Greg Wilcox looks into 7DAYS' crystal ball to see who'll end up masters in Mumbai on April 2 - and tips Murali's men
WOW, that was a surprise. After 42 matches, yes 42, we now know that the top eight teams in cricket have made it to the last eight of the World Cup.
But while we always knew this was going to be a long, drawn out tournament, some of us, me included, hadn't banked on it also being the most open World Cup in living memory. And, in Group B at least, that entertaining matches, shocks and good cricket would pop up along the way - mostly thanks to England.
From Andrew Strauss and Co nearly losing to the Netherlands, almost beating India in one of the greatest ODIs ever, losing to Ireland, somehow beating South Africa then somehow losing to Bangladesh, it's fair to say that while the make-up of the last eight was entirely predictable, the cricket that got them there wasn't.
Even Group A had its moments from New Zealand scoring over 100 runs in the last five overs against Pakistan to the Aussies' best impression of sullen teenagers against the same opposition.
But that's all history now - it doesn't count for anything.
Now we're at the part that matters, where we get to see what the teams are really made of. Will the knockout stages, and the associated pressure, clean bowl sides or merely be treated like a juicy half-volley?
Ever willing to risk being shown up, 7DAYS looks through its famous crystal ball to find out who will be king of the world in Mumbai on April 2
TEAM: PAKISTAN
KEY MAN: Shahid Afridi
CHANCES: Runner up
We shouldn't be totally shocked that Boom Boom's boys have actually looked like one of the best teams so far. Even shorn of the trio of spot-fixing cheats they're a side rammed full of match winners. Only against the Kiwis did their attack look vulnerable, and if skipper Afridi can add runs down the order, to go with his 17 wickets at an average of 11, then it will be tough to stop them getting to the final.
TEAM: WEST?INDIES
KEY MAN: Ramnaresh Sarwan
CHANCES: Going home today
When the team clicks the Windies are a force of nature but it happens all too infrequently. Batting collapses against England and India showed that, for all the big-hitters the team has, it needs someone, like Sarwan, to anchor the innings and allow flair players to play around him.
TEAM: INDIA
KEY MAN: Zaheer Khan
CHANCES: Shock last-eight exit
Tomorrow's clash against Australia is very tough to call but we reckon the pressure of playing at home to an ever-expectant 'Blue Billion', against an Aussie team with something to prove and with a bowling attack that relies too much on Zaheer, might mean a few effigies of Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be burnt over the weekend.
TEAM: AUSTRALIA?
KEY MAN: Ricky Ponting
CHANCES: Last four
So they aren't as good as they used to be - who wouldn't without Adam Gilchrist et al??But the experienced bowling attack is more than useful and Ponting cannot continue to fail with the bat, even if he is up against Harbhajan Singh in Ahmedabad...
TEAM: SOUTH?AFRICA
KEY MAN: Dale Steyn
CHANCES: Farewell on Friday
Big call this we know, but the Group B winners will lose against the Black Caps. The attack is awesome but cannot be expected to bail out the batters every game. A lack of big-hitters down the order and runs from Graeme Smith will prove the Proteas undoing on Friday.
TEAM: NEW?ZEALAND
KEY MAN: Brendon McCullum
CHANCES: Last four
Written off before the tournament started, the Kiwis have shown, in parts at least, that they aren't to be underestimated. With Daniel Vettori back they bat right down the order and, in McCullum, Ross Taylor and Jacob Oram, have players who can take the game away from any opposition.
TEAM: SRI?LANKA
KEY MAN: Lasith Malinga
CHANCES: Winners
Sri Lanka's batters have and will score runs for fun so a lot depends on 'Slinga Malinga' and Muttiah Muralitharan. With the spin king set to bow out after the tournament and home advantage in the quarters and semis, expect him not to fluff his lines and for Malinga to prove he's the best ODI?bowler in the world.
TEAM: ENGLAND
KEY MAN: Graeme Swann
CHANCES: Last eight
The English have more than ridden their luck so far and Sri Lanka in Colombo will prove a step too far - one thing's for certain, though, they won't go down without a fight and the match will be entertaining.
WOW, that was a surprise. After 42 matches, yes 42, we now know that the top eight teams in cricket have made it to the last eight of the World Cup.
But while we always knew this was going to be a long, drawn out tournament, some of us, me included, hadn't banked on it also being the most open World Cup in living memory. And, in Group B at least, that entertaining matches, shocks and good cricket would pop up along the way - mostly thanks to England.
From Andrew Strauss and Co nearly losing to the Netherlands, almost beating India in one of the greatest ODIs ever, losing to Ireland, somehow beating South Africa then somehow losing to Bangladesh, it's fair to say that while the make-up of the last eight was entirely predictable, the cricket that got them there wasn't.
Even Group A had its moments from New Zealand scoring over 100 runs in the last five overs against Pakistan to the Aussies' best impression of sullen teenagers against the same opposition.
But that's all history now - it doesn't count for anything.
Now we're at the part that matters, where we get to see what the teams are really made of. Will the knockout stages, and the associated pressure, clean bowl sides or merely be treated like a juicy half-volley?
Ever willing to risk being shown up, 7DAYS looks through its famous crystal ball to find out who will be king of the world in Mumbai on April 2
TEAM: PAKISTAN
KEY MAN: Shahid Afridi
CHANCES: Runner up
We shouldn't be totally shocked that Boom Boom's boys have actually looked like one of the best teams so far. Even shorn of the trio of spot-fixing cheats they're a side rammed full of match winners. Only against the Kiwis did their attack look vulnerable, and if skipper Afridi can add runs down the order, to go with his 17 wickets at an average of 11, then it will be tough to stop them getting to the final.
TEAM: WEST?INDIES
KEY MAN: Ramnaresh Sarwan
CHANCES: Going home today
When the team clicks the Windies are a force of nature but it happens all too infrequently. Batting collapses against England and India showed that, for all the big-hitters the team has, it needs someone, like Sarwan, to anchor the innings and allow flair players to play around him.
TEAM: INDIA
KEY MAN: Zaheer Khan
CHANCES: Shock last-eight exit
Tomorrow's clash against Australia is very tough to call but we reckon the pressure of playing at home to an ever-expectant 'Blue Billion', against an Aussie team with something to prove and with a bowling attack that relies too much on Zaheer, might mean a few effigies of Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be burnt over the weekend.
TEAM: AUSTRALIA?
KEY MAN: Ricky Ponting
CHANCES: Last four
So they aren't as good as they used to be - who wouldn't without Adam Gilchrist et al??But the experienced bowling attack is more than useful and Ponting cannot continue to fail with the bat, even if he is up against Harbhajan Singh in Ahmedabad...
TEAM: SOUTH?AFRICA
KEY MAN: Dale Steyn
CHANCES: Farewell on Friday
Big call this we know, but the Group B winners will lose against the Black Caps. The attack is awesome but cannot be expected to bail out the batters every game. A lack of big-hitters down the order and runs from Graeme Smith will prove the Proteas undoing on Friday.
TEAM: NEW?ZEALAND
KEY MAN: Brendon McCullum
CHANCES: Last four
Written off before the tournament started, the Kiwis have shown, in parts at least, that they aren't to be underestimated. With Daniel Vettori back they bat right down the order and, in McCullum, Ross Taylor and Jacob Oram, have players who can take the game away from any opposition.
TEAM: SRI?LANKA
KEY MAN: Lasith Malinga
CHANCES: Winners
Sri Lanka's batters have and will score runs for fun so a lot depends on 'Slinga Malinga' and Muttiah Muralitharan. With the spin king set to bow out after the tournament and home advantage in the quarters and semis, expect him not to fluff his lines and for Malinga to prove he's the best ODI?bowler in the world.
TEAM: ENGLAND
KEY MAN: Graeme Swann
CHANCES: Last eight
The English have more than ridden their luck so far and Sri Lanka in Colombo will prove a step too far - one thing's for certain, though, they won't go down without a fight and the match will be entertaining.
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