Cricket World Cup 2007
Calypso Cricket has long thrilled followers with its cavalier tactic to an often unnecessarily complex gentleman’s video game. ‘Why locate a gap in the subject when you can just strike about the major,’ argued West Indian fantastic Sir Vivian Richards. Furthermore, as a spectator activity, cricket in the Caribbean has normally been a planet aside. It is very best explained as a ‘lively party’ painted with color and outfitted with seasoned conches, drums and a variety of other devices to increase to the rhythmic flavoured day. Just consider, in Australia even seaside balls are confiscated upon entrance in Barbados, ushers tutorial ‘loud’ supporters to mounds exactly where energetic spectators and DJs are jamming to calypso and soca chutney.
Web hosting cricket’s showcase occasion is an huge job for any country, enable by yourself a area as unique as the West Indies.
“Ten yrs in the past if you mentioned that 9 governments would combine to go laws for the Environment Cup, and that this scale of construction would happen, men and women would have stated you were mad. Considering that the 1930s we have taken cricket in the Caribbean for granted but now we have the chance to improve the sport for at any time. We have spent a lot more than $300m and made use of it to overhaul every thing. It has been a amazing training.” -Chief Government of the Earth Cup, Chris Dehring
Irrespective of whether Dehring’s enthusiasm interprets to a easily operate tournament is a subject of some issue for an anxious cricket community. 1 detail is for certain although, when the match opens in Jamaica on March 13th, any speculation about the destiny of the 2007 Cricket World Cup will fade away seamlessly into the rhythm of the diverse group as all eyes focus on that shiny pink ball.
Preview
So, who will win the 2007 Globe Cup? Effectively…
1. Australia
Prediction: Champion
The reigning World Cup holders are in ominous type. They secured the Champions Trophy in India in November, then trounced England and New Zealand at house. Their belligerent on-industry approach has gained them some critics, but it’s also received them a great deal of tight matches. Captain Ricky Ponting is a tactical grasp who is aware how to choke opposition teams. Wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist is able of destroying potent assaults, Brett Lee has matured into a devastating one particular-day bowler, and Michael Hussey has built a track record as a scientific finisher. Globe domination never ever gets outdated for this mob. Cause more than enough to hold them incredibly secure.
Participant to watch: Andrew Symonds
An electrifying exponent of the fashionable video game, Symonds is a dread-locked, zinc-lipped learn – search for his middle-buy mayhem with the bat. Symonds is more than helpful with the ball too. He can bowl either darting off-spin or probing medium-tempo, and his fielding is fairly merely the finest in planet cricket.
2. South Africa
Prediction: Semi-Finals
South Africa remains a effectively-drilled device, with an seasoned leading shelf. Captain Graeme Smith heads a talented batting line-up that relies on the stroke-making of Jacques Kallis and Herschelle Gibbs. Toss in two difficult all-rounders in Justin Kemp and Andrew Corridor, plus the bouncy Makhaya Ntini, and most sides will come across them hard to preserve out.
Participant to View: Mark Boucher
Vice-captain Mark Boucher is a large decreased get batsman, and a earth-class glovesman who marshals an outstanding fielding aspect. The 30-yr-previous thrives in tough cases, but can also speed up an innings at the loss of life. If termed upon, he hardly ever fails.
3. Pakistan
Prediction: Semi-Finals
Mentor Bob Woolmer will be looking for regularity from his new-faced Pakistan aspect that showed guarantee on 2006 tours to South Africa and India. Only the significantly-maligned captain Inzamam-ul-Haq remains from the star-studded 1992 Earth Cup profitable facet, but vital batsmen Younis Khan and Mohammed Yousuf (currently rated #1 in the planet) are a formidable center-order presence. Moreover younger speedster Mohammed Asif has emerged as a massive wicket taker. If the opening batsmen can settle, then Pakistan will absolutely threaten the big boys.
Player to Look at: Shoaib Akhtar
Pakistan’s probabilities of Globe Cup glory had been specified an tremendous increase not too long ago when velocity demon Shoaib Akhtar experienced a two-yr ban for steroid use lifted by the Pakistan Cricket Board. Enjoy him or detest him, the higher-traveling playboy is a confirmed match-winner. He has sheer tempo and a mysterious potential to reverse swing the ball. If fit and firing, Pakistan will go a very long way.
4. New Zealand
Prediction: Semi-finals
A one-day expert aspect, the Black Caps are a tenacious defensive crew, with enough firepower to lead to upsets. The bowling assault offers a planet-course spinner in Daniel Vettori who has formulated into a fantastic artist of flighted remaining-arm orthodox, the rejuvenated paceman Shane Bond, and underrated seamer Mark Gillespie. Captain Stephen Fleming fronts a versatile batting line-up, with a decreased order comprehensive of sprint. If the leading buy can shake off a tendency to self-destruct, then New Zealand will take gain of their weak grouping.
Player to View: Jacob Oram
Oram is essential to his team’s equilibrium. A muscular left-handed batsmen, he has resurrected many Black Caps’ innings with a mixture of ability and grace. Importantly, Oram also bowls practical medium pace, which permits the Kiwi selectors to include a further expert batsmen, or promising spinner Jeetan Patel. An harm-free Jacob Oram holds the important for New Zealand.
5. West Indies
Prediction: Super 8’S
The host nation can not often be discounted in a key match, and the West Indies are the type of workforce to earn it just for kicks. Or at least they utilized to be. This recent crop has expertise, inconsistency continues to baffle their legion of pissed off fans. The at any time-existing Brian Lara will make a person very last hurrah, but it’s the opening pair of Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Chris Gayle who could very well dictate how far the workforce progresses. Jerome Taylor is establishing immediately as a strike bowler, and Ian Bradshaw has a very good one-day history, but the West Indies absence frontline bowlers to hold opposition batsmen in test. Offered an all-round staff overall performance though, and who appreciates what household ground gain could possibly convey?
Participant to Look at: Dwayne Bravo
Bravo is exactly what the West Indies have been hunting for – a authentic, athletic all-rounder. Bravo created a huge impression on debut in England in 2004, and has not appeared again considering that. An attacking though technically astute middle buy batsmen, and a deceptive medium-tempo bowler, Bravo has injected some timely enthusiasm into Caribbean cricket.
6. India
Prediction: Tremendous 8’s
Expectation weighs heaviest on Group India, and their type is often more difficult to gauge than a winter season monsoon. However mentor Greg Chappell looks to have turned them about in new months, with axed captain Sourav Ganguly returning to the fray as an opening batsmen, and poster boy Sachin Tendulkar having fun with nevertheless one more purple patch. But scoring operates has by no means been India’s issue stopping operates has confirmed more challenging. Harbajan Singh and Anil Kumble give them attacking sluggish bowling selections, but the problems in the Caribbean won’t match their sharp turn. Furthermore tempo duo Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar are way too erratic to on a regular basis difficulties the world’s very best top rated orders. If India tighten up in the area while, you should not discounted the sleeping giant.
Player to Enjoy: MS Dhoni
The glamour boy of Indian cricket, MS Dhoni will get the crowds jumping, the girls swooning, and the selectors licking their lips. The extended-haired wicketkeeper is also a punishing middle-purchase batsman as he proved in both of those Sri Lanka and Pakistan in 2005.
7. Sri Lanka
Prediction: Tremendous 8’s
The 1996 Planet Champions have finished well to remain aggressive following a golden era. This very well-coached, flamboyant facet proceeds to create amazing outcomes. Their sound absent file is thanks to batting depth, sharp fielding, and a couple of star bowlers, namely earth-history wicket taker, Muttiah Muralitharan and veteran leftie, Chaminda Vaas. With Jayawardene as an uncompromising, optimistic captain, and stalwart slasher Sanath Jayasuriya however receiving his group off to a traveling get started with the bat, appear for Sri Lanka to lead to a handful of critical problems.
Player to Enjoy: Lasith Malinga
This fiery speedy bowler has been a revelation for the compact island nation. His round-arm action leaves batsmen with small time to sight the ball, and his standing for toe-crunching yorkers and searing bouncers has cricket admirers lining up to see him play. Malinga is certain to relish the West Indian pitches also, so glance for him to make a serious influence at Planet Cup 2007.
8. England
Prediction: Super 8’s
The tragedy of international a person-working day cricket, England has received only a handful of matches in the previous two several years. Conservative and shorter-sighted selections have not served the result in, these as the most current Australian tour which observed a few gamers in their mid-30’s make their debut. There are some positives however, specifically the brave stand-in captain Andrew Flintoff and dashing batsman Kevin Pietersen. The return of opener Michael Vaughan will make an monumental change way too, as will the continued development of cagey spinner Monty Panesar and swing bowler James Anderson.
Participant to Watch: Kevin Pieterson
The out-and-out star of English cricket, charismatic Kevin has rocked the establishment with his purely natural aggression and strong stroke-generating. Pietersen has the self-confidence to direct from the front, and with no him England are a timid and miserable bunch. When he is in the temper while, there are couple of improved exponents of the art of batting.
Team A
1. Australia
2. South Africa
3. Scotland
4. Netherlands
Warner Park Stadium, St Kitts & Nevis
Team B
1.India
2. Sri Lanka
3. Bangladesh
4. Bermuda
Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad & Tobago
Team C
1. New Zealand
2. England
3. Kenya
4. Canada
Beausejour Cricket Floor, Saint Lucia
Group D
1. Pakistan
2. West Indies
3. Zimbabwe
4. Ireland
Sabina Park, Jamaica
Tremendous 8’s*
Sir Vivian Richards Oval, Antigua & Barbuda
Queen’s Park, Grenada
Providence Stadium, Guyana
Kensington Oval, Barbados
* The top two groups from each and every team will progress to the Super 8’s stage. From there, yet another set of round-robin matches will figure out the semi-finalists.
Semi-Finals
April 24th – Sabina Park, Jamaica
April 25th – Beausejour Cricket Floor, Saint Lucia
Final
April 28th – Kensington Oval, Barbados