GRAHAM GRIFFITHS, London | Wednesday 2.45pm.
MCGRATH against Tendulkar….an early confrontation between tournament heavyweights South Africa and Pakistan….buoyant Zimbabwe battling to reach the semifinals for the first time. These are among the appetising ingredients that make up the compelling cricket cocktail which is in prospect for the second stage of the World Cup when the Super Six matches start on Friday.
The stakes are raised as the six teams to have qualified from the 12 who competed in the two first-round groups now contest a nine-match schedule in front of sell-out crowds at England’s test grounds.
With a new format for this tournament, under which teams who reach the Super Sixes carry forward points gained against fellow qualifiers from their group, there is a heightened sudden-death element to the competition. Nowhere is that better illustrated than in Friday’s opening Super Six match between India and Australia at The Oval.
India lost to South Africa and Zimbabwe in group A while the Australians went down to Pakistan and New Zealand in group B, so with no points brought forward, the two sides can ill afford an immediate defeat.
It is a situation designed to bring out the best in Australian strike bowler Glenn McGrath, who produced his most potent form in the deciding group game against West Indies on Sunday, and Indian batting sensation Sachin Tendulkar.
An added dimension has been given to the Super Sixes by the Zimbabwe factor. Their stunning group A victory over South Africa enabled them to start the second phase with four points in the bag and comtemplating the possibility that one more win could get them into the semifinals.
The June 5 meeting between South Africa and Pakistan, the two most successful sides in the first phase with four wins out of five, is one of the most eagerly-awaited confrontations of the tournament.
Shoaib Akhtar, the fastest bowler in the competition, Wasim Akram and off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq give Pakistan’s attack its essential skill and variety to test a South African top order yet to be seen at its best. South Africa have all-round strength in depth and the supreme fast bowling of Allan Donald to put their Cup challenge firmly back on track after being derailed by Zimbabwe.