Eight Days A Week

One WEEK into the biggest cricket extravaganza, there's just controversies! No centuries, no five-wicket hauls, no hat-tricks, no world r...

One WEEK into the biggest cricket extravaganza, there8217;s just controversies! No centuries, no five-wicket hauls, no hat-tricks, no world records. Not even a washout! The South Africans8217; ear-piece, the Duke8217;s balls, Sachin Tendulkar8217;s father8217;s demise and the Indian protest have hogged the limelight in the first week of the quadrennial tournament.

A quick look at the various areas of the Cup till Friday:

BATTING

Notwithstanding their dismal performance, India8217;s opener Saurav Ganguly tops the list of individual scores with a 97 against South Africa. While the World Cup 1999 still awaits its first three-figure knock, England8217;s in-form Graeme Hick has the distinction of scoring a half century 61 and 73 in his first two matches. What8217;s more, he had not been dismissed.

As of Friday evening, 24 half centuries had been scored with England accounting for four, followed by India and West Indies three each, South Africa, Australia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, New Zealand two each, and Pakistan, Sri Lanka,Bangladesh and Scotland 1 each.

BOWLING

The ageing warrior Courtney Walsh continues to flourish as he logged the best figures 4-25 in the opening week. The 37-year-old West Indian also shares the top wicket-takers8217; list 8212; seven 8212; with New Zealand8217;s much-improved Geoff Allott.

Meanwhile a good number of bowlers have been wide8217; off the mark. As many as 322 wides were bowled with West Indies missing the unenviable 50 by one. And the only man laughing his way to the bank is the guy who bet his hard-earned money on there being more than 280 wides in the tournament. More money is on the way, with the tournament just a week old.

New Zealand seem to be least afflicted by the wide-mania8217; with just seven to their credit, while Scotland gave Pakistan an extra six and a half overs through 33 wides.

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All predictions that the Cup would be dominated by pacers and seamers stand. Muttiah Muralitharan, who for a change saw somebody else being reported for chucking, was the only spinner with a three-wickethaul.

KEEPING

There hasn8217;t been much cheer in the Indian camp, but Nayan Mongia did notch up a personal landmark with five catches behind the wicket against Zimbabwe and joined fellow Indian Syed Kirmani, West Indian Jimmy Adams and Pakistan8217;s Rashid Latif. Two other keepers, who have stood out have Alec Stewart and Mark Boucher, with their heroics behind the stumps and the bat too.

MAIN TALKING POINTS

Hansie Cronje and his ear-plug

Duke8217;s ball, which has seen bowlers wide off the mark

India8217;s protest after being docked four overs against Zimbabwe

MASTER BLASTER OF THE TOURNAMENT

Lance Klusener, whose arrival at the crease sends a chill down the bowlers8217; spines

GREASED LIGHTNING

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Shoaib Akhtar, who admits to enjoying the fear on the batsmen8217;s face

MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENTS

Azharuddin, Lara, Ranatunga

WAITING TO EXPLODE