Calypso Cricket has long thrilled fans with its cavalier approach to an often unnecessarily complicated gentleman's game. 'Why find a gap in the field when you can just hit over the top,' argued West Indian great Sir Vivian Richards. Likewise, as a spectator sport, cricket in the Caribbean has always been a world apart. It is best described as a 'lively party' painted with colour and equipped with seasoned conches, drums and various other instruments to add to the rhythmic flavoured day. Just imagine, in Australia even beach balls are confiscated upon entrance; in Barbados, ushers guide 'loud' fans to mounds where lively spectators and DJs are jamming to calypso and soca chutney.
Hosting cricket's showcase event is an enormous task for any nation, let alone a region as distinct as the West Indies.
"Ten years ago if you said that nine governments would combine to pass legislation for the World Cup, and that this scale of construction would happen, people would have said you were mad. Since the 1930s we have taken cricket in the Caribbean for granted but now we have the chance to change the game for ever. We have spent more than $300m and used it to overhaul everything. It has been a fantastic exercise." -Chief Executive of the World Cup, Chris Dehring
Whether Dehring's enthusiasm translates to a smoothly run tournament is a matter of some concern for an anxious cricket public. One thing is for certain though, when the tournament opens in Jamaica on March 13th, any speculation about the fate of the 2007 Cricket World Cup will fade away seamlessly into the rhythm of the diverse crowd as all eyes focus on that shiny red ball.
Preview
So, who will win the 2007 World Cup? Well...
1. Australia
Prediction: Champion
The reigning World Cup holders are in ominous form. They secured the Champions Trophy in India in November, then trounced England and New Zealand at home. Their belligerent on-field approach has won them some critics, but it's also won them a lot of tight matches. Captain Ricky Ponting is a tactical master who knows how to choke opposition teams. Wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist is capable of destroying potent attacks, Brett Lee has matured into a devastating one-day bowler, and Michael Hussey has built a reputation as a clinical finisher. World domination never gets old for this mob. Reason enough to keep them very safe.
Player to watch: Andrew Symonds
An electrifying exponent of the modern game, Symonds is a dread-locked, zinc-lipped master - look for his middle-order mayhem with the bat. Symonds is more than handy with the ball too. He can bowl either darting off-spin or probing medium-pace, and his fielding is quite simply the finest in world cricket.
2. South Africa
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/826961
Hosting cricket's showcase event is an enormous task for any nation, let alone a region as distinct as the West Indies.
"Ten years ago if you said that nine governments would combine to pass legislation for the World Cup, and that this scale of construction would happen, people would have said you were mad. Since the 1930s we have taken cricket in the Caribbean for granted but now we have the chance to change the game for ever. We have spent more than $300m and used it to overhaul everything. It has been a fantastic exercise." -Chief Executive of the World Cup, Chris Dehring
Whether Dehring's enthusiasm translates to a smoothly run tournament is a matter of some concern for an anxious cricket public. One thing is for certain though, when the tournament opens in Jamaica on March 13th, any speculation about the fate of the 2007 Cricket World Cup will fade away seamlessly into the rhythm of the diverse crowd as all eyes focus on that shiny red ball.
Preview
So, who will win the 2007 World Cup? Well...
1. Australia
Prediction: Champion
The reigning World Cup holders are in ominous form. They secured the Champions Trophy in India in November, then trounced England and New Zealand at home. Their belligerent on-field approach has won them some critics, but it's also won them a lot of tight matches. Captain Ricky Ponting is a tactical master who knows how to choke opposition teams. Wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist is capable of destroying potent attacks, Brett Lee has matured into a devastating one-day bowler, and Michael Hussey has built a reputation as a clinical finisher. World domination never gets old for this mob. Reason enough to keep them very safe.
Player to watch: Andrew Symonds
An electrifying exponent of the modern game, Symonds is a dread-locked, zinc-lipped master - look for his middle-order mayhem with the bat. Symonds is more than handy with the ball too. He can bowl either darting off-spin or probing medium-pace, and his fielding is quite simply the finest in world cricket.
2. South Africa
Look What Happened With Girl Sleeping In... by bestofallsports
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/826961
