Eight teams down, eight left and still five weeks to run in this World Cup marathon as the second round Super Eights gets underway tomorrow.But the murder of Bob Woolmer will overshadow whatever happens on the pitches of Antigua, Guyana, Grenada and Barbados as Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, New Zealand, England, West Indies and Ireland undergo a furious round of inter-island hopping, trying to secure semi-final places.“It’s not something you should just brush under the carpet,” said former West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding . The Super Eights, where the remaining teams play six matches each, start in Antigua tomorrow with hosts West Indies facing defending champions Australia at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.Australia’s attacking batsmen are in fine form having scored 334, 358 and 377 in their three wins in the first round. Sri Lanka have looked just as impressive as Australia, also winning three out of three in Group B. But Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene is quick to quash comparisons with the 1996 World Cup winning team. “That 1996 side was an amazing team. They just outplayed everybody. But things have changed. There are lots of good sides and you can’t make any mistakes,” said Jayawardene.South Africa captain Graeme Smith, whose team start their second round campaign against Sri Lanka in Guyana on Wednesday, insists his quest for a first World Cup title is still on track despite the defeat to Australia.New Zealand are the other team in the last eight with three wins out of three and an extra two points to carry forward. But they suffered a double blow yesterday with seamer Daryl Tuffey and opening batsman Lou Vincent ruled out with injuries. The Black Caps still have a potent pace-spin attack of Shane Bond and Daniel Vettori.England finished second to the Kiwis in their first round group and take on surprise qualifiers Ireland in their Super Eight opener in Guyana on Friday. Ironically, Ed Joyce will open the batting for England having switched allegiances from Ireland whom he helped to reach the finals here. But Ireland insist they are not bitter over losing Joyce.
