**Bridgetown: **On the surface, Thursday’s Super Eight match between the West Indies and Bangladesh is an exercise in futility. The four teams that will grapple for glory have been determined. South Africa’s nine-wicket win over England has ensured that much. Thursday’s match then is a by-product of the format: one of those aggravating things that have to be tolerated — like younger siblings and cavity-fillings. But, the reason cricket endures is because there’s so much more to it than the surface. And, in choosing to look beneath, one finds the match is of significance, as is the final Super Eight game here on April 21.
The World Cup, purported to distil the finest in world cricket, has thus far produced a brew that can be swilled only briefly. Australia’s magnificent, all-encompassing display; Sri Lanka’s tactically astute, diaphanous moments; New Zealand’s spirited, vigorous, athletic play based on foresight; South Africa’s smashmouth sameness driven by a biting desire to prove critics wrong: stereotypical yet tangible, and consequently swillable.
Disappointing WC
But, four teams do not a World Cup make. Even accounting for moments of pregnant promise — Bangladesh’s defeats of South Africa and India, and Ireland’s perfection within parameters against Bangladesh — this has been a World Cup only in name. If cricket seeks to globalise, it first needs its Test-playing nations playing at Test standard. The West Indies has been the principal offender; the quality of cricket it has played has often been below the standards Ireland and Bangladesh have managed. So inextricably is the Caribbean bound with cricket — the West Indies draws its national identity from the game — that world cricket needs a healthy, competitive West Indies. Not a bickering, in-fighting, unfit side that rends the heart.
** Flattering to deceive**
After a promising start in the Cup opener against Pakistan — how one wished it were the start of something special — the West Indies has crumpled, losing all four of its Super Eight matches. Granted, they’ve been against the semifinalists, but not in one did the side have a sniff.
“What has happened in the World Cup has highlighted the need for more money and technology,” said Clive Lloyd, the manager of the West Indies.
“Certainly there was a vast difference between this team and in the teams I led. We had some very good professionals, disciplined guys and they were aided by playing county cricket, and that gave them the professional edge,” said Lloyd.
“These guys don’t have the experience but having said that I believe when you look at some other countries they are well ahead of us in every perspective and we are scraping the barrel here.”
Talented side
While there are systemic troubles, Brian Lara and the team management haven’t made the best of what they have. This, remember, is a side that defeated India — when it was the hottest one-day side going around — and picked up victories over Australia.
But, the decisions to play Lendl Simmons instead of Jerome Taylor against New Zealand, to blood Kieron Pollard in the crunch game against South Africa, to enforce Power Play three between overs 45 and 49 in the same match were bereft of cricket logic.
The West Indies has been unsure of its best eleven; and not because it’s been spoilt for choice. The eleven it puts out against Bangladesh will be of interest, for the quality of the ashes determines the quality of re-birth.
“Our World Cup performance has been disappointing, but we are looking to win the last two matches and build momentum for our forthcoming tour to England,” said Ramnaresh Sarwan, who many think will be made captain, at least of the one-day side.
Bangladesh has had a curious World Cup, rising, as some have put it, to stratospheric heights and falling to abysmal lows. The defeat to Ireland has left it eighth on the points table — “I still believe we’re not as bad as we played against Ireland,” said captain Habibul Bashar. “We’ve got a game left and we’ll try to go up to the sixth or the seventh spot.”
**The teams (from): West Indies: **Brian Lara (capt.), Ian Bradshaw, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Corey Collymore, Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Daren Powell, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith, Devon Smith and Jerome Taylor.
**Bangladesh: **Habibul Bashar (capt.), Shahriar Nafees, Tamim Iqbal, Aftab Ahmed, Saqibul Hasan, Mohammad Ashraful, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mohammad Rafique, Abdur Razzak, Mashrafe Mortaza, Farhad Reza, Shahadat Hossain, Syed Rasel, Rajin Saleh and Javed Omar.
http://www.hindu.com/2007/04/19/stories/2007041907342200.htm
I guess he wants the younger players to prove their place in the ODI squad. He himself seem to not even care anymore.