So the 2007 Cricket World Cup is almost upon us and with it the prospect of some severe mismatches between the 8 heavyweight test playing nations and the flyweight ICC teams there just to make up the numbers. Or so you might think....
Despite their relative lack of quality, there is more than enough evidence to suggest that one or more of the lesser fancied sides might upset one of the big boys in the coming weeks. One of the reasons is the nature of Carribean pitches, which are no longer the fast and bouncy wickets of yesteryear. Whereas 20 years ago, visiting batsman could gaze down at a West Indies wicket and see their reflection in a gleaming, grassless surface; now their view will encompass a worn out piece of baked mud devoid of any real life. On such surfaces, the lesser bowler can be just as much of a handful as the test specialist, since the lack of pace makes it that much harder for batsmen to score their runs.
The spinner also comes into his own on these wickets and anyone who witnessed Bermudan Policeman Dwayne Leverock luring the mighty Kevin Pietersen to his doom can see that the slow bowlers will have a significant effect on this years tournament. Leverock's post match comment that he thought Pietersen was looking to 'tuck-in' to him said it all - anybody who tries to steal food from the gigantic left-arm tweaker is indeed a foolish man.
As well as helpful conditions to boost their chances, the ICC nations themselves have improved greatly in recent years. All the ICC teams in the World cup have been playing regular 50 over cricket in the ICC World League with Kenya proving the outstanding side, and their narrow loss to the West Indies yesterday attests to that. Ireland are also very competitive and in 2004 they beat the West Indies and Surrey in the space of 5 weeks, easily chasing down totals in excess of 260. They gave South Africa a torrid time this week after bowling them out for 192 and would have undoubtedly won but for Andrew Hall's heroics.
Scotland, Holland and Canada are all dangerous and capable of pulling off an upset if they catch a big side having a bad day. From the test playing section, Bangladesh will prove a major threat to any side showing a complacent attitude and their one-day cricket in particular continues to improve apace. New Zealand found this out to their cost yesterday and after thrashing the Australians 3-0 in their recent home series, Stephen Fleming's men have certainly experienced the highs and lows of this enduringly unpredictable game.
So an upset is definitely on the cards. Without tempting fate, and whilst praying that England aren't one of the unfortunate victims, I'll have a cheeky wager that there will be at least one shock result and that any one of Kenya, Ireland and Bangladesh will be the source.
Wello
