World Cup Sidelights: An eleven to beat the world (13 May 1999)

13 May 1999

WORLD CUP SIDELIGHTS: AN ELEVEN TO BEAT THE WORLD

Sa'adi Thawfeeq

Picking a World XI is a favourite pastime whenever a cricket World Cup is around.

But savour the following team selections (all selections based on players appearing in previous and present World Cup tournaments):

THE SIBLINGS XI: Sunil Wettimuny, Sidath Wettimuny (both Sri Lanka), Trevor Chappell, Greg Chappell, Ian Chappell (all Australia), Martin Crowe, Jeff Crowe (both New Zealand), Richard Hadlee, Dayle Hadlee (both New Zealand), Ramiz Raja, Wasim Raja (both Pakistan).

THE VETERANS XI: Tom Moody (Australia, 33 years, 3rd WC), Phil Simmons (West Indies, 36, 3rd WC), Aravinda de Silva (Sri Lanka, 33, 4th WC), Salim Malik (Pakistan, 36, 4th WC), Steve Waugh (Australia, 33, 4th WC), Mohammad Azharuddin (India, 36, 4th WC), Arjuna Ranatunga (Sri Lanka, 35, 5th WC), Roshan Mahanama (Sri Lanka, 32, 4th WC), Wasim Akram (Pakistan, 32, 4th WC), Eddo Brandes (Zimbabwe, 36, 4th WC), Courtney Walsh (West Indies, 36, 4th WC). Note: Former Pakistan cricketer Javed Miandad is the only man to have played in all six previous World Cups.

THE IF ONLY XI: Sachin Tendulkar, India (Simply the best batsman on earth), Adam Gilchrist, Australia (Wkt, a nerveless, explosive opener), Ricky Ponting, Australia (A dashing batsman and the best fielder around), Brian Lara, West Indies (An elegant genius has been restored), Aravinda de Silva, Sri Lanka (Calm, adept, strokeplaying maestro), Michael Bevan, Australia (The best, if not entirely unselfish, manager of a runs chase), Hansie Cronje, South Africa (Shrewd batsman, tidy seamer, top captain), Shaun Pollock, South Africa (There may be a better all-rounder, but probably isn't), Anil Kumble, India (With the blond bombshell out of sorts, the leg-spinners' leg-spinner), Wasim Akram, Pakistan (Still swinging after all these years), Glenn McGrath, Australia (Economical, takes crucial wickets to order).

ONE MATCH WONDERS XI: Shoaib Mohammad (Pakistan, 1987), Barry Hadlee (New Zealand, 1975), Phil Horne (New Zealand, 1987), Sean Davies (Zimbabwe, 1996), Eldine Baptiste (West Indies, 1987), Geoff Miller (England, 1979), Graeme Labrooy (Sri Lanka, 1992), Merv Hughes (Australia, 1992), Fanie de Villiers (South Africa, 1996), Salil Ankola (India, 1996), Lance Gibbs (West Indies, 1975).

THE MISTER MEN XI: Mr. Earnest _ Gary Kirsten (South Africa), Mr. Stylish _ Sachin Tendulkar (India), Mr. Elegant _ Brian Lara (West Indies), Mr. Thin on top _ Chris Harris (New Zealand), Mr. Accurate _ Ricky Ponting (Australia), Mr. Composed _ Hansie Cronje (South Africa), Mr. Wily _ Arjuna Ranatunga (Sri Lanka), Mr. Reflex _ Mark Boucher (South Africa), Mr. Tubby _ Ian Austin (England), Mr. Noisy _ Glenn McGrath (Australia), Mr. Silent _ Curtly Ambrose (West Indies).

The most popular teams in the World Cup are South Africa and India, all of whose five group matches have sold out. In all tickets are still available for 26 of the 42 World Cup matches. The World Cup ticket office reports that more than 80 percent of tickets are sold and are confident all will be taken up once it is known where teams have qualified to play in the Super Six phase from June 4-13.

The semi-finals and final tickets sold out as soon as tickets went on sale last year.

In an attempt to ensure ball does not dominate the bat in the World Cup, Dukes, the ball makers, have slightly altered the seam. The stitching used in the seam of the previous ball was lacquered, which meant it stayed hard and prominent so it gave the bowler a better chance of achieving consistent movement. But for the World Cup this lacquer has been removed, meaning the seam, like that on a red ball, will soften and fray as it gets older.

In the run down to the World Cup no one is giving Sri Lanka a chance of retaining the title they won three years ago at Lahore.

Read these comments: Michael Atherton : "Their seamers are weak. They took the last World Cup by storm because they sort of pounced on people without them expecting it. Now when you play against Sri Lanka you know what to expect. You're forewarned".

Angus Fraser: "I'll be surprised if they make such an impact this time. They've got Muthiah Muralitharan but no other bowlers who will send shivers down people's spines".

'The London Times': "A fall from grace for the champions. A first round exit is a possibility".

'The Independent': "In Arjuna Ranatunga the champions possess one of the most formidable and most irritating captains in the world. His range of little tricks are tailored perfectly to stick right up the opposition's pipe, but to the neutral observer he is a thinking, protective leader who merely does what the others do in taking the laws and regulations to the edge, only better.

"But this will not be enough for his side to retain the trophy. They remain a tight-knit unit (nine of their winning side return), they played the socks off in England late last summer, but their all-round bowling will not last the distance on English pitches".

The greatest World Cup upset is listed to be Kenya beating West Indies by 73 runs at Pune in 1996. But in 1992 when Zimbabwe sprang a surprise on finalists England at Albury, with former farmer Eddo Brandes taking 4 for 21, a leading tabloid newspaper reported: "England were plucked, stuffed and roasted yesterday by a chicken farmer".

Source :: The Daily News (https://www.lanka.net/lakehouse/)