A billion Indian prayers didn’t work and India went out of the 2007 World Cup when Bangladesh held their nerve in a rain-shortened match to overhaul Bermuda’s total and entered the second stage of the World Cup for the first time. Make no mistake, the passion for cricket is as much in Bangladesh as it is in India, and there would be lots of celebrations in Bangladesh for the team’s entry in the Super 8 stage. Its a moment to seize for Bangladesh, for now they will be playing the other top teams in the world, and it’s an opportunity not just to cause an upset, but also for their young, fearless players to pick up some valuable ideas, watching and learning from the best players in the world from such close quarters. What they have shown in the game against India is that if they can strike early, then the spinners in their team can control the opposition batsmen and restrict them to a total that their team can chase.
The top two teams from each of the four groups qualify for the Super 8 stage and they don’t play the team in their group again in the Super 8 stage. What is more important is that the teams that have qualified carry the points won against the other qualifier from their group to the Super 8 stage, as well as the net run-rate against that team, so Australia go in with the two points they got against South Africa, as well as the run rate helped by the massive total that they put up. They will be thinking in terms of six points already in the bag, as they have to play against Bangladesh and Ireland. In fact, other teams like New Zealand, South Africa, England and the West Indies will be thinking on the same lines, that they will have easy points against these two unexpected qualifiers. But we have seen that cricket can be a funny game, and don’t forget the weather factor in the West Indies, where it can rain, and in a reduced match, its a lot easier for the unfancied teams to cause an upset.
The Australians, West Indies, New Zealand and Sri Lanka have gone into the Super 8, winning all their matches in the group stage. England have their task cut out for them, as they have been struggling to get off to a start and in the World Cup, a good start is half the job done. Look at the starts that Australia are getting off to, and South Africa too have made some electrifying beginnings. Though cricket is not the most popular sport in England, their team is always under scrutiny and pressure, and has not always been able to cope. The demotion of Andrew Flintoff after his shenanigans till the early hours of the morning on the night they lost to New Zealand may actually free the big fella up and make him play as naturally and devastatingly as only he can. He is capable of changing the game in a jiffy with both bat and ball, and all English supporters will be hoping that he fires and gets them the world cup.
The team that has been most impressive in the tournament so far is New Zealand. They have come into the event on the back of a sensational 3-0 win over their northern neighbors and that too in style, overhauling Australia’s 300-plus scores in two consecutive matches. They have a team full of all-rounders, and that makes the captain’s task even simpler. It’s a team that has a great blend of youth and experience, and on current form, are a good bet to go all the way.
Former champs West Indies can be a let down, as they have a tendency to collapse at the slightest sign of pressure, especially from the Australians. Still, on their home turf, they will be inspired to give off their best, and their captain Brian Lara, playing in his last World Cup, would like to go out with a bang.
Sri Lanka also have been impressive and they too have a fine mix of youth and experience. They also have the variety in their attack, which is not there with other teams, and have the bowlers who can make a difference in the crucial middle overs of the innings.
South Africa have had the tag of ‘chokers’ around them for some time now, and this is a tournament which will show if they have got rid off it or if they still have cold feet .
They have a fiercely ambitious skipper and some fine players, but they may find that without a quality spinner to bowl those middle overs, they may be a bit short when it matters.
So, who are my likely semifinalists? Australia, who are still the team to beat, followed by New Zealand, Sri Lanka and South Africa.
All these teams are capable of winning all their six matches in the Super 8 stage and go through to the semifinals. But as India and Pakistan have discovered, there is many a slip between the cup and the lip.
