The Hindu : Sport : Not really a good World Cup

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 27, 2007
ePaper

Sport

Sport

Not really a good World Cup

The final will be a classic east-west encounter, writes BARRY RICHARDS

Was it a good World Cup? Not really — too many games, too many unwelcome distractions, too many uninteresting matches, and in the end, a predictable clash between the tournament's two best teams. Both Australia and Sri Lanka were ruthless — in their respective ways — against opponents who were obviously outplayed in the semifinals.

In the first semifinal, New Zealand never had a chance to get going after the masterly display from Sri Lanka in general and Mahela Jayawardene in particular. Always an able leader, he has often been brilliant in this tournament, improving with each game.

With his help, Sri Lanka got 69 runs off their last five overs, which was outstanding enough, but 102 off the last 10 meant that the bowlers went in with their tails up, and had an incentive to bowl their guts out.

Customary efficiency

The vastly underrated Chaminda Vaas led the pace attack with customary efficiency, and Lasith Malinga came in with the bazookas. When you add Sanath Jayasuriya and of course, Murali, to that line-up, you have an attack for all occasions, which is the least that a team needs to upset Australia.

As for the second semifinal, it will be some time before South Africa shakes off that choker's tag. Graeme Smith's senseless charge against Nathan Bracken dealt the first big blow to his team's chances, and the hara-kiri that followed in the next hour or so saw South Africa's batsmen play some of their worst shots in recent memory. Already licking their wounds, they will face further flak at home, and some sort of fall-out seems inevitable.

Australia, of course, has been awesome, and it seems impossible to detect a chink in the yellow armour. Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke et al have been scoring at over six an over in every game, apparently without risk and without significant contributions from Michael Hussey and Adam Gilchrist. Add Andrew Symonds to the batting department and getting the better of the Aussies appears a daunting task.

Among the bowlers, Glenn McGrath is determined to go out on a high, and most of the batsmen in this tournament have appeared no closer to reading him than they were four years ago. Bracken has added the swing element, while Shaun Tait has improved beyond recognition. And Brad Hogg, the trump card against South Africa, may have pouched just the single wicket but could easily have got four or five going by the number of times he beat the bat.

Sri Lanka will certainly read him better, but would be wise not to ignore him altogether.

Classic tussle

The final will be a classic east-west encounter, the wristy and mercurial against the ruthless and immensely powerful. The head says Australia will prevail, but Sri Lanka has played beautifully throughout, and has the ammunition to cause the unimaginable upset.

The wicket will be a good one to bat on, so take your pick. And whatever the head says, the game of cricket and this tournament need a fairytale ending.

(Gameplan)

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport