The World of cricket

The BIG one. There’s been enough written about why the series is so significant, and what makes the competition, yet to begin, so worth waiting for. The first ODI starts in Karachi on March 13, and from then on it will be four more ODIs and then the three-Test series starting in Multan on March 28.

SOUTH AFRICA in NEW ZEALAND

The hosts beat the Safs 5-1 in a one-sided ODI series that, however, saw a series of close matches that inevitably seemed to end in the Kiwis’ favour. We are in the middle of the first Test right now, and South Africa seem to have found their bearings.

AUSTRALIA in SRI LANKA

The Shane Warne versus Muttiah Muralitharan series has generated almost as much excitement as the Indo-Pak series, but is obviously going to fall short in the ‘sheer passion’ count. The Australians shocked the Lankans to take the ODI series 3-2, but the first Test is evenly poised.

ENGLAND in WEST INDIES

England’s started the first of four Tests at Jamaica well, but that can’t be taken as a shape of things to come in the clash between these two old foes. Neither team is a world beater, and at home, the Caribs must count as favourites.

BANGLADESH in ZIMBABWE

Things seem to be on the upswing for Bangladesh, who managed to hold on to draw one of the two Tests, and have won one of the three ODIs played so far. Two more ODIs are left in this low profile series.