After 3 months of hibernation I finally found some time out to write about my first love and what better occasion than a day teams have started taking their flights for Caribbean where grand stage is set for biggest cricket “mela” which promises to be a mouthwatering event.
For now all the cricket has come to a freeze before this main event and air of speculations around chances of each team are reaching all time high. Here I try to list down plus and minus points of teams and their chances at this cup.
To begin with, it’s an exciting time to follow cricket as pure cricket lover. And as a pure cricket lover it is a fun to watch Australia get beaten five times in a row, loose two consecutive series, face a series whitewash and above all loose no 1 position in world ranking. Since the very inception of ratings that position was occupied by only and only Australia. It’s good for game that somebody else enjoys that spot now. They surely will miss Symonds and Lee as they were pillars of their memorable wins. Ponting is coming back from back injury and it’s not easy to get going immediately after back injury. After all the Great Sachin Tendulkar has never been same after such injury. McGrath has lost a bit of rhythm too. So things are not looking so good for champions. I believe that they need Gilchirst, Pointing, Symonds, and McGrath in good form to win world cup. But believe strongly that they are still the best contenders for this trophy.
Over to current no one team SA. They are in ominous form and have taken air out of powerful teams like India and Pakistan. Their strength lies in their lower middle order and list of Utility players. Pollock, Boucher, Kemp and Hall at 6,7,8,9 can easily give sleepless nights to many captains. But they have a strong weakness which might get exposed on slow tracks. Their top order is highly inconsistent and you cannot expect utility players to win 75% games for you. Also these utility players don’t have a lot of experience in WI which makes everybody doubt their chances of success. I don’t think SA stand a chance of even getting into semis. Their bad run at biggest stage might continue this time as well.
Now over to Pakistan. They are anyways most unpredictable side in world cricket and currently their cricket is going through bad phase because of doping and other external things. But they have a very balanced side with great mix of youth and experience, seamers and pacers, hitters and innings builders and mind you they have improved their fielding as well. If they can rise above their internal problems then I think they stand a good chance this time around. Only thing that worries me is that they don’t have any Imran Khan this time which might mean that they don’t have a man for crisis. If Inzamam can take that role then they stand a good chance this time round.
Kiwis for me are Dark horse of this cup along with Srilanka. Their heroics against Champions might be good moral booster for this most hardworking cricket team in world. Two Mc’s, McMillan and McCollum have given much needed strength to their lower middle order as have new breed of players like Fulton and Taylor. They have a quality spin option in Vettori and best leader in form of Fleming. But for me player to watch for in this team is Lou Vincent. I think he is going to have great world cup. My only concern with this side is fitness of key guys like Styris, Oram and most importantly Shane Bond. If they are fit and available then I think they will surely reach to semis and may be even to finals.
The second underdog team this time is Srilanka. They have wealth of experience, all players inform, fielding standards up their with the games best, quality spin bowlers and most importantly players who know how to use WI conditions best. For them it’s almost like playing in Colombo or Galle. I think in those conditions they become unbeatable side with list of spin bowling options that can cramp batsman and make run making very very difficult. I think this is the best chance and conditions for Srilanka to win the cup second time.
The hosts will have home advantage this time and they have been playing some wonderful cricket at home for a year now. They have just seen a dip in performance with loss in India and match fixing scandal still hovering over their head. This might be a difficult tournament for them to live up to expectations. Their fast bowling is only about stopping runs and on some flat tracks this may be dangerous. Also this cup will not have any team with just couple of wins under their belt into semis. They will need to show consistency that they have hardly shown for last decade. I think their dream will end after super eight round.
On to inventors of this beautiful game the England. They have just started to get back into form and have started to gel together as team. But they lack class and consistency which is in plenty with other teams. They need Vaughn playing all matches and Pieterson fully fit. Flintoff, bell, Collingwood hold the key for them but their bowling seems the weakest of the all test playing teams. Batting at the top looks unstable and I see a lot of dependency on middle and lower middle order. They have never taken their one day cricket seriously and will have to pay for it this time as well. I think they themselves also know that their best chance is super 8 and nothing beyond that.
And last but by no means least I come to team India. They have done it in past and do have players to do it again but still if you want to bet you wont bet for them. Such is their current record away from home that they hardly win matches. They have a bunch of experienced players who are not at peak of their career or form. Experience is preferred to youth and in current circumstances it’s a right move. But this makes this team vulnerable to a lot of things. This could be by far the worst fielding side in this world cup. They don’t exert that freshness and energy on field and I wonder if this could make a difference if team is in trouble. After all bad things I would like to say that I believe that this team can go the distance this time as well. Its not just heart but also brain that tells me this team has got people who can scare the hell out of any captain and any team. I think 6 batsmen or 7 batsmen is a decision that can decide India’s fate at this world cup. Pathan is a pain that Indian team is carrying for long time and if it heals in time then we stand a great chance. Because he is one guy who can give another dimension to this one dimensional team and play a role of batsman at no 7 and fifth bowler. Considering his current form that looks near to impossible. His bowling is all at sea, he is not completing his action, hurrying through run-up, his arm is not straight when he is bowling so he is not getting the swing for which he is known, he is just angling the bowl across and his seam and wrist position looks bad. On current form I think Sachin Tendulkar is bowling better than him. If he is not up to the mark then I think Sachin and Shewag hold the key to India’s chances. Their bowling needs a consistency for over 11-12 matches which is a tough ask considering the batting pressures that they have. Another man key to all this is Dhoni. He could well be the much wanted relief for India in lower middle order and in slog over’s. Although he had poor ODI series in WI last time I still think he has matured a lot to take the responsibility. I have no doubts about the three biggies i.e. Sachin, Sourav and Rahul and I think their run feast at world cup will continue. Fast bowling for once looks adequate enough to bowl their quota and middle order looks complete with Yuvraj fully fit. Spin bowling looks fat and experience with Bhajji and Jumbo. In all team looks very good on paper they just need to convert their promise into reality.
After these entire analysis if I was to shortlist two teams I think it will be Srilanka and India who have best chance to walk away with the trophy. What say guys??
For now all the cricket has come to a freeze before this main event and air of speculations around chances of each team are reaching all time high. Here I try to list down plus and minus points of teams and their chances at this cup.
To begin with, it’s an exciting time to follow cricket as pure cricket lover. And as a pure cricket lover it is a fun to watch Australia get beaten five times in a row, loose two consecutive series, face a series whitewash and above all loose no 1 position in world ranking. Since the very inception of ratings that position was occupied by only and only Australia. It’s good for game that somebody else enjoys that spot now. They surely will miss Symonds and Lee as they were pillars of their memorable wins. Ponting is coming back from back injury and it’s not easy to get going immediately after back injury. After all the Great Sachin Tendulkar has never been same after such injury. McGrath has lost a bit of rhythm too. So things are not looking so good for champions. I believe that they need Gilchirst, Pointing, Symonds, and McGrath in good form to win world cup. But believe strongly that they are still the best contenders for this trophy.
Over to current no one team SA. They are in ominous form and have taken air out of powerful teams like India and Pakistan. Their strength lies in their lower middle order and list of Utility players. Pollock, Boucher, Kemp and Hall at 6,7,8,9 can easily give sleepless nights to many captains. But they have a strong weakness which might get exposed on slow tracks. Their top order is highly inconsistent and you cannot expect utility players to win 75% games for you. Also these utility players don’t have a lot of experience in WI which makes everybody doubt their chances of success. I don’t think SA stand a chance of even getting into semis. Their bad run at biggest stage might continue this time as well.
Now over to Pakistan. They are anyways most unpredictable side in world cricket and currently their cricket is going through bad phase because of doping and other external things. But they have a very balanced side with great mix of youth and experience, seamers and pacers, hitters and innings builders and mind you they have improved their fielding as well. If they can rise above their internal problems then I think they stand a good chance this time around. Only thing that worries me is that they don’t have any Imran Khan this time which might mean that they don’t have a man for crisis. If Inzamam can take that role then they stand a good chance this time round.
Kiwis for me are Dark horse of this cup along with Srilanka. Their heroics against Champions might be good moral booster for this most hardworking cricket team in world. Two Mc’s, McMillan and McCollum have given much needed strength to their lower middle order as have new breed of players like Fulton and Taylor. They have a quality spin option in Vettori and best leader in form of Fleming. But for me player to watch for in this team is Lou Vincent. I think he is going to have great world cup. My only concern with this side is fitness of key guys like Styris, Oram and most importantly Shane Bond. If they are fit and available then I think they will surely reach to semis and may be even to finals.
The second underdog team this time is Srilanka. They have wealth of experience, all players inform, fielding standards up their with the games best, quality spin bowlers and most importantly players who know how to use WI conditions best. For them it’s almost like playing in Colombo or Galle. I think in those conditions they become unbeatable side with list of spin bowling options that can cramp batsman and make run making very very difficult. I think this is the best chance and conditions for Srilanka to win the cup second time.
The hosts will have home advantage this time and they have been playing some wonderful cricket at home for a year now. They have just seen a dip in performance with loss in India and match fixing scandal still hovering over their head. This might be a difficult tournament for them to live up to expectations. Their fast bowling is only about stopping runs and on some flat tracks this may be dangerous. Also this cup will not have any team with just couple of wins under their belt into semis. They will need to show consistency that they have hardly shown for last decade. I think their dream will end after super eight round.
On to inventors of this beautiful game the England. They have just started to get back into form and have started to gel together as team. But they lack class and consistency which is in plenty with other teams. They need Vaughn playing all matches and Pieterson fully fit. Flintoff, bell, Collingwood hold the key for them but their bowling seems the weakest of the all test playing teams. Batting at the top looks unstable and I see a lot of dependency on middle and lower middle order. They have never taken their one day cricket seriously and will have to pay for it this time as well. I think they themselves also know that their best chance is super 8 and nothing beyond that.
And last but by no means least I come to team India. They have done it in past and do have players to do it again but still if you want to bet you wont bet for them. Such is their current record away from home that they hardly win matches. They have a bunch of experienced players who are not at peak of their career or form. Experience is preferred to youth and in current circumstances it’s a right move. But this makes this team vulnerable to a lot of things. This could be by far the worst fielding side in this world cup. They don’t exert that freshness and energy on field and I wonder if this could make a difference if team is in trouble. After all bad things I would like to say that I believe that this team can go the distance this time as well. Its not just heart but also brain that tells me this team has got people who can scare the hell out of any captain and any team. I think 6 batsmen or 7 batsmen is a decision that can decide India’s fate at this world cup. Pathan is a pain that Indian team is carrying for long time and if it heals in time then we stand a great chance. Because he is one guy who can give another dimension to this one dimensional team and play a role of batsman at no 7 and fifth bowler. Considering his current form that looks near to impossible. His bowling is all at sea, he is not completing his action, hurrying through run-up, his arm is not straight when he is bowling so he is not getting the swing for which he is known, he is just angling the bowl across and his seam and wrist position looks bad. On current form I think Sachin Tendulkar is bowling better than him. If he is not up to the mark then I think Sachin and Shewag hold the key to India’s chances. Their bowling needs a consistency for over 11-12 matches which is a tough ask considering the batting pressures that they have. Another man key to all this is Dhoni. He could well be the much wanted relief for India in lower middle order and in slog over’s. Although he had poor ODI series in WI last time I still think he has matured a lot to take the responsibility. I have no doubts about the three biggies i.e. Sachin, Sourav and Rahul and I think their run feast at world cup will continue. Fast bowling for once looks adequate enough to bowl their quota and middle order looks complete with Yuvraj fully fit. Spin bowling looks fat and experience with Bhajji and Jumbo. In all team looks very good on paper they just need to convert their promise into reality.
After these entire analysis if I was to shortlist two teams I think it will be Srilanka and India who have best chance to walk away with the trophy. What say guys??
