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A selection of musings from around the cricket World Cup.
While plenty about the Cricket World Cup since it kicked off on Feb. 14 hasn’t gone according to script.
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There have been 10 300-plus totals in the first 15 games of the tournament, with an average first-innings score so far of 282.2, even including Scotland’s 142 and England’s 123, both against New Zealand.
With the tournament taking place in Australia and New Zealand, that average score isn’t even particularly high these days: When Sri Lanka played five matches in India in November 2014, the average first-innings score was 313.8; and when Australia visited India for six matches in October-November 2013, it was 332.3, with a lowest first-innings score of 295.
From India’s thrashing of South Africa on Feb. 22 to Ireland’s comfortable victory on Feb. 16 over a West Indies side that promptly buried Pakistan and Zimbabwe in its next two games, one widespread prediction at least has come true: There have been a lot of high scores.
There have been 10 300-plus totals in the first 15 games of the tournament, with an average first-innings score so far of 282.2, even including Scotland’s 142 and England’s 123, both against New Zealand. With the tournament taking place in Australia and New Zealand, that average score isn’t even particularly high these days: When Sri Lanka played five matches in India in November 2014, the average first-innings score was 313.8; and when Australia visited India for six matches in October-November 2013, it was 332.3, with a lowest first-innings score of 295.
New Zealand promise they won't be sledging Australians
Australia talk about not crossing the line. New Zealand, it seems, don't talk at all.
The Black Caps on Wednesday declared they would not be fighting fire with fire in the sledging department during Saturday's World Cup match in Auckland.
The Australians have made aggression a key feature of their approach against opposition teams and there were several instances where on-field chatter boiled over during Australia's Test summer against India, with players from both sides reprimanded.
The International Cricket Council subsequently indicated on the eve of the tournament it would take a hardline stance on behaviour, foreshadowing suspensions for serial offenders rather than fining them percentages of their match fees.
If New Zealand are to be believed, though, they will be in no danger of that kind of punishment arising from their Group A clash with Australia at Eden Park.
Destination World Cup: 4 players, 4 homelands and 4 journeys
Cricket is widely watched sport and each country that plays in the World Cup has it's share of talented players -- known or unknown. In this interesting slideshow, The Age gives us a brief introduction before getting them to talk about their game.