Musings on the World Cup

Through assignments, the World Cup, laziness and general nothingness, I've let this blog sleep away, a la Rip Van Winkle. Yes, I've successfully undermined the zest with which I would put up supportive posts earlier in the year. Better late than never, and a break of a couple of months allows me to add some perspective to my review of New Zealand's World Cup campaign. This despite the rantings that still emanate from the deranged fan in me.

When the 1992 World Cup had reached its conclusion, I chanced upon an article lamenting England's third loss in a World Cup final in five attempts, calling her "The Eternal Bridesmaid". This year's edition saw New Zealand failing to make it past the semis for the fifth time in nine. Does that make New Zealand the eternal flowergirl?

The World Cup was tepid for most part, but the kiwis' smooth ride until the last two games at least provided the illusion of a happy ending, an upset along the lines of India's in the 1983 edition. Being a supporter of a side that can barely be called first-rate, your expectations aren't great and you learn to live with the 'punching above your weight' cliche. For this reason, NZ's World Cup campaign was memorable in some ways. The highlight for me was the defeat of South Africa in the super eights because Fleming effectively out-thought his big talking counterpart in that contest.

But Sri Lanka and Australia, two sides the kiwis simply haven't been able to come to terms with in the recent past, put paid to us fans' hopes after that. The sad thing was, in those last two games, the individual passages of play were as predicatble as NZs eventual defeats. Clearly, NZ thought there was only one way to beat the Sri Lankans in the semifinal, and that was to shake them up with pace and bounce. The inconsistency of the bowlers and the lack of venom in the attack was a let down, and there was simply no plan B. Whatever the last edition of the Chappell Hadlee series may suggest, the batters can be relied to crumble when the pressure is on. Once Murali came back for his second spell after Styris had got after him early, the end was nigh. Of course, Australia had their pound of flesh in the previous game; they are the best in the world but were yet crazily accomplished enough to post their third consecutive 300-plus total against the kiwis. No miracles could be expected third time round.

So what really went wrong? At the risk of sounding like an excuse, I think it was a personnel issue. NZ cricket simply does not have the depth to replace first choice players. The absence of Lou Vincent and Kyle Mills, the two most improved players in the side over the last couple of years, had a big effect if you ask me. Before his injury last December, Mills had risen to the extent of complementing Bond as a strike bowler and keeping the pressure on, something James Franklin was rarely able to do. His replacements in the side, Michael Mason and Mark Gillespie to name two, were never going to be much of a threat. Lou Vincent's withdrawal led to complications in the batting because Peter Fulton was forced to fill his shoes. While Fulton did a reasonable job, it left the middle order well and truly exposed. This was particularly evident in the semi final.

Of course, there were personal triumphs for Scott Styris and Shane Bond. The former especially should feel pleased with his efforts because his value to the side has often been questioned. Both are 32 now and, given their injury problems, have at most maybe two years left in the game. There has been talk of Bond concentrating only on ODIs and Styris giving up his bowling altogether, in a bid to extend their respective careers. We can only hope they don't end up the Martin Crowe or Geoff Allott way.

Four more years to go then; a new captain, a completely new side perhaps. While this year's World Cup may have reaffirmed the fact that NZ are destined to remain in the cricketing shadows, hope prevails. The gap between third-best and best is not insurmountable, but neither is the one between best and even better. The Aussies know that all too well which is why they won this tournament with such ridiculous ease. Their brand of awesome power cricket showed them capable of raising, in fact reinventing themselves so that the cup was well beyond the reach of everyone else.