From the Sidelines: Cricket on the cards

THERE is a lot of excitement around the Cricket World Cup going on in the Caribbean.

Cricket, not as popular as football or rugby in the country, will amuse and excite the ones who play it and are in the know, while its exhilarating and nerve-wracking endings and its constant unpredictability will be the order of the day until April 28. This year’s World Cup is minus Namibia, who only qualified for the World Cup in South Africa in 2003 for the first time.The Namibian side lost out in the qualifiers during the Champions Trophy in Europe, paving the way for minnows such as Ireland, Canada, Scotland, Canada, Bermuda and Bangladesh to land spots in this fascinating game.Namibia, despite losing all its opening matches during its debut appearance in South Africa, gave a solid account of itself and thoroughly scared England in one of their opening matches, while players such as Rudi van Vuuren and Jan Berrie Burger raised some eyebrows.Van Vuuren still holds the record as the first player to have played in two World Cup competitions in the same year.He also played in the Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2003.The young JB Burger made his bat do the talking as he amassed a sizeable number of runs at that tournament, ending as the highest-scoring batsman for his country.Namibia had an inexperienced side at that tournament and I am sure they could have performed much better at this year’s event, because of the valuable lessons they have picked up since then.The Namibian side currently has the core of the players who competed at that 2003 tournament and most have become seasoned in their respective areas of expertise, from batting, fielding and bowling to catching.Deon Kotze, who also played at the tournament and now the national team’s coach, and other players such as Sarel Burger, Louis Burger and Bjorn Kotze could have extended their international experience if Namibia had qualified.They could have been complemented by younger players such as Nicholaas Scholtz, Toby Verwey, Loius Klazinga and Henno Prinsloo, who all are currently showing good form in the SAA Cricket Challenge.The Namibian team is generally solid and in their recent matches posted good victories against their South African counterparts in the SAA Challenge, a sign that Namibian cricket has made strides and can soon be rated as a test-playing nation.They might also make the boat for the next World Cup in four years’ time.Back to the World Cup.As much as Ricky Ponting’s Australians are the favourites this year, no one knows what awaits in cricket.South Africa, India, Pakistan, and the hosts West Indies, are serious contenders and cannot be taken lightly, considering the experience, skill, tactics and all the ingredients that go into making up a winning line-up.But the winners are determined by the form on the pitch on the day.New Zealand and England are in my opinion the dark horses, but Sri Lanka can spring a surprise or two.There is no chance for Zimbabwe, Bangladesh or Canada and the rest.Period.On the field of play, a lot is expected from the captains who are supposed to carry their teams through, but the biggest responsibility rests on Ponting.The captain of the defending champions has to steer his team to the finals after a heap of praise that they will bounce back from a whitewash by New Zealand earlier this year.South Africa’s Graeme Smith is second in line as they are topping the rankings, while the South African media have done a tremendous public relations job for the side to excel at the tournament.Their campaign starts today against Netherlands, which they will possibly dismiss easily.In fact, the real work, joy and tears start during the Super Eight on March 27.Brian Lara of West Indies has to please the home crowd, as his side has been inconsistent in most of their ties, while Pakistan’s Inzamam ul-Haq has to try and win this one as they have only won once, and that was in 1992.England’s Michael Vaughan, who also played at Wanderers in Namibia, will lead his side with little pressure as they will be expected to compete and to upset, that also goes to Stephen Fleming’s New Zealand side, which is currently in great form.India’s captain Rahul Dravid will also gun for the final spot as they last tasted glory in 1983, when they beat the West Indies in the final.For Sri Lanka’s captain Mahela Jayawardene, it will be an open race and his bowlers are the most fortunate, because they will capitalise on the slow pitches in the West Indies.Enjoy the games and the ones in the know, teach others also to follow.This year’s World Cup is minus Namibia, who only qualified for the World Cup in South Africa in 2003 for the first time.The Namibian side lost out in the qualifiers during the Champions Trophy in Europe, paving the way for minnows such as Ireland, Canada, Scotland, Canada, Bermuda and Bangladesh to land spots in this fascinating game.Namibia, despite losing all its opening matches during its debut appearance in South Africa, gave a solid account of itself and thoroughly scared England in one of their opening matches, while players such as Rudi van Vuuren and Jan Berrie Burger raised some eyebrows.Van Vuuren still holds the record as the first player to have played in two World Cup competitions in the same year.He also played in the Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2003.The young JB Burger made his bat do the talking as he amassed a sizeable number of runs at that tournament, ending as the highest-scoring batsman for his country.Namibia had an inexperienced side at that tournament and I am sure they could have performed much better at this year’s event, because of the valuable lessons they have picked up since then.The Namibian side currently has the core of the players who competed at that 2003 tournament and most have become seasoned in their respective areas of expertise, from batting, fielding and bowling to catching.Deon Kotze, who also played at the tournament and now the national team’s coach, and other players such as Sarel Burger, Louis Burger and Bjorn Kotze could have extended their international experience if Namibia had qualified.They could have been complemented by younger players such as Nicholaas Scholtz, Toby Verwey, Loius Klazinga and Henno Prinsloo, who all are currently showing good form in the SAA Cricket Challenge.The Namibian team is generally solid and in their recent matches posted good victories against their South African counterparts in the SAA Challenge, a sign that Namibian cricket has made strides and can soon be rated as a test-playing nation.They might also make the boat for the next World Cup in four years’ time.Back to the World Cup.As much as Ricky Ponting’s Australians are the favourites this year, no one knows what awaits in cricket.South Africa, India, Pakistan, and the hosts West Indies, are serious contenders and cannot be taken lightly, considering the experience, skill, tactics and all the ingredients that go into making up a winning line-up.But the winners are determined by the form on the pitch on the day.New Zealand and England are in my opinion the dark horses, but Sri Lanka can spring a surprise or two.There is no chance for Zimbabwe, Bangladesh or Canada and the rest.Period.On the field of play, a lot is expected from the captains who are supposed to carry their teams through, but the biggest responsibility rests on Ponting.The captain of the defending champions has to steer his team to the finals after a heap of praise that they will bounce back from a whitewash by New Zealand earlier this year.South Africa’s Graeme Smith is second in line as they are topping the rankings, while the South African media have done a tremendous public relations job for the side to excel at the tournament.Their campaign starts today against Netherlands, which they will possibly dismiss easily.In fact, the real work, joy and tears start during the Super Eight on March 27.Brian Lara of West Indies has to please the home crowd, as his side has been inconsistent in most of their ties, while Pakistan’s Inzamam ul-Haq has to try and win this one as they have only won once, and that was in 1992.England’s Michael Vaughan, who also played at Wanderers in Namibia, will lead his side with little pressure as they will be expected to compete and to upset, that also goes to Stephen Fleming’s New Zealand side, which is currently in great form.India’s captain Rahul Dravid will also gun for the final spot as they last tasted glory in 1983, when they beat the West Indies in the final.For Sri Lanka’s captain Mahela Jayawardene, it will be an open race and his bowlers are the most fortunate, because they will capitalise on the slow pitches in the West Indies.Enjoy the games and the ones in the know, teach others also to follow.