Points Table, Net Run Rates and Super Eight matches left

Australia - 6 points - Net Run Rate: +2.014
Matches left: England, Newzealand, Ireland, Sri Lanka

England - 2 points - Net Run Rate: +0.047
Matches left: Sri Lanka, Australia, South Africa, Bangladesh, West Indies

Sri Lanka - 2 points - Net Run Rate: +1.972
Matches left: West Indies, England, Australia, Newzealand, Ireland

West Indies - 2 points - Net Run Rate: -0.783
Matches left: England, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, South Africa

Newzealand - 4 points - Net Run Rate: +0.982
Matches left: Bangladesh, Ireland, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Australia

South Africa - 2 points - Net Run Rate: -0.714
Matches left: Ireland, Bangladesh, West Indies, Newzealand, England

Qualification Rules for the Super Eight Stage of the World Cup

Following the Group stage the top 2 teams in each group will progress to the next phase (the Super Eight series). Each team will play every other team that has qualified for the Super Eight series except for the team that it played in the Group stage (six matches). The result of this match and any points gained will be carried forward to the Super Eight series. No other points from the Group stage will be carried forward to the Super Eight series.

The following point system will apply:
Win 2 Tie or no result 1 Loss 0

Group Matches
In the event of teams finishing on equal points in its Group, the right to play in the Super Eight series will be decided in the following order of priority:

• The team with the most wins in the Group matches will be
placed in the higher position.
• If there are teams with equal points and equal wins in the
Group matches then in such case the team with the higher
net run rate in the Group matches will be placed in the
higher position

• If following the net run rate calculation above there are
teams which are still equal, then the team with the higher
number of wickets taken per balls bowled in the Group
matches in which results were achieved will be placed in the
higher position.
• If still equal, the team which was the winner of the head to
head match played between them will be placed in the
higher position.
• In the highly unlikely event that teams cannot be separated
by the above this will be done by drawing lots.

However, for the purpose of the Super Eight stage, even if Australia finish second and South Africa first on the basis of point in its group, Australia will still be treated as A1 and South Africa as A2. Here, the ICC ratings will apply.

ICC Cricket Ratings & Super Eight: Super Confusion

"Team names for the Super Eight stage are indicative based on the top two teams from the Group Stage qualifying. If these two teams do qualify they will be seeded in position 1 or 2 as specified regardless of whether they finish first or second in their group. For example, if South Africa wins Group A and Australia comes second, for the purposes of the Super Eights, South Africa will still be A2 and Australia will be A1. If, for example, Scotland qualifies instead of Australia, Scotland will become A1."

That's an extract from the World Cup Schedule page on the official International Cricket Committee site. On this page, the ICC has shown us the likely contenders in the Super Eight matches - for example if the match is between A2 & B1, then the likely contestants should be India and Australia. It was funny why the ICC had gone to such ridiculous lengths to explain - that's where the fine print becomes important. Read on..

What the fine print means is that the ICC Cricket Ratings will rule. For example, even if India beats all other teams in its group, Sri Lanka may still finish on top of the group as far as the Super Eight is concerned because it's the ICC Cricket Ratings that will decide that.

I also don't know what the ICC means by that last statement: "If Scotland qualifies instead of Australia...how do we know who is qualifying instead of whom..what if Scotland and the Netherlands qualify?"