World Cup now wears an open look by Partab Ramchand

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Event:

ICC World Cup 2006/07

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DateLine: 21st February 2007

 

Recent events have changed the equations in relation to the World Cup. Till a few weeks ago it looked like Australia were well ahead of the competition and it would take spectacularly good cricket from one of the competitors over a six week period to prevent them from winning the trophy for a third straight time and fourth in all. But things then started happening. First England won the Commonwealth Bank series by an emphatic 2-0 margin over the hosts and hot favourites. Now has come another jolt for the Aussies. The loss to New Zealand in the Chappell Hadlee Trophy has meant that they have been toppled from No 1 spot for the first time since ICC rankings were issued with South Africa now topping the list. It matters little that the Aussies were without some of their leading players for various reasons. The bench strength of the World champions has always been strong and whichever way one looks at it to go down to a ten-wicket defeat for the first time in ODI history was nothing short of a humiliation. The impact that such setbacks can cause can really be hard even on the tough as nails Aussie side.

 

So with some teams on the decline, other teams on the upward surge and still others always being contenders for the title the 2007 World Cup promises to be the most open since 1996. On remembers that the West Indies were firm favourites for the first three World Cup competitions in 1975, 1979 and 1983 all held in England. On the first two occasions they lived up to their reputation but were shocked by rank outsiders India the third time. For the fourth World Cup held on the sub continent in 1987 India and Pakistan were joint favourites but while both were eliminated in the semifinals Australia defeated England for the title. The Aussies then had to be strong favourites for the next competition particularly as it was held in their own backyard. Surprisingly Australia were eliminated at the preliminary stage. By 1999 Australia and South Africa were considered the two strongest contenders. Australia duly went on to win the title while South Africa were unlucky to be edged out on a technicality in the semifinal after the match against Australia ended in a tie. By 2003 Australia were the prohibitive favourites and they lived up to their exalted status by finishing with a record that may never be equaled, let alone surpassed – played 11, won 11.

 

In 1996 though I well remember it was considered an open competition. With West Indies in decline, with Australia not yet firmly on top and with at least half a dozen other contenders not entirely ruled out the guessing game continued as to who would be the ultimate champions. Somewhere along the line however Sri Lanka emerged as the team to beat. And that is how the tournament ended with Sri Lanka defeating Australia in the final.

 

I would like to think that the competition this time is going to be tantalizingly close with at least half a dozen challengers seriously in the run. With the lesser lights in the fray in the group stage it will take some time for the World Cup to fire the imagination of cricket followers the world over. But I would venture to guess that the Super Eight in which all the leading contenders will figure will produce magical fare. There are 24 matches in all and it is safe to predict that most will go down to the wire. It could all boil down to one good day or one bad day at the office and this could mean the difference between elimination at the Super Eight stage or being crowned world champions.

(Article: Copyright © 2007 CricketArchive)