WORLD CUP 2007 PREVIEW


Finally, the World Cup has come to an end. Congratulations to Australia. They thoroughly deserved the Cup. Here is a review of how it all went about, with regard to mainly the performances on the field. There won't be a preview of each and every match - it may take the same time as the whole tournament to finish such an article - but the key moments, individuals and matches will be summarised here. The whole tournament was a drag, but there were definitely some moments to cherish


BEST MATCHES
(3) England vs WI

What a game. Went down to the last over, and had the special significance in that it was Lara's last game. It would have been more fitting if the Windies won, but Lara's career has been full of such disappointments - team wise.

(2) SL vs Eng

Another cruch game involving England. 230 was a gettable target for the English, but when faced against the best bowling attack in the tournament it was always going to be difficult. Pieterson and Ball threatened, but then a small collapse tilted the scales back to Lanka. Bopara and Nixon (who was involved in both the tight games) then staged an amazing recovery, and it looked like England would achieve the impossible. A magnificent last over from Dilhara shattered their hopes. Its' rated as the second best game because it was decided in the very last ball. Bopara was bowled by Dilhara, a truly amazing way to finish the game.



(1) Ire vs Zim

If Lanka had won against South Africa then that would have been the best match. But it was not to be. Instead it has to go to the only tie in the World Cup. That tie gave the Irish some momentum, after which they did much better than expected.


BEST INNINGS

(3) Hayden 100 off 66 balls vs SA

The fastest century in a World Cup, and it completely blew the South Africans. He really stamped his authority in the tournament with that knock.

(2) Mahela Jayawardena 115* vs New Zealand

To get a hundred in a World Cup semi final really means something. Wickets had fallen early. but Mahela played an untroubled, cool, intelligent innings that was well paced and action packed at the end. One of the best innings ever.

(1) Adam Gilchrist 149 vs Sri Lanka
World Cup Final. Not a good tournament with the bat before that, but came out with one of the very best at the big event. An innings that made the ultimate difference between the two teams. This has to be Gilly's best in his illustrious one day career.


BEST BOWLING PERFORMANCE

(3) Murali - 3 wkts vs India

India needed a win against Sri Lankato stay in the competition. They were chasing a gettable total, but it was Murali who stood in their way. He bowled doosras around the wicket, bamboozling Sehwag and Dhoni. Magnificent stuff.

(2)Nathan Bracken - 4/19 vs Sri Lanka
And it was taken in 10 overs. Economical, and had wickets. Amazing.

(1) Malinga - 4 wickets vs South Africa
And those 4 came in 4 consecutive balls. Almost turned the match single handedly. Incredible.



BEST CATCHES

(3) Leverock's catch off Uttappa (Bermuda vs India)

Big man, dived to his right to fetch a catch, and he was even out of the ground! Not even Arjuna or Inzi would have tried that!

(2) Collingwood's catch off D. Smith (Eng vs WI)

Amazing stuff. The ball was going towards his left, but instead of catching it with the left hand he used his stronger right hand to scoop the ball out of the air. Who would have thought of catching the ball in that fashion!

(1) Johnston's catch off Akmal (Ire vs Pak)

The catch that sealed Pakistan's fate. Akmal was staging a minor revival, and the the Irish Captain pulls off a stunner Running backwards, he dives and takes the catch just a couple of feet off the ground. Wow.


BEST NEW TEAM
Ireland - No need for explanations


Biggest upset
(3) Ire beating pak
An unknown team beat one of the heavy weights, and knocked them out of the competition. Totally unexpected

(2)Bangladesh beating India
I'm rating this one higher because India were one of the favorites for the Cup, and this upset not only effectively knocked India out of the competition but made the competition lose alot of fans, and finances.


(1) Bang beating SA

This has to take the cake. Bangladesh beats the number one team of the World, yet again. Only difference is that it is not Australia. South Africa lose its number one status. And the wrecker-in-chief was once again, Ashraful.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMEMT - BATSMEN
(3) CHRIS GAYLE

Man of the tournament in the last Champions Trophy. But in front of his home crowd, he managed only one fifty. West Indies's chances dimmed with the failure of one of its stars.

(2) SACHIN TENDULKAR

A fifty only against Bermuda. And his duck against Sri Lanka effectively ruined India's chances of reaching the next round. It has also brought about question marks regarding his immediate future.

(1) MIKE HUSSEY

He was the World's number one batsman at one point of time. I thought he would make the biggest contribution to Australia's success. It was not to be. But they didn't need him anyway.


BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS - BOWLERS

(3) MAKHAYA NTINI

One of the best fast bowlers around, but didn't perform with the ball this time. Was even dropped for the last two games South Africa played.

(2) SHAUN POLLOCK

Didn't have a good tournament with the ball as well.

(1) JEROME TAYLOR

To me, Taylor was the biggest disappointment because he was awesome in the Champions Trophy, he failed in home conditions and even Micheal Holding thought that he would be a key figure for the West Indian team. Very unfortunate, but he still has the ability to become a great bowler.


BEST BATSMAN

(3) RICKY PONTING
Consistent as ever. Truly one of the best in the World at the moment

(2) MAHELA JAYAWARDENA
Didn't have a good start to the tournament, but then he peaked at the best time for his team. Led from the front, and his hundred against New Zealand in the Semis was his best knock.

(1) MATHEW HAYDEN
No need for reasons.

BEST BOWLER
(3) BRAD HOGG
Just beats Tait, because he was more economical. A great performer for Australia, and certainly one of the most under-rated.

(2) MURALITHARAN
He was just awesome throughout the tournament, especially when bowling around the wicket to the right handers. Didn't take wickets in the Finals, but was still tough to play against.

(1)GLEN MCGRATH
Awarded Man of the tournament. Any more reasons required?


MY WORLD CUP 11

(1) HAYDEN
(2) GILCHRIST (WK)
(3) PONTING
(4) MAHELA JAYAWARDENA (captain)
(5) KEVIN PIETERSON
(6) SCOTT STYRIS
(7) MICHAEL CLARKE
(8) BRAD HOGG
(9) MURALITHARAN
(10) GLEN MCGRATH
(11) LASITH MALINGA

THANK YOU, LARA



I was watching the last few moments of the England vs West Indies match, in the Super 8's, and I started tearing. It was an emotional time, because another legend of the game was about to bow out of cricket. Brian Charles Lara had one of the most animated careers we will even come across, but his batting brilliance will be forever etched in my mind, and in many other's too.

I would have liked to see Lara sign off, with a hundred to his name, and with West Indies winning that game. In a way, it sort of summed up West Indies' fortunes the last few years. WI always placed a great deal of expectations on Lara's shoulders, and when he failed, so did WI. Yet, Lara has pulled off some amazing one-handed victories, the best being his unbeaten 153 against Australia, an innings that has been spoken about many a time and has been ranked as the best ever. I second that. Many have said that Lara is the best batsman to watch. Indeed he is. He is the classiest player I have seen, and the way he dictates terms with the bat is simply amazing.

Lara, it was a pleasure to watch you bat. Thank you for everything you have done for the sport. You were truly one of the sport's greats. You have left a huge hole in cricket, which will be very tough to fill indeed. May you have, a happy journey ahead of you.