Is it fair...

[keba]

India are lucky that the super sixes concept, in which you carry points against the opposition that you defeated into the second stage (under that system even though England lost to cricketing minnows they could almost carry maximum points whereas India, as the table currently stands, would only carry the draw to England) no longer exists. There are a number of sides that could still win the World Cup and, if they win, they deserve it. You can only perform under the rules available. England have, after all, competed well against the sides that will make it to the next stage. India have also done well (in parts) against the other nations even though the results have not gone their way. I normally like to watch England lose, but, their two losses have clearly been as a result of the "dew factor" taking control of a game. Unfortunately, money is more important in the game than providing fair and equal batting conditions. In my home city of Sydney you have a distinct advantage batting first in a D/N match as the ball generally swings more in the evening and the wicket tends to seam a little more. In a dew affected match it is not uncommon for a side in complete trouble to produce a match winning innings of epic proportions once the ball becomes as slippery as a piece of wet soap. The 1996 World Cup final provides a clear example, Australia had Sri Lanka in trouble at 3 for not many until the dew factor took hold providing assistance to Aravinda's brilliant innings. If you remember Stuart Law even dropped a sitter which slipped through his hands. Sri Lanka deserved the World Cup, they did not cheat, they won under the existing rules which allow sides to compete in vastly different batting conditions. I have seen the Kiwis chase down 300 after being 5 for about 120 in similar conditions. The Irish chased down an impossible target the against England with a good, but not exceptional, batsman creating a World Cup record. As a result, I like the one day format that was used this summer in Australia in which split innings were used. It also has its problems. Nonrtheless, in a D/N match both sides bat in the day and the night. Hopefully D/N matches never enter the test arena.