The World Cup fever is catching on! The time has arrived to take a quick look at the different teams, gather notes, exchange gossips, heated debates....
I am going to sidestep the 'minnows' as I do not feel anyone will make it past the initial round. For the record, the 'minnows' that made it to the iterinery are: Bangladesh, Bermuda, Netherlands, Kenya, Canada, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Scotland. Now for the major league....
Australia - still formidable, missing a few players dues to injury - a few recent failures cud affect their mindset! Cracks emerging - they're defly not the formidable unbeatable, impenetrable side of yesteryears!!
South Africa - by far the best one-day outfit taking last year records. Champions - maybe, but something about their psyche stops me from crowning them! They still have to get past the 'big game choker' tag.
Sri Lanka - dark horses - real threats! Not in the best of their confidence at the moment. Still sorting out their options and may need some good wins to pump them into a 'team' that can win the cup!
Pakisthan - totally unpredictable (haven't they been like that for a few years now!) Got themselves some really good players that can win matches for them on their days! Missing key bowlers that can bowl sides out...no, I do not see them go past the quarters, maybe the semis!
England - pls! They simply do not have the talent to strive past all these stalwarts. To me England is a team consisting of a lot of good players that can get an upset win here and there. To expect them to consistently win would need them to really collectively grab their games to the next level...
New Zealand - a team of very good batsmen - they bat really deep! But can their bowlers bowl the opponents out within 50 overs? How wud their batsmen fare against some quality spin pressures? But they have been playing pretty well leading up to the WC. A loss to one of the minnows on a warm up match may not be such a bad thing to happen if waking up and collecting their wits is the effect!
West Indies - hosts, glorious uncertainties, tremendous backing, home ground effect. They are coming together as a team and will be a force to reckon with. The crowds will be backing them, their own champion players of the past will be there - everything to play for. They have peaked into a winning combination in reacent times and certainly will be a hard team to beat!
That brings me to India! The Indians have a good combination. Solid batting lineup, with a majority of them firing at the moment - definite talents. The bowling dept looks a bit fresh but we have all seen that this bunch of youngsters can perform. Whats better than to put your talented hard working bowlers on the best arena, to see if they can cope up to the pressures. Good thing is - we have options, we have the choice. Its just a matter of making the right one on the right day!! Its the choices and the right decisions that will determine if India go on to win this one.....
And being the passionate Indian cricket fan that I am, nothing short of Dravid holding that cup high come Apr 28th, will satisfy me!!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment