# A Cricket World Cup

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cricket-world-cup/152577>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [February 3, 2003, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cricket-world-cup/152577 "2003-02-03T20:23:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 14

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Skip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@Skip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skip)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cricket-world-cup/152577/261 "2003-03-03T21:07:36Z")

</div>

Duke: And thanks to the D/L rules, if SA had not let the last ball before the delay go for no runs, we would’ve won. It was that close.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kiwiboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/35a633/32.png) [@kiwiboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiwiboy)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cricket-world-cup/152577/262 "2003-03-03T21:25:23Z")

</div>

I’d forgotten that South AFrica went out after in the last world cup as well. They seem cursed with rain results as well (remember the 22 runs off one ball debalce in 1992?).

But the real quesiton is was the result affected by the tides??

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BigNik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/73ab20/32.png) [@BigNik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigNik)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cricket-world-cup/152577/263 "2003-03-03T21:33:10Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Skip \*  
> \*\*Duke: And thanks to the D/L rules, if SA had not let the last ball before the delay go for no runs, we would’ve won. It was that close. \*\*

I had to leave for work just as they were going off (OK, so I skipped my first train, but it was getting good).

Did anyone notice that two overs beforehand the Boks sent a runner onto the ground to tell the batsmen how many they needed and the umpires (quite rightly) sent the cheating bastard straight back off before he could talk to the batsmen?

It’s easy to blame the rain, but it should be noted that if South Africa were good enough to beat the Windies or NZ (or SL - the D/L system makes it easier on the side batting second) they’d be through by now. Besides, if the umpires took them off the over beforehand (and on TV the rain looked heavy enough to do so), SA would have lost by four runs.

You’d think that by now the Boks would realise that splitting the points isn’t always good enough.

So, who had odds before the competition that the only African team through to the next stage (and probably the semis) would be Kenya?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cricket-world-cup/152577/264 "2003-03-03T21:33:36Z")

</div>

F U C K !

Rather than blaming anyone else, I would blame the organisers. BOTH WI and SA are adversely affected by rain to the point they don’t qualify.

Tentatively,

Pool A (points carried forward)

1)Australia 12  
2)India 8  
3)England 3

Pool B

1)Sri Lanka 7  
2)New Zealand 4  
3)Kenya 10

Which I think will end up like this

## Australia 24 India 16 Sri Lanka 11 England 11

New Zealand 8  
Kenya 10  
—\> Aus vs. Eng & Ind-SrL

----\> Aus vs. Ind 😃

—\> ???

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BigNik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/73ab20/32.png) [@BigNik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigNik)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cricket-world-cup/152577/265 "2003-03-03T21:44:10Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> _Originally posted by Gyan9 \*  
> \*\* Tentatively,  
> Pool A (points carried forward)  
> 1)Australia 12  
> 2)India 8  
> 3)England 3_\*

How do you get those scores? I was under the impression that there were no bonus points (so why 4 for a win? Beyond me), so that would make:

Aus 8  
Kenya 8  
India 4  
Sri Lanka 4  
New Zealand 0  
Zimbabwe (who I feel will beat the Pakis) 0

I’d then narrow that down to a final table of:

Aus 20  
Sri Lanka 12  
India 12  
Zimbabwe 8  
Kenya 8  
NZ 0

This would mean Semis of Australia/Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe having qualified over Kenya by beating them) and India/Sri Lanka, and a final of Australia/Sri Lanka.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cricket-world-cup/152577/266 "2003-03-03T22:00:29Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by BigNik \*  
> **How do you get those scores?**

From [this](http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,5906625-25049,00.html) link, a team carries forward 4 points for winning against a _qualifying_ opponent, 1 point for winning against an _eliminated_ opponent and 1/2 point for tie/no-result against an _eliminated_ opponent (I missed this last part earlier)

So,

Australia (win Ind, Eng + win rest 4) == 12  
India (win Eng, win rest except Aus) == 8  
England (lose Aus Ind, win 3 of rest) == 3  
Sri Lanka (win NZ, lose Kenya, win rest 3, tie 1) == 7.5  
Kenya (win SL, NZ, win rest except SA,WI) == 10  
New Zealand (lose SL, Ken, win rest) == 4

While Zimbabwe’s a fine team and Pak’s down, I just don’t see Zim convincingly beating Pak **unless** Pak make some major blunders. Sorry.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BigNik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/73ab20/32.png) [@BigNik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigNik)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cricket-world-cup/152577/267 "2003-03-03T23:11:39Z")

</div>

You’re right about the points - I hadn’t seen that before. Cricinfo doesn’t seem to mention those points rules.

Zimbabwe don’t need to beat Pakistan convincingly - they only have to edge them, and I think that the Pakis heads may go down if they don’t get a lot of success very quickly, which is what they need if they’re to qualify on run rate.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cricket-world-cup/152577/268 "2003-03-04T01:45:21Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by BigNik \*  
> \*\*So, who had odds before the competition that the only African team through to the next stage (and probably the semis) would be Kenya? \*\*

Dunno what the odds on Kenya making it to the Super Six were, but Blue Square in England has only moved them from 1,000-1 to win the Cup at the start to 250-1 now.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cricket-world-cup/152577/269 "2003-03-04T11:53:19Z")

</div>

Pakistan are a big confidence team — a lot like England. They’re very capable of losing the plot.

And they’ve lost three wickets already, for 73. Poor Inzy got out for 3. ☹

Oh, and it’s raining. Great.

All the sides I like to watch (South Africa, Pakistan, West Indies, England) are either out or going out.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cricket-world-cup/152577/270 "2003-03-04T11:58:26Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Tansu \*  
> \*\*Oh, and it’s raining. Great.  
> \*\*

Which means a wash-out leads to Zim getting 2 points and going ahead of England.

I’m not sure I like how things are turning out.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cricket-world-cup/152577/271 "2003-03-04T12:21:29Z")

</div>

There really is no justice is there? England do the decent thing, and go out. Australia behave in their usual charming manor, play in Zimbabwe and go through. Along with Zimbabwe.

Pah!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cricket-world-cup/152577/272 "2003-03-04T13:21:09Z")

</div>

Zim vs Pak …abandoned.

Zim through.  
Justice is blind (and wet).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Skip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@Skip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skip)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cricket-world-cup/152577/273 "2003-03-04T13:44:06Z")

</div>

Well no one can accuse this tournament of being boring…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cricket-world-cup/152577/274 "2003-03-04T13:52:13Z")

</div>

So, England out after the abandonment of the Zimbabwe/Pakistan match. And so it turns out that the ICC’s ruling that the Eng/Zim match was a “forfeit” and not an “abandoned match” was crucial after all. I’m sure that there will be a lot of finger-pointing in the English media, this time deservedly so.

Like **owlstretchingtime** , I’m puzzled by Australia’s decision to play in Zimbabwe and even more so by the lack of comment that decision provoked. I’m glad now that the ECB, for once in its heretofore brief life, put its money where its mouth is, even though it probably cost their advance in the tournament.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cricket-world-cup/152577/275 "2003-03-04T14:04:32Z")

</div>

Ken 58-7 off 22 against WI’s 246. Something tells me Kenya might not win this one.

So it’s

1)Australia 12  
2)India 8  
3)Zimbabwe 3.5

1)Sri Lanka 7.5  
2)Kenya 10  
3)New Zealand 4

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![II\_Gyan\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cricket-world-cup/152577/276 "2003-03-04T14:06:15Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Duke \*  
> \*\*  
> Like **owlstretchingtime** , I’m puzzled by Australia’s decision to play in Zimbabwe and even more so by the lack of comment that decision provoked. \*\*

I haven’t been completely following that angle, but why is that a puzzling decision ?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cricket-world-cup/152577/277 "2003-03-04T16:04:11Z")

</div>

Gyan9, it’s been a huge issue in the UK, and not elsewhere. Sections of the UK press have whipped themselves into a frenzy about it.

The Australian approach seems to be this: (1) the team takes the board’s advice on security issues. (2) Australian foreign policy is not evaluated by its cricket team. Unless **told** not to play by the government, we play.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cricket-world-cup/152577/278 "2003-03-04T16:06:40Z")

</div>

And I see the Granuad’s already calling it “The Super Four”.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cricket-world-cup/152577/279 "2003-03-04T16:50:26Z")

</div>

**hawthorne** , that’s part of what puzzled me. The situation seemed very similar to Sri Lanka in 1995/96, when Australia did not play.

I thought it was interesting that Michael Holding is arguing (on [Wisden.com](http://Wisden.com)) that teams which pull out of matches in the World Cup should be scotched from the competition–I wonder if he would have applied that to the West Indies in 1995/96, when they also did not play in Colombo?

I also wouldn’t be so fast to call the second stage “the Super Four.” Kenya has a real chance of making the semi-finals, incredible as that may seem. With 10 points going into the Super Six, they’ll get 14 if they beat Zimbabwe (not a stretch considering that Zim’s only points in this tourney have been on the field against Holland and Namibia, by forfeit against England, and by rain-out against Pakistan). Zimbabwe could not then overtake them, and New Zealand only could if they won all three of their Super Six matches, including one against Australia.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\
**Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cricket-world-cup/152577/280 "2003-03-04T18:21:28Z")

</div>

Latest news from England–Nasser Hussain has stepped down as one-day captain. Marcus Trescothick and Adam Hollioake are being mooted as potential successors. Personally I think the ECB will go for Alec Stewart as an interim captain while Trescothick is groomed for the captaincy on a more permanent basis, unless The Gaffer decides to retire immediately.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cricket-world-cup/152577.md?page=13)

[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cricket-world-cup/152577.md?page=15)
