Martin Crowe | My heart says New Zealand, head South Africa
How the top eight teams stack up ahead of the World Cup, plus predictions for the knockouts
Having digested New Zealand's World Cup chances, I will focus on the rest.
Firstly, I can't see past the eight major nations qualifying for the quarter-finals. The minnows are still way off the pace, although it would be romantic to see an upset or two in the opening few weeks. Could Ireland snare West Indies in Nelson?
The first of my gut feelings has to do with South Africa. They were dead unlucky in 1992 with crazy rain rules, and especially unlucky again in 1999. They had their chance to grab that tournament by knocking out Australia in Leeds in a Super Six match, but Herschelle Gibbs tried a circus act and "dropped the World Cup". Then they had another terrific chance to grab it again only days later, at Edgbaston, same opposition, only to feel it all evaporate in a hurry as they needed one run with four balls remaining. Allan Donald dropped his bat, was run out and that was that.
Four years later at home, they did the unthinkable, and not much has changed since. Yet now that AB de Villiers has become the world's most outrageous strokemaker there is reason to believe again. He stands on a pedestal as a man who can change a game in the blink of an eye. Along with Brendon McCullum, de Villiers is timing his run immaculately. These two leaders are the men I would love to see at the toss in Melbourne come March 29, if the draw will allow it.
South Africa also have Hashim Amla, a modern-day great player with a beautiful attitude to the game. He's the sort of guy you want to see succeed, oozing class from beard to toe. Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, JP Duminy and David Miller are outstanding lieutenants with the bat. And who can go past the skill, experience and balance of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander, Morne Morkel and Imran Tahir? It's an impressive line-up. The only question remaining is the actual execution of managing the pressure moments. I don't see de Villiers gasping for air this time around, for he has shown often lately that he completes all transactions on the field. His new-found maturity will rub off, and that's why I rate them as favourites to go to Melbourne.
How the top eight teams stack up ahead of the World Cup, plus predictions for the knockouts
Having digested New Zealand's World Cup chances, I will focus on the rest.
Firstly, I can't see past the eight major nations qualifying for the quarter-finals. The minnows are still way off the pace, although it would be romantic to see an upset or two in the opening few weeks. Could Ireland snare West Indies in Nelson?
The first of my gut feelings has to do with South Africa. They were dead unlucky in 1992 with crazy rain rules, and especially unlucky again in 1999. They had their chance to grab that tournament by knocking out Australia in Leeds in a Super Six match, but Herschelle Gibbs tried a circus act and "dropped the World Cup". Then they had another terrific chance to grab it again only days later, at Edgbaston, same opposition, only to feel it all evaporate in a hurry as they needed one run with four balls remaining. Allan Donald dropped his bat, was run out and that was that.
Four years later at home, they did the unthinkable, and not much has changed since. Yet now that AB de Villiers has become the world's most outrageous strokemaker there is reason to believe again. He stands on a pedestal as a man who can change a game in the blink of an eye. Along with Brendon McCullum, de Villiers is timing his run immaculately. These two leaders are the men I would love to see at the toss in Melbourne come March 29, if the draw will allow it.
South Africa also have Hashim Amla, a modern-day great player with a beautiful attitude to the game. He's the sort of guy you want to see succeed, oozing class from beard to toe. Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, JP Duminy and David Miller are outstanding lieutenants with the bat. And who can go past the skill, experience and balance of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander, Morne Morkel and Imran Tahir? It's an impressive line-up. The only question remaining is the actual execution of managing the pressure moments. I don't see de Villiers gasping for air this time around, for he has shown often lately that he completes all transactions on the field. His new-found maturity will rub off, and that's why I rate them as favourites to go to Melbourne.
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