World Cup 2011: Will it be Sachin’s final hurrah?
This year’s first major sporting event gets under way in the Indian subcontinent from 19th of February and the reigning champions Australia would be keen to make it four in a row. Challenging them would be the hosts India and Sri Lanka. One must not forget the third host Bangladesh as they are capable of creating a surprise or two themselves.
Unfortunately, Pakistan the fourth partner has been stripped off their hosting rights for all non-cricketing reasons but they are the most unpredictable team ever and can’t be ruled out in their own backyard like settings in the subcontinent. Add to the mix the strong South Africans, who have never won this tournament, and England.
Though England is the new T20 champs, they have yet to conquer the ODI summit despite being in a few finals. Erstwhile champs West Indies are an enigma. They have individual players who can take the game away on their day, but as a team they haven’t created a stir since winning the Champions trophy a couple of years back.
There are a lot of contenders from around the world under the ICC development program which include Ireland, Canada and Netherlands. These have been the sort of whipping boys for the regulation teams, but have been involved in some fantastic matches of their own. The other ICC regular members Zimbabwe and Kenya bring in a spice to the tournament as they have shown in the past that on the big stage they can spring surprises of their own. Remember Zimbabwe beating India, Kenya getting the better of West Indies. Probably the most un-fancied team is that of New Zealand. While the black caps have never gone beyond the Semis in this tournament, they have been the most consistent team with a quarter final placing in all editions. So don’t take the black caps lightly, despite their current form.
Form can be a misleading factor in this tournament, which has never been won by the team fancied by the pundits. Take 1975 when all and sundry thought England would win the tournament but West Indies won, same goes for India in 1983, Australia in 1987, Pakistan in 1992, Sri Lanka in 1996. Australia has had a tight grip on the trophy in last 3 editions and is one of favourites this time too. But they are not overwhelmingly strong as they were in the earlier editions.
India will be hoping to break the curse of “host nations” not winning the tournament ever. The entire nation would be praying for the boys in blue to take the trophy on their home ground and give a fitting tribute to the living legend of cricket “Sachin Tendulkar”. Sachin’s own form has been fantastic but has been restricted in appearances since his record breaking double hundred last year. Hope that his body is able to take the rigours of the month long tournament. The only Achilles heel in the blues team is their bowling which is spear headed by Zaheer, but has erratic support in form of the ageing Nehra and the capricious Sreesanth. Maybe the unknown elements of Chawla and Ashwin might turn the tables in India’s favour.
Sri Lanka is also on home turf and a formidable force. They have resisted the temptation of giving another chance to the veterans Jayasurya and Vaas, but have shown faith in the new breed of exciting cricketers. They will be a force to reckon with as they have the maverick duo - death specialist Malinga and hitter Dilshan, ever reliable Sangakkara and Jayawardane amongst them. Don’t be surprised if they get into the final four.
South Africa are actually the strongest team on paper, but have managed to get the tag of “chokers” in the world cups as they managed to loose from winning positions in 3 editions. They were done in by Mr Duckworth and Lewis not once but twice and then they managed to loose from a strong position and hand Australia an easy entry into the final. But this time they look prepared and have even managed to keep the veteran Boucher out of the team, which shows the riches that they have in the ranks.
Pakistan can never be under estimated and have a formidable talent in their ranks. Individually they are a brilliant team, but are known to explode for all the wrong reasons. If they can keep their cool then they can be a team to watch. West Indies are in a similar boat where in a Pollard, Gayle, Sarwan can turn the match on their own. But will the perform as a team? Bangladesh can cause a flutter and so can Zimbabwe, but nothing beyond that.
So who will rule the roost and run away as the winner! Don’t keep guessing as the fun and passion beings on Friday 19th Feb as India taken on Bangladesh. As they say in matches “Play”!
This year’s first major sporting event gets under way in the Indian subcontinent from 19th of February and the reigning champions Australia would be keen to make it four in a row. Challenging them would be the hosts India and Sri Lanka. One must not forget the third host Bangladesh as they are...
This year’s first major sporting event gets under way in the Indian subcontinent from 19th of February and the reigning champions Australia would be keen to make it four in a row. Challenging them would be the hosts India and Sri Lanka. One must not forget the third host Bangladesh as they are capable of creating a surprise or two themselves.
Unfortunately, Pakistan the fourth partner has been stripped off their hosting rights for all non-cricketing reasons but they are the most unpredictable team ever and can’t be ruled out in their own backyard like settings in the subcontinent. Add to the mix the strong South Africans, who have never won this tournament, and England.
Though England is the new T20 champs, they have yet to conquer the ODI summit despite being in a few finals. Erstwhile champs West Indies are an enigma. They have individual players who can take the game away on their day, but as a team they haven’t created a stir since winning the Champions trophy a couple of years back.
There are a lot of contenders from around the world under the ICC development program which include Ireland, Canada and Netherlands. These have been the sort of whipping boys for the regulation teams, but have been involved in some fantastic matches of their own. The other ICC regular members Zimbabwe and Kenya bring in a spice to the tournament as they have shown in the past that on the big stage they can spring surprises of their own. Remember Zimbabwe beating India, Kenya getting the better of West Indies. Probably the most un-fancied team is that of New Zealand. While the black caps have never gone beyond the Semis in this tournament, they have been the most consistent team with a quarter final placing in all editions. So don’t take the black caps lightly, despite their current form.
Form can be a misleading factor in this tournament, which has never been won by the team fancied by the pundits. Take 1975 when all and sundry thought England would win the tournament but West Indies won, same goes for India in 1983, Australia in 1987, Pakistan in 1992, Sri Lanka in 1996. Australia has had a tight grip on the trophy in last 3 editions and is one of favourites this time too. But they are not overwhelmingly strong as they were in the earlier editions.
India will be hoping to break the curse of “host nations” not winning the tournament ever. The entire nation would be praying for the boys in blue to take the trophy on their home ground and give a fitting tribute to the living legend of cricket “Sachin Tendulkar”. Sachin’s own form has been fantastic but has been restricted in appearances since his record breaking double hundred last year. Hope that his body is able to take the rigours of the month long tournament. The only Achilles heel in the blues team is their bowling which is spear headed by Zaheer, but has erratic support in form of the ageing Nehra and the capricious Sreesanth. Maybe the unknown elements of Chawla and Ashwin might turn the tables in India’s favour.
Sri Lanka is also on home turf and a formidable force. They have resisted the temptation of giving another chance to the veterans Jayasurya and Vaas, but have shown faith in the new breed of exciting cricketers. They will be a force to reckon with as they have the maverick duo - death specialist Malinga and hitter Dilshan, ever reliable Sangakkara and Jayawardane amongst them. Don’t be surprised if they get into the final four.
South Africa are actually the strongest team on paper, but have managed to get the tag of “chokers” in the world cups as they managed to loose from winning positions in 3 editions. They were done in by Mr Duckworth and Lewis not once but twice and then they managed to loose from a strong position and hand Australia an easy entry into the final. But this time they look prepared and have even managed to keep the veteran Boucher out of the team, which shows the riches that they have in the ranks.
Pakistan can never be under estimated and have a formidable talent in their ranks. Individually they are a brilliant team, but are known to explode for all the wrong reasons. If they can keep their cool then they can be a team to watch. West Indies are in a similar boat where in a Pollard, Gayle, Sarwan can turn the match on their own. But will the perform as a team? Bangladesh can cause a flutter and so can Zimbabwe, but nothing beyond that.
So who will rule the roost and run away as the winner! Don’t keep guessing as the fun and passion beings on Friday 19th Feb as India taken on Bangladesh. As they say in matches “Play”!
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