It's just three games and a couple of days' action, yet it has given us a fair idea about what could be unfolding over the next 40 days. As the action gets hotter, TOI takes a look at the pertinent points till now...
PATIENCE PAYS
The key, as Virender Sehwag showed on Saturday, is to stay at the wicket. Get your eye in, and runs will come automatically. Bangladesh implemented this strategy well and raised 283-9 against India the other day. They lost the match but it's a score that should help them improve their net run rate. The Kenyan batsmen didn't apply themselves, and got shot out for 69 in just 23.5 overs against New Zealand.
THE THREE TONNERS
Wickets in these parts are flatter, which means big totals, and big totals generally mean more hundreds. In three games, we have witnessed three centuries already. Sehwag got the best of them by far — a brilliant 175 in the opener. In the same game, Kohli took just 83 balls for his unbeaten 100. On Sunday, Jayawardene smashed the fastest hundred by a Lankan in the World Cup, off just 81 balls.
MISERABLE MINNOWS
The minnows have, justifiably, reacted angrily to the door being shut on them for the 2015 World Cup, but sadly, their performances haven't backed up the talk. Kenya got rolled over in no time by New Zealand — the game lasting just 31.5 overs. Canada were thrashed by hosts Sri Lanka by as many as 210 runs. Both Kenya and Canada ensured it was a boring 'first Sunday' . Even Bangladesh, after promising much, crashed to a 87-run defeat to India.
SPIN IS IN
Spinners were always going to do well in a World Cup in the subcontinent, and so far, that theory looks fairly on track. In the first game, though India went on the rampage, Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan ensured things weren't worse, giving away 61 off his 10 overs. When India bowled, Bangladesh were off to a flyer before Harbhajan Singh started his economical spell and got the dangerous-looking Junaid Siddique stumped off a beauty. Canadian batsmen struggled against Sri Lankan spinners too.
PAST IS PASSE
It doesn't make sense to go by the past record of any venue, or any team. Bangladesh made the mistake of putting India in after winning the toss at Mirpur in the opening game, thinking they'll make use of the dew factor which had resulted in the past 12 games being won by the team batting second. Result? India raced away to 370 — a total that put Bangladesh out of the game. Point to note: Make your decision based on your strengths and weaknesses.
PATIENCE PAYS
The key, as Virender Sehwag showed on Saturday, is to stay at the wicket. Get your eye in, and runs will come automatically. Bangladesh implemented this strategy well and raised 283-9 against India the other day. They lost the match but it's a score that should help them improve their net run rate. The Kenyan batsmen didn't apply themselves, and got shot out for 69 in just 23.5 overs against New Zealand.
THE THREE TONNERS
Wickets in these parts are flatter, which means big totals, and big totals generally mean more hundreds. In three games, we have witnessed three centuries already. Sehwag got the best of them by far — a brilliant 175 in the opener. In the same game, Kohli took just 83 balls for his unbeaten 100. On Sunday, Jayawardene smashed the fastest hundred by a Lankan in the World Cup, off just 81 balls.
MISERABLE MINNOWS
The minnows have, justifiably, reacted angrily to the door being shut on them for the 2015 World Cup, but sadly, their performances haven't backed up the talk. Kenya got rolled over in no time by New Zealand — the game lasting just 31.5 overs. Canada were thrashed by hosts Sri Lanka by as many as 210 runs. Both Kenya and Canada ensured it was a boring 'first Sunday' . Even Bangladesh, after promising much, crashed to a 87-run defeat to India.
SPIN IS IN
Spinners were always going to do well in a World Cup in the subcontinent, and so far, that theory looks fairly on track. In the first game, though India went on the rampage, Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan ensured things weren't worse, giving away 61 off his 10 overs. When India bowled, Bangladesh were off to a flyer before Harbhajan Singh started his economical spell and got the dangerous-looking Junaid Siddique stumped off a beauty. Canadian batsmen struggled against Sri Lankan spinners too.
PAST IS PASSE
It doesn't make sense to go by the past record of any venue, or any team. Bangladesh made the mistake of putting India in after winning the toss at Mirpur in the opening game, thinking they'll make use of the dew factor which had resulted in the past 12 games being won by the team batting second. Result? India raced away to 370 — a total that put Bangladesh out of the game. Point to note: Make your decision based on your strengths and weaknesses.
