Ind, Aus, SA and NZ should make it to semis
By Richard Hadlee
Now as we slowly and steadily approach the Business End of the World Cup, the competition turns to a new degree. A new level. A lesser margin for error.Everything boils down to playing and sustaining yourself well for 21 hours if you bring it down to efforts per match it is playing well for seven hours on a given day. Those seven hours are very crucial as even if an inform team falters during the period, they are suddenly under pressure and at times face a dramatic exit. It is one of the cruel aspects of World Cup cricket and even at the cost of repeating myself I would like to drive home the point and again. That only a period of seven hours can ruin your entire Cup preparation for four years is really sad but that’s the way it is.Now before I talk about the quarters let me try and pick my semi finalists. I fancy Australia playing India at Sydney. The other semi final at Auckland should be between New Zealand and South Africa. Beyond this I do not like to hazard a guess at this stage.I have always been impressed with the batting exploits of a Kumar Sangakkara. He is truly one of the greats of the modern era. But I reckon even Sangakkara’s brilliance won’t be enough to stop South Africa when they meet at Sydney to decide on the Semi Finalist.
In another quarter final at Wellington, we play the fourth team from Group B. It should not be difficult for us to get past them. I thought it was good for New Zealand that they were fully tested in their last group league match. Bangladesh gave them admirable competition. They pushed New Zealand really hard. It was extremely refreshing to see them fighting it out with the toppers from the group. I thought Bangladesh amply demonstrated that night at Hamilton that they deserved to be at the last eight.This young Mahmudullah has really impressed me. He is a world class player. I liked the poise and the quality of stroke play he exhibited. This innings from Mahmudullah is right up with the best hundreds that this World Cup has witnessed. What for me was most striking was that he looked impressive against an attack that almost easily dominated all other teams in the group. But despite his presence and the spirit shown by the Bangladesh team I can’t see them getting past India at Melbourne. Spirit alone can’t win you big matches. You need solid firepower in your bowling to make a difference in such crunch matches. I am afraid, to counter India’s truly top class batting the Bangladeshi bowling has to be more menacing. To me, they seem little fragile when you think of the enormous task in their hands. I would give India a 70 per cent chance of winning this match and advancing to the Semis at Sydney. At Sydney however Australia will be difficult to beat and it will be a mouthwatering clash.
In New Zealand there has been tremendous interest, enthusiasm and passion that the World Cup has generated. It has been a real spectacle and according to me the bestest World Cup ever.
An Indian journalist asked me the other day Sir Richard, seeing so much passion for the game in your country did you ever feel tempted? Did you ever think, wish I was also playing? I laughed out loud and replied, One harbours no such illusions. After all I am sixty four now and next year qualify for a pension. I thought he got his answer!