Game changer of the 2007 World Cup: Similar to the previous edition of the World Cup, the 2007 version was played in the West Indies for the one and only time so far. There was a definite sense of unknown when the World Cup was announced to be played in the Caribbean. The tournament’s structure was tweaked once again. It surpassed the 2003 edition in terms of teams participating. A total of 16 teams contested in the World Cup. Teams were divided into 4 equal groups. The top teams from the group would then go on to play the super eight.
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How different was the super eight from the earlier super six?
A team would play all the teams once in the super eight except for the one from their previous group. Teams carried two points from their previous group against the other qualifying side. The top four teams from this stage played in the semi-finals. It was the most extensive second round of any World Cup that has been played so far.
Why was the 2007 World Cup regarded as a failure?
The shock exit of India and Pakistan in the first round proved to be fatal for the organizing committee. Nobody had expected the Asian powerhouses to be ousted in the very first round. But their elimination meant the fans from both these countries distanced themselves from the World Cup.
Most of the high-profile games were played in front of empty stands. It didn’t help matters as none of the games went down to the wire. The only game that evinced some interest was the league match between Australia and South Africa. All the games including the 3 knockout games were one-sided in nature.
The farce of a final:
It was ironically poetic that the final ended in such a farce. Sri Lanka chasing an imposing total had to bat out a few overs under complete darkness. The umpires wanted to get over with the final on the very same day. They dint follow the protocols that required them to make use of the reserve day. Australia emerged winners for the third time in a row to take their World Cup tally to number 4. They also became the first side to win 3 consecutive World Cups.
Who was the game-changer of the 2007 World Cup?
For the first time in the history of the World Cup, a bowler was declared the player of the tournament. Glenn McGrath playing his last ODI tournament bowed out with a player of the series award. The legendary pacer was on the money right from the word go. He picked up 3-14 in the first game against Scotland. McGrath picked 2-33 against the Netherlands. In the final league game against the Proteas, McGrath returned with figures of 1-62 in 9 overs.
McGrath reigned supreme in super eight:
In the first super eight game against West Indies, McGrath picked up 3-31 in 8 overs. He picked up the Player of the Match award for his 3-16 against Bangladesh. McGrath completed a hattrick of 3-wicket hauls with a 3-62 against England. The speedster picked up another 3-wicket haul (3-17) against Ireland to win yet another star performer award. In the game against Sri Lanka, he picked up 2-48. McGrath finished the super eight stage with yet another 2 wickets in the game against New Zealand.
The final flourish of a legendary career:
South Africa had chased down 434 against Australia almost exactly a year before the 2007 World Cup. The semifinal between the two teams was expected to be a high-voltage one. But McGrath showed his class and brought in all his experience to dismantle South Africa. His 3-18 off 8 overs earned him a Player of the Match award.
McGrath picked just a solitary wicket in the final that too of the last bowl of his ODI career. He finished with 26 wickets, a tournament record at that time. McGrath was the most defining player of the 2007 World Cup and no wonder the biggest game-changer of the edition.
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