Are we all excited about the upcoming Cricket World Cup? Or has the glut of cricket lately overloaded our appetites?
I certainly expect the latter, but regardless, it’s almost upon us, and here’s what I think about the teams who are taking part.
Australia
Australia have to be the favourites, especially considering they are on home soil. The Aussies will win most games, but would a loss or two actually be beneficial to them in order to stay focused and not let complacency seep in?
New Zealand
The Kiwis are the joint favourites, probably. Like Australia, they appear almost unbeatable on home soil. I’m a bit worried about how much cricket they’ve played in the last four months. Will that catch up with them towards the business end of the World Cup?
South Africa
The South Africans have looked pretty good recently, but they’ve been playing a team in disarray in the Windies on their home ground, so it’s hard to really gauge where they’re at at the moment.
Australian and New Zealand conditions will be a different story. As usual, they look favourites on paper. As usual, everyone suspects they might stuff up.
India
Suddenly looking shaky, but you wonder whether they just couldn’t be bothered at the moment and are saving all their energy and passion for the World Cup. It’s a dangerous strategy – probably an MS Dhoni strategy.
Their batting will likely make enough runs, but as usual their bowling is looking suspect.
England
The Poms are still not overly convincing. If one part of the batting improves, another part of it seems to break down.
The bowling is reasonable, but nothing too threatening and all looks a bit samey. They are still rank outsiders, and they’re still not sure what their best team is, if they have one at all.
Pakistan
Who the hell knows? They’ve been beaten twice recently by a team of New Zealand club cricketers. But hey, as usual they have talent. If they get on a roll they’ll be dangerous.
Sri Lanka
They were looking the goods a couple of months ago, but since that unexpected tour of India back in November, the wheels have come off a bit. Still, they always seem to be competitive at World Cups, and their batting in particular has some truly classy players.
West Indies
They Windies are in disarray both on and off the field.
Like Pakistan they have some very talented players who on their day can cause headaches. However, the real question is whether they can do it consistently enough for long enough to win the World Cup.
Bangladesh
The Tigers haven’t played much recently. They just need to make sure they beat all the teams they’re supposed to beat, and put up a reasonable fight against the big teams.
Ireland
The Irish are arguably better than Bangladesh. Hopefully they can pull of another upset along the line. They will be everyone’s second-favourite team.
Afghanistan
See Ireland. What a triumph it is that they are even here. A lot of their squad was born in Pakistani refugee camps.
Some higher profile cricketers around the world could do worse than pull these guys aside for a chat in order to get some life perspective.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe are capable of an upset as we saw against Australia a few months back. Unlikely to progress to the next round, though.
Best of the rest
Scotland? They might cause an upset against Bangladesh, but it’s hard to see them going any further.
UAE? No idea. I assume they are rubbish, but I guess they have a fair bit of financial clout, so they should at least benefit the local economies.
My upset prediction
Ireland to beat West Indies on February 16th. Ireland lack talent, but certainly have heart and have shown this before on the world stage.
The West Indies are the complete opposite. There is always an upset somewhere. This looks as good a chance as any to be it.
I do agree with you, one good thing is that the Proteas are starting to learn that the batting order is not fixed. When we hit the 439 the other day, AB came in earlier, so the 5 is not totally fixed.
Pretty much, just no parnell
jammel
Guest
Biltongbek - what's RSA's best XI in your view? Amla DeKock+ FAF Rousouw DeVilliersC Duminy Miller/Parnell Philander Steyn MMorkel Tahir
swamprat
Roar Pro
Good summary 13th man . As you know though , it's not going to happen that way for a million different reasons . It could turn out to be a very good WCC. Here's hoping . My pick is England to pip Pakistan in the Final .Put your money on it.
Bobbo7
Guest
I think this looks pretty accurate and a fair round of of the top three sides. Australia should be favourites but it should be NZ or SA in the final - and that is anyone's game
13th Man
Roar Pro
Why does ABD bat so low? surely he should be batting a spot or two higher. He is by far the best batsman in the world, by ABD batting at 3 or 4 he has more time to build an innings and set a bigger total, at 5 he is more of a finisher and we know how good he is at that. I would be wanting my best batsman to be batting for longer. I would swap Faf and ABD around with ABD at 3 and Faf at 5.
13th Man
Roar Pro
For me the subcontinental teams will struggle, I think none will make it to the semis. On there day they can beat anyone but India, sri lanka and Pakistan are too inconsistent and don't have the bowlers to win this WC. England will make it to the semis, on the back of their reasonable bowling attack but lack the firepower without KP and Stokes in there. I mean if you include those two guys instead of Bopara and Taylor you have a bloody good side. Poor selections from the poms and it'll cost em. So it really is a 3 horse race for the cup between the kiwis, the aussies and south africa. The South Africans have probably the best team on paper but it doesn't always seem to work. They seem to rely on AB and Amla a bit too much in the batting and Steyn in the bowling. I don't think they have very good depth and if one or two quality players go down they might struggle. Also as mentioned above they have a long tail and don't bowl well at the death. Also have choked in the past , will they cope with the pressure this time round? New Zealand are playing some really good cricket and this time they are more than just dark horses. They are genuine contenders. Their bowling looks very strong, with Southee, McClenaghan and Boult and also wily old dan vettori. They also now have a stronger batting lineup. Williamson and McCullum are world class. They also like the Aussies have very good finishers in Corey Anderson and forgotten ex WA boy Luke Ronchi. Add in a big home ground advantage of not having to leave NZ until the final and they look like a good bet. Australia probably will go in as favourites and rightly so, they have swept past everyone in this format in the last 12 months. The fast bowling attack looks super strong with Johnson, Starc and Faulkner and also Cummins and Hazelwood in reserve. The batting also looks good even without Michael Clarke. Warner, Finch and Smith all look in fantastic touch however the current form of Watson, Bailey and Maxwell is a worry. Perhaps Shaun Marsh who is in top form comes into the equation should Clarke miss? My biggest concern over Australia is the captaincy question, If Clarke is ruled out then Bailey will be captain and on his current form he does not deserve to be in the starting XI. I think the selectors have to make the tough call on Bailey and make Steve Smith the reserve skipper, he has shown he performs when he is the skipper and is entrenched in Aus best XI this would allow Bailey to be judged on form alone. So after all that I have tipped how this cricket world cup will pan out. Group A Ladder New Zealand (will beat aus in auckland) Australia England Sri Lanka Bangladesh Scotland Afghanistan Group B South Africa Pakistan India Ireland (reckon they'll upset west indies) West Indies Zimbabwe UAE Quarters NZ V IRE (nz win) AUS V IND (AUS) SA V SRI LANKA (SA) ENG V PAK (ENG) Semis Australia V South Africa (aus win) New Zealand V England (nz win) So we get the dream final match up between the two host nations. This time I reckon the Aussies will get the better of the kiwis because of home ground advantage. AUS V NZ (Aus win)
Hi ozinsa, I think you are a lot more optimistic than I am. You're right about Faf and Duminy has not had uch batting time, but DUminy looks good, Faf you never know, every time I write him off he produces. BUt our bowling worries me to no end, just look at how we struggle to bowl WI out.
ozinsa
Guest
BB, I worry about Duminy and FdP. Very little quality batting in the past month and then only against an incredibly poor WI side. AB, Amla and Miller look to be in prime form and could be enough batting between them to carry the side but in a big game if you're 4 for not many the guys behind don't have a lot of recent meaningful runs to fall back on. Also the tail (in ODI's) starts at Philander so there aren't likely to be masive rescue missions. That said, the bowling could always bail the team out as it has real class and wicket-taking ability. SA are the favourites in my mind - holding thumbs for the big choke again.
ozinsa
Guest
Based on?
Shouts Chen
Guest
I hope that India could win back-to-back!
Bobbo7
Guest
Um...NZ beat India 4-0 last time they played. NZ also won the Test series. And they were convincing wins. To be honest I think NZ bat as well as India right now, they field much better, bowl much better and are well captained. I would rather play India in a knock out game than Australia, SA, Pakistan, SL or England. Outside of the sub-continent India have a big problem defending big scores.
sd
Guest
faulkner,warner,steve,hazlewood will lead aussies to wc glory
Hayley
Guest
Did you watch the India vs NZ series last year? The results from that say otherwise...
Jake
Guest
India would beat nz........quite easily
Our bowling performances are very inconsistent though, we don't have a death bowler, not one that you can rely on. The neeves will always be there until they eventually luck it through a tournament.
Bobbo7
Guest
On the issue of NZ playing too much cricket, the same can be said for Australia. 4 Tests, one dayers and players in the Big Bash. 7 ODI against SL is far too many for NZ, but then sme players have been rested. India have no chance. Bowling is useless and the batting is no better than Australia, NZ or SA. Pakistan could do something. You just never know what team will turn up. SL have a good side on paper but have been struggling.
Bobbo7
Guest
You have some bowling in Steyn, Morkel and Tahir. If SA play to ability they will be a very good chance. But they need to show they can climb above the nerves.
Proteas have an exciting batting line up. Amla De Kock Faf du Plessis Rilee Rossouw AB de Villiers JP Duminy David Miller They are all in great form except De Kock who has just returned from injury, our problem lies in our bowling. We need to bat first, score 350+ and we are in with a shot.