Stairway to '11

With the general unpredictability and no hot favourites, this promises to be the most exciting World Cup since, um, 1996. But it's a long way to the top, as our Aussie friends said (these ones, not these), and all the players will have their eyes on the World Cup a long, hard way away. Not to mention the little carnival a just after that. Here's a song for all of them, to be sung to the tune of that minor classic, Led Zeppelin's Stairway To Heaven.

There's a trophy, you know,
And it glitters like gold.
Teams are climbing the Stairway to '11.

When they get there, they'll know
That they've beaten their foes
With a win they will rule for years four.

Ooooh, ooooh.
And they're playing the World Cup of '11.

Pakistan - win or fall?
You can never be sure.
'Cause you know this side defies meaning.

In a room with a book
Nielsen sits with Ponting
Will a loss without greats be forgiven?

Oooh, it makes me wonder,
Oooh, what's happened down under?

There's a feeling I get when I look to the West,
Where the players are cryin' and leaving.

Dhoni's thoughts - has he seen
A parade through the streets
Or the sights of effigies burning?

Oooh, and it makes me wonder.
At the toss, will he blunder?

And it's whispered that soon
Dan will not call the tune.
Poor Kiwis, who will lead them next season?

And a new day will dawn
For victorious Poms
And the Aussies won't bellow with laughter.

If there's a victory by a minnow,
Don't be alarmed now.
It's what these conditions may bring.

Graeme, there are two paths you can go by,
So take a quick run.
And teach your team some addition.

And the c-word we'll plunder.
Ooooh.

Murali's coming and then he'll go
In case you didn't know
Vaas ain't coming back to join him.

So let's see, what this edition brings
'cause as you know
There are no favourites to begin with.

(solo)

And as you wind on down the road,
And as you seek this magic goal,
You see that something we all know.
Who's got much money and wants to show
How just one innings could be gold
And if you play a little hard
Contracts will come to you at last
Franchises seeking one and all
They've got plenty left to dole.
But now they're climbing the stairway to '11.