Supporters take to the streets to celebrate Bangladesh's victory over Pakistan, their first over a Test-playing nation

Zimbabwe's win over South Africa points out rule flaw

Dare it be said, too, not a single one washed out and only one required to go into a second day: one the England team would rather forget, but cannot. England and all their supporters might turn to Tennyson for solace:

Though much is taken, much abides; and though/We are not now that strength which in the old days/Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;/One equal temper of heroic hearts/Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will/To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield

Some teams had to yield in the first phase of a World Cup that has so far had very few close or genuinely uplifting games. The two-point rule worked admirably in giving purpose to every match: indeed only the Pakistan-Bangladesh game, one out of 30, did not have an effect on which sides qualified.

The Zimbabwe-South Africa position as the Super Six games start suggests, however, that one refinement is still required to rules worked out by the International Cricket Council (ICC) from their experience of past World Cups. (Zimbabwe, with three first-phase wins, have four points, while South Africa, with four wins from the same group, have two points.)

Either there should be a two-point bonus for the nation that finishes top of each group or, preferably, one point rather than two should carry forward to the second phase, for matches won against fellow qualifiers. If that were the case this time, Zimbabwe, well beaten by two Test teams who did not qualify (England and Sri Lanka) would have only a one-point advantage over the winners of Group A and would need to win more than one of their Super Six games to reach a semi-final.

Rules are rules, and Zimbabwe beat South Africa worthily on an off-day for the original favourites, but the fundamental objective of the tournament is surely to find the best one-day side in the world, and it seems unjust that one side should get such a bonus for a golden day while the other was so punished for what has been, so far anyway, their only fall from grace.

Equally to the point, India and Australia would not be entering the second phase at such a huge disadvantage vis-à-vis Zimbabwe, despite having won and lost exactly the same number of games. It is inequitable and the ICC, an organisation sometimes prone to smugness, must recognise as much and put it right for the next tournament in South Africa four years hence.

There are, admittedly, two counter-arguments. One is that giant-killing is an important and attractive element of any cup competition. There would be widespread pleasure - not to mention still greater surprise - if Zimbabwe were to emulate Sri Lanka last time and actually win the World Cup. Already their odds have been slashed from 250-1 to 20-1.

It has dawned on bookies and punters, no doubt, not only that Zimbabwe may need to win only three more games to take the cup, but also that there was nothing especially fluky about their triumph over South Africa. They played the better, more aggressive cricket on the day; and this is the side, do not forget, that defeated Pakistan in a brief Test series last winter, in Pakistan.

The second argument is simply that by the time the Super Six is over, the semi-finals will have been reached on the perfectly fair basis of two points for every win against each of the other five qualifiers. There is an undeniable logic to that, but it is surely reasonable in a tournament of this length for the stakes to be lifted a notch at each stage. Therefore, one point rather than two to be carried forward next time.

Crowd invasions are the other continuing problem of the tournament. Up to a point, they are a problem peculiar to the United Kingdom. As Michael Browning, the Australian event organiser, argued last week, it is a tradition for cricket crowds in England to be allowed on to the field in the intervals. Mass invasions and total unruliness of the kind that has occurred to a greater or lesser extent whenever an Asian team has been involved, is a case of unbridled enthusiasm. Cricket squares are in danger of being damaged, stumps are being stolen and, clearly most important of all, players are in potential physical danger from any excess of emotion, be it overexcitement or, worse, uncontrolled anger.

The only answer in the short term is a vast increase in police for matches where trouble is possible, and the threat of immediate arrest for those who trespass when they have been warned not to do so.

June 2, 1999