So West Indies lose two in two days going down to the mighty Aussies and the New Zealanders as well.
While I'm barely resisting the urge to follow the Indian fans and burn the entire team in effigy lets just say I'm a little disappointed in their showing. Its one thing to lose its another thing to just not be competitive.
Against the Aussies we never really stayed in the match once we started batting, and I watched as our required run rate climbed and climbed and climbed without any response on our part. At some point we should have made a go at it and hit out. If you're going to go out at least go down swinging I say. Playing timid does not win one day matches. It was almost as if we gave up early and just opted for batting practice or is it that the Aussies are just that good that resistance is futile.
Against the New Zealanders batting first we never really pushed the run rate either. Some players got starts but never really continued on to take those 20s to 40s or convert those 30s and 40s to 50s and 80s and beyond. Then to add to it all we were bowled out for under 180 after having replaced a strike bowler with a genuine batsman for this game. How embarrassing! How do 9 batsmen get out for under 180? How do you expect a bowling squad one mainline bowler short to defend that score on a good wicket? Dwayne Smith is a decent enough medium pacer but do you really want him opening your bowling when you are defending 180?
Mind you the Lendl Simmonds (inexperienced batsman) for Jerome Taylor (opening bowler) switch just boggles me. I still cant see what the justification for that was. Does having 9 batsmen really help the West Indies? We've never been a team to have the batsmen after 6 and 7 contribute greatly to team score. OK occasionally a number 8 will score some runs but that's rare. I don't have the raw stats to back that up but memory says that you'd be hard pressed to find a game where anyone past #7 really got a 50 and put up a resistance.
We need our top 5 batsmen to score runs in order to put up decent scores and win. Bringing in a new batsman at number 8 is neither here nor there towards winning for the Windies. That's just how it always has been.
Then at the end of the game the Captain basically complained about the 15 member squad selected. Damn wave the white flag why don't we. It gets no better from here as we face both Sri Lanka and South Africa. Think I was right to rule the West Indies out of contention for the semis because to get there from here now its going to take a miracle.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Monday, March 26, 2007
Super 8
The Super 8 portion of the contest starts tomorrow with Australia vs West Indies. The 8 teams that made it to this portion of the tournament are: West Indies, Australia,Sri Lanka, New Zealand, South Africa, England, Ireland and Bangladesh.
Bangladesh and Ireland are the surprise teams to have made it this far replacing the more respected Indian and Pakistani squads who have returned home. Such is life in this game of
glorious uncertainties.
During the Super 8 each team will play 6 games; ie they'll play all of the other teams in the tournament except the other advancing team from their group who they would have already played in the first round.
Of the two teams advancing from each group the team which won the meeting between those two teams takes 2 points into the Super 8. That means that Australia,Sri Lanka , West Indies and New Zealand go into the Super 8 with 2 points while South Africa, Bangladesh, Ireland and England start out with zero.
The 4 top teams at the end of the Super 8 segment make the semi-finals.
This format makes for an interesting round of games.
Two points here from my perspective.
(1) You can safely rule out Bangladesh and Ireland as advancing to the semi-finals. Yes minnows Kenya have advanced in the past but this time I think it will be difficult for either Bangladesh or Ireland to win any other match against the top teams in this tournament.
(2) Because of the squads who've made it and the format of the super 8 New Zealand and Australia have an added advantage points wise in this tournament. How you ask? Well they are the two group winners (starting on 2 points) who have both Bangladesh and Ireland left to play. That means of their 6 remaining games 2 are against so called minnows who they should beat easily so you've got to like their chances of making the semi-finals.
That means the other 4 teams; West Indies, England, Sri Lanka and South Africa are fighting for the other two semi-final spots. Ignoring my loyalties or without factoring in home advantage I'd say the odds on favorites for those two spots areSri Lanka and South Africa. England will have to play masterfully to be in with a chance. Their odds of making it are the greatest of those 4 teams. South Africa starts out with no points so maybe that gives the West Indies a chance
especially if they can pull off an upset win against either South Africa or Australia.
How much will being at home play to the West Indies advantage? I really would not like to speculate right now. They played quite well in Jamaica but never seemed as commanding as
some of the other squads even in their games against Ireland and Zimbabwe. Plus no home side has won the tournament since its inception. Still maybe they'll peak at the right time.
Its going to be a tough campaign. I'd personally like to see the West Indies make it but their backs will be up against it so I think logically the final 4 will be Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and New Zealand. Of course this is cricket and logic means squat so we'll see what happens.
Go Windies!
Bangladesh and Ireland are the surprise teams to have made it this far replacing the more respected Indian and Pakistani squads who have returned home. Such is life in this game of
glorious uncertainties.
During the Super 8 each team will play 6 games; ie they'll play all of the other teams in the tournament except the other advancing team from their group who they would have already played in the first round.
Of the two teams advancing from each group the team which won the meeting between those two teams takes 2 points into the Super 8. That means that Australia,Sri Lanka , West Indies and New Zealand go into the Super 8 with 2 points while South Africa, Bangladesh, Ireland and England start out with zero.
The 4 top teams at the end of the Super 8 segment make the semi-finals.
This format makes for an interesting round of games.
Two points here from my perspective.
(1) You can safely rule out Bangladesh and Ireland as advancing to the semi-finals. Yes minnows Kenya have advanced in the past but this time I think it will be difficult for either Bangladesh or Ireland to win any other match against the top teams in this tournament.
(2) Because of the squads who've made it and the format of the super 8 New Zealand and Australia have an added advantage points wise in this tournament. How you ask? Well they are the two group winners (starting on 2 points) who have both Bangladesh and Ireland left to play. That means of their 6 remaining games 2 are against so called minnows who they should beat easily so you've got to like their chances of making the semi-finals.
That means the other 4 teams; West Indies, England, Sri Lanka and South Africa are fighting for the other two semi-final spots. Ignoring my loyalties or without factoring in home advantage I'd say the odds on favorites for those two spots areSri Lanka and South Africa. England will have to play masterfully to be in with a chance. Their odds of making it are the greatest of those 4 teams. South Africa starts out with no points so maybe that gives the West Indies a chance
especially if they can pull off an upset win against either South Africa or Australia.
How much will being at home play to the West Indies advantage? I really would not like to speculate right now. They played quite well in Jamaica but never seemed as commanding as
some of the other squads even in their games against Ireland and Zimbabwe. Plus no home side has won the tournament since its inception. Still maybe they'll peak at the right time.
Its going to be a tough campaign. I'd personally like to see the West Indies make it but their backs will be up against it so I think logically the final 4 will be Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and New Zealand. Of course this is cricket and logic means squat so we'll see what happens.
Go Windies!
Friday, March 23, 2007
Upset!
Today India lost to Sri Lanka making it virtually certain they are out of the Super 8s. That means two of the powerhouse squads; India and Pakistan are out.
The loss of these teams also affects the economic outcome of this tournament as they are the cricketing regions with the biggest population. The Media networks who vied for control of the World Cup coverage to these regions and thir cricket hungry fans must be losing millions and the Caribbean will probably see a few less tourists as the result of their departure as well.
As well one can only feel sad for the Indian players knowing that their fans will not take this loss lightly. One thing is certain effigies will be burned lets hope the fans don't go any further than that .
What a day!
The loss of these teams also affects the economic outcome of this tournament as they are the cricketing regions with the biggest population. The Media networks who vied for control of the World Cup coverage to these regions and thir cricket hungry fans must be losing millions and the Caribbean will probably see a few less tourists as the result of their departure as well.
As well one can only feel sad for the Indian players knowing that their fans will not take this loss lightly. One thing is certain effigies will be burned lets hope the fans don't go any further than that .
What a day!
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Minnows
OK lets avoid the biggest story (was Woolmer murdered or not) on the World Cup today and focus on the on-field action.
Prior to the competition's start, in certain corners calls were made for the removal of the minnows (non-test playing and other weak teams) from the World Cup. And true to form teams like the Netherlands, Bermuda, Scotland, Kenya, Canada and Zimbabwe have gotten the kind of beatings that remind you of the West Indian parents of yesteryear disciplining their children. "Wait you feel you is a big man now? You think me and you is friends? Lemma get my strap!"
Well last weekend the so-called minnows struck back with Bangladesh beating India and the biggest upset so far Ireland over Pakistan.
Those wins have had serious reverberations throughout the tournament with a powerful team like Pakistan on their way home as underdog Ireland heads to the Super 8 and India another powerhouse on the brink of elimination facing a must win game tomorrow vs Sri Lanka.
So are the minnows really growing? Do they really belong?
My perspective is that in this game of cricket to quote the great bard Wycleff Jean 'Anything can happen'.
5 day Test cricket is a different ball game where certainly the minnows don't belong but in one day cricket, 50 overs a side, luck can have a greater influence so although I wont say on any given day a minnow can swim with the big fish on certain days when the stars are in the correct alignment or the pitch is playing a certain way or the luck of the toss goes your way definitely a minnow can be competitive if not win outright.
Plus its good experience for the minnows and maybe helps them to raise their game so that maybe just maybe in 4 years time they wont be minnows anymore. Who knows. Hey if 300 Spartans can go toe to toe with an entire Persian army of thousands and perform admirably, even if defeated, why not a Bermuda vs New Zealand or a Kenya vs Australia.
Stranger things have happened after all it is a game of glorious uncertainties.
p.s: West Indies best to win tomorrow!
Prior to the competition's start, in certain corners calls were made for the removal of the minnows (non-test playing and other weak teams) from the World Cup. And true to form teams like the Netherlands, Bermuda, Scotland, Kenya, Canada and Zimbabwe have gotten the kind of beatings that remind you of the West Indian parents of yesteryear disciplining their children. "Wait you feel you is a big man now? You think me and you is friends? Lemma get my strap!"
Well last weekend the so-called minnows struck back with Bangladesh beating India and the biggest upset so far Ireland over Pakistan.
Those wins have had serious reverberations throughout the tournament with a powerful team like Pakistan on their way home as underdog Ireland heads to the Super 8 and India another powerhouse on the brink of elimination facing a must win game tomorrow vs Sri Lanka.
So are the minnows really growing? Do they really belong?
My perspective is that in this game of cricket to quote the great bard Wycleff Jean 'Anything can happen'.
5 day Test cricket is a different ball game where certainly the minnows don't belong but in one day cricket, 50 overs a side, luck can have a greater influence so although I wont say on any given day a minnow can swim with the big fish on certain days when the stars are in the correct alignment or the pitch is playing a certain way or the luck of the toss goes your way definitely a minnow can be competitive if not win outright.
Plus its good experience for the minnows and maybe helps them to raise their game so that maybe just maybe in 4 years time they wont be minnows anymore. Who knows. Hey if 300 Spartans can go toe to toe with an entire Persian army of thousands and perform admirably, even if defeated, why not a Bermuda vs New Zealand or a Kenya vs Australia.
Stranger things have happened after all it is a game of glorious uncertainties.
p.s: West Indies best to win tomorrow!
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Murder?
And now the report from Jamaica is that Woolmer's autopsy proved "inconclusive". The Deputy Commissioner of Police has weighed in and called the death "suspicious". Combine both words and one begins to fear the worst. Whodunit..Let's see..
The Manager?
A deranged fan?
A player left off the team?
A bookmaker?
The captain?
Am sure when the organisers talked about 47 unforgettable days of cricket they never imagined a possible murder investigation. It's definitely casting a long shadow over the event. I would hate to think the man was killed just because Pakistan lost so am really hoping that it would turn out that he died from natural causes.
The Manager?
A deranged fan?
A player left off the team?
A bookmaker?
The captain?
Am sure when the organisers talked about 47 unforgettable days of cricket they never imagined a possible murder investigation. It's definitely casting a long shadow over the event. I would hate to think the man was killed just because Pakistan lost so am really hoping that it would turn out that he died from natural causes.
Suspicious Circumstances?
Shhhh! That sound you hear is the collectively held breath of every Caribbean leader as they await conclusive news on what really happened to Bob Woolmer.
Last night Jamaican police reported that Woolmer's death was being treated as suspicious and some websites are reporting today that confirmations have been made that police are treating it as a murder case. Check the Caribbeancricket.com articles on the incident.
Initially thought to be the result of natural causes this death puts a complete damper on World Cup proceedings.
Also from a PR perspective this is just really bad for the Caribbean as a whole. Sorry to be so callous about the loss of life but the Caribbean will be feeling a fallout from this incident for a long time. Security was breached somehow at a reportedly high security tournament. It just looks bad all around.
Hope there is a CSI Jamaica that can solve this crime quickly and conclusively. As Kami said this definitely isn't what we wanted this World Cup to be remembered for.
Last night Jamaican police reported that Woolmer's death was being treated as suspicious and some websites are reporting today that confirmations have been made that police are treating it as a murder case. Check the Caribbeancricket.com articles on the incident.
Initially thought to be the result of natural causes this death puts a complete damper on World Cup proceedings.
Also from a PR perspective this is just really bad for the Caribbean as a whole. Sorry to be so callous about the loss of life but the Caribbean will be feeling a fallout from this incident for a long time. Security was breached somehow at a reportedly high security tournament. It just looks bad all around.
Hope there is a CSI Jamaica that can solve this crime quickly and conclusively. As Kami said this definitely isn't what we wanted this World Cup to be remembered for.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Fallout
The reverberations of the Ireland lost are still being felt throughout Pakistan cricket. The coach died, the Captain resigned and now the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman and the entire selections committee has resigned.
Heads have rolled, those in high places have taken the blame and stepped down. Pretty significant gestures if you ask me. No blame the next man syndrome, they all realized they played a part in the debacle and manned up so to speak.
But what comes next? Its got to be pretty rough to see your team go down in flames so early in the contest especially when this tournament only happens every 4 years. So whats next?
New coach, captain, selections committee, new scouts, tactics, practice methods? How does one rebound?
Heads have rolled, those in high places have taken the blame and stepped down. Pretty significant gestures if you ask me. No blame the next man syndrome, they all realized they played a part in the debacle and manned up so to speak.
But what comes next? Its got to be pretty rough to see your team go down in flames so early in the contest especially when this tournament only happens every 4 years. So whats next?
New coach, captain, selections committee, new scouts, tactics, practice methods? How does one rebound?
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Its just a game
Or is it?
I kind of wondered about that today after reading that Pakistan's cricket coach Bob Woolmer died in Jamaica this morning. One can only speculate as to what really happened until official statements are made but you've got to wonder.
Pakistan one of the supposed stronger teams in world cricket go down on St. Patrick's day (Saturday) to the Irish in a shocker. Knocked out of the Super 8's barely a couple of days into the Cricket World Cup tournament. Oh man! Who, even if you were Irish, would have imagined that outcome?
The first thing that popped into my head yesterday whilst following the games online as Pakistan lost to Ireland and India another powerhouse team lost to lowly Bangladesh was wow cricket truly is a game of glorious uncertainties as its often billed. The second thing that popped into my head was I really feel sorry for those Pakistani and Indian players and coaches. I mean us folks in/from the Caribbean take our cricket seriously but no way near as fanatical as those from the sub-continent. I think the only thing that can compare to their zeal for cricket is the South American passion for futbol.
Yep, I was thinking, those players may be in some trouble at home. Heads will roll and knowing of some of the previous reactions by fans when those teams have lost games well I figured I wouldn't want to be any of those players or their families right about now. Indeed reading the news today where one player's home was attacked in India and there were protests in Pakistan calling for the arrest or death of the coach and captain I just wasn't really that surprised by the reactions. Yea those reactions are a bit over the top but similar have happened before.
Still I thought yea its all just a game isn't it? Its just some stupid fans really don't get that point and realize that its really not about life and death.
But in this case with coach Bob Woolmer it looks like it was about life and death. His death. I mean I can't say definitively that it was the stress of losing and seeing his team knocked out of the competition, or the thoughts of facing the music back in Pakistan that killed him but on first glance that would seem to be the case. One day he's a loses a game, the next he loses his life. Life... and death sure are funny ain't they. Puts a lot of stuff in perspective. When you lose a game you always have a chance to bounce back somehow although it may take some time. However when you lose you life? Well ain't no real bouncing back from that one I suppose.
Its all fun and games until someone gets hurt they say. Well someone did get hurt, hurt so much they died so have the fun and games stopped?
Woolmer was a coach so sports was his job and maybe we can chalk this up to job stress. Wouldn't be the first chap to die from that nor will he be the last. Still for all the money and prestige and endorsements and pride involved we still just think of sports as just sports. Its supposed to be intense but not that intense that you die. Its still supposed to be about fun. You give your all on the field and in your preparation to be on the field but its still just a game isn't it? We don't think too much about the folks who take it that much to heart. The folks who lose sleep and weight, and whose blood pressure rises or whose health suffers from sports do we.
I still say its all a game but damn if a game, its results and its repercussions don't put life in perspective.
I kind of wondered about that today after reading that Pakistan's cricket coach Bob Woolmer died in Jamaica this morning. One can only speculate as to what really happened until official statements are made but you've got to wonder.
Pakistan one of the supposed stronger teams in world cricket go down on St. Patrick's day (Saturday) to the Irish in a shocker. Knocked out of the Super 8's barely a couple of days into the Cricket World Cup tournament. Oh man! Who, even if you were Irish, would have imagined that outcome?
The first thing that popped into my head yesterday whilst following the games online as Pakistan lost to Ireland and India another powerhouse team lost to lowly Bangladesh was wow cricket truly is a game of glorious uncertainties as its often billed. The second thing that popped into my head was I really feel sorry for those Pakistani and Indian players and coaches. I mean us folks in/from the Caribbean take our cricket seriously but no way near as fanatical as those from the sub-continent. I think the only thing that can compare to their zeal for cricket is the South American passion for futbol.
Yep, I was thinking, those players may be in some trouble at home. Heads will roll and knowing of some of the previous reactions by fans when those teams have lost games well I figured I wouldn't want to be any of those players or their families right about now. Indeed reading the news today where one player's home was attacked in India and there were protests in Pakistan calling for the arrest or death of the coach and captain I just wasn't really that surprised by the reactions. Yea those reactions are a bit over the top but similar have happened before.
Still I thought yea its all just a game isn't it? Its just some stupid fans really don't get that point and realize that its really not about life and death.
But in this case with coach Bob Woolmer it looks like it was about life and death. His death. I mean I can't say definitively that it was the stress of losing and seeing his team knocked out of the competition, or the thoughts of facing the music back in Pakistan that killed him but on first glance that would seem to be the case. One day he's a loses a game, the next he loses his life. Life... and death sure are funny ain't they. Puts a lot of stuff in perspective. When you lose a game you always have a chance to bounce back somehow although it may take some time. However when you lose you life? Well ain't no real bouncing back from that one I suppose.
Its all fun and games until someone gets hurt they say. Well someone did get hurt, hurt so much they died so have the fun and games stopped?
Woolmer was a coach so sports was his job and maybe we can chalk this up to job stress. Wouldn't be the first chap to die from that nor will he be the last. Still for all the money and prestige and endorsements and pride involved we still just think of sports as just sports. Its supposed to be intense but not that intense that you die. Its still supposed to be about fun. You give your all on the field and in your preparation to be on the field but its still just a game isn't it? We don't think too much about the folks who take it that much to heart. The folks who lose sleep and weight, and whose blood pressure rises or whose health suffers from sports do we.
I still say its all a game but damn if a game, its results and its repercussions don't put life in perspective.
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