2003 Cricket World Cup…But this is

Cricket. Yes the 2003 Cricket World Cup starts tomorrow in South Africa, 14 teams playing 54 games in 43 days. It kicks off with the hosts South Africa playing the West Indies in Cape Town, in the first of these 50-over a side, one-day games and though I don’t watch a whole lot of cricket, I’m definitely up for this World Cup.

To begin, the teams are in two groups of seven, who play each other once, the top three in each group progress to the second stage where they play the three top teams from the other qualifying group. Out of this you get get two semi-final games and the final in Johannesburg on 23 March.

Australia have to be the favourites, they’re the reigning World Champions, but South Africa as hosts are a close second and any of the sub-continent teams, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, plus West Indies could put a run together.

England’s chances could be hamstrung before they start, there’s been so much pressure on them to pull out of their opening game against Zimbabwe in Harare from politicians and media opinion because of the Mugabe regime’s treatment of its own population, that it’s still not clear whether the game will take place. If England pull out they’ll lose the points but might sleep better at night.

Whatever happens there should be some fantastic games played and if you’ve never watched cricket this would be the perfect introduction - day-night games, top teams, tournament competition, and hopefully some big slogging batting performances.

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