Thursday, April 19, 2007

Stage Is Set

After a long and boring Super Eight stage, now World cup has again come to where it belongs - an interesting mode, where the titans of the game will fight with each other with anger and might. Remember one thing, except South Africans who lost to New Zealand and Bangladesh, remaining 3 teams are in full form. This means that there will be a real feast for the lovers of the game and we will hope that the excitement which is expected in a World Cup will be there (at least) now. Evergreen favorites, Australia have not lost a single match in this world cup! They are all set to win this world cup, unless Sri Lanka or New Zealand do the trick. Sri Lankans have lost 2 matches in Super Eights. Many believe that the result of Aus-S.L. match in Super Eights would have been different if Murlitharan and Vaas would have played in that match. I believe that Sri Lankans actually have matched the shrewdness of Australians ans S. Africans, by not allowing Aussies to play Muralitharan before more crucial matches. Another underdog-turned-favorites are the Kiwis. They are in a wonderful form and in a right mental state. They have the real ability to upset the powerhouses of Australia and Sri Lanka. South Africans, unlike other 3 are inconsistent totally. They defeated Sri Lanka in the beginning of Super Eights; but towards end, they lost to Bangladesh and then to New Zealand. Besides, they have a reputation of buckling when it matters most. They will have to take a lot of efforts and play a better game to beat the image of 'chokers'.

Anyway, the stage is set now! I am ready to burn the midnight oil again after Indians returned from West Indies long ago.

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