A selection of musings from around the cricket World Cup
It's only a gut feeling, but veteran spinner Brad Hogg reckons Australia will miss the World Cup final, and India will win the showpiece event.
- The World Cup, as never before on Rediff.com
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Australia's World Cup campaign has been far from smooth, with their washout against Bangladesh and one-wicket loss to New Zealand leaving them languishing in fourth spot in Pool A.
Spinners, streakers and were England right?
Now two weeks old, the World Cup has seen dazzling displays from AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle, debate over whether the likes of Ireland and Afghanistan should be included next time and familiar English disappointment.
The tournament is 23 games into a 49-match marathon, and takes a rest on Monday. With nearly all of the 14 teams at least halfway through their group fixtures, what have we learned?
Limited overs, unlimited runs: World Cup a time of T-plenty
The way to succeed in this World Cup is patent: bat first, make at least 300, or lose.
There have been 13 completed matches between Test nations. Nine times, batting first and making 300-plus has been more than enough. Once, it was not. The other variation is New Zealand, which twice has won after bowling first and skittling opponents for 150 or less. The exception to all these rules was the most recent match, in which 7-235 proved to be a winning score for Pakistan against struggling Zimbabwe.
Poor old England can tell you all the ways to lose: they have succumbed by failing to chase 300-plus, by failing to defend 300-plus, and by collapsing for 123. Fleet Street is letting them know it.
England cricket verdict: Don't bring back Kevin Pietersen, forget stats and go for broke in bid to solve World Cup problems
England are the embarrassment of the World Cup after a third humiliating defeat in three matches against Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
Sportsmail's panel of experts — Nasser Hussain, David Lloyd, cricket correspondent Paul Newman and cricket writer and Wisden editor Lawrence Booth — discuss the big questions arising from another World Cup failure.
DON'T MISS!
- The World Cup, on Rediff.com
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- Prem Panicker: When he could not walk with the gods, he was humble to be mortal
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