The World Cup - Super Sixes

Donny · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2003 7:03 am

The next four days will see the completion of the preliminary rounds of the World Cup. Then begins the Super Sixes where the top three teams from each pool, play each other.

Pool A: Australia have won all 5 matches but could be joined on points by India if India defeats Pakistan and Australia lose to England. England (12), Zimbabwe (12) and Pakistan ( Cool

are in a close go for third with Pakistan having 2 matches to go and the other two, one.

Pool B: Sri Lanka are on top. Last night's defeat makes it tough for the Windies. For them to qualify, they must beat Kenya and South Africa must lose to Sri Lanka. New Zealand only have to beat Canada to make it. SA must win against SL. If they don't, Kenya can make it by defeating the Windies. (I hadn't taken into account a vital factor which could yet see Sri Lanka miss out! Check McGuane's 77 Bounces scenario, below.)

Donny.

THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN !!!!

[This message has been edited by MAGFAN8 (edited 01 March 2003).]

Donny · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2003 7:42 am

Super Sixes Schedule.

Fri 07 Day 0800 GMT 1 1st Pool 'A' v 1st Pool 'B'
Fri 07 D/N 1230 GMT 2 2nd Pool 'A' v 2nd Pool 'B'
Sat 08 Day 0800 GMT 3 3rd Pool 'A' v 3rd Pool 'B'

Mon 10 Day 0800 GMT 4 2nd Pool 'A' v 1st Pool 'B'
Tue 11 Day 0800 GMT 5 1st Pool 'A' v 3rd Pool 'B'
Wed 12 Day 0800 GMT 6 3rd Pool 'A' v 2nd Pool 'B'

Fri 14 Day 0800 GMT 7 2nd Pool 'A' v 3rd Pool 'B'
Sat 15 Day 0800 GMT 8 3rd Pool 'A' v 1st Pool 'B'
Sat 15 D/N 1230 GMT 9 1st Pool 'A' v 2nd Pool 'B'

Donny.

THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN !!!!

JLC · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2003 8:44 am

So New Zealand by forfeiting to Kenya may have cost themselves a place in the Super 6's.

jlc

Its not arrogance if you can back it up

Fate is what you are given, Destiny is what you do with it

Essendon 2000 premiers
2001 runners up
2002 fifth
2003 ????
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JLC · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2003 8:58 am

If you beat a team that makes it through to super sixes you carry all your points through......you only carry one point through from teams you beat that dont make it......i think thats how it works.

I still think batting second at night may bring a few team undone in the tournament. Dare i say it even the mighty australia.

jlc

Its not arrogance if you can back it up

Fate is what you are given, Destiny is what you do with it

Essendon 2000 premiers
2001 runners up
2002 fifth
2003 ????
The slide continues

Donny · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2003 12:53 pm

The Aussies third Super Sixes match looms as a possible danger, simply because it's a day/nighter.

There have been 6 D/N games and five times the winner batted first. In the other match Kenya chased Canada's 197 and got them with 9 balls to spare.

The last D/N game in the qualifiers is SA v. SL.

The second semi on 20th. March is also a day/nighter, to be played at Kingsmead, Durban.

Donny.

THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN !!!!

JLC · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2003 2:29 pm

If Kenya wins today they are through to the super sixes....what a joke that would be.

That means New Zealand is the team most under the pump. If South Africa beat Sri Lanka and New Zealand win their last game. New Zealand miss out as they lost to kenya and therefore have only beaten South Africa out of the teams they finished level with.

I hope this scenario does not eventuate as that would be one of the biggest injustices in cricket!! If thats the case maybe Iraq should host the next world cup.......lmao lmao

Another stupid rule is the one where match is lost due to weather. This means that this has effectively cost the Windies a spot in the super 6 tournament as they only picked up two points against Bangladesh instead of four. Im sure when Australia hosted the World Cup there was a reserve day set aside in case of bad weather. This would seem the common sense thing to do. Otherwise if you had two rain affected matches your world cup campaign would be over before it started.

jlc

Its not arrogance if you can back it up

Fate is what you are given, Destiny is what you do with it

Essendon 2000 premiers
2001 runners up
2002 fifth
2003 ????
The slide continues

JLC · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2003 3:29 am

How the World Cup works

For anyone expecting a simple knockout competition, the Cricket World Cup will be a minefield of changing points tallies and complicated tiebreakers.
But help is at hand, with our stage-by-stage guide...

Preliminary round

Teams are divided into two groups in which they play each other once. The top three in each group progress to the Super Six stage.

Teams are awarded four points for a win and two points for a draw or no result.
Tiebreakers
Team with the most wins
Winner of the game between two level teams
Team with the higher net run-rate
Team with the most wickets taken by balls bowled
Lottery

If any teams finish equal on points at the end of the group stages, a series of tiebreakers will be used in order until one team emerges superior (see right).

Super Six phase

The top three teams from Pool A play the top three teams from Pool B, with four points awarded for a win and two for a draw or no result.

Teams will also carry forward points from the group phase - but their points allocation will be altered to four points for a win and two points for a draw against qualifying teams and one point for a win and half a point for a draw against non-qualifying countries.

After the nine Super six games are completed, the four teams with the highest number of points qualify for the semi-finals. In the event of a tie, similar tiebreaker rules to the group phase will be employed.

Semi-finals

The top team in the Super Six table plays the fourth-placed team, while second plays third.

Its not arrogance if you can back it up

Fate is what you are given, Destiny is what you do with it

Essendon 2000 premiers
2001 runners up
2002 fifth
2003 ????
The slide continues

Donny · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2003 6:21 pm

Yeah, that's good info, JLC. Thanks.

The below article explains the situation in Pool B and which teams may advance to the Super Sixes. Sri Lanka may yet miss out!

Last Chance Saloon for Sri Lanka and South Africa
CricInfo - 2 March 2003

A possible first round exit for tournament hosts South Africa was hardly anticipated before the World Cup but that will be their fate if they lose to Sri Lanka under lights at Durban on Monday.

Shaun Pollock's side, keen to become the first hosting nation to be crowned world champions, suffered unexpected defeats against West Indies in the tournament curtain raiser and then to New Zealand.

Sri Lanka � barring the success of an appeal lodged on Sunday over the ICC's interpretation of the ambiguous playing conditions � also face elimination from the tournament if they lose despite wins against New Zealand and West Indies.

If South Africa beat Sri Lanka then four teams will be level on 16 points � Kenya, SA, Sri Lanka and New Zealand. Kenya and South Africa will automatically qualify having recorded more wins against the tied teams.

According the interpretation of the playing conditions by the tournament's technical committee, Sri Lanka and New Zealand will then be separated by their net run rates.

Sri Lanka contested this on Sunday, forwarding an application to the technical committee that argued that the head-to-head criteria should be applied first and that they should qualify having defeated New Zealand. This was dismissed, although the Sri Lanka cricket board has now filed an appeal with a final judgment expected Sunday night.

Sri Lanka's concern that the net run rate criteria appears to have two roots: they fear South Africa after a 4-1 walloping last November and realise that the Black Caps have an excellent chance to improve their net run rate against Canada.

Certainly, on the evidence of recent matches between the two sides, nine out of last 11 of which have been won by South Africa, the hosts should be clear favourites. However, the Proteas have been unconvincing thus far in the tournament.

There has been talk of dressing room divisions and the poor form of key players, Jacques Kallis and Alan Donald, has been a major concern.

However, skipper Shaun Pollock is confident they can put all that behind them: "There are going to be times at the World Cup when it comes down to crunch games, and this is the most important one for us so far. If you're going to win the World Cup, you've got to win the crunch games - that's what it's all about."

South Africa look set to recall all-rounder Lance Klusener, who was rested for their last game against Canada, and must also decide whether to include one of their specialist spinners, Nicky Boje or Robin Peterson.

Sri Lanka are expected to name an unchanged side despite concerns over their middle order, particularly that of Mahela Jaywardene who is yet to pass double figures in the tournament.

So far the indifferent performance of the middle order has been patched over by the splendid bowling of Chaminda Vaas, the tournament's leading wicket-taker, and star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.

Sanath Jayasuriya, on whom the side appears dangerously dependent for runs, believes his side can win: "I think we've got a good chance. The support bowling has been good. We have been able to get the job done."

Donny.

THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN !!!!

JLC · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2003 3:11 am

SKY SPORTS:

South Africa have been sensationally dumped out of the World Cup after their must-win Pool B match against Sri Lanka was abandoned with the scores level on the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Four years after they were eliminated from the last World Cup after a semi-final tie with Australia, the South Africans were again left cursing after putting themselves in with a good chance of beating Sri Lanka to claim a place in the Super Sixes.

South Africa's misfortune allowed New Zealand to progress, the Kiwis joining Sri Lanka, Kenya, Australia and India in the Super Sixes.

The last place will be decided on Tuesday when Zimbabwe play Pakistan in Group A, with those two sides and England in contention to advance.

Chasing 269 for victory, South Africa captain Shaun Pollock and Mark Boucher added 63 for the sixth wicket to take their side to 212 for six. Pollock was brilliantly run out by Muttiah Muralitharan, but Lance Klusener and Boucher edged the hosts to 229 for six when persistent rain forced the players off.

Confusion reigned as officials sought the Duckworth/Lewis sheets and it soon emerged that the match would end in a tie if the players were unable to return.

Boucher had struck Muralitharan for six to reach 45 not out and he then failed to score from the last ball of the 45th over, which became the final delivery of the match. A single would have brought South Africa victory and a place in the next round.

The umpires returned to the arena around 35 minutes later and asked the ground-staff to remove the covers but within moments the heavens opened up again and the officials left the field for the last time.

Marvan Atapattu was Sri Lanka's batting inspiration with a sparkling 124, the opener sharing a fourth-wicket partnership of 152 with Aravinda de Silva that laid the foundations for an imposing total of 268 for nine.

It could have been higher, but South Africa dismissed both batsmen in quick succession before taking a flurry of late wickets to peg the Sri Lankans back.

South Africa openers Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs shared a fluent partnership of 65 before Smith, on 35, pulled a De Silva long-hop straight to deep mid-wicket.

Gary Kirsten and Jacques Kallis fell cheaply and when Gibbs was bowled by Muralitharan for 73 the hosts were in trouble at 149 for four.

But Pollock and his vice-captain Boucher led the recovery with a sensible run-a-ball partnership that had put the South Africans in position to push for victory when the rain came down.

Its not arrogance if you can back it up

Fate is what you are given, Destiny is what you do with it

Essendon 2000 premiers
2001 runners up
2002 fifth
2003 ????
The slide continues

JLC · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2003 3:16 am

AUSSIES WORRIED ABOUT NIGHT SEMI-FINAL

World champions Australia admit that they are desperate to avoid a day/night semi-final in Durban if they progress from the Super Six stage.

Coach John Buchanan believes the toss would be too much of a factor under the Kingsmead lights, where the team batting second has had a lot of difficulty in previous World Cup matches with the night-time conditions offering greater assistance to bowlers.

Despite that, history shows that sides batting second in Durban win the majority of one-day games and Buchanan also looks at the issue from that angle.

"From my knowledge of the facts, when we came here last year, about 70 per cent of international matches in Durban are won by sides batting second," said Buchanan.

"That is generally because the ball seems to do a bit more during the day then at night. If it is still and the weather conditions are normal, dew can settle.

"That means the ball moves around less and spinners become less effective so it is easier to bat second."

In April 2000, Australia were thrashed by six wickets under the Durban lights after setting South Africa 241 to win while last March, Australia gained revenge in winning by eight wickets chasing 268.

"That is the history," added Buchanan. "Whether it is accurate history or not, the point is, even if it is only
partially accurate, you are still unsure what you should do at the toss because there are elements that might affect the game."

However, India's bowlers destroyed England's batting in a day-night game in Durban last Wednesday and West Indies, Sri Lanka and England have all won other high-profile day-night matches in Cape Town batting first.

Buchanan feels the England batting against the Indians was suspect.

"No matter what the game, the white ball offers something to the bowlers when it is new," claimed Buchanan.

"It is always how well the bowlers exploit that period and how well the batting side deals with that.

"In Durban the other night, a bowler began to hit the right spot accurately and regularly and the England batting was not able to respond."

Australia won their first five matches of the tournament and, if they can keep that form going, they will
play their semi-final in Port Elizabeth on March 18 by virtue of topping the Super Six table.

"All the history still comes down to the fact that, if we do progress to the semi-final and end up in Durban, it still has to be dealt with, it is as simple as that," admitted Buchanan.
.
"The prospect of losing the toss there will also have to be dealt with and the next two weeks will get us ready for whatever a possible semi-final will throw up."

Its not arrogance if you can back it up

Fate is what you are given, Destiny is what you do with it

Essendon 2000 premiers
2001 runners up
2002 fifth
2003 ????
The slide continues

CQ · ambitious that Joined: 25 Jul 2000 Location: melb

i cant be bothered reading all that technical crap, err can someone tell me wen australia is playing next? date, and EST time if u know plz!

oh yer and WHO we play

TARKO TARKO MAN!
I WANT TO BE A TARKO MAN!

Donny · Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2003 9:41 am

Aust. v. SL. Friday. Early start.

Donny.

THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN !!!!

Pies Premiers 2003 · KEEP SEPTEMBER FREE Joined: 01 Nov 2002 Location: vic

Perhaps this topic should be re-named to Super Fours?

9 games to sort out the obvious....

THE PIES GO MARCHING ON

JLC · Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2003 8:20 am

Interesting to note that there are reserve days in the super 6's. Better late than never i guess....lol lol

jlc

Its not arrogance if you can back it up

Fate is what you are given, Destiny is what you do with it

Essendon 2000 premiers
2001 runners up
2002 fifth
2003 ????
The slide continues

Donny · Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2003 7:50 pm

Australia suffer another injury setback
Richard Sydenham (Bloomberg) - 6 March 2003

Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds will miss tomorrow's cricket World Cup match against Sri Lanka after suffering a groin injury in practice yesterday.

Symonds, who scored a century in Australia's opening win against Pakistan, will have a scan today to assess the extent of the injury to an abductor muscle, captain Ricky Ponting said. Ian Harvey will replace him for the match in Centurion, the first in the Super Six round.

Symonds' injury comes a day after fast bowler Jason Gillespie flew home because of a heel problem. Symonds has scored 202 runs at the World Cup at an average of 101 and has yet to take a wicket. Shane Warne, Australia's leading bowler, quit the World Cup after failing a drug test.

"We've had a fair share of setbacks throughout the tournament and we've got another one now," Ponting said.

"Although we've lost two good players, we've still got a very good squad."

Gillespie's replacement, Nathan Bracken, arrives today. Defending champions Australia are the only unbeaten team in the tournament.

Donny.

THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN !!!!