Chris Pringle: Minnow teams seize chance

Chris Pringle shares his thoughts on the International Cricket World Cup.

The early stage of the Cricket World Cup has been an opportunity for some lesser teams to shine.

An undoubted highlight was Ireland beating the West Indies, which is some real kudos for them.

Former West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding, "Whispering Death" himself, was calling on social media for Ireland to be given test status after that victory.

That is probably a hurdle too far at this point. Test cricket is different to one-day cricket and you need a lot more depth in your game and organisation to foot it at that level.

But the Irish showed they are willing, competitive and may beat another team in this tournament.

Zimbabwe against South Africa bowled 25-30 good overs and batted well for 30 overs as well. They couldn't complete the full 50 overs to the level they needed to, but they certainly showed that they have talent.

All games at this stage are important but still don't count as much as when it gets to the sudden-death quarter-finals.

But tomorrow's big clash between India and South Africa is crucial for a gauge as to where those teams are at this point in time.

On paper they are great sides but you just wonder at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on a pitch that has pace and bounce how the Indians will do against Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander and the like. This is a big question-mark for me and although they have played outside India a lot in the past 12 months you still see Shikhar Dhawan and a couple of the others finding it difficult with the ball bouncing off a length.

So far the pitches in New Zealand have a pass mark but I have not felt they have been consistent throughout the 100 overs.

There was a time during New Zealand's game against Sri Lanka at Hagley Oval in Christchurch when Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor were finding it really difficult for a while.

The ball just did not seem to come on and one would bounce a bit more than the other. There has been a little bit of inconsistency and I am not sure the pitches are true and full of pace and even bounce at this stage.

-Former Black Cap Chris Pringle is a Bayleys real estate salesman in Tauranga. He played 64 ODIs between 1990 and 1995, taking 103 wickets at an average of 23.87. This column was written before the result of yesterday's match between New Zealand and England was known.