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Previous Stories Why Cricketers Are More Sporting Than Golfers A cracking tournament in Dhaka New Zealand cricket is on track Taranaki Ignore the Distractions An Extraordinary Sporting Family Another New Cricketing Experience Dave Eats His Crow - A First Time For Everything Black Caps Are Not Strictly For The Birds Not Beefing, Just Disappointed There Are None So Blind That Will Not See A Matter of A Satisfactory Start Horse Laughs and Crocodile Tears A Slow Over Rate Means A Slow Team
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7 & 8 June, New Zealand v Zimbabwe It's true you can't do anything about the weather but it doesn't make it any easier to take when you have Zimbabwe on the ropes and the rain sets in. Headingley was the scene of one of our great sporting triumphs when we beat England first time in 1983. Tea was taken on the last day with four needed to win and clouds looming. Not long after the celebrations started it poured down. This time the weather had its revenge and the scenario is not unlike 1992, when Pakistan were rolled for 71 at Adelaide and then before England could knock off the simple task, it poured there. In Adelaide! Pakistan escaped with a point that was totally undeserved and ultimately won the World Cup. Maybe Zimbabwe can do the same? Not likely on their form against us. Once again we bowled and fielded superbly and their batsmen were simply not up to it. Geoff Allott was again outstanding and is looking more like the great Australian Alan Davidson at every outing. It was good to see Chris Cairns mop up the tail with his disguised slower deliveries. He is really deceptive, the most adept at the end of an innings. It would be ideal to see him open up with pace on the new ball, then close with his variations of pace. It becomes imperative now for New Zealand to beat both South Africa and India. On the form displayed by Azhar and his boys at Old Trafford we have a real job on our hands. 9 June, India v Pakistan The Indian batting was very solid against an attack that curiously lacked some of the firepower of previous outings. Shaoib Akhtar was distinctly slower, and Saqlain again come in for heavy punishment. Tendulkar again showed his class although some ordinary strokes were mixed with pure gems. He should have resumed his proper place at number four but the injury to Ganguly required him to open again. I would not risk such a priceless package in English conditions but as it happened the subdued Pakis were unable to break through early. How hard did they try? On the day it was Dravid who stood out for his classical purity but I was especially pleased that Azhar himself got among the runs. He was patient and determined, taking 16 deliveries to get off the mark but thereafter steering his side through to a competitive total. In the field India at last got everything right. Their ground work was improved and their catching excellent, with one exception. Most significantly, they got the bowling order into place. Mohanty was outstanding at the top of the innings with Srinath, and although Prasad had to appear after six overs he was able to carry on to bowl with Kumble when the field could drop back after the first 15 overs. As a result Prasad came up with his best ever figures, conceding only 27 runs while he took his five splendid wickets. Kumble was miserly as ever and Srinath came back with a rush to produce the excellent result of 3 for 37 from his eight overs. The absence of Ganguly was not felt, for Robin Singh was able to stay under four runs per over against the strangely subservient Pakistani batsmen. Before the match Wasim Akram came out with one of the more astonishing comments when he said that Pakistan were treating this game as a practice. They didn't mind whether they chased or not, and he felt that it was a "good toss to lose." Unless you place the most sinister connotation on these remarks they must remain extraordinarily ingenuous. Perhaps the loss of three successive matches is now preying upon the Pakis? They were unconcerned about their loss to Bangladesh, treating it as some kind of largesse. Then South Africa put paid to them and now India, surely a match they would really have loved to win. 10 June, Australia v Zimbabwe Australia has recovered most of their lost ground with their win in the high scoring frolic at Lord's. Zimbabwe had never previously played at headquarters, which was reflected in their decision to field first. Mark Waugh, now in his very best form, played another handsome knock and there was support right down the order. A target of 300 plus was always unrealistic but the Zimbabweans put up a brave show. Neil Johnson achieved the unusual feat of the man of the match despite his team's loss, a tribute to a superb unbeaten century. He and Goodwin set a new second wicket record for their country and in the process kept the prospect of an unlikely win almost alive. Upcoming Form is counting for everything now. The rain has upset New Zealand's continuity so that runs, becoming prolific for other teams, are in short supply for the Kiwis. It makes their task difficult for after South Africa they have to also beat an upbeat India to be sure of the semifinals. The permutations are becoming fascinating. India is dependent on other results to get through, although beating New Zealand is a pre-requisite. It will not be enough on its own. If the other teams beat each other the final standings may result in South Africa & Pakistan 6, NZ & Zimbabwe 5 each. This would depend on NZ beating South Africa, then Pakistan over Zimbabwe, India over New Zealand, and South Africa defeating Australia. Reverse these results and you can have all manner of different tables and semifinalists. There is one appealing consolation for me, historical statistics. Each time a bowler has taken eighteen wickets in a World Cup his side has gone on to win the Cup. Roger Binny in 1983, Craig McDermott in 1987, Wasim Akram in 1992 and now Geoff Allott in 1999. It is a delightful statistic and one I would love to dine out on! Send Dave some feedback on his provocative comments. | ||||||
