ICC World Cup: Does anthem-singing at the start of the game really matter?

So, it's down to four national anthems in the World Cup, with India, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand making it to the semis..

I don't recollect the national anthems being sung in the first few World Cups, including the one India won in 1983..

Sri Lankans players were stunned to hear the South African national anthem being played instead of theirs - not that it stopped them from beating Australia to win the title..

Based on Key's poem, 'The Defence of Fort M'Henry', and set to the tune of an old English drinking song, 'To Anacreon in Heaven', SSB is arguably the most familiar national anthem in the world...

Of the 10 major cricketing nations in this World Cup, Bangladesh has the longest national anthem, lasting almost 3 minutes - which, the joke goes, runs longer than some Bangladeshi innings..