Sport | Cricket
It's an open field
This is certainly the most open World Cup of the last decade, with as many as eight teams good enough to win it.
- By Viv Richards, Gameplan
- Published: 23:37 May 3, 2009
This is certainly the most open World Cup of the last decade, with as many as eight teams good enough to win it.
Australia's recent travails have ensured that the other teams are not overwhelmed by their form, talent and consistency.
For the first time in the last eight years, the team coming into a multi-team tournament are not confronting an invincible Australian side. True, they will still win if they play with the form and consistency they have maintained for the better part of the last three years, but that is going to be tough for them in the light of their recent spate of losses and injuries.
If Ricky Ponting's team manages to win this tournament, they will be going one up on the West Indies by scoring thrice in a row. That would be a remarkable achievement, and one that we could not pull off in 1983.
The first game pits hosts West Indies against a side as mercurial and erratic as theirs, Pakistan.
There will be pressure on Brian Lara and his men to do well. The practice match against India was not a pretty sight for home supporters but fortunately it is only a warm-up game and does not count. I was just telling some former cricketers in Antigua that the West Indies rarely muck up two games in a row, so who knows, Friday's loss might ensure a famous win on Tuesday!
Lara must ensure that the team look ahead and don't go by the stats from past World Cups.
Teams like India, Australia and South Africa have lost opening games as hosts. I hope the team is not thinking of these records, and they must instead look ahead, study the opposition and ensure they have a good start to their campaign.
Winning is a habit that the West Indians must develop and I feel that it's good to start well rather than hope to gain momentum later. A tournament like the World Cup has energy of its own, and it's more often won by teams who are consistent from start to finish.
I would not like to preach to Lara, who is one of the most intelligent cricketers I have met.
Unique opportunity
However, he has a unique opportunity to end his one-day career on a high in front of his home crowd. He must enjoy the home support rather than consider it an additional burden. If he concentrates on his own batting he will be able to lead by example, and that would galvanise his young, talented side. The practice game debacle must be used constructively to smooth out the rough edges before the big games.
The West Indians had a horrific performance in one of the qualifiers of the Champions Trophy. After that they made the finals. Hopefully, that will happen this time round as well.
I feel proud and excited at what is about to begin in the Caribbean tomorrow. It was unimaginable for such a tournament to come to this part of the world when I was a player. I am happy things have changed, and this will certainly give the game a leg-up in the long run. The islands will get plenty of visitors, and they must be prepared to enjoy the World Cup in Caribbean style, with plenty of music, entertainment and a relaxed informal atmosphere.
Besides the colourful opening ceremony, there will be another ceremony on the day of the first game, when players from the 1975 and 1979 teams will be felicitated. It will be a time to look back for us, but hopefully the young lads who have taken on our mantle will be inspired to win a cup for themselves. It's an open field, and they have the talent to pull it off.
Share this article
Popular in Sport
-
Football
Goal rush expected at Beach Soccer World Cup
A total of 970 scored in four editions
Sport Editor's choice
-
No Dubai bout for Pacquiao
Revenue source for blockbuster fights is prime time US pay-per-view TV
-
Core combat: Work out with a punch
Xpress reports on an innovative work-out session that's become a huge hit in Dubai
-
Indoor golf in the UAE
Virtual golf: Beat the heat and play your regular round at home
