The best eight ODI teams in world cricket, and fifteen games to decide who is the best of the best – the 2013 ICC Champions trophy in a nutshell.
After 12 games we have four teams remaining – England, India, South Africa and Sri Lanka.
Anyone who has been following this tournament so far would have to agree that this very compact tournament format, when the rain has not interrupted, has so far produced a cricket extravaganza of the highest order.
It has also been a very unforgiving format in that each team had to consistently perform at its very best to be on the winning side.
In the end the teams that did perform best during this tournament are now going to battle it out in the semi-finals.
South Africa will take on England in the first semi-final at The Oval.
The Proteas have looked a dangerous side in every game so far, but of the four remaining teams they have been the luckiest side to make it to the semis.
After losing against India in a well-contested game, they easily beat Pakistan, but then they were very lucky to scrape through in their last game against the Windies in a game that was decided by the Duckworth-Lewis system.
The hosts England beat the defending champs, Australia, and the Kiwis easily to qualify for the semis.
Even in their defeat against Sri Lanka they put in a respectable performance.
Based on these recent performances England, with home ground advantage, would be many people’s favourite team to win this tournament.
Captain Cook’s team looks very confident and man for man they have a better team than South Africa for this tournament.
Sri Lanka will have to be at their very best if they want to beat India in the second semi-final in Cardiff.
They only narrowly lost to New Zealand by one wicket in their opening game, and then they went on to beat England and Australia.
Sri Lanka’s quality batting line-up is its trump card and when Sangakarra, Dilshan and Jayawardene get going they are unbeatable.
India has been the tournament’s best team so far.
They beat South Africa, the Windies, and trounced their arch rivals, Pakistan, to cruise into the semi-finals.
Their batsmen (and in particular Shikar Dhawan) and bowlers have been brilliant, and in the fielding department they have been playing their best cricket ever.
All four remaining teams will go into the semis with confidence and in good form.
I am looking forward to a thrilling contest.
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