With all the new rules floating around the game, the ICC should probably think about punching in a few norms that can help matches become a bit more competitive in international events.

Maybe they can provide the option of switching-on the 'catchup' mode, akin to multiplayer racing games and give the second player an opportunity to cover some ground; because in this World Cup, matches have been lasting just for an innings.

In the 23 fixtures so far, six of them have already witnessed resultmargins exceeding which have exceeded a hundred runs. We have also had the opportunity of witnessing teams cruise to wins with more than eight wickets in hand thrice.

The figures become a lot more relevant when compared to the previous events of the flagship tour-

nament.

In the last World Cup forinstance a total of eleven matches were won by more than a 100 runs, while six of them were aced by eight wickets or more. The mega event in the Caribbean in 2007 was not that different altogether. There were 12 100-plus defeats and seven matches won by eight wickets or more.

The rate at which the thrashings have been coming by this year, it will be a huge surprise if the numbers don't overtake those of the last two events; for it has been a heavily onesided competition thus far.

Sure enough, the Australia-New Zealand encounter drove us to the edge of our seats; however, the over all picture isn't that rosy. There were a lot more expectations from some of the more high-profiled clashes. The India-South Africa clash or the opener between England and Australia for instance were matches

which everyone hoped would go down the wire.

On the flipside though, the numbers have shown a huge improvement in the performances of the nonfull member nations of the ICC.

Of the 11 100-plus defeats in 2011, seven of them witnessed fullmember nations thumping their younger and more inexperienced colleagues. In 2007 that figure was eight out of 12. This time though, it's been the more seniors getting whipped.

Only three of the nine thumping defeats came against the non-full member nations of the tournament. England beat Scotland by a 119 runs, Bangladesh put the breaks on Afghanistan and downed them by a 105 runs, while India recently thrashed the UAE by nine wickets.

However, these wins were nothing compared to South Africa's 257-run win over the West Indies', or the

latter's 150-run triumph over Pakistan.

These numbers not only display the growing competition from the weaker sides but, once again, question the ICC's decision to vouch for a 10-team tournament in 2019. Imagine an Irish side that is just a win away from the quarter finals, remaining unsure for the next World Cup.

Or better still, imagine this World Cup being played with only the fullmember nations; we would have missed out on a number of intense moments. From Hamid Hassan knocking Kumar Sangakkara's stumps to the Irish chasing down Pakistan without breaking a sweat.

So far it's been the moments created by the so called 'minnows' that have provided most of the entertainment. And with the event resuming after a day's break they will be expected to continue with their fearless onslaught.