Friday, April 1, 2011

For the first time..

History has been made in the ready-to-end 10th edition of the ICC cricket world cup held in the sub-continent with one last game between India and Sri Lanka to go before the world would see a winner or the world champions to be more precise. This world cup should have many reasons to cheer not only for the Indian fans who would still be celebrating their team's win over Pakistan a couple of days back but also for the entire cricket followers who can see the first final held between two sub-continent teams. Sri Lanka on the other hand will be rejoicing being the only sub-continent to have made three consecutive world cup semi-finals.

Sri Lanka made it to the semi-finals of a world cup on four times with three being in the last three editions since 2003 when they lost to Australia. This has happened for the 1st time that semi-final match between the same two teams have been held successively. Sri Lanka faced New Zealand in the semi-finals of the 2007 world cup as well and won at the same time. Previously, Pakistan and New Zealand have played each other in two semi-finals in 1992 and 1999 but the successive factor goes missing here. So is the case with Australia playing South Africa in the semi-finals of 1999 and 2007 world cups.

For the 1st time in history of a world cup, there are two consecutive knock out games between two sub-continent nations when India played Pakistan a couple of days back and are scheduled to play Sri Lanka tomorrow. By tomorrow, there will be a first team from the sub-continent to have lifted the world cup twice with both India and Sri Lanka having their share in 1983 and 1996 respectively.Sri Lanka previously have faced England in two world cup quarter-finals and Australia in two world cup finals. For the 1st time, all three teams from the sub-continent have made it to the semi-finals of a world cup.

For the first time two hosts of a world cup are found playing in the finals of the tournament. Had Pakistan been one of the hosts, the number would have become three hosts to have made it to the semi-finals of a world cup. If India wins tomorrow, they will be the 1st hosts to have won the world cup which would not be the case if Sri Lanka wins. Likewise, India are the second team after England to have made it to the finals of a world cup with England having their share in 1979 where they lost to West Indies. bullet proof is not what I need at the moment.

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