, but it’s the starting pairing of Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Chris Gayle who might well dictate how far the team progresses. Jerome Taylor is developing rapidly as a strike pitcher, and Ian Bradshaw has a good one-day record, but the West Indies lack front-line pitchers to keep opposition hitters at bay. However, given the team’s performance across the board, and who knows what home-court advantage could bring?
Player to watch: Dwayne Bravo
Bravo is exactly what the West Indies have been looking for: a true athletic all-rounder. Bravo made quite an impression on his England debut in 2004 and hasn’t looked back since. An offensive but technically astute mid-level hitter, and a deceptive mid-paced bowler, Bravo has injected some timely enthusiasm into Caribbean cricket.
6. India
Prediction: Super 8’s
Expectation weighs more on the Indian team, and their form is often harder to measure than a winter monsoon. However, coach Greg Chappell appears to have changed them in recent months, with fired captain Sourav Ganguly returning to the fray as the opening hitter, and poster boy Sachin Tendulkar enjoying another purple patch. But scoring runs has never been India’s problem; stopping races has proven to be more difficult. Harbajan Singh and Anil Kumble give them slow bowling attack options, but conditions in the Caribbean won’t suit their sharp turn. Likewise, rhythm duo Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar are too erratic to regularly annoy the world’s best top orders. However, if India toughens the field, don’t discount the sleeping giant.
Player to watch: MS Dhoni
The glamorous boy of Indian cricket, MS Dhoni makes the crowd jump, the girls swoon and the selectors lick their lips. The long-haired wicketkeeper is also a punishing medium-order hitter, as he demonstrated in both Sri Lanka and Pakistan in 2005.
7. Sri Lanka
Prediction: Super 8’s
The 1996 world champions have done well to stay competitive after a golden age. This flamboyant and well-trained team continues to produce impressive results. His strong road record is down to batting depth, crisp fielding and a couple of star bowlers, namely Muttiah Muralitharan and veteran left-hander Chaminda Vaas. With Jayawardene a positive and uncompromising captain, and staunch slasher Sanath Jayasuriya still getting his team off to a good start with the bat, expect Sri Lanka to cause some serious headaches.
Player to watch: Lasith Malinga
This fast and fiery bowler has been a revelation for the small island nation. His round-arm action leaves hitters with little time to see the ball, and his reputation as toe-crunching Yorkers and scorching gorillas has cricket fans lining up to watch him play. Malinga is sure to enjoy the fields of the West Indies as well, so expect it to make a real impact at the 2007 World Cup.
8. England
Prediction: Super 8’s
The one-day international cricket tragedy, England have won only a handful of matches in the last two years. Conservative and short-sighted teams have not helped the cause, such as the last Australian tour in which three players in their 30s made their debuts. There are a few positives though, namely spunky backup captain Andrew Flintoff and dashing hitter Kevin Pietersen. The return of starter Michael Vaughan will also make a huge difference, as will the continued development of cautious spinner Monty Panesar and swinging thrower James Anderson.
Player to watch: Kevin Pieterson
The absolute star of English cricket, the charismatic Kevin, has rocked the establishment with his natural aggression and powerful punch. Pietersen has the confidence to lead from the front, and without him England are a shy and miserable bunch. However, when he’s in the mood, there are few better exponents of the art of hitting.
Group A
1. Australia
2. South Africa
3. Scotland
4. Netherlands
Warner Park Stadium, Saint Kitts and Nevis
B Group
1.India
2. Sri Lanka
3. Bangladesh
4. Bermuda
Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago
Group C
1. New Zealand
2. England
3. Kenya
4. Canada
Beausejour Cricket Ground, Saint Lucia
Group D
1. Pakistan
2. West Indies
3. Zimbabwe
4. Ireland
Sabina Park, Jamaica
Super 8 *
Sir Vivian Richards Oval, Antigua and Barbuda
Queen’s Park, Granada
Providence Stadium, Guyana
Kensington Oval, Barbados
* The top two teams in each group will advance to the Super 8 stage. From there, another set of free-for-all matches will determine the semi-finalists.
Semifinals
April 24 – Sabina Park, Jamaica
April 25 – Beausejour Cricket Ground, St. Lucia
Final
April 28 – Kensington Oval, Barbados