This format of world cup leaves every good team in contention for the upcoming cricketing carnival.
1. Australia: At present number 1 ranked ODI team. Once again Australia will start their campaign as favorites. Whatever have happened in last couple of years have certainly hampered the image of this once invincible team. But the impact is only that this time they are not the certain winners but only the hot favorites. They defeated England so convincingly in the first three ODIs of the ongoing 7 match series like nothing much has happened in last three months. But one man has got his lessons and that's why he is no more in the scene, no prizes of getting him right. He is Mr. Ponting. But even without him this team is once again looking well equipped to win just another world cup. A very good top order with Watson as an icing on the cake. A good middle order with hussey and white holding the key. The only concern is their bowling attack. I am not questing the talent here but certainly the form. Mitchy, lee and tait all are struggling. Mitchy once dropped of Ashes. Lee and tait are there without much cricket in the international arena in last 6 months. Also their spin slot is still not filled up by a promising guy. There is a long list for this slot Huritz, Doherty and smith. But at the moment its hussey who is doing the trick. Funny. But overall I will give Aussies 7.5/10 for their preprataion for the world cup.
Players to watch out for: Shane Watson, Brett Lee, Micheal Hussey.
2. South Afrcia: CHOKERS..This is the name this team is best known with. They always start the world cup as favorites. But, someone above in those heavens don't think so. 1992, 1996 and 2003 always they were never beaten by a team on the groud but thier luck and thier destiny keeps them denying the glory of making it a world cup finals. In 1992, D&L method gives them a target of 22 runs of 1 ball while earlier it was of 13 balls. In 1996, Alan Donald did the trick and got run out in last over when victory was seeming to be very much possible. In 2003, a tie was the last thing they needed to make their tag of Chokers as permanent. So, now they will need to make a fresh start. And I think they have already made it. A team bubbling with young blood and hugely experienced cricketers is willing to make their mark this time. With the likes of Smith, Amla, Devilliers and Kallis in their batting order. Steyn, Morkel and Tsotsobe making the bowling line up as dangerous as it could be. And the most important factor to keep in mind is that everyone in this list is playing well at moment. Now the thing worth questioning here is that How these names will deliver on the subcontinent wickets. For the time being put this question aside and lets hope that they will deliver their best. Overall an impressive rating of 7.5/10 is what they deserve.
Players to watch out for: Amla, Kallis, Steyn, Duminy.
3. Sri Lanka: Well, so now we are down to the most favorite subcontinent team to win this edition of world cup. A well balanced team. Most suited to play in these conditions and the most important factor is that they have 4 of their group matches on their home soil. Now lets have a look upon their line up. Batting, seems to be in good shape. Dilshan and tharanga at the opening slot. Sanga and Mahela in the middle order and Mathews, Parera in the lower middle order. I don't think any team has a better line up than this one for the subcontinent pitches. Bowling department is too well equipped with Deadly accuracy of Kulasekra, Malinga Murali and Randiv. Part-timers Mathews and Parera are among the best for this part of the world. So, overall I am not able to feel thinnest of the doubt to put them above Aussies and proteas at the moment. So a 8/10 for Lankan tigers.
Players to watch out for: Dilshan, Mathews, Sangakara, Malinga.
4. India: Probably the biggest name in the world of cricket and this is because of some amazing facts and events that this team connects to. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, IPL, Richest cricketing body are to name a few of them. And yes also the another name to be among the hot favorites. I am saying this because of an pretty young balanced side that India have. Unlike a strong building which is strongest at the base this team is at its best at the top. We have three big names Sachin, Sehwag and Gambhir sitting at the top and probably among the best bet India have to win this world cup. A mix middle order with the likes of Raina, Kohli, Yuvraj and Dhoni. A decent looking bowling line up Praveen, Ashish, Harbhajan and Zaheer holding the key. And a big hope Yusuf Pathan sitting just in the middle. A young prospect who have suddenly been turned into a world cup hero even before the start of the event. Don't worry this is not at all a new thing in India where Cricket had never been just a game after 1983. So, do you think that this team have that stuff in them that they can beat the teams I just mentioned above in the blog? I am hoping against hope like every other Indian. For now I can give them a decent 6.5/10.
Players to watch out for: Sachin, Zaheer, Sehwag, Raina.
5. England: Last 3 years have changed the way we talk about Australian cricket and this is because of one team. That is England. Even the latest knock out punch that they have got in the form of an Ashes lose on their home soil have been given by this very team. And if you have beaten Australia then by default you have become the favorites. This is another team who is up there in the contention because of their young blood. Some very talented players in the form have Trott, Morgan, Wright, Shahzad and Yardy. Some experienced ones like Struass, Kevin, Bell and Anderson. And a good spinner which is the utmost requirement for this world cup Swann. A very good looking complete team. But the question is like all previous versions will this english team be able to deliver on the subcontinent pitches? I don't know. Let's see. 6.5/10 for them as I am doubting the very fact.
Players to watch out for: Trott, Bell, Swann, Kevin.
This concludes my list of favorites. You must be thinking where is Pakistan. So, let me answer you. "Don't be surprised if Pakistan makes it to Semis" this statement comes from Mr. Harsha Bhogle. So, I guess everyone must have got their answers.
1. Australia: At present number 1 ranked ODI team. Once again Australia will start their campaign as favorites. Whatever have happened in last couple of years have certainly hampered the image of this once invincible team. But the impact is only that this time they are not the certain winners but only the hot favorites. They defeated England so convincingly in the first three ODIs of the ongoing 7 match series like nothing much has happened in last three months. But one man has got his lessons and that's why he is no more in the scene, no prizes of getting him right. He is Mr. Ponting. But even without him this team is once again looking well equipped to win just another world cup. A very good top order with Watson as an icing on the cake. A good middle order with hussey and white holding the key. The only concern is their bowling attack. I am not questing the talent here but certainly the form. Mitchy, lee and tait all are struggling. Mitchy once dropped of Ashes. Lee and tait are there without much cricket in the international arena in last 6 months. Also their spin slot is still not filled up by a promising guy. There is a long list for this slot Huritz, Doherty and smith. But at the moment its hussey who is doing the trick. Funny. But overall I will give Aussies 7.5/10 for their preprataion for the world cup.
Players to watch out for: Shane Watson, Brett Lee, Micheal Hussey.
2. South Afrcia: CHOKERS..This is the name this team is best known with. They always start the world cup as favorites. But, someone above in those heavens don't think so. 1992, 1996 and 2003 always they were never beaten by a team on the groud but thier luck and thier destiny keeps them denying the glory of making it a world cup finals. In 1992, D&L method gives them a target of 22 runs of 1 ball while earlier it was of 13 balls. In 1996, Alan Donald did the trick and got run out in last over when victory was seeming to be very much possible. In 2003, a tie was the last thing they needed to make their tag of Chokers as permanent. So, now they will need to make a fresh start. And I think they have already made it. A team bubbling with young blood and hugely experienced cricketers is willing to make their mark this time. With the likes of Smith, Amla, Devilliers and Kallis in their batting order. Steyn, Morkel and Tsotsobe making the bowling line up as dangerous as it could be. And the most important factor to keep in mind is that everyone in this list is playing well at moment. Now the thing worth questioning here is that How these names will deliver on the subcontinent wickets. For the time being put this question aside and lets hope that they will deliver their best. Overall an impressive rating of 7.5/10 is what they deserve.
Players to watch out for: Amla, Kallis, Steyn, Duminy.
3. Sri Lanka: Well, so now we are down to the most favorite subcontinent team to win this edition of world cup. A well balanced team. Most suited to play in these conditions and the most important factor is that they have 4 of their group matches on their home soil. Now lets have a look upon their line up. Batting, seems to be in good shape. Dilshan and tharanga at the opening slot. Sanga and Mahela in the middle order and Mathews, Parera in the lower middle order. I don't think any team has a better line up than this one for the subcontinent pitches. Bowling department is too well equipped with Deadly accuracy of Kulasekra, Malinga Murali and Randiv. Part-timers Mathews and Parera are among the best for this part of the world. So, overall I am not able to feel thinnest of the doubt to put them above Aussies and proteas at the moment. So a 8/10 for Lankan tigers.
Players to watch out for: Dilshan, Mathews, Sangakara, Malinga.
4. India: Probably the biggest name in the world of cricket and this is because of some amazing facts and events that this team connects to. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, IPL, Richest cricketing body are to name a few of them. And yes also the another name to be among the hot favorites. I am saying this because of an pretty young balanced side that India have. Unlike a strong building which is strongest at the base this team is at its best at the top. We have three big names Sachin, Sehwag and Gambhir sitting at the top and probably among the best bet India have to win this world cup. A mix middle order with the likes of Raina, Kohli, Yuvraj and Dhoni. A decent looking bowling line up Praveen, Ashish, Harbhajan and Zaheer holding the key. And a big hope Yusuf Pathan sitting just in the middle. A young prospect who have suddenly been turned into a world cup hero even before the start of the event. Don't worry this is not at all a new thing in India where Cricket had never been just a game after 1983. So, do you think that this team have that stuff in them that they can beat the teams I just mentioned above in the blog? I am hoping against hope like every other Indian. For now I can give them a decent 6.5/10.
Players to watch out for: Sachin, Zaheer, Sehwag, Raina.
5. England: Last 3 years have changed the way we talk about Australian cricket and this is because of one team. That is England. Even the latest knock out punch that they have got in the form of an Ashes lose on their home soil have been given by this very team. And if you have beaten Australia then by default you have become the favorites. This is another team who is up there in the contention because of their young blood. Some very talented players in the form have Trott, Morgan, Wright, Shahzad and Yardy. Some experienced ones like Struass, Kevin, Bell and Anderson. And a good spinner which is the utmost requirement for this world cup Swann. A very good looking complete team. But the question is like all previous versions will this english team be able to deliver on the subcontinent pitches? I don't know. Let's see. 6.5/10 for them as I am doubting the very fact.
Players to watch out for: Trott, Bell, Swann, Kevin.
This concludes my list of favorites. You must be thinking where is Pakistan. So, let me answer you. "Don't be surprised if Pakistan makes it to Semis" this statement comes from Mr. Harsha Bhogle. So, I guess everyone must have got their answers.
