CricInfo at World Cup 1999
[The ICC Cricket World Cup - England 1999]
   
Meet the Team

Trevor Chesterfield - Colin Croft - John Houlihan - John Ward


[Chesterfield column]
[Trevor Chesterfield portrait] Trevor Chesterfield

Cricketing background: Trevor is New Zealand-born and has had a love affair with cricket since he can remember, writing for newspapers and press agencies in New Zealand, England, Australia and South Africa since 1957; he has been employed since 1975 as senior cricket writer of the Pretoria News, in South Africa. Has one published work, 'Cricket Captains of South Africa: from Melville to Wessles' with Jackie McGlew and is now working on biography of former South Africa Test fast bowler Fanie de Villiers. In his school days was a leg-spinner and played for Central Districts colts in NZ and invited to NZ Colts trials 1955; also a first class umpire in South Africa and minor provincial matches in NZ.

Prediction: I think that South Africa and Pakistan will compete in the final, New Zealand can surprise by reaching the semi-finals. South Africa’s record since losing the triangular tournament in England last year has been a shade of pale short of spectacular; quality all-rounders supported by excellent fielding have engineered the sort of balance coach Bob Woolmer and the captain, Hansie Cronje, have sought since the 1996 campaign ended in the quarter-finals. It did not come easy, but the hard work since March 11 1996, when they lost to the West Indies has made them more competitive and they have learnt to handle pressure and come back strongly.

Despite Pakistan’s often erratic form they can not be dismissed lightly and have learnt to bond together under Wasim Akram’s observant and custom designed leadership to suit their needs. Their one problem area is fielding where they have a couple of liabilities: Inzamam-ul-Haq being one of them. On a good day they would shock the Australians.

Do not laugh: the Kiwis may not be as flashy or adventurous as some of the fancied sides, yet they have a peculiar characteristic among the players which can overcome heavily stacked odds. On a good day can, and have, beaten South Africa, Australia, India and Sri Lanka, in the last couple of seasons.


[Croft column]
Colin Croft

Cricketing background: Colin was a member of the West Indies side of the late 70s and early 80s, arguably the greatest cricket side ever. He was a fearsome fast bowler in his day and played in 27 Test matches taking 125 wickets at 23.3 a piece. As a commentator and journalist Colin is famously frank and forthright, and television viewers worldwide will enjoy his candid exchanges with fellow commentator Geoff Boycott during this World Cup. Colin writes for the London Sunday Telegraph; South Africa's SportsDay; The Independent Newspaper group of South Africa; The Stabroek News of Guyana; The Trinidad & Tobago Independent Newspapers; Wisden Cricket Monthly; South African Cricket Action Magazine, plus, of course, CricInfo.

Predictions: Predicting a winner of the 1999 Cricket World Cup is very difficult indeed.

England and New Zealand have an advantage because they are somewhat accustomed to the weather conditions. Pakistan, Australia and South Africa have teams which have the best talent around. The West Indies and India have confidence gained in their last international encounters to bring with them. Zimbabwe is on the way up. Sri Lanka should do their best to defend their crown. Scotland, Bangladesh and Kenya are "spoilers" waiting to upset some "big fish" as Kenya upset the West Indies last time around. I can even predict that there will be two, yes two, major upsets in this competition from the "minnows".

In my sometimes confused mind, the final four could be (1) Pakistan, (2) South Africa, (3) England, Australia or New Zealand and (4) India or West Indies. That is sitting on the fence, so I will go for a Pakistan v South Africa final, unless they meet in the semi-final, with perhaps Pakistan winning, but please do not hold me to that. Pakistan has tried and tested talent. South Africa has the cohesiveness and that most important quality, the fact that none of their players considers himself any better than the rest of the team. In their eyes, they are all equal. If one of South Africa or Pakistan beat the other in the semis, then my winner will be Australia or, for a dark, sleeping giant, (sorry about the pun), West Indies.

The player of the series could be, in this order, Michael Bevan, Shaun Pollock or Jacques Kallis. Bevan is the single most underrated player in the world, despite the fact that he averages about 60.00 runs per One Day International innings. Pollock and Kallis have the tenacity and determination of winners.

I would not put any money on anything here in 1999. Anyone can win.


[Houlihan column]
[John Houlihan portrait] John Houlihan

Cricket Experience: John is a specialist online sports writer, who has written for The Times, Virgin Net and CricInfo, as well as most of the major English cricket magazines including Wisden Cricket Monthly, Cricket World Monthly, Inside Edge and Johnny Miller 96* and he has also worked as a cricket reporter for the Western Daily Press group. On most weekends during the summer he can be found playing for The Times on Saturdays and his local club side, the Fox & Hounds UCC on Sundays. He still entertains pretensions of being a bowling all-rounder, combining reasonably nippy medium fast away swing with a solid (or should that be stodgy?) defensive opening batting technique. His aggregate of one Royal duck, one Golden duck and a mammoth 2 in his first three innings of this season, would suggest he's fooling no-one.

Predictions:

  1. Australia
  2. Pakistan
  3. South Africa

Unlike most observers, I don't believe there's a single pre-tournament favourite and I think that the World Cup will be won by one of three or possibly four teams. No-one can ignore the Australians who have an abundance of world-class performers (just consider the players who didn't make the squad) and one of the most dominant ODI batsman in the world in Michael Bevan. Pakistan are a supremely talented outfit in almost every department and Wasim Akram seems to have achieved the impossible and welded them into a coherent team - if they remain united both on the field and behind the scenes they will be very difficult to beat. South Africa have both strength and depth, but are slightly flattered to be favourites ahead of the other two nations, however there's no doubt they are a significant force in one-day cricket and Hansie Cronje has an excellent chance of lifting the trophy. Finally England are my outside selection, sporting a resilient middle-order, some potentially match winning all-rounders and a forceful seam attack well able to exploit local conditions. It's always a case of 'if' with England, but if their top order can find form, they learn to relish rather than fear the big occasion and above all, if they can perform with any degree of consistency, they are more than capable of springing a shock win.


[Ward column]
[John Ward portrait] John Ward

Cricket experience: John is Zimbabwe's leading cricket reporter - hardly surprising as he is the country's only specialist cricket reporter. John played Saturday club cricket during the seventies and eighties, mainly as a dogged opening batsman who felt that his abilities as a medium-pace swing bowler or ultra-slow leg-spinner were grossly neglected.

Predictions:

  1. South Africa
  2. Australia
  3. Zimbabwe
My pick as winners of the 1999 World Cup is South Africa. During the past season they have become a more powerful unit than ever, especially with the bat. Herschelle Gibbs seems to have solved their opening batting problem, while their only weakness seems to be in the spin department -- which is unlikely to be significant in normal present-day English conditions. Australia are not far behind, another powerful and determined all-round side. Any winner outside these two would be a surprise -- but the last four World Cups have all had surprise winners. As a third choice, I would venture Zimbabwe, who now have depth in every department of the game and just need a little luck. And nobody can say they have peaked too early!


 
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