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So far round one of the ICC Champions Trophy has provided a lot of cricketing drama and it promises to deliver a whole lot more.
We have the top eight cricketing nations competing against each other and it can’t get any better if you are a cricket fan. Every game is a true spectacle and it is impossible to predict without any uncertainty which team is going to win the next game.
Each team has played one game and we now have a better idea of each team’s form.
It is still too early in the competition to predict a winner but, with their convincing victory against Australia, hosts England look a very dangerous side. They are my early favourites to win the trophy.
The New Zealand and Sri Lanka game was a thriller, but both teams disappointed with the bat.
England will have them both for breakfast if they don’t adapt to conditions soon. Unless the Australian players start to show some more fight, I will bet my money on either Sri Lanka or New Zealand to finish second in their pool – and it could be either team.
The Indian batsmen were brilliant in their game against South Africa. South Africa sorely missed Steyn, but at one point looked like they were going to chase down India’s mammoth total without almost breaking a sweat – then came the two quick run outs and that was the final straw for South Africa.
The West Indies and Pakistan batsmen also disappointed in their low scoring game with Gayle and Misbah being the exceptions for their respective sides. The West Indies should have won easily, but the Pakistan bowlers, Ahmed in particular, showed a lot of fight and almost managed to pull the game out of the fire for their team.
I have to go with South Africa and India to top their pool. Both teams have a lot of firepower in the batting and bowling departments. The West Indies and Pakistan will rely too much on individual performances for their success.
With both losing their first games the next game between South Africa and Pakistan is a must win situation for both sides. Ahmed will be the South African batsmen’s biggest worry. If the South African batsmen can neutralise Ahmed’s spinning genius, I’d favour the Proteas to win quite comfortably.
My only criticism of the tournament would be that the teams are not going to play more games against each other, but I guess I should be greedy.
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