What did we learn from this World Cup?
A World Cup asks questions of the game as well as questions of the teams. So what have we learned about the state of cricket during this one?The tournament was a success. Good weather, big crowds, a final contested by the two host nations: the 2015 World Cup showed cricket in a good light. The 50-over game, so long static and pedestrian, has certainly evolved. But a parallel question - "How many memorable games were there?" - draws a more muted response. Positive batting and high scoring rates have improved the spectacle but reduced the tension. Few games went to the wire.
Did the best team win?
Yes. Australia were worthy, deserving and engaging winners. The astonishing feature of Australian cricket is how quickly it bounces back. In the 2013 Ashes, Australia looked, well, un-Australian. Eighteen months later, it feels as though the old order, default Australian dominance, has been restored.
Are South Africa chokers?
Not on this evidence. South Africa played with big-hearted ambition and spirit. In the epic semi-final against New Zealand, South Africa, despite making costly mistakes, left everything they had out on the pitch.
There is a difference between choking and losing. Jack Nicklaus, golf's most prolific winner, also came second in more tournaments than any other player. (I know a semi-final is not exactly second place, but you get the idea.) It is not always a disgrace to be close. In literal terms, choking is the inability to perform routine tasks, like a computer suffering from a short circuit. It is a special and rare category of losing, not a term to be used loosely and carelessly. And what is the definition of losing? Losing accounts for 50% of the outcomes in sport. So let's use the proper word.
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