Lucky England
This World Cup will always be remembered as the Bob Woolmer murder World Cup, writes Vic Marks in The Observer
Nishi Narayanan
25-Feb-2013
This World Cup will always be remembered as the Bob Woolmer murder World Cup, writes Vic Marks in The Observer. Cricket, he writes, has long since lost its innocence, particularly in the subcontinent and England have no idea how lucky they are.
Play badly and Michael Vaughan's men will receive flak in the press and some grumbles from former players, while the Barmy Army defiantly supports them come what may. As Woolmer used to say on the golf course when his opponent deposited the ball into the water: 'The ball's in the lake; nobody died.' Some sense of perspective remains.
But play badly for Pakistan or India and the consequences can be more severe. It is not only effigies of fallen heroes that can be burnt; so, too, can their houses. In Ranchi, Mahendra Dhoni's home has been damaged after India's defeat by Bangladesh. And it may be that a stunning defeat for Pakistan caused a madman to assault the coach. This is serious stuff - we are no longer in pedalo territory.
Nishi Narayanan is a staff writer at ESPNcricinfo