Tony BeccaWORLD CUP 2003 is well under way and, so far, so good.
After four rounds of the preliminary stage, the competition in both groups is so close, so tight, that only Australia, with a perfect four from four in Group A, look certain to advance to the stage.
With two rounds to go and six teams going through, nine teams - four others in Group A and five in Group B - are still battling for a place among the top six. In fact, it is so close that four teams could finish tied at the top in Group B.
On top of the exciting race for the top three positions in each group, with Kenya knocking off Sri Lanka, there has been one major upset.
With Canada defeating Bangladesh, there has been one minor upset, and with Brian Lara stroking a brilliant 116 against South Africa in the curtain-raiser, Stephen Fleming turning up with a magnificent, undefeated 134 against South Africa, and with Chaminda Vaas picking up three wickets with the first three deliveries against Bangladesh, there have been some outstanding and memorable individual performances.
The unforgettable individual performance so far, however - the most astonishing - is undoubtedly John Davison's 111 on Sunday.
In a performance which none other than the great Viv Richards has described as "awesome", and by former England representative and South African coach Bob Woolmer as one of the greatest innings of all time, the 32-year-old offspin bowler who bats at number nine for South Australia turned up at SuperSport Park and in under two hours, in 98 minutes to be exact, became a famous man.
Batting, not against Bangladesh, not against a team like Holland, but against the West Indies - the two-time champions and the team that had knocked off South Africa to become one of the favourites to win the Cup, Davison, with scores of eight, 31 and zero in the previous matches, smashed the fastest century, 67 deliveries, in the history of the World Cup.
Born in Vancouver, Canada, to Australian parents, Davison, who grew up in Australia from age five, blasted Mervyn Dillon, Pedro Collins, Vasbert Drakes and company for six sixes and eight fours in a breath-taking display that lasted for a mere 76 deliveries before he was brilliantly, acrobatically caught by Drakes on the long-on boundary.
For a man who grew up playing cricket with the likes of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Ricky Ponting, whose dream was to represent Australia, who attended the Australian cricket academy, who represented Victoria and now South Australia but who had never scored a first-class century, it was a fairytale performance.
"It was great doing something like that against a team like the West Indies. I suppose they underrated us, they probably came out to knock us over quickly, because of that they bowled straight at me and I love that," said the batsman who hooked and cut and drove lustily while dancing to his record-breaking century with a six when chipped down the pitch and drove Dillon over long-on.
How did Davison come to represent Canada?
"Someone in Canada probably heard of me, knew that I was born in Canada and contacted South Australia. It was an opportunity for me so I took it - and I am happy I did."
What next for Davison now that he is famous man with a record to his name?
Although he hopes that it may lead to a good contract somewhere - probably in England, what's next is South Africa at Buffalo Park, East London, tomorrow. And he is not promising anything - certainly no fireworks. He is only hoping for a good day.
"I hope I can go to the wicket and be confident. It would be nice to go out there and bat on a wicket similar to Centurion."
Although Canada lost to the West Indies despite Davison's cracking innings, because of Davison, Canada have suddenly become confident - so much so that they are hoping to surprise South Africa.
"The team was really thrilled by JD's performance," said captain Joe Harris, "and I am hoping it will rub off. They now feel anything can happen".
Remembering that Canada were routed for 36 by Sri Lanka and that they lost nine wickets for 47 runs in 22.5 overs against the West Indies after sailing along at 155 for one in the 21st over, nothing, however, is likely to happen - not as far as Canada upsetting South Africa is concerned.
For that to happen, Davison would not only have to come up with a shocker. Canada would also have to come up with another batsman like Davison - the Canadian-Australian who became a star in 98 minutes.
