The world cup is round the corner, i think its the ideal time to discuss about the chances of the participating teams.This world cup will be an open world cup like the 1999 one,as no their are no clear favourites. Although India ,RSA and Australia have slight advantage over the rest.But we can never rule out Pakistan especially when its being played in the subcontinent.
To start with, the defenders Australia , they are a team in transistion.Although they have beaten England comprehensively in the last series,they are heavily dependent on 2-3 players.They are still unable to find suitable replacement to Shane Warne & McGrath .Their middle order is fragile and bowling lacks teeth.Shane watson is the key to their success.
Talking about India ,they have an outstanding chance of winning it.They 4-5 game changers who on their day can achieve impossible feats.No other team has so many game changers. But India's greatest strength will be its home crowd and captainship skills of Dhoni .But the worrying factor is fitness of key players like Tendulkar,Z. khan and Sehwag.India;s other weak point will be its spinning dept ,where harbhajan has been out of form.His performance last year was abysmal.The selectors chose Piyush Chawla ahead of Pragyan Ojha,Chawla can neither play as a spinner nor as an allrounder.
RSA are also in good form recently.Their preparations have received a big boost after their recent series win over India.Dale Steyn, Hashim Amla,A.B. deVillers and Jacques Kallis are in great touch.They have a balanced side but lack a real hitter someone like klusenser or Albie Morkel. I hope the surprise selection of Morne van Wyk solves the problem.
English side is filled with a bunch of talented ,enthusiastic players but lack consisitency.They have to find spark in the bowling dept.NZ lack a decent side. They have just 4-5 international players ,the rest just make up the 11.But they play well as a unit and can knock out any good side.Sri lanka will enjoy home support,but the sad part is that they have a large no.of all rounders who can most of the time end up as no rounders.They are yet to replace Jayasuriya and Vaas .and muthiah has grown old.They will need the 3M's( Mathews ,Malinga & Mahela) to shine.
Pakistan is the most unpredictable side , but it will miss some of its key players like Salman Butt ,Asif and Aamer.WI has got some really exciting players like Gayle,Pollard,Bravo, but there are many weak links in the team.Netherlands,Ireland,Bangladesh etc can at best cause upsets.
But i bet my money on INDIA ,I hope they wont disappoint me.
India has got 4-5 game changers according to your opinion, but rarely India plays like a team and the team too depends on the heroics of one or two players to put up a defend-able score! Anyways, I hope your heroes don't disappoint you!
ReplyDeletetats why they are called game changers
ReplyDeletethey won't perform all at the same match
they will show their class wen needed
like yusuf pathan did in the last match