Saturday, February 19, 2011

World Cup 2011 Preview

The Image says it all.Yes the world cup is here and I am just going to write about that for next couple of months.First of all Happy new year to all.. Though it’s more than one month since the new year starts but still because it’s my new post so just would love to wish everyone a very happy and prosperous year 2011. Time is moving like a fast train and really feeling the heat with the span of time. But as i wrote in the last post that this year is going to be a very special one, not only for me but for the whole country and specially for the cricket fraternity. This whole nation is full of people following cricket more than anything, so next couple of months seems to be special for everyone. These are not only special because Cricket world cup is happening in India or subcontinent but because by any means this is India’s best chance to win it. And why not!!! This team is at the peak of it’s game and if form says something then yes, this side has caliber to repeat the heroics of 1983.
As a die hard cricket fan, this is really something enormous and exciting for me at least. So will be writing a lot about Cricket stuff for coming 2 months at least. Today I will look at all sides, their strong points and weaknesses. To start with The world cup Co-host India and one of the favorites to rewrite the 83 history. Though team India carry favorite tag in almost all the big tournaments but this time it seems as a necessity to just consider them as the biggest contenders for the world cup. Everything seems to be at place for them. Batsmen scoring runs of late, bowlers taking wickets specially spinners doing a wonderful job which is the best thing for any side playing in sub-continent, though pacers are a little worry but still they have capability to run through any side. If we look at the batting perspective for this side, they got 7 match winners in their batting line up which is a big plus going into a big tournament like this. And then they got, of course the special mention, The little master Sachin Tendulkar who is possibly playing his last world cup (though we would not mind him playing two more :p) this is a huge occasion. He has shine in almost all the world cups, so he knows what it takes to be at the personal best for the huge tournament like this. I will pick yuvraj, pathan, bhajji with sachin as team india’s game changers this time around.
Next I will talk about the defending champions Australia. They are always favorites when it comes to ICC trophies but this time around they seems to be lacking in confidence and this Australian side is just not looking like the old Australian side who has that never die attitude, so it will be great to see how they will they come up in this tournament. But still they got a very good chance of making it to the semis.
Next on the radar is co-host Sri-lanka and other favorite tagged side. They are favorite because they got a good opening pair, middle order, spin bowling but they certainly lacks in strong middle order. Their is almost nobody to back up Mahela, Sanga and Dilshan. So it will be interesting battle once they loose quick wickets. But still very much a formidable side. And with Murali is still around and hungry for wickets he will certainly want to make this last World cup as his last shot at the big prize. Semis seems to be a almost certainty for them. Next are another favorites South Africa but again they say they lack the big tournament pressure handling technique or we can say they choke when it matters the most. Talking about their side, they got a good batting line up with likes of Amla, Smith, AB Deviliars, kallis and duminy. And in bowling they got the best pace bowling attack but spin could be a problem but still will say, if they play up to their levels and don’t choke under pressure, they certainly are my pick up for semis. Now next are the four sides who are not the favorites but suddenly you can’t write them off as they all got World beater players but as a team how they come out would be a thing to watch out for. Pakistan got a talented side with likes of Afridi, akmal brother, razzaq,Misbah,younis and akhtar but their problem would be to play as a bunch of team and that will be most important thing in this big tournament. English side was looking in good shape in Ashes but really they are not the side tailor made for the ODI format and the loss of Eoin Morgan put them further into hole. But still with the likes of Pietersen, Collingwood, strauss, bell, anderson, swann this side could come up with few surprises. Black caps seems to be in totally disarray and they almost forget how to win a match. But hope that their big players Maccllum, Taylor, Ryder and vettori would come out with some inspirational performance to have some fight. Semis seems to be a big thing for them. Next is the Caribbean side but again they really almost forget how to win a Cricket match. But with likes of Gayle, Chanderpaul, Sarwan and pollard you can’t write them off. But surely they will get a huge fight from Bangladesh who as co-host really seems to be a dangerous side and are very much capable of pulling of few surprises in front of their home crowd.
So all in all this world cup seems to be a far far exciting and surprising then earlier editions. But before finishing off the post would love to predict something and would love to watch the output after at least one and half months.
Seems to be India, Australia, South Africa, Sri lanka are the sides to go upto the semis. And in the end it will be India that will surely come up triumph this time around.
In the end would just like to wish Team India Best of luck and hope they will bring the 83 glory back this time around. So till next post that will be after the India bangladesh match, have a nice time and have a happy cricketking month.
Cheers,
Munish Sharma.