With the first round of the cricket World Cup now completed, it is a good time to go back quickly and reflect on what was good so far. We’ve listed a few of our favourite things, none of which will be sung by Julie Andrews or any kids dressed in curtains. On a whole though the World Cup has been enjoyable, and maybe it’s the Fox coverage or getting to see different nations, but 50 over has been all right this World Cup, this from someone who thought it should be scrapped for just Tests and T20.
FAVOURITE POINTS
– A constant bitch here, but the next World Cup limited the associate nations seems very unfair as all the minnows played and competed very well throughout, with very few embarassments. In fact the biggest loss at this, and any World Cup was the West Indies against South Africa. Scotland’s Josh Davey was high amongst the leading wicket takers, and there were centuries a plenty from the four lesser nations. Ireland fell just one win short of making the knock out stages, a feat England didn’t manage.
– England’s early demise is always good, as long as it doesn’t give extra preparation time for the real stuff in their summer this year.
– Kumar Sangakarra showed his quality with four centuries in a row. A good bet at the start of the World Cup for most runs surely deserves it more than Chris Gayle whose 200+ was impressive as his remaining innings disappointing.
FAVOURITE THINGS
BEST INNINGS – AB de VILLERS v WEST INDIES 162 (62)
BEST BOWLING – TRENT BOULT v AUSTRALIA 5/27 (10)
BEST GAME – AUSTRALIA v NEW ZEALAND
BEST UPSET – IRELAND BEATING THE WEST INDIES
BEST MOMENT – CARTWHEELING AFGHANISTAN BOWLING AFTER WICKET
BEST CROWD – INIDA v PAKISTAN
BIGGEST DISSAPOINTMENT – IRELAND NOT MAKING THE FINALS
KNOCKOUT TIPS AND QUICK PREVIEW
WEDNESDAY
SRI LANKA v SOUTH AFRICA
Probably the toughest to pick out of the four finals, and the big questions will be whether Sangakarra can continue his run of quality centuries, and whether this is the game where South African choke and implode to miss out on World Cup glory again.
OUR VERDICT – South Africa to win on the strength of better bowling attack. Both sides will score plenty.
THURSDAY
BANGLADESH v INDIA
The opposite of the first game on paper as India should take care of the Bangladesh side, who have been very compeditive through the World Cup. India have turned around their form and attitude from the latter part of the Australian tour, and have more than enough batting firepower up the order, and the best finishing batsman anywhere in MS Dhoni.
OUR VERDICT: India by a few if they bat first.
FRIDAY
AUSTRALIA v PAKISTAN
Pakistan are one of the Jekyll and Hyde sides remaining, and Australia will be hoping it will be more of their recent form in this world cup than the recent tour to see Pakistan.
The Aussies have settled on a line up which on paper looks better than Pakistan, and given some recent exploits should be very entertaining to watch. The disappointment so far this world cup is Shahid Afridi’s batting, from which we were expecting more of the type of innings that have been coming from Glenn Maxwell, who is starting to add achievement to potential and personality.
VERDICT: Australia to win easy.
SATURDAY
NEW ZEALAND v WEST INDIES
The West Indies are an enigma, and are probably still trading off the names of their previous gun sides from 80’s to 90’s.
Chris Gayle’s 200+ shows what good the Windies can do on a good day, the loss against Ireland shows the complete cycle.
New Zealand however have been the form side of the competition and with all their remaining games except for the final in New Zealand, they are well set for triumph.
OUR VERDICT: West Indies to sneak home – they are due one more good performance.
