power ratings: week seven

Graeme Smith - better luck next time mate.

"We're leaving together,

But still it's farewell

And maybe we'll come back,

To earth, who can tell?

I guess there is no one to blame

We're leaving ground

Will things ever be the same again?"

Wise words indeed there from Europe, not only the ideal intro to our Final (World Cup) Countdown but also handy filler material given the paucity of talking points in midweek.

The World Cup final now appears to be following a British & Irish Lions tour template with Australia facing one of the Asian subcontinent teams every four years.

The turn of Sri Lanka, whose last chance was 1996, has come round again and they will hopefully give a better account of themselves than their neighbours managed in 1999 and 2003.

This tournament too has been bedevilled by cakewalks and that trend was repeated in midweek as the competition's two outstanding teams qualified for the final with embarrassing ease.

An event so one-sided in Barbados would be truly depressing, though strangely less so if the winning captain were Mahela rather than Ricky.

1 Australia

Swatted away the South Africans almost absent-mindedly, the theory that their bowling is a weak spot may require revision. McGrath has inherited Warne's ability to take wickets as much by fear and reputation as mechanics although he will face the one batsman in the world apparently immune to his dubious charms in Jayasuriya. If the Metronome can sign off by winning one last key head to head, against an opponent also leaving the World Cup building, then it is difficult to see how Australia can be denied in their fifth final of the last six.

2 Sri Lanka

Too good for New Zealand, the decision to rest players against Australia in the Super Eights now looks vindicated. Australia have little experience to Malinga and an obsession with Murali which Jayawardene must exploit. In defeat to South Africa and victory over England, as well as the high-pressure India contest some time back in the Middle Ages, Sri Lanka have walked through the fire of competition at this WC in a way that their opponents have not. There is little chance of Australian complacency but they struggled to change gear in the pre-WC series after too many easy wins and that must be Moody's hope again here. The population of the world minus that of Australia are with them.

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3 South Africa

A hugely disappointing showing and some serious re-organisation is surely required if they are to bridge the gap for next time and make that first final. Whatever you think of the quota system, it is ridiculous to blame it for Peterson's shortcomings: the alternatives would have been found equally wanting. South Africa patently lack a proper spinner, but something more too. Brad Hogg, after all, was no world-beater seven weeks ago but the current lack of thoughtful leadership makes it impossible to imagine a South African making similar strides. The batting against Australia boasted almost a Lions led by Donkeys motif and Smith needs at the very least some help and perhaps a rest from the most demanding captaincy job in the game. A collaboration with New Zealand - Fleming's brain, Bond's brawn and Vettori's specs - might've been enough to win it and they have better long-term prospects than the Kiwis. But that is not sufficient, and a set-up unused to acknowledging their fallibility face some tough questions.

4 New Zealand

One suspects that this may be looked back on as one of New Zealand's strongest ever sides despite the anti-climactic end. Fleming's captaincy tenure has been a case study in considered leadership and Bond has enjoyed a belated, wholly deserved seven weeks in the sun. Their freakish productivity of rugby union players excepted, it is difficult to see how a population of 4million can produce enough exceptional cricketers simultaneously to compete, making the selection of Fleming's successor particularly important. Installing John Wright as coach would be the logical and correct route to building towards another industrious underdog effort in four years' time.

5 England

Michael Vaughan's application to retain the ODI captaincy was impressively polished, couple that with another entirely futile Kevin Pietersen ton and you have fifth place for the eighth best ODI team in the world. A torrid campaign is at least in the past, and a summer against beleaguered West Indies and India offers ample chance to restore their reputation as the second best Test team in the world. In one-dayers Vaughan still surely has to go but it is not clear who and how to fill the vacuum.

6 West Indies

A sad end for Brian Lara, though somehow appropriate that he has been individually feted amidst a calamitous Windies performance to which he has undoubtedly contributed. This has proven the story of his career in the context of team achievement, however wonderful the individual legacy. The future for the team he leaves behind is ominous. There is no leader in the dressing room and only millionaire youngsters will have been inspired to take up the game given the ticket prices. Not that there was a lot for them to cheer once inside the ground in any case.

7 Bangladesh

Comprehensively outplayed by Ireland on the back of a defeat to the hosts, their campaign represents progress towards the top table rather than arrival at it. The failure to press home the advantage in defining phases repeatedly prevented them building on fabulous successes over India and Sri Lanka. Dav Whatmore's departure is a shame given that a talented group of players still require considered guidance. The next coach will hopefully be another accomplished import from the Olde Cricket World as their search for a captain who can either bat or bowl continues.

8 Ireland

Mick McCarthy is more likely to agree with this assessment than Roy Keane, but this outcome has to represent mission accomplished for Ireland. It should not be forgotten that they troubled England persistently and got on top for long spells against New Zealand and South Africa as well as beating Pakistan and Bangladesh. One big question for the future is how to prevent their better players leaving to qualify as English. A second is what those fleeing will be missing out on. Two victories over Test playing nations in this tournament represent a strong case for rapid promotion up the ladder: Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh had only won one ODI apiece when afforded full status. One-dayers against top sides ought to become a regular feature though a Croke Park Test may be some way off.

Peter May