The Cricket World Cup in the West Indies has not been without drama and upset. Pakistan, having lost to the West Indies, and cricketing minnows, Ireland, have already fallen out. Their South African coach, Bob Woolmer, died over the weekend, having been discovered unconscious in his hotel room.
Whilst unlikely, there has been some speculation that a cricket-obsessed Pakistani supporter may have poisoned Woolmer. Death threats are common in both India and Pakistan, where cricket is a national passion, and Pakistan’s loss to Ireland might have been considered by some cricket obsessed fans as unforgivable.
Meanwhile, tournament favorites South Africa currently have 2 points; Australia have 4 from their two wins.
In the recent match between World No: 2, Australia, and Holland, Australia’s Hodge and Hogg managed to score a century and take 4 scalps between them. Hodges 7 sixes and eight fours formed part of his brilliant 123 total, although he did not start off smoothly. His partnership with Michael Clarke, was a fourth wicket World Cup equaling Record (at 204).
The Australians managed a total of 358 for five, but were lucky in that ten Doneschate spilled an airborne flick from Ricky Ponting as he was about to throw it in the air in celebration. Gilchrist was also dropped at 34, but caught in the next over. The Australians nevertheless put on an impressive display of skill and power, but this was eclipsed by the World Number 1 cricketing nation.
South Africa’s demonstration against the same team was even better than Australia’s. For starters, the SA vs Holland match was limited to 40 overs, and the South Africans were only 8 runs (221) behind Australia’s leading margin (229)over 50 overs against Holland.
If Hodge’s performance was impressive, South Africa’s Herschelle Gibbs was breathtaking. Gibbs scored 6 sixes – a new record for a World Cup cricket match – earning him $1 million (which he will donate to the Habitat for Humanity charity). Speaking to his sport’s journalist father, Gibbs said he was ‘fortunate’ that he was able to connect each ball in the centre of his bat, and that the field was on the small side.
After the fourth ball Gibbs said he considered storming out of the crease to wallop the ball, but then reconsidered. This tactic paid off. He described himself as ‘calm’ when the last ball of the historic over was bowled. Gibbs decided to wait patiently to see where the ball would land, and once it did, the clear eyed batsman dispatched it into the record books. This despite the Dutch bowler’s stated efforts to vary the pace of his bowling attack.
The next milestone on the World Cup calendar is the match between South Africa and Australia. It takes place on Saturday, 25 March. If the match against Holland isn’t enough of a demo of both these formidable team’s power and talent, South Africa will be in action on Tuesday against Scotland. Australia beat Scotland by 203 runs. It will be interesting to see if South Africa wins by a more convincing margin.
What is immediately obvious about both these world class teams is their superior fielding. Jonty Rhodes, who famously sprinted with a ball in hand to demolish wickets and bring about a run out in a World Cup Down Under (against India) has taken upon duties as the Proteas fielding coach, and his influence is obvious, especially in player’s such as Hall and Gibbs.
South Africa’s Shaun Pollock, and Australia’s Glen McGrath are evenly matched up. South Africa’s multitalented Jacques Kallis is on song – with bat and ball. The question is: is Andrew Symonds ready and recovered from a biceps tendon injury? With Shane Warne absent, how can the odds not favor South Africa? Woolmer’s death though, will weigh heavily on the likes of Kallis and Pollock,the two South African stars that Woolmer guided to greatness as young players.
Once again Australia are likely to fill the media with pressurizing substance in the days leading up to Saturday’s clash. It will probably involve the same refrain used in the past: that South Africa are ‘chokers’, but perhaps this time, Australia will choke under simple superiority on the field.
The result of Saturday’s encounter will determine not only the group leader, but more than likely, predict the World Cup Champion. My money is on the South Africans.
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