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Super Six Showdowns.

Thursday, March 6 2003

THE 2003 World Cup enters its final rounds tomorrow, seriously weakened by a succession of predictable blows that were always its greatest threat but with just enough strength left to sustain it through to the end.

The early elimination of South Africa, a possibility never remotely considered by the passionate sporting public of the host nation, has been the severest setback.

The ironic presence, by default, of two lesser African cricketing entities, Kenya and Zimbabwe, in the Super Sixes has heightened South African displeasure and, given the circumstances, unquestionably devalued the tournament.
It means that, while Brian Lara, Shoaib Akhtar and other exciting cricketers of the modern era are on their way home, Steve Tikolo and his unsung Kenyans and Heath Streak and the anonymous Zimbabweans find themselves among the six top teams in cricket’s richest and most prestigious event.

TALE OF MISFORTUNE

It is more than the fervent South African sporting public can bear. The atmosphere has been thick with melancholy and recriminations since their team’s own muddled misinterpretation of the dreaded Duckworth/ Lewis method left their last match against Sri Lanka tied.

It was a throwback to the similar result in the semi-final against Australia that put them out of the 1999 tournament in England, another bizarre twist to the tale of misfortune.
Whether they can overcome their depression to pay attention to the remaining matches only the next three weeks will tell.

Throughout the preliminary round, they were outstanding in their support, turning out in record numbers even for matches involving the minor teams.

Attendance at the 34 preliminary matches was nearly 400,000 with ticket sales of just under US$10 million, treble the initial budget.

The organisation has far outstripped any of the previous five Cups I have attended and the event has had the wholehearted support of all of South Africa, from government down.

Yet the omnipresent advertisements, in press, on radio and on billboards across the country, and all the media previews never remotely contemplated a first round exit.
The talk, even after the opening match defeat by the West Indies, was of how best to beat Australia in what was a preordained final.

While the Australians, the sporting opponents South Africans love to hate, have lived up to their part of the bargain, the home team hasn’t.

RAIN AND FREE POINTS

If South Africa’s elimination has come as a surprise, the anomaly of two lowly teams in the Super Sixes has not.
The likely effect of the refusal by England and New Zealand to play their matches in Harare and Nairobi were obvious.
The four points England gifted to Zimbabwe and New Zealand presented to Kenya without either team having to play a shot or bowl a ball were enough to send them through.
There is now the prospect that Kenya, not even a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and inexperienced at this level, could make the semi-finals in spite of the virtual certainty that they will lose all three matches in the Super Sixes.

The inability to provide for reserve days at a time of the year when rain and spectacular thunderstorms are commonplace, especially in central areas, was another potential danger.

Ali Bacher, the zealous tournament organiser, explained that it was logistically impractical and noted that only two matches were abandoned as no results because of the weather.

But they were decisive - as were two others, both ironically involving South Africa, that had to be determined by the Duckworth/Lewis method.

The West Indies were denied a chance at the probable full points against Bangladesh, the weakest of the 14 teams, and it cost them a place in the Super Sixes.

Zimbabwe’s passage, already boosted by their free points from England, was ultimately guaranteed by the wash out of their last match against Pakistan in Bulawayo that brought them two further points.

Fortunately, there are still enticing prospects ahead.
Australia have played like what they are, the most formidable team in the game at present, winning all six matches. Even if they came close to defeat against England, they are aiming to join the 1975 and 1979 West Indies in completing the competition with a 100 per cent record.
Their opening match against Sri Lanka at Centurion is an enthrallling prospect.

The Sri Lankans are presently playing with the confidence that made them surprise champions in 1996 and their captain Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu comprise a solid and experienced opening partnership that heads a solid batting order.

How the Australians handle the in-form left-arm swing of Chaminda Vaas and the deceptive off-spin of Muttiah Muralitheran is probably the key to the contest.

MAJOR THREAT

India have suddenly emerged as the major threat to Australia.

Sachin Tendulkar has returned to his best form that makes him the most dominant batsman in world cricket, giving his teammates the confidence it lacked on its tour of the Caribbean last season.

The Asian standoff between India and Sri Lanka, the always tense contest between neighbouring rivals, Australia and New Zealand, and the African confrontation between Zimbabwe and Kenya all have enough traditional enmity to make them enthralling matches.

But it is just not the same without the host team - and, for reasons largely beyond their control, not the same without the contrasting appeal of the West Indies, England and Pakistan.

Posted by Orin