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This article is not an effusive burst after the display against the Bangladesh tigers. The NZ team has been playing impressive cricket for a while now. The top order looks settled: Fleming is in fine form, with all the grace that southpaws seem to possess, Marshall batted well yesterday and they are blessed by the absence of Lou Vincent.
McMillan and McCullum are both seasoned campaigners with success in many conditions. The bits and pieces players- Oram, Styris. They are both key men in this Kiwi campaign. They are both very powerful batsmen and tight bowlers, who can make their impact with the ball and the willow.
Vettori has been the finest left arm spinner in the world for a few years now and with useful batting skills, would be in my list of players to have in any world eleven. Shane Bond, the only fast bowler with a clean action. I haven’t seen anyone bowl as fast, as straight and with as clean an action. All the chuckers (read Malingas and Akhtars?)Â of the world please note that it is possible to bowl fast without cheating!
In spite of all this, this team will not win the WC. The absence of a superstar means that the team is perennially ignored in predictions of winners but always figures in the final four. They seem to lack that one individual that will stand up on the big stage and deliver against the Aussies or the Lankans. Fleming, Vettori and Bond are the most likely candidates for that role but frankly, I don’t quite see that happening.
Kiwis, won’t fly long and high: semifinalists
PS: Who else thinks the Windies got a raw deal facing the Aussies, Lankans and Kiwis first up and in such quick succession in the Super 8s? (3 of the 4 semi-finalists)Â
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Tags: Cricket World Cup 2007
I agree, it was pathetic planning. With 8 teams around, it’s ridiculous that WI play their games so early. Sad part is England play all their games towards the end, they stand a chance to sneak into semis by knowing what they need to get. Only a miracle in the semis can stop Aus from winning once again and it was hyped to be the most evenly contested world cup.
@partha: and i wish that kiwis come to the finals…they can probably give the best fight…sa will just wilt under pressure…lankans probably yes…but agin if the pitch is not slow n low they wont be too much of a problem….this australian team looks invincible….
the schedule for the super 8s seems very lopsided… the matches have not been distributed evenly.. WI had played 3 games before england barely broke a sweat!!