Calypso Cricket has very long thrilled fans with its cavalier strategy to an usually unnecessarily complicated gentleman’s recreation. ‘Why come across a hole in the subject when you can just hit about the major,’ argued West Indian wonderful Sir Vivian Richards. Likewise, as a spectator sport, cricket in the Caribbean has always been a earth aside. It is best described as a ‘lively party’ painted with colour and geared up with seasoned conches, drums and many other instruments to incorporate to the rhythmic flavoured working day. Just consider, in Australia even beach balls are confiscated on entrance in Barbados, ushers manual ‘loud’ enthusiasts to mounds exactly where energetic spectators and DJs are jamming to calypso and soca chutney.
Web hosting cricket’s showcase event is an tremendous undertaking for any nation, allow alone a area as distinctive as the West Indies.
“10 many years back if you said that nine governments would mix to move laws for the Environment Cup, and that this scale of development would happen, people today would have explained you have been mad. Considering the fact that the 1930s we have taken cricket in the Caribbean for granted but now we have the likelihood to alter the match for at any time. We have put in additional than $300m and employed it to overhaul almost everything. It has been a great exercise.” -Main Executive of the World Cup, Chris Dehring
Regardless of whether Dehring’s enthusiasm translates to a effortlessly operate match is a matter of some issue for an nervous cricket public. 1 factor is for selected nevertheless, when the match opens in Jamaica on March 13th, any speculation about the destiny of the 2007 Cricket Globe Cup will fade away seamlessly into the rhythm of the numerous group as all eyes target on that shiny pink ball.
Preview
So, who will earn the 2007 Planet Cup? Effectively…
1. Australia
Prediction: Champion
The reigning Planet Cup holders are in ominous sort. They secured the Champions Trophy in India in November, then trounced England and New Zealand at house. Their belligerent on-area approach has won them some critics, but it can be also received them a lot of restricted matches. Captain Ricky Ponting is a tactical master who is aware of how to choke opposition teams. Wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist is capable of destroying powerful attacks, Brett Lee has matured into a devastating one-working day bowler, and Michael Hussey has designed a popularity as a medical finisher. Environment domination hardly ever will get previous for this mob. Motive enough to continue to keep them really risk-free.
Participant to look at: Andrew Symonds
An electrifying exponent of the contemporary recreation, Symonds is a dread-locked, zinc-lipped master – search for his center-buy mayhem with the bat. Symonds is extra than handy with the ball far too. He can bowl possibly darting off-spin or probing medium-tempo, and his fielding is quite simply just the best in world cricket.
2. South Africa
Prediction: Semi-Finals
South Africa stays a well-drilled device, with an professional top shelf. Captain Graeme Smith heads a proficient batting line-up that depends on the stroke-earning of Jacques Kallis and Herschelle Gibbs. Toss in two rough all-rounders in Justin Kemp and Andrew Hall, additionally the bouncy Makhaya Ntini, and most sides will come across them tricky to maintain out.
Participant to Enjoy: Mark Boucher
Vice-captain Mark Boucher is a remarkable decrease buy batsman, and a planet-class glovesman who marshals an fantastic fielding facet. The 30-calendar year-aged thrives in tricky situations, but can also speed up an innings at the death. If termed upon, he hardly ever fails.
3. Pakistan
Prediction: Semi-Finals
Coach Bob Woolmer will be wanting for consistency from his refreshing-faced Pakistan facet that confirmed promise on 2006 excursions to South Africa and India. Only the much-maligned captain Inzamam-ul-Haq stays from the star-studded 1992 Planet Cup successful facet, but important batsmen Younis Khan and Mohammed Yousuf (currently rated #1 in the environment) are a formidable center-order presence. As well as younger speedster Mohammed Asif has emerged as a large wicket taker. If the opening batsmen can settle, then Pakistan will undoubtedly threaten the significant boys.
Participant to Observe: Shoaib Akhtar
Pakistan’s chances of Globe Cup glory had been specified an huge improve not long ago when pace demon Shoaib Akhtar experienced a two-year ban for steroid use lifted by the Pakistan Cricket Board. Really like him or loathe him, the higher-traveling playboy is a verified match-winner. He has sheer pace and a mysterious ability to reverse swing the ball. If suit and firing, Pakistan will go a very long way.
4. New Zealand
Prediction: Semi-finals
A a person-day expert aspect, the Black Caps are a tenacious defensive team, with sufficient firepower to induce upsets. The bowling assault boasts a environment-course spinner in Daniel Vettori who has created into a wonderful artist of flighted still left-arm orthodox, the rejuvenated paceman Shane Bond, and underrated seamer Mark Gillespie. Captain Stephen Fleming fronts a flexible batting line-up, with a reduce purchase comprehensive of sprint. If the prime purchase can shake off a inclination to self-destruct, then New Zealand will acquire edge of their weak grouping.
Participant to Check out: Jacob Oram
Oram is vital to his team’s equilibrium. A muscular left-handed batsmen, he has resurrected innumerable Black Caps’ innings with a combination of electric power and grace. Importantly, Oram also bowls valuable medium pace, which enables the Kiwi selectors to involve another specialist batsmen, or promising spinner Jeetan Patel. An injuries-cost-free Jacob Oram retains the critical for New Zealand.
5. West Indies
Prediction: Super 8’S
The host nation can rarely be discounted in a key event, and the West Indies are the form of team to gain it just for kicks. Or at least they applied to be. This present-day crop has talent, inconsistency proceeds to baffle their legion of annoyed admirers. The ever-present Brian Lara will make a single last hurrah, but it is really the opening pair of Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Chris Gayle who could properly dictate how far the crew progresses. Jerome Taylor is creating immediately as a strike bowler, and Ian Bradshaw has a great a person-day record, but the West Indies deficiency frontline bowlers to retain opposition batsmen in verify. Supplied an all-round group performance though, and who is familiar with what home ground gain may provide?
Player to Observe: Dwayne Bravo
Bravo is exactly what the West Indies have been looking for – a authentic, athletic all-rounder. Bravo created a enormous effect on debut in England in 2004, and has not seemed back again since. An attacking however technically astute center get batsmen, and a misleading medium-speed bowler, Bravo has injected some timely enthusiasm into Caribbean cricket.
6. India
Prediction: Tremendous 8’s
Expectation weighs heaviest on Workforce India, and their variety is frequently harder to gauge than a winter season monsoon. But coach Greg Chappell appears to have turned them close to in current months, with axed captain Sourav Ganguly returning to the fray as an opening batsmen, and poster boy Sachin Tendulkar enjoying still one more purple patch. But scoring runs has hardly ever been India’s dilemma stopping runs has demonstrated harder. Harbajan Singh and Anil Kumble give them attacking sluggish bowling choices, but the conditions in the Caribbean will not suit their sharp turn. Also tempo duo Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar are far too erratic to frequently hassle the world’s best best orders. If India tighten up in the industry while, never lower price the sleeping big.
Participant to Check out: MS Dhoni
The glamour boy of Indian cricket, MS Dhoni receives the crowds leaping, the women swooning, and the selectors licking their lips. The extensive-haired wicketkeeper is also a punishing center-buy batsman as he proved in both of those Sri Lanka and Pakistan in 2005.
7. Sri Lanka
Prediction: Super 8’s
The 1996 Earth Champions have performed properly to continue to be competitive immediately after a golden era. This effectively-coached, flamboyant aspect continues to make amazing success. Their sound absent report is due to batting depth, sharp fielding, and a couple of star bowlers, namely earth-file wicket taker, Muttiah Muralitharan and veteran leftie, Chaminda Vaas. With Jayawardene as an uncompromising, constructive captain, and stalwart slasher Sanath Jayasuriya continue to receiving his staff off to a flying begin with the bat, look for Sri Lanka to lead to a couple major headaches.
Participant to Look at: Lasith Malinga
This fiery fast bowler has been a revelation for the small island nation. His spherical-arm action leaves batsmen with minor time to sight the ball, and his popularity for toe-crunching yorkers and searing bouncers has cricket enthusiasts lining up to see him play. Malinga is certain to relish the West Indian pitches also, so search for him to make a true impression at World Cup 2007.
8. England
Prediction: Super 8’s
The tragedy of worldwide just one-day cricket, England has won only a handful of matches in the previous two decades. Conservative and brief-sighted alternatives haven’t assisted the trigger, these kinds of as the most up-to-date Australian tour which observed three gamers in their mid-30’s make their debut. There are some positives though, namely the brave stand-in captain Andrew Flintoff and dashing batsman Kevin Pietersen. The return of opener Michael Vaughan will make an huge change too, as will the continued growth of cagey spinner Monty Panesar and swing bowler James Anderson.
Player to View: Kevin Pieterson
The out-and-out star of English cricket, charismatic Kevin has rocked the establishment with his pure aggression and powerful stroke-creating. Pietersen has the self-confidence to direct from the front, and without the need of him England are a timid and miserable bunch. When he’s in the mood nevertheless, there are number of far better exponents of the artwork of batting.
Group 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
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. Eire
Sabina Park, Jamaica
Super 8’s*
Sir Vivian Richards Oval, Antigua & Barbuda
Queen’s Park, Grenada
Providence Stadium, Guyana
Kensington Oval, Barbados
* The prime two teams from every single group will progress to the Tremendous 8’s phase. From there, yet another established of round-robin matches will establish the semi-finalists.
Semi-Finals
April 24th – Sabina Park, Jamaica
April 25th – Beausejour Cricket Ground, Saint Lucia
Remaining
April 28th – Kensington Oval, Barbados