After a disastrous start against Sri Lanka, possibly the worst that they are likely to have in this tournament, they had the depth and ability to soldier on to a victorious score of 199. When a player with Lance Klusener's power-hitting ability is coming in late in the batting order, the depth is formidable. It must be a comforting feeling for Hansie Cronje to have players such as Klusener coming in when early emergency bells need to be silenced.

It must also be encouraging for Cronje that he has the luxury of Jacques Kallis opening the bowling. After losing the first couple of wickets, it can only be intimidating for the opposition when Allan Donald is coming into the attack as the first-change bowler. Pollock, Kallis, Donald and Klusener is a truly world-class attack - one that, in these English conditions, could easily take South Africa to the World Cup final on June 20.

Surprisingly, the Aussies look to be starting off their World Cup marathon as if they have some annoying foreign object lodged in their running shoe. Whatever it is that is stuck between the sock and the shoe will have to be removed quickly if they are to finish off the race like Robert De Castella, the famous Australian marathon runner. It would be a sin to write off my boys so early, but even I will admit that they will need to find something special to progress further than the first round.

It has been a long campaign for them, for they have been on the road of international cricket for the past ten months. There have been few pit stops along the route and although they will never use fatigue as an excuse, it is an obstacle that will have to be overcome. Yet it is thanks to the world's most destructive bowler that Australia now have to win their next two games to qualify for a berth in the Super Six round

When Wasim Akram is at the helm of the opposing bowling attack, any run chase becomes menacing. Not only does he swing the ball like Nick Faldo swings a golf club, but he bowls at such a pace that free scoring becomes as close to impossible as can be achieved on a cricket field. As he sprinted in to bowl the first ball of the fiftieth over against my countrymen, I commented to the gentleman standing next to me that Wasim would be the one bowler in the world whom I would least like to face in this situation. Thirteen runs to score with the ball swinging and the field set deep becomes a nightmare.

In Test matches, Wasim is feared for his destructive abilities with the new and old ball and in one-day cricket he can change a game in moments. Who can forget his two swinging thunderbolts in the 1992 World Cup final, when he bowled Allan Lamb and Chris Lewis in successive balls? He is simply a great cricketer who is impressing equally with his leadership abilities in keeping his team united, a job that must be the ultimate goal for a Pakistani cricket captain.

If he can accomplish this one crucial factor of team unity, as Imran Khan did in 1992, I believe that Pakistan could easily win this World Cup. Apart from their running between wickets, their performances have been outstanding. The captain aside, they have a number of match-winning players. Considering that Waqar Younis and Mushtaq Ahmed are on the sidelines, Pakistan must be gaining confidence as quickly as my boys are losing theirs.

From a selfish point of view - and to save me from continued hassles from my Middlesex team-mates and, for that matter, half of the English population - I hope that the last two rounds will act as a spur for my friends in the gold and green. Writing off the Aussies is a mistake at this stage, although it is high time for them to find their best form. South Africa and Pakistan are looking the business at the quarter-way mark of this World Cup.

From the printed edition of The Times, May 25, 1999

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