High Noon on the cricket fields of southern Africa

India beat England yesterday and is now second in the group A standings. England play Australia on March 2nd in a match that might prove to be crucial to their chances of making the Super Six at the expense of Pakistan who play India next a day earlier. At this point of time, Australia expects to go into the Super Six stage with 17 points in their pockets. India would take 7 points through to the next stage if England makes it too.
But imagine this scenario. What if England beat Australia and India beat Pakistan. Then we get the Super Six equivalent of the Mexican Standoff made so famous by Gary Cooper et al. and more recently by Amitabh and Co. in “Kaante”. Australia beat India who have beaten England who beat Australia. So all three teams go into the Super Six on equal points. Another scenario that I am looking at in glee is the chance of Kenya going through to the Super Six from group B. Then there are fine prospects of all three teams from Group A making the semi finals.
All this means that what was termed to be the dullest of World Cups (by me of course) has turned out to be a potboiler of epic proportions. Let hope everything lives up to the promises…

Quote of the Day: "Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." (Soren Kierkegaard)