The Super Six round - a review of who's left.... (3 June 1999)
The Super Six round - a review of who's left...
03-Jun-1999
3 June 1999
The Super Six round - a review of who's left....
Colin Croft
Let me begin by saying that I believe that the best equipped six
cricketing nations in the World Cup qualified for the second
round. I also think that they have special individual qualities,
some of which I will address here. For those who have been
eliminated, there are also glaring reasons why they just could
not cut it. More on that later.
Oh, before I go on, let me reiterate two things I had said before
a ball was bowled in this competition. Indeed, I am proud that I
had actually forecast them.
Firstly, I had mentioned that there were going to be at least
two, probably three, upsets in the preliminary tournament. There
were three. Unfavoured Zimbabwe beat both more favoured India
and favourites South Africa. Bangladesh pulled an absolute
stunner on Pakistan. Luckily for me, I was doing commentary for
radio and television on India/Zimbabwe and Pakistan/Bangladesh.
Both were excellent games, but the last game of the qualifying
rounds, Pakistan/Bangladesh, was the best game of the tournament
so far. Read on.
Secondly, my predictions may yet come through that Pakistan,
South Africa, India and New Zealand might meet in the semi-finals, even
though Zimbabwe seem to be trying to make a great run for it.
Whatever happens, I had also forecast a Pakistan/South Africa
final. That still looks on the cards. I am smiling now. I wish
that I had bet something on it. I would be smiling all the way,
to and from, the bank.
INDIA:
This is probably the best mixture of youth, experience and
cool-headedness. Mohammed Azharuddin has nearly as many one day
international appearances to his credit as a year has days. How
one survives that long with the travels, the travails, the
tribulations and the pressure on and off the field, especially
when one is captain of a cricket team representing one of the
largest populations and cricket-mad democracies in the world, is
amazing. I wonder how those people, supposed fans, who "booed"
him so lustily at Leicester, when India lost to Zimbabwe, now
feel. Azhar does not deserve that, not after his superb efforts,
production and tremendous longevity. His team has bounced back
well.
India does have in its team, though, probably the most talented
trio of batsmen in the world today. Saurav Ganguly and Rahul
Dravid have stamped their class on this competition as none
other. Ganguly has the added advantage of being something of a
budding genuine all-rounder. One must give his captain special
praise for having the courage to use him so much in the
preliminary games as a bowler. Sachin Tendulkar is that third
batsman, but not in that order. He is better than the other two,
if only by temperament, and perhaps class too. Very few people
would have withstood his recent bereavement and responsibilities
so well. "When the going gets tough, the tough gets going."
Sachin is also due for another "big one."
The supporting crew in India's games is also a splendid one.
Fast bowlers Srinath, Mohanty and
Prasad have become progressively better and more organized with
the white ball as the competition proceeded. Robin Singh, whose
batting has failed, is, however, useful with the ball, as is Ajay
Jadeja. Jadeja is now, strangely for one so young, an "elder
statesman", a cool headed batsman, to counteract the hot blood of
Ganguly and Dravid.
Wicket-keeper Naim Mongia and Anil Kumble have been brilliant in
their own way. Kumble is probably the hardest spin bowler to get
off the playing square by the batsmen. Ajit Agarkar and Sandopan
Ramesh promise much more than they have delivered. Please
remember that the competition is not yet over. India are gelling
well and will fight to the death. One thing is very obvious.
They are enjoying their cricket. They probably smile more than
any other team in the competition.
PAKISTAN:
If Pakistan's cricketers all play to their full potential, there
is no cricket team in the world who could even come close to
them. No other team has such brilliant natural talent.
There is no better bowler of the white ball than Pakistan's
captain, Wasim Akram. His captaincy has also captured even the
critics as he knows, better than anyone else, how mercurial and
enigmatic his players could be. I would even nominate Wasim as
the best overall player in the 1999 Cricket World Cup. My
reasoning is simple. If we speak about all-rounders, he must be
mentioned in the first three. If we speak about bowlers alone,
he must be mentioned in the first three. If we speak of batsmen
alone, he will be mentioned in the first ten. If we speak of
captains, he must be mentioned in the first three. Therefore,
Wasim is the best player overall in the tournament. No-one else
has nearly as many of those credentials.
Shoaib Akhtar is fast, furious and scary. If he really listens
and learns from Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram, he will be the
fastest, and probably the best in the world for some time to
come. He and his team are ably supported by two of the best
all-rounders in the tournament, the hitherfore unheralded Azhar
Mahmood and Abdul Razzaq. These two will become world beaters in
time. Their poise as batsmen only is probably more balanced than
many outright batsmen. Shahid Afridi, like Robin Singh of India,
has not come on here as expected. He is still a great talent and
is scheduled to come good for the Super Six games with his
explosive hitting. That could also be said for Yousuf Youhanna,
who has had only one good innings so far, Salim Malik, Ijaz Ahmed
and even Saeed Anwar, perhaps the best opening batsmen in the
world.
Moin Khan and Inzimam-ul-Haq are just peaking, even if Inzy does
have this great propensity to undermine his team's efforts with
run outs. Moin is probably the world's best cheer-leading
wicket-keeper, if not the world's best wicket-keeper, period.
What a boost he is to his team.
Mushtaq Ahmed has not yet had a part to play with his
leg-spinners, but his spinning partner, Saqlain Mushtaq is
probably the most mesmerising player in the World Cup. Few of
the batsmen know how to handle him, as he is not altogether an
off-spinner, nor is he a leg break bowler. He is simply
confusing, but excellent.
The one admirable fact about Pakistan is that they could almost
always put out a team which is settled and confident. Despite
losing that game to Bangladesh, they must be a great bet now to
win the entire thing.
That game against Bangladesh needs special mention.
I think that Pakistan started the game against Bangladesh
expecting to roll them over for maybe 100 or so. However, the
Banglas surprised them and us. They came out extremely positive.
Perhaps the sacking of Gordon Greenidge the day previously had
something to do with it, as their team meeting before that
fantastic game was the only one for the entire World Cup in which
they could all understand each other, since it was conducted in
their own language, Bangla, as opposed to English, which few of
them could speak well and understand anyway; GG's
Hampshire/Barbadian accent does not help here.
Before you knew it, they had already bolted from Pakistan. By
the time the Banglas actually got to 223, it was over bar the
shouting. Pakistan tried to close the door, but the Banglas
were already off and running. I think that the Pakistanis started
panicking when they batted, as there were three run-outs, and
some near misses. This was no ploy nor sell out. When Wasim
Akram ran past Azhar Mahmood, both heading in the same direction
as the Bangladeshi captain, Aminul Islam, brought off a splendid
piece of fielding, the resulting run out of Azhar was actually
accompanied by Wasim cursing loudly and fluently in Urdu and
actually throwing his bat to the ground in disgust. That was not
planned, I promise you.
I am convinced that the Pakistanis were beaten by complacency,
complacency which they eventually tried to harness one third of
the way into the game, but much too late for the piece. As Wasim
suggested, perhaps it is good that they had their worst day in
the first round.
The one overwhelming but enduring thought that will remain with
me about that Pakistan/Bangladesh game was the absolutely
wonderful behaviour of the supporting crowds. The Banglas and
Pakistanis partied, supported and celebrated together. Both national
flags were paraded around the Northampton ground with great
panache, pride and pleasure. It was a very wonderful display of
friendship and camaraderie. If only the rest of the world could
be so wonderful.
NEW ZEALAND:
The Kiwis are the minor surprise of the tournament. Unlike those
fancied teams with their express fast bowlers and belligerent
batsmen, the New Zealanders have, as Clint Eastwood would say,
"known their limitations" and played within them.
Steven Fleming is one of the most approachable captains in the
competition. He knows his job and does it well. The respect that
his team has for him is blatantly obvious. Indeed, he and South
Africa's Hanse Cronje are the only captains who seem to really be
free of any pressure, real or imagined. Flemming's batting has
been confident but less than really spectacular. He will have to
shape up in the Super Sixes.
New Zealand's batting is centred around a good, competent middle
order of Craig McMillan, Flemming, Roger Twose and Chris Cairns.
Between, them, they have seen off the likes of Glen McGrath,
Shoaib Akhtar, Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh. Matthew Horne
and Nathan Astle have not really done the job for them. Strange
as it may seem, I think that both, especially Astle, are too
short to be openers. They just do not seem to be able to conquer
the bouncing white ball. Astle, though, like India's Ganguly,
could develop into being a good medium paced all-rounder. Adam
Parore has added very valuable runs in the late order to go with
his wicket-keeping skills. He is very useful indeed.
In beating Australia, they may have won the Battle of the
Antipodes. When the Aussies used the rules to their advantage
and tried to get the West Indies to qualify instead of New
Zealand, the Australians may have even raised the gills and fangs
of their long-time enemies. There is no love lost between New
Zealand and Australia. If they meet in the semi-finals, expect
fireworks.
New Zealand's greatest asset, though, is their bowling. They
base their attack on the slowness of it, if you will, as opposed
to the tear-away fast bowling from Pakistan. Dion Nash, Chris
Cairns, Gavin Larsen and Chris Harris have all contributed well
so far in the bowling stakes. It has even been suggested that the
opposing batsmen have to have great patience to cope with these
bowlers, as they are so slow, especially Larsen and Harris. The
deliveries often seem to just hang there, yo-yo like, tempting
the batsmen.
The best bowler for New Zealand has easily been Geoff Allott.
Please note that like England's Alan Mullally and Pakistan's
Wasim Akram, Allott is also a left-handed bowler. That is very
important in this World Cup. Allott has recovered well from leg
injuries and is much stronger these days. His deliveries
actually hit the pitch with tremendous force, thus confirming his
strength. To date, he has the most wickets in the tournament and
that is not by chance. He swings the ball rather late with good,
if not great pace. He also has learned to bowl to a good length
and line these days and is reaping the benefits of being
disciplined.
Indeed, New Zealand are at least four things in one. They are
disciplined, efficient, know their limitations and patient.
Those got them past Australia, Bangladesh and Scotland. Some of
the latent talent could come through to get them to the
semi-finals. Do not be surprised if they do get there.
SOUTH AFRICA:
If anyone could "make" a cricket team, then that team would be
South Africa. They are highly professional, almost mechanical,
but truly the height of efficiency. Microsoft has nothing on
them.
Hanse Cronje must be one of the more committed captains in the
competition. Having experienced his brand of captaincy and fire
during the entire West Indies cricket team tour to South Africa
in 1998-99, I can tell you that there is no captain playing today
who expects as much from his players and hates losing more.
Focussed Hanse Cronje is.
South Africa probably competes with Pakistan as to which team has
the more balance, interchangeability, versatility and natural
talent. They may not be as exciting as Pakistan on the field,
but they are extremely efficient and well coached.
Reading South Africa's team is like a "Who's Who" of charisma,
class, effort and achievement. South Africa's opening batsmen
Gary Kirsten and Herschell Gibbs remind us of the "The Tales of
the Ancient Mariner". One is so experienced, Kirsten, having
endured so many fast bowlers around the world, while Gibbs is the
effervescent productive pup. His fielding is phenomenal and if
there is one South African who really enjoys being on the world's
stage, it is Herschell.
South Africa's middle order batting is really something to
behold. Many a coach would give his arm to have any two of
Jaques Kallis, Darryll Cullinan, Hanse Cronje, Jonty Rhodes,
Shaun Pollock Mark Boucher and Lance Klusener. South Africa is
the only cricket team in the world which has a middle order that
runs from No. 3 to No. 10. This is an
incredible line up, and the team and their supporters know it.
If they all ever fire well in one of the Super Sixes games, South
Africa will probably make in excess of 400 runs.
The bowling is not too shabby neither. Alan Donald, the old
crafty devil, and still as quick as "White Lightning", actually
bowls in the no. 3 or No. 4 position. Imagine that!! Shaun
Pollock, and Jaques Kallis, two truly tremendously gifted and
blistering all-rounders, actually open the bowling before Steve
Elworthy and Donald come in to operate.
Yet, in all of this, Lance Klusener is the player so far in the
competition for South Africa. He is probably the best all-rounder
in the tournament; his only real opponents for the spot being his
own team-mates Kallis and Pollock and Pakistan's Wasim Akram. As
the Super Sixes begin, Klusener has not been dismissed yet in the
tournament. He has already made 164 runs
from 4 innings, batting at No. 9 or No. 10. His aggression both
as a batsman and especially a bowler has also realised 13
wickets. Yet he is never satisfied.
Indeed, that must be South Africa's Viagra. They are never
satisfied, even if they are perfect sometimes, especially with
their stupendous fielding, not to mention superlative bowling and
batting. They were not perfect when they played Zimbabwe and
lost badly. Knowing Hanse Cronje as I do, I doubt that they would
ever forgive Zimbabwe for embarrassing them that way. Expect the
"Mother of all Backlashes" from South Africa when the Super Sixes
begin.
ZIMBABWE:
This team created great surprises when they not only beat India,
but shocked African neighbours South Africa too.
Beating both India and South Africa confirmed that Zimbabwe have
come of age after their recent Test triumphs. While the game
against India could have been called a fluke, no such thing
existed in the comprehensive beating Zimbabwe gave to South
Africa. They beat the South Africans at their own game, so to
speak. Upsets can happen
It is sometimes difficult to pinpoint the strengths and
weaknesses of Zimbabwe. Perhaps the hardest thing for this team
is really knowing how to put in the final kick once the opponent
is down. On its day, the batting could carve the best attacks in
the world. When it is not their day, they could look very
ordinary. Ditto for the bowling team.
Henry Olonga is like Rasputin, the Mad Monk. He could be erratic
at one moment, then absolutely brilliant the next. Those three
wickets he took in that last over against India probably put him
team into the Super Sixes, as his efforts gave his team a great
boost. Heath Streak, Eddo Brandes, Mpumelelo Mbangwa, Guy
Whittall, Adam Huckle, Murray Goodwin and especially Neil Johnson
combine to make a very efficient and effective bowling team.
This bowling team is normally backed up with great fielding.
Indeed, this team is one of the better fielding teams in the
entire competition.
Neil Johnson again features highly as a batsman, opening the
innings and being completely at ease and consistently good. I
would wager that he would be an asset in any team anywhere in the
world. His associated batsmen have managed to give captain
Alistair Campbell some great smiles in this tournament. Campbell
himself needs runs, but he cannot be too displeased with the
efforts of Andy and Grant Flower, Murray Goodwin again and Guy
Whittall.
Zimbabwe could again cause tremendous headaches for the
supposedly better teams in the Super Sixes. Already, they carry
through 4 points, so they could be qualifiers for the semi-finals
if they can manage to beat only one team in this stage. What a
fairy tale that would be if they even managed to be in the final.
Effort and diligence do pay off.
AUSTRALIA:
The Australians pride themselves on grit and determination.
There may be other adjectives to describe them too. Tenacious
and efficient are another few. The way they dismembered the West
Indies at Old Trafford would not soon be forgotten.
The Australians are starting the Super Sixes at a tremendous
disadvantage. They lost badly to New Zealand and then competed
well in that crescendo of a game against Pakistan that produced
540 runs in 100 overs. So much for the dominance of the white
ball. This means that Australia take no points into the Super
Six round. Even if they win all of their three games in this
round, there is no guarantee that the Australians would qualify
for the semi-finals. You could bet your bottom dollar, though,
that the Australians will go down to the wire with 100% effort.
Steve Waugh is still a very astute, wise old bird. He may not
now be making the kind of runs he has become used to, but his
team has rallied around him somewhat, after the initial loss of
Mark Taylor. His interpretation of the rules in the game against
the West Indies might have upset a few people, but Australia play
cricket like Malcolm X lived life; "By any means necessary" and
in this case, also legal.
Glen McGrath has carried the Australian bowling superbly and his
spell against the West Indies, when he changed his normally
shortish length to a full length, tells many tales; 8.3-3-14-5.
It was a brilliant spell of highly controlled fast bowling.
McGrath could now be getting his second wind after the long year
he has had. Beware now!!
Shane Warne has also warmed to his task. He is infinitely more
cunning now that his "flipper" is beginning to take root again.
He too bowled well against the West Indies. Like McGrath, Shane
knows exactly when to turn it on. This boy is a winner.
Damien Flemming, Paul Reiffel, Shane Lee, Brendon Julian, Tom
Moody Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn present a good mix of
bowling styles and effectiveness. Never would Australia again
run the risk, as they did against Pakistan, of being left a
bowler short.
Their batting is their strength. Added to Waugh S, there is Mark
Waugh, classical but blowing hot and cold. As the temperature
warms up, expect him to follow suit. Ricky Ponting reminds me of
race horses at the post. He always seems ready and raring to go.
If he gets firing in these latter stages, slow motion pictures
will have to be used to keep a proper eye on him. Darren Lehmann
and Adam Gilchrist have both been good, but could be much better.
Confidence plays a great part for Australia and that West Indies
win would have been a great fillip. Michael Bevan has not really
been his normal watch-winning self yet. This lad does not take
to being in the shadows too long. Watch out for his
re-emergence.
The Aussies are strong mentally and tough physically. They are
not going to go anywhere in a whimper. Expect a furnace like
blast when they get fired up.
Finally, I still think that South Africa, Pakistan, India and New
Zealand will make the semis, but do not hold me to it. After
all, look at what Zimbabwe, New Zealand and Bangladesh achieved
in the preliminary rounds. In one day cricket, anything is
possible. Enjoy
Colin E. Croft