The LOCs (local organising commitees) organised the World Cup.

The national governments built (via their own money and loans) the new stadia.

After the World Cup various events, sporting and not, will take place in the stadium.

The Caribbean is not in a position to have many stadiums dedicated for single use.

The cricket is not as exciting as we would have hoped, but that's not the fault of Ireland or Bangladesh getting into the super 8 stage, if Pakistan or India were not good enough to reach this stage, then they are best out.

I think from an English perspective - Flintoff cast a shadow over the competition with his antics with the pedalo, and being stripped of the vice captaincy, and banned for a match.

The World Cup was doomed as a spectacular event after the death of Bob Woolmer IMO, I think the ICC (for once) was right to keep the WC going, a lot of effort had gone into the event by the West Indies, and people had spent thousands getting there.

Having said that - the WC could never have been the same after what happened to Woolmer.

Ireland and Bangladesh - is there not an analogy with (I think) Southampton and Sunderland second division teams making the FA CUP final a few years ago?, did that devalue the FA cup?.

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Ern

Apart from the Ireland/Bangladesh matches, I don't think the cricket is that dull at all. The big four, along with England and in bursts the Windies have been producing very good games, and the 'business end' of the Super 8's is looking to have a mini battle royale amongst the four major teams before the semi's. For me, its not a question about cricket quality.

Gilchrist, among others, recently launched comments that there should be a ticket 'sale' where prices should be slashed for the sake of filling the grounds up. The locals love thier cricket, given the right price they will be there, its up to the ICC to finally show some initiative for the good of the game! Cricket in infinitely better with a full house!

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- VVVRulz..

For me the major failing of the WC is that the unique and special atmosphere you get when playing in the carribean is not there and for that the administrators (whoever they are) are at fault.

To be honest the rest of the super 8's are now a non event beacuse realistically only the top 4 can now go through. The next week or two of cricket is going to be pretty meaningless....roll on the semis.

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Mark.

I must admit i am beginning to get a little bored of this World Cup now and it has nothing to do with the fact England aren't doing that well.It seems to have been going for ages already and we still have more than 2 weeks to go,i can't wait for it to finish now.

There are lots of reasons why this competition seems to be dragging - poor attendances, the atmosphere vacuum which the administrators have applied, ticket pricing and, of course, the death of Bob Woolmer have all put their own lesser and greater shadows over it. Against that, we can set a number of good exciting games and a more than a couple of surprise results, especially from Bangladesh and Ireland. But, Greg, I think you have a point regarding the sheer length of this exercise - six weeks for a competition like this really is far too long. In 1987, the competition lasted 15 days, I believe.

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Money won't buy you friends. But it gets you a better class of enemy.
Spike Milligan

May be you right from your point of view. Imagine what would've happened if this sad incident had taken place in Pakistan? We would've a new term in the dictionary "Cricket Terrorism" and Bin Ladin would've been blammed for it right after all the teams would've decided not to play any more cuz of security concerns.
In my view, ICC let it on only and only because there were millions of dollars on stake and nothing else. And as far as the crappy buzz goes that Bob would've wanted the same....... Yeah Right !! Bob wouldve wanted not to be killed as well.

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Had cricket been a religion, Imran Khan would've been the god.

Yes that's a major factor - also in Englands case lots of cricket played in Australia, and Englands contribution in the tests at least was horrible, couple that with a long winded WC, again with England playing poor cricket.

I think the WC would be better as a Knock out competition after the first round, there would be less tactics - and more exciting cricket.

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Ern

Yes made me cringe also saying that the WC had to go on because Bob Woolmer would have wanted that - I don't believe he ever gave that idea a second thought.

I agree it should have continued for the teams and fans that had traveled, but the lack of buzz IMO is down the the death of Bob Woolmer.

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Ern

problem is as greg rightly pointed out. Its too long. Now if the WC would begin from the super 8's well that would be fantastic!

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