What a world cup it has been, a huge relief to the ICC after the shameful affair of 2007 at West Indies. And the doomsayers of the ODIs can eat their words, after the upsets and interesting matches of the League Stage of this tournament. Tomorrow, the last two matches are to be played, and still the fixture of the knock-outs is not decided.
The most interesting part has been evident in the Group 'B', termed the Group of death, and the Group of Death it has proved to be. England loses to minnows Bangladesh and Ireland, but manages a win against South Africa, who end up at the top of the table. South Africa can hold their nerves against India, but lose it to the English. The Windies trounce the Bangladesh, but have not shown the guts against any of the higher tiered ones. And last, the Indians have managed to overcome the hiccups to stay at the second position. The best part was the India-England Tie and the Irish putting a hold to the English, that too chasing a huge total.
Cricket has always been termed the game of incertainties. But, Aussies; since the time I began understanding it, have had so dominated over it. And especially, when was the last time they lost in a WC!! If you cannot remember it, it was against Pakistan, in 1999 WC, England. And the Kangaroos avenged that defeat then and there, and by trouncing them.
Since, India lost to them in 2003 WC finals, I doubt any true Indian supporter might have wanted the Aussies to see winning any single match. But today, I think most of us were looking forward to see them win, as none of us want the Men in Blue clash the Aussies in the knock-out stage, as the best predictable permutation suggests.
As far as cricket is concerned, this world cup of 2011 has been the best advocate of true cricketing spirit, and the game itself, especially the ODIs. I hope, the supporters of 'Scrap-ODI-Theory' shall stop buzzing around for a while.
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