A selection of musings from around the cricket World Cup.
Eight years ago, Nathan Bracken produced a scintillating spell of bowling that helped Australia sweep aside Sri Lanka en route to being crowned 2007 Cricket World Cup champions in the Caribbean.
But on Saturday, cricket's former poster boy watched his team on the sofa at home, having been "frozen out" of the sport because of a bitter legal fight with Cricket Australia over its lack of protection for players whose careers are cut short through injury.
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Bracken, 37, was forced to retire in 2011 with a chronic right knee injury that has left him with permanent disabilities. By that time, he was already several months into what has become the biggest battle of his life -- taking on cricket's hierarchy over non-existent insurance cover for its contracted players.
Quarter-finals will draw the best out of the top teams
I was tempted to suggest that Australia have cruised into the quarter finals of the Cup given their recent strong victories, but after the rain-out against the resurgent Bangladesh and the one-wicket thriller against the new Cup favourites New Zealand there were some anxious moments against Sri Lanka at the SCG before the play-off spot was secured.
Certainly the bravado evinced by some Australian players would have the fans thinking that the campaign so far was flawless. Australia have had the luxury of home ground advantage and the planned advantage of a strong, deep squad, writes Geoff Lawson.
