Story 2007 World Cup [ICC2005]

[Jamee999]

The real buildup for the World Cup has really started here in Jamaica today, with Empire TV officially securing TV rights, and the draw being made for the groups.

The "big 8" nations were put in one pot, and the remaining 8 nations in another.

Viv Richards on behalf of the West Indies, and Ehsan Mani on behalf of the ICC made the draw.

The first team out the hat was reigning champions Australia, and they were put into Group A.

Next was Sri Lanka, who went into Group B.

Stephen Fleming's New Zealand were 3rd out, and into Group C.

Then Pakistan were put into Group D.

Next, two minnows were put into each group.

Namibia, the first African team, and newboys USA were put into Australia's group, A.

Bangladesh, the lowest ranked test team, and Jim Davison's Canada are in Group B.

Kenya and Holland were inserted into Group C, with New Zealand.

Zimbabwe, the Test nation, and the United Arab Emirates were drawn into Group D.

Then, crucially, the remaining 4 big teams were drawn.

South Africa went into Group A with Australia

India rounded off Group B, with neighbours Sri Lanka alongside them.

England were drawn in Group C, to face New Zealand.

That left the home team, West Indies to be in Group D with Pakistan.

So the draw for the World Cup of 2007:

Group A:

Australia
South Africa
Namibia
U.S.A.

Group B:

Sri Lanka
India
Bangladesh
Canada

Group C:

New Zealand
England
Kenya
Netherlands

Group D:

Pakistan
West Indies
Zimbabwe
U.A.E.

After the draw, the English Captain for the World Cup, Marcus Trescothick, along with some of his squad conducted an interview.

Question: Marcus, hello. As we have seen today, you've got New Zealand, Kenya and Holland in your group, how do you feel about that?

Marcus Trescothick:

Well, it's probably as good a draw as we could have hoped for, we avoided Australia, and only got the one Test nation. However, New Zealand have a very strong team, and both Kenya and Holland could pose problems, so we'll have to be on top of our game in all the group matches.

Question: Who do you feel will be your "key players" this year.

Marcus Trescothick:

Well, we need everyone who we select to perform to the top of his game, but if Ash [Giles] can carry on in the One Day form he's shown over the last couple of years, he should be a force. Also the top order needs to fire, obviously. Me, Straussy, Kevin [Pietersen], Graham Thorpe and Nick Knight, need to fire in order to get the totals defendable. And Fred Flintoff as well.

Next time:

The squads arrive. And the tournament kicks off!

 

[usy]

you got U.A.E. in ICC 2005 ??

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Go UAE!!!! WOOOO!!!!

 

[Jamee999]

Just a note, the story will focus around me as England coach, but will touch on the other matches

 

[MWaugh]

i just really hope you come close to finishing this story. at last count youve started 12 and the highest number of posts you have had with them was 36. i hope you can stick with this one. good luck

 

[Jamee999]

The Arrival

Quite a few squads have today arrived for the 2007 World Cup, at Kingston International Airport.

The first to land were the Australians, lead by captain Ricky Ponting, and sporting a few names new to the international scene.

Ponting arrives

The squad in full:

Matthew Hayden

Phil Jaques

Ricky Ponting

David Hussey

Damien Martyn

Simon Katich

David Moody

Adam Gilchrist

Shane Watson

Andy Bichel

Brett Lee

Michael Kasprowicz

Jason Gillespie

Paul Rofe

Mathew Inness

Player Profile​

​

David Moody​

David Moody, one of the formidable Western Australian batting lineup, at just 20 has forced his way into the Australian international team, on a lot of natural talent. Moody has a good List-A average, a tad under 40, but hasn't impressed in his first three ODIs. Moody was born in Melbourne, but moved to Perth aged 6, and hasn't looked back since, breaking into the Western Australia team aged just 18, and looked comfortable at Number Six, and formed many good partnerships. He brought up his first FC century, of 141* during a Pura Cup match, during a huge Western Australia total.
Moody will have to work extremely hard to get into the World Cup team, but there could be an opening at Number Six for him. Time will tell, and Moody has a lot of time left.