
Tony Becca
For those who do not remember or who honestly do not know, although it has great promise for the economy of the region, the World Cup of cricket is really a cricket event.
Although there is still great emphasis on things outside the boundary, thank God, with only 19 days to go, there is now some emphasis on things inside the boundary - on what is likely to happen during cricket's biggest showpiece and getting people, in large numbers, to witness the action.
The question on everyone lips now is who will win the Cup. And while up to a month or so ago and despite the unpredictable nature of one-day cricket, almost everyone, barring partisan supporters, would answer Australia, right now, as we tick off the days before the first delivery, the odds on the Aussies are getting less and less - so much so that they are now almost even.
With all the other seven teams boasting, in my opinion, an equal chance of winning the Cup, the slide of Australia has brought them level and in terms of a contest, from the Super Eights on, that sets the stage for probably the greatest World Cup ever.
As I have always said, any one of the top eight teams, Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, India, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, England and the West Indies, can win.
LITTLE LUCK
That, obviously, includes the West Indies who, with a little luck, can become the first home team to lift the Cup.
Champions in 1987, 1999, 2003 and looking for the hat-trick, Australia, despite losing out in the ICC Champions Trophy of 2004, have been the number one one-day team in the world since the rankings started back in October 2002, and after marching over every team in the world, they looked invincible coming into the World Cup - even though, with the home team knocking off 434 to win one game, they lost 2-3 to South Africa in South Africa recently.
The last three weeks or so, however, have not been good for them and in that time they have lost five of six one-day matches, including their last three against England in the Commonwealth Bank Series and their last two against New Zealand in the Chappell/Hadlee Trophy.
And apart from the fact that the losses to New Zealand represented the Kiwis' first victory over Australia after 22 matches in the last five years, what is interesting about those five losses are the margins of defeat.
In the first against England they lost by 92 runs, in the second they lost by four wickets and in the third they lost by 34 runs.
In the first defeat against New Zealand they lost by 10 wickets and in the second by five wickets after scoring 336 for four.
STRONGER
While it is true that with captain Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist rested and with Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds and Brett Lee injured, they were one short against England and five short against New Zealand and that it stands to reason that they will be stronger when these players return - and especially so with Ponting, Gilchrist, Clarke and Symonds representing four of their top six batsmen, Australia must be worried at this time, and for one simple reason.
Although they were dismissed for 148 by New Zealand, their other scores, including their 336 for four against New Zealand in the second match, suggest that Australia's problem has not been with the bat, but rather with the ball - and therein lies their problem and the real reason why they may not be as potent in the World Cup as they were expected to be up to three weeks or so ago.
Their bowling has been under attack and a lot is expected not only of fast bowler Lee, but also of Symonds and his off-spin during the power plays and in the middle of the innings.
TWO PROBLEMS
Coming out of Australia, there are, however, two problems facing the defending champions.
The first one is that Symonds' injury is to his biceps, the fear is that it may not heal properly before the World Cup, and that even if he makes it, apart from affecting his batting and his returns to the wicket, it could affect his bowling.
The second one is that Lee's injury is to his left ankle. As a right-hander, that is his front-foot, and the fear is that it could cause a problem with his delivery, it may not heal properly before the World Cup and that even if he makes it, he may not be his true self.
Right now, although they are not the favourites, South Africa, not Australia, are number one in the rankings, and although Australia could still recover and win it, more and more it appears that any one can win the Cup.
Although, after a short time at number seven, they have dropped back to their long and accustomed position at number eight, that includes home team West Indies.