Calypso Cricket has long thrilled fans with its cavalier approach to an often unnecessarily complicated gentleman’s game. “Why find a hole in the field when you can hit over your head?” argued West Indian great Sir Vivian Richards. Also, as a spectator sport, cricket in the Caribbean has always been a world apart. It is best described as a colorfully painted ‘lively party’ outfitted with conches, drums and various other seasoned instruments to add rhythmic flavor to the day. Imagine, in Australia even beach balls are confiscated on entry; in Barbados, ushers guide ‘loud’ fans to the mounds where cheering spectators and DJs play calypso and soca chutney.

Organizing a cricket exhibition event is a huge undertaking for any nation, let alone a region as distinct as the West Indies.

“Ten years ago, if you had said that nine governments would combine to pass laws for the World Cup, and this scale of construction would happen, people would have said you were crazy. Since the 1930s, we have taken cricket for granted in the Caribbean, but now we have the chance to change the game forever. We’ve spent over $300 million and used it to overhaul everything. It’s been a fantastic exercise.” -Executive Director of the World Cup, Chris Dehring

Whether Dehring’s enthusiasm translates into a smooth tournament is cause for concern to an eager cricketing public. One thing is for sure though, when the tournament opens in Jamaica on March 13, any speculation about the fate of the 2007 Cricket World Cup will fade smoothly to the beat of the diverse crowd as all eyes are focused on that one. bright red ball.

Advance

So who will win the 2007 World Cup? Good…

1.Australia

Prediction: Champion

The reigning World Cup champions are in ominous shape. They clinched the Champions Trophy in India in November and then beat England and New Zealand at home. Their belligerent approach on the field has earned them some criticism, but it has also earned them many close matches. Captain Ricky Ponting is a master tactician who knows how to throttle opposing teams. Goalkeeper and batsman Adam Gilchrist is capable of destroying powerful 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 master with dreadlocks and zinc lips – look for his middle-order mayhem with the bat. Symonds is also beyond skillful on the ball. He can bowl by bowling for spin or probing at a medium pace, and his fielding is simply the best in world cricket.

2. South Africa

Prediction: Semifinals

South Africa remains a well-coached unit, with an experienced top shelf. Captain Graeme Smith leads a talented batting lineup that draws on the hitting of Jacques Kallis and Herschelle Gibbs. Throw in two versatile toughs in Justin Kemp and Andrew Hall, plus the bouncy Makhaya Ntini, and most teams will find it hard to keep them out.

Player to watch: Mark Boucher

Vice-captain Mark Boucher is a terrific low-level hitter and a world-class glove who runs an excellent fielding team. The 30-year-old thrives in sticky situations, but can also speed up a tackle on the kill. If he is asked, he seldom fails.

3.Pakistan

Prediction: Semifinals

Coach Bob Woolmer will be looking for consistency from his revamped Pakistani team that showed promise on the 2006 tours of South Africa and India. Only the much-maligned captain Inzamam-ul-Haq remains from the star-studded 1992 World Cup-winning squad, but key batsmen Younis Khan and Mohammed Yousuf (currently ranked No. 1 in the world) are a formidable middle-order presence. . In addition, the young sprinter Mohammed Asif has become a great ground taker. If the opening batsmen can settle then Pakistan will surely threaten the big boys.

Player to watch: Shoaib Akhtar

Pakistan’s chances of winning the World Cup received a huge boost recently when speed demon Shoaib Akhtar received a two-year ban for steroid use lifted by the Pakistan Cricket Board. Love him or hate him, the high-flying playboy is a proven winner. He has great pace and an uncanny ability to reverse the swing of the ball. If he is fit and running, Pakistan will go a long way.

4. New Zealand

Prediction: Semifinals

One-day specialists, the Black Caps are a tenacious defensive team, with enough firepower to cause an upset. The bowling attack features a world-class spinner in Daniel Vettori, who has become an excellent orthodox left-arm blowout artist, rejuvenated pacemaker Shane Bond and underrated closer Mark Gillespie. Captain Stephen Fleming finds himself leading a flexible batting lineup, with a lower order full of speed. If the top order can shake off the self-destructive trend, then New Zealand will take advantage of their weak grouping.

Player to watch: Jacob Oram

Oram is crucial to the balance of his team. A muscular left-handed hitter, he has resurrected countless Black Caps innings with a mix of power and grace. Importantly, Oram also throws mid-tempo tools, allowing Kiwi selectors to include another specialist hitter or up-and-coming spinner Jeetan Patel. An injury-free Jacob Oram holds the key for New Zealand.

5. West Indies

Prediction: Super 8’S

The host nation can rarely be written off in a major tournament, and the West Indies are the kind of team that wins it just for fun. Or at least they used to be. This current crop has talent, the inconsistency continues to baffle its legion of frustrated fans. The ever-present Brian Lara will make one last hurrah, but it’s the opening pair of Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Chris Gayle who may well dictate how far the team progresses. Jerome Taylor is developing rapidly as a striker, and Ian Bradshaw has a good one-day record, but the West Indies lack front-row pitchers to keep opposition batsmen at bay. However, given the team’s overall performance, and who knows what home advantage it might bring?

Player to watch: Dwayne Bravo

Bravo is exactly what the West Indies have been looking for: a genuine, athletic off-roader. Bravo made a huge impression on his England debut in 2004 and hasn’t looked back since. An attacking yet technically astute middle-order batsman, and a tricky mid-paced bowler, Bravo has injected timely enthusiasm into Caribbean cricket.

6.India

Prediction: Super 8

Anticipation weighs heavily on the India team, and their form is often harder to measure than a winter monsoon. However, manager Greg Chappell appears to have changed them in recent months, with sacked captain Sourav Ganguly returning to the fray as the opening batsman, and poster boy Sachin Tendulkar still enjoying another purple patch. But scoring runs has never been a problem for India; stopping the races has proven more difficult. Harbajan Singh and Anil Kumble give them slow bowling attacking options, but conditions in the Caribbean will not follow their sharp turn. Similarly, rhythm duo Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar are too erratic to regularly bother the world’s best orders. However, if India hardens in the field, don’t rule out the sleeping giant.

Player to watch: MS Dhoni

Glamorous Indian cricket boy MS Dhoni makes the crowd jump, the girls swoon and the selectors lick their lips. The long-haired goalkeeper is also a punishing middle-order batsman, as he proved in both Sri Lanka and Pakistan in 2005.

7.Sri Lankan

Prediction: Super 8

The 1996 world champions have done well to stay competitive after a golden era. This flamboyant and well-trained side continues to produce impressive results. Their strong away record is down to batting depth, sharp fielding and a pair of star bowlers, namely world record wicket-taker Muttiah Muralitharan and veteran southpaw Chaminda Vaas. With Jayawardene a positive and uncompromising captain, and stalwart slasher Sanath Jayasuriya continuing to get his team off to a good start with the bat, expect Sri Lanka to cause some serious headaches.

Player to watch: Lasith Malinga

This ferocious fast bowler has been a revelation for the small island nation. His round arm action leaves batsmen with little time to see the ball, and his reputation for toe-crunching yorkers and scorching goalkeepers has cricket fans lining up to watch him play. I’m sure Malinga will love the West Indies pitches too, so he’ll look forward to him making a real impact at the 2007 World Cup.

8.England

Prediction: Super 8

International cricket tragedy of a day, England have won just a handful of matches in the last two years. Conservative and short-sighted selections have not helped the cause, like the last Australian tour which saw three players in their mid-30s debut. There are some bright spots, though, namely plucky backup captain Andrew Flintoff and dashing batsman Kevin Pietersen. The return of starter Michael Vaughan will also make a huge difference, as will the continued development of cautious spinner Monty Panesar and swing pitcher James Anderson.

Player to watch: Kevin Pieterson

The absolute star of English cricket, the charismatic Kevin has shaken the establishment with his natural aggression and powerful hitting. Pietersen has the confidence to lead from the front, and without him England are a timid and miserable bunch. Yet when he’s in the mood, there are few better exponents of the art of hitting.

Group A

1.Australia

2. South Africa

3. Scotland

4.Netherlands

Warner Park Stadium, Saint Kitts and Nevis

B Group

1.India

2.Sri Lankan

3. Bangladesh

4. Bermuda

Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago

Group C

1. New Zealand

2.England

3.Kenya

4. Canada

Beausejour Cricket Ground, Saint Lucia

Group D

1.Pakistan

2. West Indies

3. Zimbabwe

4. Ireland

Sabina Park, Jamaica

Super 8*

Sir Vivian Richards Oval, Antigua and Barbuda

Queen’s Park, Granada

Providencia Stadium, Guyana

Kensington Oval, Barbados

* The top two teams from each pool will advance to the Super 8 stage. From there, another series of round-robin matches will determine the semi-finalists.

semifinals

April 24 – Sabina Park, Jamaica

April 25 – Beausejour Cricket Ground, Saint Lucia

Final

April 28 – Kensington Oval, Barbados