Passion play on the wane?
London - Are these really the Super 8s or are they just two big fat zeroes clambering on top of each other? Like all cricket lovers around the world, I'm desperately trying to retain my enthusiasm for the World Cup but with every passing blow my fanaticism wanes a little bit more, and there have been plenty of testing moments.
From the pre-tournament injury to Brett Lee, the cynicism-inducing withdrawal of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, the drunken antics of Andrew Flintoff and some of his teammates, to the unspeakable tragedy of Bob Woolmer's murder and the subsequent police investigation.
From the rows of empty seats and the resulting lack of atmosphere in the stadiums, to the interminable schedule with too few defining match-ups, and the rain affected games.
From the absence of India and Pakistan in the Super 8 stage (without detracting from Bangladesh and Ireland's fully deserved qualification), to the almost total lack of pace in the pitches.
From the mind numbingly dull TV commentary team of former international players assembled by the organisers (for those in the UK, thank gawd for Test Match Special, eh?), to the ICC's apparent disregard for the Caribbean's cricket-watching traditions.
On today's edition of BBC World's "My Cricket World Cup" a couple of emails from the Caribbean seemed to sum up the opinion of the majority. Suzette from Trinidad wrote to us to say the problem isn't the price of the tickets, but the rules preventing food and drinks in the ground:
"One-day cricket is a fete. We start our preparations from 5am, pack our coolers the night before and organise our flags and instruments. Maybe if the ICC wanted the World Cup to be a success they should have played by our rules."
And we had a similar email from Russ, who owns a hotel in Grenada:
"We feel the ICC has forgotten what the sport is about. Yes, we will be going to some matches, but without music, drums, food and drink what's the point? I for one will be glad when the World Cup is over so then hopefully we will be able to return to the way cricket is supposed to be played."
Surely SOME people think the competition has been well run? One satisfied customer, although he's not in the Caribbean, is Eddington in New Jersey in the USA. He says:
"I'm a Liberian living in the US. I'm a fan of cricket and it's going down crazy here."
Believe me, I'm trying my hardest to stay upbeat, but with no free or terrestrial access to watch live games on TV, it's getting harder to stay excited. Plus with only one truly tense finish in the tournament so far (even the Ireland v Pakistan game was pretty much decided at the close of Pakistan's innings), there's certainly no danger of emotional overload just yet. There is simply a quiet appreciation of the best players in the world doing their thing with style and panache.
One thing that continues to vex me though is the lack of anything "new". Where are the new players? Where are the innovations in play? The tactical modifications, the bowling strategies and the fresh batting ploys? Sure, there are some very talented Bangladeshi youngsters, there's Murali's "teesra", a new sort of "top-spinner" which may well have been the ball with which he trapped Mahendra Dhoni LBW in the group stage, but what else?
Of course the players are fitter, they hit the ball harder and further, and the fielding is sharper (witness Shane Watson's incredible throw from the deep that ran AB De Villiers out in a group encounter between Australia and South Africa). But much of that is due to a gradual progression which comes with continually pushing the boundaries of the possible.
What sticks in YOUR mind? What's been exercising YOUR cricketing erogenous zones?! What have been the outstanding moments for YOU?
We would love to hear your opinions about what's been most memorable for you so far at the World Cup, but also how you feel about the format of the tournament and its organisation. Is it everything it should be? How captivated are you, or how indifferent?
As far as stand out moments are concerned, for me, there are two very particular ones, and we've already paid homage to both on MCWC. The first was Lasith Malinga's record breaking effort of four wickets in four balls against South Africa. The second was Dwayne Leverock's stunning catch in the slips which sent India's Robin Uthappa back to the pavilion.
For those who didn't see it or don't know about Dwayne, well, his balletic leap was worthy of any highlights programme. What made it so remarkable is that the 35-year-old (who is a policeman by profession and not a pro cricketer) weighs an impressive 133kgs. Imagine a leaping salmon, but one carrying a fridge on its back! Not only was the catch a beauty, Dwayne's dance of delight as he whirled away in celebration really summed up the fun that cricket can be. Some teams play without a smile on their faces, but surely sport is about pleasure and enjoyment, so rock on Mr Leverock, I say!
We hooked up with Dwayne at his home in Bermuda, and he told us about the tremendous reaction he and the team have received on the island of 70,000 inhabitants. The squad returned home on Wednesday last week.
Dwayne said that even when bowling to batsmen such as Tendulkar, Dravid, Jayasuriya, Sangakkara and the rest, he enjoyed every moment of every match he played. A jailer in the Bermuda Police Service, Dwayne said the prisoners were following his fortunes in the Caribbean and cheering him all the way. It's back to the day job now, and not just for Dwayne and his fellow Bermudan players, two of whoem are still at school, but for me too.
Remember, MCWC is YOUR forum! Tell us what's vexing, testing and exciting you, and we'll try to reflect your feelings in future shows. All the details, of how to get in touch and also watch previous editions of the show are on our homepage. Owzat!?
By the way, I promise I'll be back to my bubbly ebullient best/worst by the time Friday's show comes around. I just need a little bit more inspiration from the spectators in the stands, the players on the pitch, and all of you populating the space on the information superhighway.
I'm sure by the time England play Sri Lanka on Wednesday I'll be right up for it, especially as England really need to beat one of the big boys to show us all they really can win this World Cup. They can, can't they?
Adnan
Overall it seems a dull tournament but there have been more highlights than we sometimes realise.... Matthew Hayden has a pleasure to watch (as an englishman thats a big thing to say!), Jayasuria & Jayawardene showed their class against the windies and Mcgrath has some magic performaces to come I'm sure.
We need a more close matches as well as individual performances to liven things up but the final couple of overs of Sri Lanka v SA were as intense as it gets.
Complain about this postI don't disagree with anything you say Adnan.
I was amazed to see the ground in Antigua half-full for the West Indies - Australia game.
Could you imagine that happening in the football or rugby world cups?
Whats the point of having the world cup in the Caribbean if the organisers take everything we associate with Caribbean cricket away?
I also feel that three games aren't enough for the first round. Maybe three groups of five, with the top two going through to a super 6. This would give the lesser nations an extra game, and allow the better nations to have a bad day and still bounce back.
Also the tournament will drag on too long again, i'm sure the games could be packed in a bit more and have it finished in a month.
Complain about this postI agree with you wholeheartedly, I have been trying hard to get excited I actually gave yesterdays game a miss though I had tickets. I will go to the England / Sri Lanka encounter. Hopefully the ground will be a bit more packed and we will have a better atmosphere. The ICC really don't understand West Indians and how they like cricket, they have spoilt it for us.
Complain about this postI don't agree that this World Cup is going as badly as you're suggesting, Adrian. Yes, the empty stands and lack of atmosphere at many of the games is disappointing, but there are still positives to be taken:
-For the first time in a long time, the format has been spot on, giving the 'minnows' enough exposure against top quality opposition in the group stage, but then providing enough fixtures for the best 4 teams to be found to make it to the semis.
-Only one tense finish? Ireland v Zimbabwe, Ireland v Pakistan, Sri Lanka v South Africa to name three...not every game will end up tight and tense.
-Gibbs' six sixes in an over, the first 400+ total in a World Cup, Malinga's 4 wickets in 4 balls...all unprecedented. I think that's enough entertainment to keep people interested.
That said, the thing that is annoying me at the moment is the weather. It's not really doing much for the tournament if nearly every game is being reduced in overs, and I don't see the point of having a reserve day if they're going to try and squeeze in a 20 over slog on the first day anyway.
Complain about this postThe Bacardi rum ad showing application of management in selling melons and keeping up bus timings in the caribbean actually sums up the ICC match management skills against the laid back, fun attitude of the natives.
Complain about this postHmmm.
Another world cup another vast amount of comments saying how poor it is, the lack of passion, atmosphere, "it wasnt like this in the good ol' days!"
Have I just been transported back in time to last Summer when I heared exactly the same things said about the Football world cup!!
While I will agree the lack of supporters in the crowd, weather and sad loss of Pakistans coach is things we all could do without in this tournemount I feel at least that on the pitch things have been very good and things such as Gibb's 6 sixes, Malinga's 4 in a row and Irelands plucky displays will live longer on the memory than any of what happened last summer.
At least players have played the game in the correct spirit (with perhaps the exception of the hosts West Indies, who look as though they would rather be elsewhere strangely!) and there are no Portuguese rolling around, diving and trying to get people sent off!!
I await for the Rugby world cup with no expectations other than to hear people complain its not good enough standard blah, blah, blah
If you think its not that good, get up off from your chair, pick up a bat, ball or cue and do better yourself!!!
Complain about this postCongratulations for being the first cricketing blog I've read to mention erogenous zones. I look forward to the summary of this year's World Cup being entitled 'So which player aroused you the most?'.
Why is anyone surprised at the slowness of the pitches? Most commentators have been saying the West Indian wickets have been losing pace for years. It's a worry affecting other countries too. When somewhere as steeped in pace history as the WACA seems to be slowling up, you have to ask questions. You could make a case for the decline of West Indian pacemen over the years being linked to the increasingly dismal pitches they bowl on. There definitely needs to be more discussion on an improvement in pitches worldwide.
I'm also surprised by the blog writer saying there's nothing new in there. Does it need anything new? The basic rules of football haven't changed much since the days of Pele with only the backpass rule really being a major turning point. Rugby hasn't changed. The basic format of the Ryder Cup is the same year after year and you seem some immense competition there. Personally I think the 50-over game has been tinkered with enough and needs a period of being left alone. We had the idiot notion of super subs come and go, the power play system hasn't really made much of an impact yet there's still thoughts of how to change it. The new players will come through but for many sides this World Cup represents the swan song of the older crowd. Lara, Tendulkar, Kumble, Inzi, Jayasuriya, a fair few Aussies, the odd Kiwi.. it's the end of an era for many of these players. Once they have gone, the new ones will come through in time for the next World Cup.
The pitches are probably as responsible as anything for any lack of batting innovation. There's been movment up front, the movement Shane Bond has been getting is incredible, so that knocks out the pinch-hitting role during the first ten overs. The people who have scored runs have all played themselves in generally speaking (Hayden's freak century being an exception as that was probably the best batting wicket and batting venue you'll see all tournament). Both Hayden and Jayasuriya have scored tons after slow starts, getting used to conditions. If experienced men like them can struggle early on, sending in a pinch-hitter would be a sacrificial wicket with little to gain from it. The idea seems to be play yourself in, one of the top three gets set and gets a big score and then you have a dash at the end a la Sri Lanka against the West Indies. No real need to change that.
There is innovation within the bowlers though. The slower ball bouncer is being used a lot more, the slower variations are there and some bowlers have gotten serious swing and reverse swing. You've seen some decent spin bowling on pitches that aren't exactly spin friendly. The fielding has been superb. I was watching some old footage of cricket from the 1989 Ashes tour and they look so lethargic in the field compared to the fielders of today (speaking as a non-whippet, I'm far more like a fielder from 1962, just watch the ball go to the boundary. Diving? Pah!). Also I'd say some of the wicketkeeping has been demonstrative of evolution. Having people stand up to the stumps to fast-medium bowlers is innovative and some of the stumpings especially have been stunning. McCullum's stumping yesterday and Lara getting stumped against the Sri Lankans really stand out.
Complain about this postDemps, you're totally correct, the Ireland Zimbabwe finish was FANTASTIC, and of course Herschelle's six sixes were a thing of beauty. I agree wholeheartedly, it's just that I've been having a few moments of crisis, just as I think Martin Deane (comment 2) has been. I reckon Martin wants to LOVE this World Cup, but is momentarily hesitant to give his heart completely!
There have been plenty of other great moments, microcosms of the game, and memorable shots, balls, catches. Personally, I've really enjoyed watching Bond, Malinga, Fernando, Mcgrath and Murali bowl, and especially enjoyed watching Jayasuriya, Fleming, Hayden, Ponting, Clarke, Gilchrist (ok nuff Aussies!) bat. One of the problems with the duration of the game and the length of the tournament means most of us probably won't be watching ALL the minutiae as carefully as we might be for, say, the FIFA World Cup.
Of course we've also had the World Cup's fastest century, fastest fifty and those six sixes you mentioned, so yes, plenty to get excited about, but I'm still having to keep my fingers crossed that all of the positives will eventually outweigh the negatives. The positive spin to put on the isuue of "slower" pitches is that they make for a thinking game, rather than straight bish bash one day mayhem. I see that.
The close finish I referred to was SA v SL, as you say, I forgot about ZIM v IRE, but I would argue that the PAK v IRE games wasn't tense. I predicted it to some of my colleagues at work, and after PAK collapsed so cheaply, surely it was already at least 75% in favour of an Ireland victory? That's not tense enough for me. I WANT NO MORE FINGERNAILS! Gimme AUS v SA 1999!
Oh another thing which has depressed me is the pysychological and sporting collapse of the West Indies. Aren't they the Brazil of world cricket, everyone's favourite "second" team?
Complain about this postI agree with everything you have said! This World Cup is laborious at best and I can't see anything improving until we reach the semi-final stage.
I would have loved the opportunity to watch World Cup cricket in the Caribbean but, frankly, I am now glad that I'm not there! This part of the world is renowned and loved for it's colour, noise and passion for cricket but it has all been surpressed by the ICC leaving the tournament devoid of character. What a missed opportunity.
As for the format of the tournament, we knew from a long time ago that this was going to be far too long and drawn out to maintain any real interest.
Complain about this postHi All
Come on Ireland. How surprised has everybody been with Ireland this world cup. You had to know there was now way any team was going to beat them on Paddy's day.
Ireland for the top 4!!!!!! :)
Regards
Complain about this postDarren
From Dublin
I'm enjoying the CWC from afar in Canada by folowing the BBC commentary and scorecard. Unfortunately the ICC has missed a great opportunity to promote the sport in North America as the television broadcast is available only a specialty channel and there isn't any radio broadcast. I can occasionally access the BBC TMS commentary on the internet through certain unnamed countries. Furthermore it is folly to hold the event in the West Indies and then run the event so that the locals can't afford to attend. Also, prohibiting fun in the stands is ludicrous. What marketing genius thought that up?
Complain about this postIt is a tribute to the essential nature of cricket that the public wants to follow the CWC, not to the ICC's promotion of the event.
I too think it's a real shame that the ICC has brought in so many rules to kill the spirit of cricket. The one thing that seperated cricket in the Caribbean with other places was the atmosphere. It used to be one big party.
I went to cricket matches as a child and a feature of going to cricket was the food and drinks that flowed. People were up early preparing food and drinks.
Then there was the music - the horns and conch shells and drums.
From what I've seen people have been trying to create as much atmosphere as they can but it's hard to do with all the restrictions.
I'm flying out this weekend and will be going to some matches and will see for myself exactly what the ICC has done to calypso cricket in the caribbean.
what a missed opportunity.
s
Complain about this postFollowing CWC2007 almost entirely by Internet and print media, with weekly updates and rare daily highlights on ATN here in Toronto.
Harking back to the original 1975 CWC, it was smaller, played in great weather, and much more exciting. It had the same impact as 20/20 did when first introduced.
As a spectacle, and a means of spreading the word on cricket, CWC2007 has fallen well short.
It's a real shame, as there is undoubtedly a chance to increase the game's profile in Canada.
Let's move on to the positives. The Zimbabwe vs Ireland tie got me really excited. So did Ireland and Bangladesh wins. Matt Hayden's 158 is the innings of the tournament so far, and off course Malinga 4 in 4. It's clear there is an old guard passing, for WI, India and Pakistan, but hopefully new blood in players like KP, who have yet to make their mark. Steve Fleming for me is the leader to watch, as he marshalls his ever-depleting bowling resources! But for persistence and a strong attitude when things go wrong, Sri Lanka are very impressive. They lose some wickets, but then regroup and fight on.
WI is in a bad way. I have been told by a Jamaican co-worker some time ago that interest was waning... I wonder if its time to inject spirit by letting some of the larger (relatively) nations like Jamaica and Trinidad ( even Guyana) play as there own teams, like they do in the Soccer World Cup?
Its time to get 20/20 on stage and promote this game in a way that's never been seen before. Otherwise this CWC2007 has a dreadful air of a sport in decline, and we haven't learned anyhting from it.
Complain about this postDear All,
Adnan and his producer Simon are really impressed with the standard of comments on this blog. And they would love to get some of you on their next programme (on Friday).
If you fancy being on the show and talking to Adnan then please email them at: mcwc@bbc.co.uk
Best wishes,
Alex K
Complain about this postBBC Sport
Thanks for the reply Adnan. I see your point re: lack of close matches. But so far, we've seen 3 close matches in just over 30 - a ratio of 1:10. When you look at ODIs as a whole, do you think it's fair to say that for every 1 match that is close, there's about 10 that aren't?
Personally, I thought that the Ireland v Pakistan match was genuinely 50/50 at the halfway stage. Although the target was only 130 odd, the pitch was still reasonably helpful for the bowlers and the Irish had no experience of winning a game at this level.
As for the Windies - I think everyone wants them to do well, but the harsh reality of it is they simply aren't good enough to get to the semi-finals. A potentially brilliant batting line-up that isn't firing, coupled with the weakest bowling attack left in the tournament (Ireland and Bangladesh aside), is resulting in them being beaten comfortably by teams like Australia and Sri Lanka.
There's still plenty of things to look forward to in this tournament, let's not forget that - the main thing being the sheer openness of it. The top 4 (Aus, SA, SL and NZ) are all so evenly matched that I think it's difficult to pick a winner at the moment.
(Also, apologies for spelling your name incorrectly in my previous post Adnan - a quick glance when I started reading your article obviously wasn't enough for my memory!)
Complain about this postIn this world cup India and pakistan are two major teams to watch. but both teams lost in first round. After these two shocks world cup seems a dull tournament. There are some good cricket left but the duration of this tournament is to long. So passion and cricket atmosphere lost. Icc kills the sprit of the game.
Complain about this postWell said Nawaz, this World Cup 2007 has been very boring in many ways. Certainly it's started with exciting dramas, as Bangladesh beat India and Ireland beat Pakistan. Then the tragic murder of coach woolmer.!But elimination of 2 super teams who always bring fire works during matches hiding out in their home land.
Complain about this postThe teams who eliminated India and Pakistan not showing any urgency in winning any more games. Frequent rain delay, thousands of empty seats, premeditated match results all are making me to ask for refund from my dish net work providers.
So far only one game in the Super 8 had some adrenaline release. Thanks to heroic Malinka! Can anyone stop Australia and New Zeeland dominating performance? Oh yes, they haven't play with any challenging teams! I hope from tomorrow I can see some real cricket matches and ICC do something to bring Fans in each stadium. Don't be fool by sticking with your rules. The team’s needs lots of support from their fans and then only players would have some fun. Otherwise please send out complimentary Prozac(Anti depressant) to all your fans all over the world, including me…..
the world cup has been a shambles aesthitically and atmospherically speaking. the organisation has been terrible, the format is hugely unfair, but the play has been exceptional no doubt about that.
Complain about this postI think its clear to see that all the non-Asian test playing nations are not at all sad pakistan and india have been knocked out especially england. People don't turn up to see ireland v australia,or bangladesh v south africa, they want to see india v south africa, pakistan v australia and dare i say pakistan v india! the cold hard truth no one cares about ireland and bangladesh, the vast majority of cricket fans are asian now, one billion plus and they want to see pakistan and india, inzy and tendulkar.
i am not saying ireland and bangladesh don't deserve a chance, but the format is bad. one bad game effectively and u are out, pakistan played on a green top and were out, india had one off day and were knocked out. They should have had only ten teams all in one group playing seven matches each and the top four progressing to semis, that way u fit all the big games in and the top two minnows also get immense exposure worldwide, plus the world cup won't drag on so much!! The big games which this tournament has been starved off will also be played like pak v aus, ind v sa, and of course pak v ind! 8 test playing nations and the top 2 minnows which would probably be ireland and holland. i think the world cup should be held anywhere else except west indies, what a bad idea, playing a tournament effectively between 13 countries! The play is good though credit to aussies, sri lankans and south africans showing the world how cricket is meant to be played.
I saw Dwayne Leverocks catch and have to say it will be one of the moments i will remember from the WC. I also remember the 4 wicket record being made by Malinga in what made that particular game a lot more exciting.
But surely the dancing celebration from Leverock should have been outlawed by the ICC, who seem to want to stop everyone having fun. I'm surprised he didn't pick up a one-match ban or somthing like that for his over exuberant celebration.
When will sports governing bodies that it's because of crowds, sports events are as good as they are. Take the Ashes with the Barmy Army, Liverpool with the Kop and Ireland at Landsdowne Road(although it's being moved). If you took any of these sets of fans away from the sport or banned them from being as enthusiastic as they are, then the atmosphere at these games would not be the same and may drive other fans away.
Complain about this postMr Andy Plowright, you sir are a scholar and a gentleman, and I am humbled. Every comment you make is precisely on the button, well-informed and sensibly argued.
First of all, what really struck me was whem you mentioned the stumpings and the fielding. I agree, I thought Sangakaara's stumping of Lara off Vaas was a piece of tactical and technical genius. Ona related note, do you think Tom Moody is the most important member of the Sri Lankan squad? He's got those guys so finely tuned in terms of how they react to any situation, how they improvise and create, how they think their way out of potential trouble. What a perfect blend of big hitters, foundation builders, fast bowlers and spinners. A joy. I reckon plenty of it is down to Moody's lateral thinking and inspirational qualities as a coach, but let's alo thank the President of Sri Lanka for making sure Jayasuriya didn't retire.
Some of the fielding is breathtaking I agree, I ,ove thr accuracy with which fielders hit the stumps, it reminds me of a baseballer's throw.
You see, I agree with what you say, but to be perfectly honest with you, for me World Cups are about sooooo much more than pure results and technique. In terms of the game itself, it's about the psychological element of tournament play, in terms of the venue, it's about the atmosphere of the world coming together in a common purpose, and culturally, it's about national identity expressing itself through sport.
For me, much of this makes the West Indies demise in this tournament one of the most intriguing stories of the competition so far, as well as Pakistan and India's total collapse in the group stage.
The one area where some may disagree with you is in the tinkering of the game. I have just heard the South African legend Barry Richards on Test Match Special, talking about an ICC Committee he works on and which he will soon make a report to. It concerns precisely the issue of rule changes to the 50 over game. He didn't divulge every detail of the proposals he was going to make, but he did say that some of the things he was going to do: suggest a change to the fielding restrictions, make a recommendation on the minimum size of the pitch, and argue that the two main bowlers of every team be allowed to bowl 25 overs between them. The next two bowl 20 between them and one other bowler has a quota of 5. That's pretty interesting. Barry's argument, as I understand it, is that it's already too batsman friendly a game. He said he didn't enjoy that so called "Game of the Century" in which SA scored over 400 to beat AUS. Said every single kid who left the stadium will have been dreaming of being a batsman, and not one about being a bowler. Where will the game be without bowlers, he asked......and I digress. He did also agree that cricket is what it is because it is a technician's game, and as his co-commentator said, because it's difficult.
So, all you say is true and correct Andy, but the big problem for me is that the atmosphere is not transmitting itself through the TV and the print media. You should see the paucity of coverage in the newspaper here, it's laughable in my opinion. Without the internet, I'd be sunk. But still, I'm not picking up "the vibe". That's so much of what makes any World Cup so special, and usually the Football World Cup does it so brilliantly, do you remember the pictures of the thousands and thousands in the streets and squares of Seoul in 2002, or the masses at the Barndenburg Gate in 2006? This World Cup more than most was supposed to do the same for cricket. A World Cup in the Caribbean for goodness sake, it's surely like a Golden Goose, you can't fail! But sadly the elusive element that makes an event one that will be remembered (Barcelona Olympics 1992?), compared to one that is soon forgotten (Atlanta 1996?) seems to be lacking at the moment, and it makes for a poor backdrop to the occasion.
My real question, again, is whether the cricket itself can overcome that?
Must go an help the wife put away the shopping now. Bowl a few orange googlies and apple doosras!
Complain about this postSince cricket sold its soul to Rupert Murdoch im afraid it may as well be an intergalactic cup as far as i am concerned.
Complain about this postI and probably millions like me cant afford £35 a month to have the priviledge of watching our national team representing us around the world.
As far as the bbc highlights are concerned i may as well not bother.
English Cricket RIP.
A scholar and a gentleman? I think you'll find 'cricket enthusiast with an intense guitar fetish and a lack of talent for paid work' is closer to my true nature but thanks for the comments anyhow.
Whatever happens during this World Cup, Tom Moody will be seriously hot property when it comes to managerial positions. His part is obvious in the Sri Lankan revival but there's more to the Sri Lankan revival than one man at the helm. 2005 was a hard year for the nation. The tsunami, selection troubles and some board upheaval all contributed to breaking down the togetherness felt within Sri Lankan cricket. The Cricinfo review of Sri Lanka in 2005 gives an excellent appraisal of all that happened and it's my feeling Jayasuriya's retirement came after fighting a lot of other elements. What was clear from the article and performances since that a great deal of rebuilding was done and a focused effort from board to team to get that togetherness back again. No country with a fractured board and internal politics does well. We've seen it with the West Indies and the contract disputes, India, Pakistan and in all too clear terms with the ZCU in recent years. The team spirit must extend beyond the immediate team, it must swamp cricket as a whole. The West Indians are clearly not together. The internal political shenanigans are still going on. Pakistan are split apart. I was amazed by Rameez Raja's comments today that the board should forget having a coach and appoint a captain to take more responsiblity with an assistant coach provided to organise nets! I'll return to this later on. You also had news today of a rival cricket league in India originating from a TV company. Sure, your Test team underperform, your one-day side has underperformed, what Indian cricket needs are more limited-overs matches with no real purpose.
This is the most professional World Cup cricket has ever had in terms of the actual players themselves. I love watching old cricket, watching the 1989 Ashes series hammered home to me how much has changed in terms of perparation and fitness. People say personalities have been lost from the game and this to my mind is a result of an increased professionalism within cricket. For a true personality to survive in the professional era, they must possess a supreme talent. I'm thinking of the Warnes of the world, Murali, Malinga. Professionalism requires dedication to the sport, a colossal effort and I feel it's hard for characters and personalities to be retained in this environment. The days of David Boon chugging beer on long-haul flights are over. It's s shame to lose those elements as the stories make for excellent listening but the 'professional athlete' element has never been stronger or more on display amongst the best sides.
The sides people are disappointed with are the ones who still lack a complete level of professionalism. A side can not get back on natural talent alone. South Africa are not a side most people would say are full of the most talented cricketers about yet their fabulous professionalism makes the full use of all of their talents and they are a superb team. Australia do the same and are still better than SA because they have greater natural talent allied to the same level of professionalism. Of the sides out of the World Cup or who look like dropping out, can they say the same? No chance. The West Indies seem to be less professional than Ireland in terms of preparation and approach to the game. Rameez Raja's comments as I mentioned above are totally evident of a refusal to adopt the professional way. Fine, carry on Rameez, I'd love to see Younis Khan as captain and head coach combined. The pressure on Younis would be immense and the guy would end up a nervous wreck, jumping at shadows and hiding under the duvet every time someone knocked on his hotel room door. Raja's comments were shouts of defiance, they said 'It isn't our system that's messed up, it's trying to take ideas from other countries like a full-time head coach'. Wrong Rameez, very wrong. Keep thinking that the structure of Pakistan cricket is fine and you too will rival the West Indies in the 'Former Cricketing Superpower' sprint. India's problems seem to revolve around the idea of too many people trying to grab too much money. Earning money seems to be an afterthought to improving team performance and the structure of Indian cricket in general.
I'll criticise these countries but it's not as important as criticising the ICC for doing so much to strip the game of personality. The on-field fines, mostly for irate bowlers tired of bowling on docile tracks, the security measures employed at this World Cup and previous ICC events, the lack of action when it comes to Zimbabwe, the lack of convincing leadership... the ICC represents cricket on a worldwide level. I don't think it does a good job and has done a lot of damage to cricket. For instance, the decision to make steel bands register to attend matches for instance in the World Cup robs the venues of something so intrinsically West Indian. I played cricket out in Barbados a few years ago and the atmosphere was fantastic. Locals came and watched, cricket conversations went on and I loved the place. Waking up as I did at 6am and wandering out to the local ground to get some early morning bowling practice, I would see kids going to school and playing cricket. I realised how deep cricket is in the roots of people there. To my mind, the ICC regulations and general steel fist attitude has robbed this World Cup of those roots and those traditions and the tournament is so much poorer for it. If you can have musical instruments at football matches, you can have them at cricket matches. They sound and look so much better than those ridiculous inflatable clapper things advertising a certain carbonated beverage.
The SA-Australia 'Farce of the Century' game was nonsense. It was freakier than a seven-legged cat with the voice of Stephen Fry. Smallish boundaries, run scoring paradise, both sides bowling pretty poorly... a stack of runs got scored. So what? Freak result. Ignore it. For the most part in this World Cup, bowlers have held the upper hand. Good bowling has been rewarded (Bond, Vaas, Malinga, Hogg, Murali etc etc etc) and poor bowling has been spanked. That is how it should be. The contest between bat and ball has been fairly fair, and I speak as an ex-bowler (well, one who might be coming out of retirement this year if his newly reconstructed knee holds up). I think the regulations need a minimum size of boundary, the fielding restrictions work for me right now but Barry, Barry, Barry... two bowlers bowl 25 between them, 2 bowlers bowl 20 and one bowler bowls five. Eh? Gawd, how complex do you want it? For one thing, I think it'd reduce the role of the spinners in 50-over cricket. Face it, in a 50-over match, the two bowlers who would bowl 25 overs would generally be your quick men. The two opening seamers would get the first 10 overs done with the new ball, bowl a fair bit at the end for any reverse swing, maybe pop in to break any partnership developing around overs 20 to 35, your back-up seamers bowl with the still hardish new ball and your spinner... oh, we still have spinners? I think it'd reduce the spinners back to the role of keeping it tight for the pacemen, a scenario that used to be prevalent in one-day cricket before Warne. In the last few years with the rebirth of slow bowling in international cricket, spinners who flight it and vary the pace have been shown to be just as useful as seam bowlers and spin bowling has consequently evolved in the form of the doosra and other variations. You'd get less bowling for some bowlers, your star bowlers would get more bowling when many are already being complained of being overworked and that would affect their performance as a whole over a season. Spare a thought for the captains: fielding restrictions, tactics and then they have to figure out who's bowled what in a more complicated way than ever before.. nah, leave the 10-over limits.
I'd look to change the fielding restrictions, maybe allow three men outside of the circle in the powerplay overs. For me, having fair pitches is the main thing that dictates the 'fairness' between bat and ball and the state of international pitches needs to be reviewed.
You say the atmosphere isn't coming through on TV and in the print media. Is that the fault of the media or the fault of the tournament because the atmosphere isn't there? I debated this last week with a friend and both of us went with the idea that the tournament is too long. We even came up with a tournament structure that cut the number of matches played. 32 teams qualify for the FIFA World Cup. If a team wins the World Cup, they play seven matches, three in the qualifying group, then last 16, last 8, last four and then the final. In the ICC World Cup, a team plays three in the qualifying group stages, seven matches in the Super 8's, a semi-final and then the final, a grand total of 12 matches. It's too many. We went for a structure like this:
Four groups of four teams in the group stages. Each team plays each other twice. This allows the Associate sides to get more games under their belt and reduces the chances of one side managing to get through via one or two shock results. Eight teams qualify for the next stage, a straight knockout. To keep sides playing until the end of the gorup stage, there is an incentive. The top ranked side in each group at the end of the group stage is given the choice of automatically winning the toss in the first knockout stage match and choosing whether to bowl or field or they can toss the coin and leave it to chance if it's one of those pitches where you're happy to lose the toss. It's an odd idea but one I think could work quite well. So a side winning the World Cup plays six group matches, the quarter final, the semi-final and then the final, nine matches in total. The tournament is reduced in length but the intensity is there. There's enough matches there for commercial interests, the Associate sides get more practice against top sides, the top sides get more practice on the local wickets of the area that the tournament is being played and the chance of an Associate side getting through to the next stage on the back of a couple of freak results is reduced. It's just an idea...
And with that, I should probably go to sleep. Good luck with the fruit deliveries, when you've mastereed the pomegranite slider you can be considered a true master.
Complain about this postwhat you on about dull tournement, weve seen 4 wickets in as many bowls, 6 sixes in an over the brilliance of hayden, ireland giving every team they play a game to remember. a 20 stone policeman taking the catch of a lifetime, scotland get eliminated (hee hee) unpredictable weather and pitches for that matter. i dont know what people want, if thats a dull tournement a think people are being very pessamistic.
Complain about this post"Only one truly tense finish in the tournament so far"?! Adnan, I assume you're referring to South Africa's desperate attempt to choke against Sri Lanka. What about Ireland vs Zimbabwe? Is a tie not tense enough for you?
Complain about this postDear Adnan and others, thank you for a very readable blog entry, I've enjoyed reading it and every comment that has followed it!
As for the World Cup itself, I feel that the experience has been homogenised somewhat by the ICC with minimal effort to consider the local populations. To use an example from last year's World Cup in football, open air screenings of the games was arranged in so called "Fan-miles" with performances by popular German music acts too.
Tickets are unreasonably priced in relation to the locals, surely the people should be able to go and see the tournament they are hosting.
The total lack of atmosphere is well documented, partially down to the high prices of tickets, and also partially to do with what has become known as the Fun Police. In reality these are mostly volunteer stewards and stewardesses who are only following the instructions they are given from above, but it is a massive wet towel over a tournament that was only twinkling embers to start with. The image that demonstrates this the best is by the pool in the party stand in Antigua, on the wall in large black letters is painted "capacity 20 people ONLY", "no drink allowed in pool" and other instructions.
Part of watching cricket in the West Indies is hearing the steel drums playing incessantly and the conch being given a blast inbetween deliveries or when Mister Lara scores a run, and to take that away takes away the very point of being in that beautiful part of the world. The tourism boards on each island will gain more of a legacy from this tournament with their flashy adverts interjecting the live action every few overs than prospective local cricketers will gain inspiration.
The standard of cricket has been generally good given the pitches afforded to the teams on show. True, most people foresaw a lack of pace, but the ball really has not come on to the bat well at all, nor has it done all that much for the bowlers, Shane Bond aside.
There have been some memorable performances by the so called lesser teams, such as Dwayne Leverock's bowling and catch, Ireland's win over Pakistan and the improved performances of Bangladesh. While the non-presence of India and Pakistan have hurt the tournament commercially, it is clear that the ICC intended this stage to include the 8 major test playing nations, the fact Kenya made the semi-finals 4 years go, and Ireland and Bangladesh made it to this stage now shows that sport is unpredictable. Who would have expected Greece to win Euro 2004 for example? It is good for the feeling of the tournament, if not the coffers. Sadly, the latter is all the ICC are interested in, whether rightly or wrongly.
There is a reason this tournament is dragging on for so long: Money. No more than one game is played per day at this stage, so that every one can be televised. Even in the groups, two a day was the maximum, and given that there is about a 25% chance one of them was two of the minnows against each other, that wasn't such a problem.
This entire tournament has already had the massive and tragic shadow of Bob Woolmer's death cast over it, and as such it was hardly likely to be remembered as the best ever. However, a massive chance has been missed to make a memorable tournament for some good reasons too.
Oh, and Adnan: If you can bowl googlies and doosras with a cricket ball, let alone fruit, then you are a better man than I am!
Complain about this postIf ICC want's future WC's to succeed they should change the rules to provide Wild card entry in the 'Super 8' to two countries-India and Pakistan.The sheer size of the following in the two sub-continent nations will ensure the crowd and the money,which are essential for any tounament's success.
Complain about this postARUN METHA,
Entry into the super eights should be on merit only.
Complain about this postI am finding the cricket world cup totally boring after watching a few matches near the start, have not bothered to watch anything since, not even the England games. I check what the score is but thats about it.
Without decent crowds, there is no atmosphere, even when watching on TV. It is a dull tournament. In fact I think this world cup, for whatever reason is killing off alot of peoples interest and passion for cricket.
One day cricket recently has become a very boring affair, caused alot by the increase in the amount of 20 20 cricket that is played.
One day cricket is now suffering from what I would call the "Pete Sampras effect". Lots of people used to complain that Tennis had become boring because of ace after ace after ace. Now all cricket seems to be for me is 4 after 4 or 6 after 6. Cricket has become boring.
Complain about this postThere is alot more to it than just hitting 4's and 6's.
There doesn't seem to be a lot of depth to world cricket at the moment and sometimes watching Australia reminds me of watching the Harlem Globetrotters. I was fascinated up until the age of 7 or 8 but then realised there needed to be real competition to make things interesting.
Complain about this postLet's not forget also how boring the football world cup was last year - perhaps this dullification of our great sporting events is now endemic across all genres - the ICC and other governing bodies are too hands on. These tournaments are about the fans as much as the players, and with so many restrictions now in place fans are no longer allowed to express themselves, and subsequently the players lack motivation and support. Everything is becoming more sanitised and stage managed - the Ashes Parade in Trafalgar Square two years ago is a perfect example of this - how embarrassing does that look now? Press, PR people and men in suits deciding for us how we should feel and react. Leave us alone to enjoy our sport and sporting heroes as we see fit, and once again these tournaments will flourish.
Complain about this post'Only one exciting finish in the tournament so far' Adnan? I was on the edge of my seat for both the tie between Ireland and Zimbabwe aswell as the 4 in 4 for malinga in the sri lanka/South Africa game!
Complain about this postYou're spot on. I reckon if it was a knock out tournament after the first round, it would improve things infinitely. You would then be guaranteed at least 7 games(8 with a 3/4 place play-off) with something really at stake for both teams before the game. You up the stakes, you up the passion. Winning the world cup should be all about the team who seizes the moment, not the one who grinds it out over a couple of months. Also would have saved the minnows from the begrudgers.
Complain about this postfootball definitely rules..but maybe one day, i will get to understand what all the hulabaloo about cricket is...
Complain about this postWell said Adnan, I think you pretty much covered all bases there.
Overall this World Cup has been a disappointment mainly because it had sooooooo much potential. Speaking of cricketing issues only, the biggest disappointment has to be the small crowds. The people who set the ticket prices can obviously not be cricket lovers. How can the typical carribean local be expected to support the matches at US$60 (30 quid) a go. It is nothing but greed that has determined those prices.
Why do they ban drums etc. That is like stopping people from shouting. Also banning food is just more corporate businessmen trying to get fat out of the game. Though I am assuming here that the prices of the food on offer is again extortionate for local pockets.
The whole thing was supposed to be such a breath of fresh air. More like a festival than tournament that would sell itself but it has been smothered by commercialism. I don't know the full story but I feel very sorry for the Carribean as this was their party as well but it is as though they are not invited.
I don't care too much for the seeds that got knocked, only have themselves to blame. The ICC may consider bigger group stages though with more points carried over to a shorter super eight perhaps as no one wants to watch mis-matches.
The powers that be should admit they have messed up and open the doors. Despite cricket having to compete with far less sophisticated but wealthier sports, mainly football and pointless american sports, doesn't mean they should squeeze the WC dry, which is what they are doing. As I said early the competition had so much potential to succeed and does still they just need to allow it to.
Come on minnows and come on England!!
Complain about this postWhere are the fans?
The attendence -- judging from the TV pics -- to the games is terrible.
This WC's a flop.
Complain about this postWas only saying to friends over the weekend that the tournament just seems tro be plodding along.
It needs something to kick start it big time.
Plus whoever organised the matches needs a slap. WestIndies playing 3 of their matches so far when England for example have only played the one.
And what a shame that the famed Caribbean atmosphere is totally non-existent.
Complain about this postThis article seems horribly negative to me.
It's fair enough to blame the organisers for the lack of atmosphere in the grounds: it shouldn't have been too difficult for them to do some market research and work out in advance what would put bums on seats. TV viewers like to see full grounds.
But to blame them for a lack of "defining match-ups" in the early stages is naive. If you have 16 teams in a competition, there will be exactly 15 "defining match-ups", each resulting in one team being eliminated. The fact that you don't know in advance which particular match will define your tournament in ultimate fashion is incentive to play your best cricket every match, which is the best fans can hope for.
You can't expect top teams in any sport to take seriously any competition where they might travel half way across the world, lose their first match to good opposition and have to travel home again. So a straight knock-out from the word go just won't work.
Carrying one of your group results into the Super Eights is a great idea. You're unlikely to be certain in advance which group game will count in S8, so you play hard every match. If you can be certain which result will be carried forward, you play even harder for that match.
The majority of the crucial defining match-ups are going to come later. Any sports fan who's watched the final stages of any big sporting tournament - cricket, football, rugby, whatever - knows that big games can come at any time, but will definitely come towards the end.
Patience is a virtue for the sports fan, and will bring its reward. On top of that, the apparently less "passionate" early matches give the best players the chance to find their form in the prevailing conditions, and ensure that these players will be at their peak when it must matter. Throw in the chance for a few shocks and the opportunity for lesser nations to develop, and I think the organisers found a very good format indeed.
Complain about this postThe ICC are a disgrace and are killing cricket as a spectator sport (as opposed to a television sport). They don't deserve to make any money for their shameless attempts to rip off fans and take any fun out of going to watch cricket matches. They claim to have banned people bringing alcohol and musical instruments for "safety reasons", but hypocritically continue to sell alcohol in venues at rip-off prices. Would the ICC care to tell give us some statistics as to number of accidents/incidents caused by spectators bringing their own alcohol and musical instruments to games?
Complain about this postArun Metha,
Complain about this postWild Card entry for India AND Pakistan? No way! Anyone entering Super 8 should be based on best performance/merit - Chidis statement. I would like to see both of these teams entering the Super 8, but not by any short cut.
Now, why are we all getting bore by this World cup? Because there is no real contest between the two team playing matches in Super8- Other than SA VS SL. If Ireland and Bangladesh play like a super8 team, then no one in the world should be worrying about India and Pakistan. As a cricket fan everyone wanted to see the nail biting end - not just series of 4s and 6s but excellent fielding, stumping and balling. We are in the search for that fun! Hope today game is going to fit in to that category!
The exitement that was evident in the 1999 World cup is lacking from this tornament. Evident Factors:
1. ICC restrictions causing people to stay away
2. Bob Woolmers Murder has soured proceedings
3. West Indies and England have shown no stomach or passion for the fight. Reasons:
a) Lara is a very poor captain, he is the West Indies version of Boycott in that respect
b) Vaughan has not motivated his troops in the same way that he did in 2005. If Fletcher is pulling the strings here, then no wonder, he is past his sell by date as a coach
We should be doing everything we can to entice Tom Moody away from Sri Lanka - He is a good coach and will carry forward Australian philosophy regarding team spirit and winning
Complain about this postThe ICC must acknowledge this World Cup has been an utter and complete failure, in every way, shape and form.
Cricket itself is suffering and is a worth of object of ridicule.
Everything from the schedule at large down to the prices on drinks.
Make no mistake : this was due to be a glorious carnival and celebration of the game and the host nation. A chance to showcase the game, the Carribean and people of the West Indies.
Instead, it is testimony to growing greed and incompetence of the ICC, it's member nations and its players.
Pointing out entertaining individual performances is wholly irrelevant.
Ticket prices, the ensuing empty stands apart from a few drunks in the corner, the limited TV access all must have the sponsors FUMING.
As I type, I'm listening to poor old Aggers trying to breath some life into what is clearly a weak spectacle.
I only hope the ICC reap the just rewards for over milking the cash cow that is the internation limited overs format.
Complain about this postDespite the disappointment of the world cup i am still focusing all my enthusiasm on the tournament and am still managing to enjoy it the best i can. There is alot of potential left in it and i hope it gets fulfilled.
There have been some great moments as have been mentioned such as the 6 6's, the 4 wicket avalanche, Leverocks catch and Watson's stumping. Defenders of the tournament are right to quote these but i cannot help but think that these incidents are 'out of place' rather than 'fit' for this tournament. It makes me chuckle when i consider all the great tournaments in the past that this is the one that hosts these amazing feats. On the other side of the coin though i am glad they happened here because it gives this tournament some great positive points for discussion rather than the shambles it has been and the tragic and despicable murder of Bob Woolmer, RIP.
I am not going to regurgitate all the reasons why the ICC have ruined it, they have been well covered previously but i will say that i am amazed they went the route that they did.
It was obvious that the home crowds were paramount to the atmosphere of this tournament. Not just because of the great West Indian tradition and passion for the sport but also geographically. A tournament in South Africa or India for example is quite central in terms of the main cricketing nations and more favourable for ease and expense of the travelling fans. The WI on the other hand is a long distance for most fans to travel and so i imagine (i do not know figures) that may have prevented alot of usual travelling fans from other nations from doing so and subsequently adopt to stay at home and watch on TV.
For that reason accomodating the WI fans was essential but instead they have supressed their tradion and cricket culture, out priced them and in my opinion disrespected them by over management and shameless greed for profit. I could think of no better place for a world cup to be held than the Windies and i was counting down the days to this tournament. If the fans were allowed to watch cricket how they wish then the attendences would be full and the atmosphere would be electric and this atmosphere and enthusiasm would in turn transmit to the players and i am certain we would have seen more exciting games too.
Instead we have what we see now. I am gutted to be honest, but it is still more exciting than the last football world cup although that was not hard. I can only say lets wait until the tournament ends before we make a final verdict. Things may pick up yet.
Complain about this postJust heard they are giving some free tickets out for the England / Sri Lanka. A drastic step but so much better. They aren't going to lose anything if the drinks prices are as high as they say. Something like that had to be done, particularly for a 6 week contest with a mile of expectation attached.
Hopefully they will be allowed to make a racket as well.
Complain about this postBobbey (comment 43), that's great news, free tickets is a great start. I'm sure the ICC is taking note of all the criticism from all over the world and will take some action to improve the situation regarding atmosphere and attendance.
Michael D (comment 42) you're very close to my own opinions and I too feel it is a bit too early to make any defintive judgements about the tournament, and certainly the ICC still has time to turn things around. I remain very hopeful that redemption awaits the 2007 WC. As we move through the Super 8 stage, the stakes will naturally increase, and England and Sri Lanka are serving up a real treat at the moment! Now this is a nailbiter! It's got everything.
Also, to everyone else who has pointed out my error in claiming there had been only ONE truly close finish (SA v SL), I again hold my hand up and admit ZIM v IRE had totally slipped my mind, but in a perverse way that may well be part of the integral problem of the scheduling.....too many games, and the more that are played, the more they blur into one another. Clearly there has been much that has been very very good about the tournament, and all my other blogs have celebrated this wonderful, addictive game, but we all have moments of doubt, and this was mine.
Lots of excellent, very incisive comments, I'm very much enjoying all your analyses and your recommendations.
Adnan
Complain about this postIs it me or can you sense a change in the commentators since the well considered change in ticket prices. Almost relief like!!
No better time than the present!
Six to somebody!!
What a quality game this is and what the whole thing is about!
Hopefully we will get to relax a bit and just enjoy the tournament, get off the minnows backs and see if anyone can beat the Aussies!! ;-)
Complain about this postJesus Christ!, Those Sri Lankan lads are doing some good. This is what you get when determination and skill meets passion and a little luck. Well done SL. Good fight Bopara, U da MAN!~
Interesting contrast these SL boys, beating them likes of India and PAkis to the 8s. But hey, there are a pure unadulterated team whereas the cosmopolitan model ad agenc models/players are easily playing for the paypacket. learn a lesson or two plz. GooD GamE
Complain about this postShame about the result from an English point of view. Bit of a lottery any last ball victory. Really good game though. Looking forward to the Aussie game. That will be decisive.
Complain about this postShame about the result from an English point of view. Bit of a lottery any last ball victory. Really good game though. Looking forward to the Aussie game. That will be decisive.
Complain about this postThere seemed a few more fans at the SL game but the stadium was still more than half empty -- especially in the seats.
Everyone must have been down the beach :-P
Complain about this postThe commentators said that having Strauss in place of Joyce was like for like but surely the reason for bringing back Strauss is not that his batting is better but that his fielding is far superior to that of Joyce. Obviously had Joyce been scoring well this would not have been so significant.
Regards
Linda Briggs
Complain about this postLondon NW2 4BL