World Cup so far : A short review

As I complete this piece we have reached the half-way stage of the ICC cricket World cup 2011 with 22 games completed. We have seen everything in these games close contests, eminently forgettable mismatches, a tie, a washout, an upset of gigantic proportions, the customary South African choke, a never ending debate on the DRS and even stone pelting by irate fans.

The format is such that no team can claim to be favorites yet although Pakistan has emerged as leaders in the pack, with a 100% unbeaten record so far. India and Sri Lanka are in the same boat having won games against minnows comfortably but losing out to Pakistan and England respectively, although a tie must have felt like a win for the Indians.

Australia has not been really tested so far and it was a shame that their first real test against the Sri Lankans was washed out by rain. New Zealand and West Indies have had identical performances, crushing the minnows to pulp and failing their first real exam against a stronger opposition Australia and South Africa respectively. England have looked powerful with the bat, but their bowling and fielding has been abysmal although they did extremely well against South Africa to defend a below par total. Now that South Africa have got their choke game out of the way they should progress comfortably.

Canada, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Netherlands have been absolutely dire and lived up to the status of minnows. Netherlands started off well against England only to see the wheels come off against West Indies and South Africa. Ireland was the only associate who could hold their head high, they brought the dead rubber world cup alive by beating England and almost came close to beating the Bangladeshis, who themselves promised much before imploding in spectacular fashion against the West Indies for a paltry total of 58.

Although there were complaints against pitches being flat and batsman friendly, genuine pacers had good returns and decent spinners were also able to hold their own. If Kemar Roach, Mitchell Johnson and Lasith Malinga were the torch bearers for the faster men, Shahid Afridi, Imran Tahir and Suleimann Benn produced some mesmerizing spells. The England-South Africa contest did prove that there is some luck for the bowlers too.

Overall the results have taken a predictable path in both the groups except the Ireland upset in Group B. All it remains in the next half of the games is to see who finishes where and who plays who. The stand out batting performances to date are Kevin O’brien’s breath taking hundred against England , Virendar Shewag’s 175 against Bangladesh and Andrew Strauss’s brilliant 158 against India. On the bowling side Kemar Roach demolishing Netherlands, Lasith Malinga demolishing Kenya have to be my picks along with Afridi’s match turning spell against the Sri Lankans.

The second half of the league should provide more excitement, Although there are bound to be games that would make watching paint dry more exciting, I still believe that the top eight teams should comfortably reach the Quarter finals and I’m going to stick my neck out and say that this is what the groups will end up like as the World cup well and truly unravels.

Group A : Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia,NewZealand
Group B: India, South Africa, West Indies, England