World Cup is under way and Wow!!

[Roland Hearn]

The World Cup of cricket is underway in the Caribbean and an audience numbering in excess of a billion people are being drawn into an incredible competition.
Australia, after not being headed for a decade, as #1 nation in the world slipped from its perch last month leaving South Africa with that status. There are at least four teams headed into this series that are playing incredible cricket.
Canada played Kenya and was narrowly beaten in a nail biter yesterday. Australia beat Scotland but the Scots really tried hard. West Indies took care of Pakistan in the opening match. Sri Lanka beat Bermuda quite easily. The best game so far - Ireland v Zimbabwe. It was a last ball tie and a wonderful reflection of what the game is all about.
Tonight (tomorrow depending on where you are in the world) The Netherlands takes on South Africa - that should be interesting, and England against New Zealand. It is a case of mother country v off-spring for both.

[Hans Deventer]

Roland,

You won't believe it but the other day we actually had a two pages article in our local newspaper about the World Cup, explaining cricket.

[Roland Hearn]

I believe it, cricket may not get much profile in the Netherlands but the Netherlands team is among the best of the second tier nations. Of course they are trained by a Queenslander. It was a fair exchange a Dutch Coach took Australia to the Soccer World Cup so an Australian should be there to help the Dutch to the cricket world cup.

[Garth Lahana]

As a South African living in the Netherlands, where does my loyalty lie? RSA or NL???? A tough one!

Hans do you have any idea if it's mentioned in that article if it's aired anywhere on dutch TV?

Thanks
Garth

[Hans Deventer]

Hans do you have any idea if it's mentioned in that article if it's aired anywhere on dutch TV?

No, that wasn't mentioned. I don't suppose it is, though you never know.

[Ian Gentles]

Ist it great folks, enjoy the game at this level very much. Must admit i fancy New Zealand for this one

[Kevin Rector]

One time out of curiosity I looked up all about cricket on the internet. I spent several hours learning as much as I could (I do that sort of thing often on just about all kinds of topics).

Since I've never actually seen a match in my life (and I'm not likely to see many unless my life situation drastically changes in ways I can't foresee) it was pretty hard to retain that information.

[Roland Hearn]

Ist it great folks, enjoy the game at this level very much. Must admit i fancy New Zealand for this one
Actually Ian I think New Zealand have a strong chance. They have at least three players that are truly game winning players, Oram, Bond and Vettori. Styrus and McMillian are great players too. And as things are revealing this morning they really have given England a shock. But of course you and I both know that Australia let New Zealand win in their last series so they could go to the World Cup without the pressure. Australia will win its third world cup in a row and God will still be on his throne.

Garth, ARY Digital has the rights to broadcast on tv and radio in the Netherlands and throughout northern Europe, I don't know if that is a channel or a cable company but I read that at http://www.mapsofworld.com/cricket/world-cup-2007/tv-schedule.html
Direct TV has it in the US but I think that would mean you would have to pay for it Kevin and as I remember Pay per View prices that may be more than you want to do just to see if your memory has held anything.

[Roland Hearn]

The Netherlands takes on South Africa - that should be interesting, and England against New Zealand. It is a case of mother country v off-spring for both.

AS it turned out the kids won both and quite convincingly. South Africa had their biggest world cup victory ever.

[Ian Gentles]

Nice to see countries like Canada, Netherlands, Scotland, having a go. :)

[Roland Hearn]

A great and tragic weekend for cricket and the world cup. Ireland beat Pakistan, that is unthinkable, and Banglidesh beat India likewise unimaginable.
The coach of the Pakistan team after talking of great distress was found unconscious in his hotel room the next day and died shortly after in hospital. He was a great cricket figure a great coach and a great man.
Australia beat the Netherlands well but man there was some real good cricket played by the Dutch, many shots played by a number of their players would not be out of place in any international team, one cover drive was absolutely text book. They actually had Australia in trouble early in the game getting the best batsman in the world out for a very low score.
England beat Canada a few minutes ago but the Canadians put up a real good effort.
It is turning out to be a suprising competition.

[Ian Gentles]

Its an amazing world cup what a compatition, but so sadly marred with that dear mans death.

[Ian Gentles]

Iam hearing, dont know if its true, that Pakistan coach was poisond?

[Roland Hearn]

This is turning out to be the most remarkable World Cup in history. Unfortunately it is primarily because Bob Woolmer, the coach of the Pakistan team, found dead in his room, was murdered. The vague and sketchy details have slowly come together to show that he was strangled to death, possibly by two individuals, in the early hours of the morning. He was killed by people he knew that were able to get past security, which suggests members of the official party. That should never happen in sport and I am of the opinion it is primarily due to the failure of the official sporting body to stand up to obvious anomalies within world cricket that have appeared over recent years.
Anyway that aside, Ireland have made their way to the final eight. No one would ever have believed it possible. The Netherlands beat Scotland which was a great result for world cricket.
South Africa plays Australia tonight our time which will be the best match so far, for me anyway.

[Hans Deventer]

The Netherlands beat Scotland which was a great result for world cricket.

Did you see the game, Roland? In the papers here they say the team played well after some disappointing games before.

[Ian Gentles]

This murder is horrid, sport should never be like this :(

[Ian Gentles]

Coach was receving death threats due to some he dopped, his selection :(

[Roland Hearn]

Did you see the game, Roland? In the papers here they say the team played well after some disappointing games before.
Unfortunately I didn't see the game, it was one of the few that I wasn't able to get to see, I worked a 16 hour day that day and wasn't able to get up to watch it. I'll tell you something though Hans I have been very impressed with all of the second level teams that made it to the world cup. There is a championship tournament that the top five teams of the second tier use to qualify for the world cup. Everyone of those that qualified have had moments where they have played real quality cricket. The Netherlands has some batsmen that look like they could be close to that next level. I really think the top tier teams should produce a second team to play those on the lower level on a regular basis and improve their level of competition.
Well the game of the first round so far has been played. Australia v South Africa. Australia triumphed, the universe is back in balance.

[Ian Gentles]

Yes outstanding cup for second tier nations