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Craig HillThis week at the World Cup
March 20th 2007 11:14
Pakistan’s early exit from the tournament has been overshadowed by Bob Woolmer’s premature passing on Sunday night. The sad events provided a timely reminder to all that even though we are in the midst of the World Cup, the jewel in cricket’s international calendar, it is only a game after all. Perhaps the effigy burners and those pleading the vast injustices of their country’s exit from the World Cup at whatever stage of the tournament can be reminded that it not their God given right to have a successful team all of the time.
Ireland proved that the minnows of world cricket can match it on the big stage with an amazing victory over Pakistan. Their bowling was excellent and their batting plucky enough to get them over the line. It may well be that Australia’s players will be lining up against their former colleagues from Sydney Grade cricket in Johnston, Langford-Smith and Bray in the Super 8s. These three products of the Sydney grade cricket system are now all qualified Irish players having done their apprenticeships here in Australia.
Freddie Flintoff appears to have taken his Jack the Lad image within the England cricket set up one step too far in capsizing his watercraft at 4am in the morning after a night on the town. It is not the offence itself that has caused the most consternation among England management but the timing of the indiscretion. Had Flintoff been out on the bottle after a rollicking victory or heaven forbid a tournament victory then his antics, much like his post 2005 Ashes celebration, would have been accepted as part of his outgoing persona. That his team had just been well beaten by New Zealand and need to win both of their next two fixtures to qualify for the next round and give themselves a chance at extending their improving recent record was deemed appropriate enough to cost Flintoff his vice captaincy.
This week also saw shanging fortunes for two different characters at this World Cup in the second of the group fixtures. Sewag, on the verge of being left out of the Indian side, compiled a lightening century against Bermuda and Dwayne Levercock of English tabloid headline fame due to his physique was bought back down to earth with numbing figures of 1-96 from his ten overs against Sewag's onslaught. His tremendous catch will remind him however fleetingly of his ability to match it with the best.
Ireland proved that the minnows of world cricket can match it on the big stage with an amazing victory over Pakistan. Their bowling was excellent and their batting plucky enough to get them over the line. It may well be that Australia’s players will be lining up against their former colleagues from Sydney Grade cricket in Johnston, Langford-Smith and Bray in the Super 8s. These three products of the Sydney grade cricket system are now all qualified Irish players having done their apprenticeships here in Australia.
Freddie Flintoff appears to have taken his Jack the Lad image within the England cricket set up one step too far in capsizing his watercraft at 4am in the morning after a night on the town. It is not the offence itself that has caused the most consternation among England management but the timing of the indiscretion. Had Flintoff been out on the bottle after a rollicking victory or heaven forbid a tournament victory then his antics, much like his post 2005 Ashes celebration, would have been accepted as part of his outgoing persona. That his team had just been well beaten by New Zealand and need to win both of their next two fixtures to qualify for the next round and give themselves a chance at extending their improving recent record was deemed appropriate enough to cost Flintoff his vice captaincy.
This week also saw shanging fortunes for two different characters at this World Cup in the second of the group fixtures. Sewag, on the verge of being left out of the Indian side, compiled a lightening century against Bermuda and Dwayne Levercock of English tabloid headline fame due to his physique was bought back down to earth with numbing figures of 1-96 from his ten overs against Sewag's onslaught. His tremendous catch will remind him however fleetingly of his ability to match it with the best.
Levercock screamer
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Comment by Glen Atwell
It probably cost Bob Woolmer his life.
Ireland proved nothing. Wrong place, right time.
What do you think?
Comment by DavidH
Defending the indefensible
Interesting theory and with Pakistan's chequered history in the World Cup you might be right.
Try telling Ireland that though!!
I suspect they will never find the killer, or if they do arrest someone it will be some poor innocent soul who cops the blame and the jail sentence.
cricketnews.com.au
Comment by Anonymous
AuSsIe AsSiE AuSsIe
Oi Oi Oi