This second edition of the World Cup Podcast series (first one can be found here) was recorded about ten days back, just as the World Cup went into its second week. The references used might be slightly dated, but the topics discussed are as relevant as ever.
The podcast has been divided in four short parts, each part discussing a separate topic for easy listening.
Participants: KC, Sehgal and Rashmish from the US Desk.
Part 1
This World Cup has already seen some great knocks, most remarkably the one by Kevin O’ Brien that took the game away from England. That knock had the contributors walk down the memory lane and discuss which knocks were the best ever. Sachin’s 98 against Pak, Waugh’s century against SA, Ponting’s carnage against India or Gilly’s blitzkreig in the 2007 final?
Part 2
ICC has already declared its intent of changing the format in the 2015 edition, reducing the number of teams. Is that move fair on the associate nations? Will we never see romantic minnow upsets like Kenya against West Indies in ’96 or even Ireland against England in 2011?
Part 3
The review system has received much flak from all quarters, none more so than Dhoni who diplomatically trashed the 2.5 meter rule. This has the guys wonder about the logic behind the figure 2.5, and can it not be 2.4 or 2.6. That also inspired the engineer within them, as they figure out why such a number should be present in the first place.
Part 4
The final segment lightens up the matters a bit, with a discussion on why teams like Canada and Zimbabwe or Ireland, Bangladesh and South Africa have been given the same color jerseys, since there is no other big tournament where the colors have to be shared. Eden Gardens being stripped off big games on completion concerns while being allowed to host lesser games is also subject of much amazement.
The show finally ends with a discussion on the wackiest off-field incident that players have been involved in, fresh from the bizarre Ashley Cole shooting incident.
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