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MARCUS HOOK'S WORLD CUP DIARY 2007 (PART THREE)

Thursday 29th March: West Indies v New Zealand
It emerged today that there could be an Al Qaeda link to Bob Woolmer's murder. Following on from the news that, thanks to the Pegasus Hotel's CCTV system, the police in Jamaica have been able to identify all of the people entering and leaving the corridor on the same floor as Woolmer's room, some reports allege the Pakistan coach was visited by Indian bookmaker Kamal Chaddha and the two had got into an argument. Chaddha, who has since disappeared, is said to be a known associate of Dawood Ibrahim, who is wanted for supplying funds to Al Qaeda. Meanwhile, the West Indies were in action for the third day running. However, judging by today's performance their batsmen need to work on their technique with the likes of Malinga and Muralitharan to face next. The toss probably did have a big say today, but the hosts played the extra batsman (although you wouldn't have known it). As the Aussies have shown, big totals aren't all about fours and sixes. New Zealand eased home with more than ten overs up their sleeves. It was noticeable that the West Indies didn't have much backing from the crowd for the simple reason there wasn't one. Apparently, this is due to the ICC's ticket pricing policy. Perhaps the ICC put one of Alan Sugar's apprentices in charge of it. What Antiguans there were, were too busy watching Gravy and the sideshows when Daren Powell broke through Peter Fulton's defences second ball! With Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka expected to finish top of the Super Eight table (in that order), games like today's one could well have a bearing on who joins them in the semi-finals.


The West Indies skipper, Brian Lara,
cuts the ball during his innings of 37
against New Zealand; which was only
bettered by Chris Gayle's 44 before
the Kiwis chased down the target
with more than 10 overs to spare


Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell
congratulate Michael Vaughan, after
the England captain picked up the
wicket of Ireland's Niall O'Brien		 Friday 30th March: Ireland v England
England completed their warm-up programme today by beating Ireland. Once again, Michael Vaughan's men were less than convincing, but a win's a win. With 94 runs coming from their last ten overs, England finished with a respectable 266-7. Against Canada, their last ten overs produced 98 runs, so there isn't a problem with how they finish, it's just how they start. When England last did well in a World Cup tournament, way back in 1992, Ian Botham was promoted up the batting order. Perhaps Vaughan should consider making Andrew Flintoff or Kevin Pietersen his opening partner. One of the plus points today was Vaughan bringing himself on to bowl, which he did to good effect. I reckon the idea occurred to him when he saw the metronomic Kyle McCallan tie up one end. McCallan finished with 1-38 from his ten overs; accounting for Pietersen, who became bogged down. However, the pick of the Irish attack was Boyd Rankin, who will be playing for Derbyshire this summer. England's attack could do with some cutting edge. In the end, the game nearly went the full distance. I can't help feeling that if Ireland had been chasing over 300, they would have taken more risks and got bowled out for around 175. Another change to the batting order worth considering would be to switch Bell and Bopara around. Bopara will either come off or he won't, whereas it would be better to have Bell around if England lose early wickets. Meanwhile, Ian Chappell has come out and said he believes India's Sachin Tendulkar should retire from international cricket. I wonder what that does for Tendulkar's relationship with the India coach, Greg Chappell, who is, of course, Chappell's brother.
Saturday 31st March: Australia v Bangladesh
Matthew Hayden failed to maintain his century-making run today, but, then, he and Adam Gilchrist were only chasing a winning target of 105. With the match reduced to 22 overs per side, Ricky Ponting chose to insert Australia's opponents for once. Now, is it my impression, but is Ponting talking faster than ever? At both the coin toss and the awards ceremony, it was hard to make out what he was saying he was talking so quickly. As expected, Glenn McGrath became the leading wicket-taker in World Cup history today, by capturing the wickets of Shahriar Nafees and Aftab Ahmed. But, in truth, Bangladesh's top order really had no idea how to pace their innings. From that perspective, they were not helped by the local mopping up arrangements. Antigua only has one Whale, and that broke down and had to be towed by the heavy roller. So, in an attempt to speed things up, some of the ground staff were issued with sponges! The Australians hardly broke sweat today, though. The only downside from their point of view was seeing the injury-dogged Shane Watson limp off with a torn calf muscle. With their plethora of stars, it's easy, perhaps, to dismiss the part Watson plays. Lest we forget, it was his running out of AB de Villiers that turned Australia's clash with South Africa on it's head. Finally, I see Ireland's Boyd Rankin hopes to be a regular for Derbyshire this summer. He will have to work on his fitness, though. He only managed seven overs yesterday, before retiring with cramp.


Glenn McGrath becomes the leading
wicket-taker in World Cup history


Brian Lara after being dismissed,
looks up at the slow motion replay of
his stumping		 Sunday 1st April: West Indies v Sri Lanka
On the day a memorial service was held in Lahore in memory of Bob Woolmer, the tournament hosts discovered that their opening day victory against Woolmer's Pakistan side was merely a false dawn. The fact that of the Pakistan players have had their central contracts suspended appears to be unrelated. However, the West Indies' form does suggest that Group D was by far the weakest. Meanwhile, the theories as to the circumstances of Woolmer's death continue to emerge. The latest range from him dying of natural causes and falling on to the edge of his bath (which would explain how he came to break a bone in his neck) to him being poisoned. A number of the Sunday papers have criticised the lack of spectators so far in this World Cup. Most scathing of all was Scyld Berry, who wrote in the Telegraph: "Most matches have been occasions devoid of vitality or colour - not 'occasions' at all. Hospitals in Britain should seriously consider asking the organisers of this World Cup to take control because they are world-class experts in creating sanitised, indeed sterile, environments." On the pitch, Sanath Jayasuriya's inspired run continued. He has now made five centuries in 23 ODIs. During the same period he has only gone past 35 on four other occasions. Things began to unravel for hosts when Jayasuriya was joined by Mahela Jayawardene. The West Indies resorted to ensuring that Jayawardene kept the strike, until, that is, he cut loose as well. Jayasuriya and Jayawardene's third wicket alliance was worth 183 in 30 overs; which was almost as much as Brian Lara's men managed in total. Lara's own contribution was curtailed by a quick piece of work by Kumar Sangakkara and Simon Taufel's anything but quick deliberation over a variety of slow motion replays.
Tuesday 2nd April: Bangladesh v New Zealand
Today, I did something I never thought I'd do during this World Cup. I put money on England to win the tournament. The odds were 17-1, so I only risked a couple on quid on it. But if England do manage to beat Sri Lanka (it's a big if, I know), then they will be facing Australia, who are virtually guaranteed to make the last four, followed by Bangladesh and West Indies, who now have nothing to play for, save pride. So, England's crunch Super Eight matches are against the Sri Lankans on Wednesday, and South Africa in a fortnight's time. In effect, therefore it's a 17-1 bet on them winning two games to reach the semi-finals; after which it's in the lap of the gods. But just when I get a positive vibe about England's chances, I see all of the players have been given the day off because the wives and girlfriends have flown into town! On the pitch, Bangladesh didn't really get going until the last pair came together, managing just 174 with Michael Douglas, sorry I mean Scott Styris, picking up 4-43. In reply, Stephen Fleming played wonderfully, as did Hamish Marshall who, as I said in this diary, is not the mug with the bat his recent ODI record would suggest. Fleming had a couple of minor scares early on, nearly being caught at mid-off and then edging one past his off stump for four. After that, however, he never looked back, guiding his team to victory with more than 20 overs to spare with an unbeaten century. Not for the first time, it was noticeable how few spectators there were at today's contest. They should make it official, the ICC could not organise a beer tasting in a brewery. I reckon last year's Sanford Twenty20 tournament, to which the West Indies played host, had bigger crowds.


New Zealand skipper, Stephen
Fleming cracks another four on his
way to an unbeaten 102 off 92 balls
against Bangladesh


Jacques Kallis rattles off an unbeaten
66 against Ireland		 Tuesday 3rd April: Ireland v South Africa
I popped down to the Oval today to interview the Surrey manager, Alan Butcher, for the Croydon Advertiser. Afterwards I had a chat with Nathan Ross, the club's press liaison man, who, for those who don't know him, is as Australian as they come. To my surprise he was worried about the Aussies' chances in the World Cup. He reckoned that if Hayden and Gilchrist continue making all of the runs, Australia could go into the last four with an untried middle order. If they came up against Bond or Malinga, it would just take a bit of a collapse and the Aussies would be exposed. As a theory it carries some weight, but I don't think there are too many people who can see the trophy heading anywhere other than down under again. On the pitch today, it was Ireland versus South Africa, or as some said South Africa versus South Africa. As a contest it was never likely to set the pulse racing, especially given the focus on tomorrow's pivotal clash between England and Sri Lanka. The match was reduced to 35 overs per side. Shaun Pollock was unerringly accurate with the new ball, but even after he had been seen off the Irish failed to make a competitive total. Ireland had some early joy when AB de Villiers was caught at backward point before scoring, but with Jacques Kallis leaning into some full blooded off-side strokes the Proteas were soon off and running. Had it not been for Trent Johnston taking a brilliant return catch, Graeme Smith could well have accompanied Kallis through to the conclusion. Kallis very nearly became a caught and bowled victim himself and looked somewhat fortunate to survive an lbw shout from Andrew White, but South Africa ran out comfortable winners.
Wednesday 4th April: England v Sri Lanka
Tonight's instalment of The Apprentice coincided with a fitting finish to a match that looked pivotal to the semi-final picture; and so, in that regard, didn't disappoint. Unlike some, I had every faith in Ravi Bopara and Paul Nixon, even though they needed 49 off the last five when I turned over to watch Alan Sugar set the contestants the task of coming up with a novelty dog item. Watching the highlights, therefore, when Bopara reverse swept Muttiah Muralitharan for six and then four to make the equation 19 off two, I suppose it was hard to understand how Sri Lanka managed to win. Some will say that Dilhara Fernando was out of order to pull out of bowling the final delivery, but there was no problem with the over-rate and the move ultimately made Fernando's mind up in terms of where to aim the last ball. In hindsight, Michael Vaughan's decision to put Sri Lanka into bat was probably a mistake; but, when they happened, it was clear that Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen's dismissals were critical moments in the game. Neither need lose any sleep over the way they got out; nor should Paul Collingwood, who was trapped leg before by Fernando. However, the less said about Andrew Flintoff's departure the better. It isn't working for him with the bat. Perhaps England would be better served if the Lancashire all-rounder moved up to open with Vaughan. Anyway, there's now a two-day break for Easter. One hopes the England squad will use it to mastermind a fourth victory on the trot against Australia. With the WAGS around, however, I have my doubts. The Aussies and Kiwis, on the other hand, have made it public that they won't be entertaining such distractions until the tournament is over.


One of the turning points today.
Kevin Pietersen is caught and bowled
by Muttiah Muralitharan


Mohammad Ashraful during his
match-winning innings of 87 off 83
balls against South Africa		 Saturday 7th April: Bangladesh v South Africa
Let's hope nobody looks at today's result and accuses the teams of match-fixing. It was just what the competition needed. The only thing I could question was South Africa's decision to bat first. Mohammad Ashraful's innings was absolutely superb, although he should have been given caught behind off Graeme Smith in the 29th over. If only umpire Mark Benson had heard the massive nick, who knows how things might have turned out? Ashraful played the scoop sweep to perfection. Thanks to him, and, to no small degree, Mashrafe Mortaza, Bangladesh went from 181-6 after 43 overs to 251-8; thus ensuring that they went into the second half of the match with momentum on their side. Andre Nel picked up his first ODI five-fer, but Makhaya Ntini showed that he really doesn't have a slower ball and Charl Langeveldt was expensive for the first time in a while. With the bat, the Proteas showed that they haven't shrugged off their "bottlers" tag. Only Herschelle Gibbs, on one leg, did anything to speak of. Kallis's dismissal was embarrassing for a player of his ilk. Justin Kemp wasn't in two minds as much as in three. Mark Boucher hit a wonderful six and, for a moment, one thought here is the man who's going to win it for South Africa; but then he too holed out. Hats off to Dav Whatmore, who has done a great job with Bangladesh. Perhaps he's the man, rather than Tom Moody, capable of rejuvenating England as a one-day force. One shouldn't forget, also, that the Tigers are mourning their former team-mate Manjural Islam, who was killed in a road accident a few weeks back. It wouldn't surprise me if Bangladesh cause another upset before the tournament is over. After all they're yet to meet England and the West Indies; in actual fact the two teams that can take new impetus from today's result. The word coming out of the England camp is that Andrew Strauss will open against Australia. But why? Strauss's recent ODI record is desperate (just one score over 28 in his last 11 innings). Even if he does get a score he'll use up overs that Pietersen, Bopara, Collingwood and Nixon would all make better use of. I cannot see Strauss making any difference whatsoever and, if anything, England will miss Joyce in the field.

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