There have been plenty of justified complaints about the structure of the 2019 Cricket World Cup, which starts this week.
It’s absurd that only 10 teams are in the mix, especially considering the improvement of so many of the Associate countries, including Scotland, in recent years.
And the format, whereby everybody in the competition will play everybody else before doing so again in the semi-finals, means there are almost certain to be plenty of meaningless fixtures towards the end of the qualification process.
But the fact is that this is the sport’s premier event, the prize which has so far proved elusive to so many participants, including England and South Africa, and there are a plethora of questions waiting to be addressed and answered in the weeks ahead.
England, for instance, have been in the final three times before, in 1979, 1987 and 1992, and yet have never won the trophy. They’re favourites this time around, abrim with attacking brio and performers who have demonstrated they can ravage any attack on the planet. Their captain, Eoin Morgan, a little livewire of restless ambition, epitomises the ambition within the squad and he knows his men can beat anyone else on their day.
Indeed, in home conditions with an expectant crowd and the Barmy Army on the march, the more relevant issue seems to be: Who can stop them? But, of course, under the surface, it isn’t quite as straightforward as that.
For starters, the Australians seem to be getting their act together again at the right time. And, following the return of their disgraced duo, David Warner and Steve Smith, they have shown signs of hitting their strides again. He might be the perfect pantomime villain, but Warner has an abundance of ability and Smith is a class act whose century last weekend was a reminder of his skill. Throw in a very dangerous bowling unit and you have the ingredients for another successful Cup campaign for the baggy green brigade which has dominated this event in the last 20 years.
India have several talismanic figures and, in Virat Kohli, boast one of the globe’s greatest batting exponents. The IPL has been a massive boost in providing their selectors with a conveyor belt of limited-overs talent and if the tournament was being staged in Asia, it would be difficult to talk them down. But, on wet pitches, with spin unlikely to have a major influence, they might lack the bowling options required.
Similar reservations apply to most of the other participants. There is no doubting the efficacy, ebullience or experience of individuals such as Chris Gayle, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and Hashim Amla, but the Windies, New Zealand and South Africa lack the consistency on the ODI circuit to suggest they can rise to the challenge in such a protracted tournament.
Pakistan, too, have lots of potential, but England crushed them 4-0 during the last month and that helps explain why there’s nothing rum about Morgan’s spice.
It promises to be a feast of thrills for those who love cricket. And even the sceptics among us who think the event would be boosted by the likes of Kyle Coetzer, Calum MacLeod, Paul Stirling and Kevin O’Brien have to accept that hasn’t happened.
Now, how many people are supporting England out there?
