There may have been snow in various parts of the UK recently, but things are hotting up in the cricket world. We’re just weeks away from the Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. It may be a one-day tournament but this World Cup goes on forever, starting on February 14 and ending on March 29.
The tournament starts with two groups of seven with the top four from each group qualifying for the quarter-finals. It actually takes just over a month to eliminate just six teams. Considering the 14 competing sides include Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates and Scotland, the first month will either be full of sensational shocks or very predictable results. So who are the likely winners of the tournament?
The tournament starts with two groups of seven with the top four from each group qualifying for the quarter-finals. It actually takes just over a month to eliminate just six teams. Considering the 14 competing sides include Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates and Scotland, the first month will either be full of sensational shocks or very predictable results. So who are the likely winners of the tournament?
You can rule out…
Let’s face it, the winners aren’t going to be England, who have never won the World Cup and gone 23 years without even reaching the final. Captain (Alastair) Cook may not have made it to Australia this time but even Eoin Morgan can’t turn this team into winners. This is a side that always seems to find a way to lose when playing one-day internationals.
Unlike their football counterparts, this England squad should get out of their group. Expect a traditional English bumpy ride though, as they face Australia and New Zealand in their first two games before a possible make or break clash against Scotland. With Bangladesh and Afghanistan as their last two fixtures, any crisis they do get themselves in should be overcome. A quarter-final against South Africa, India, West Indies or Pakistan looks likely and that should be the end of the road for Morgan and company.
The favourites
It’s really difficult to bet against Australia making it four wins in the last five tournaments especially on home territory. Often the way they bat in test matches is similar to one-day internationals, and players such as David Warner, Aaron Finch and Steve Smith are capable of blasting any side out of contention. The same can be said for their bowling line-up who’ll be helped by the new law that sees five fielders inside the 30-yard circle at all times in an innings.
South Africa are the number one test-playing nation but have never even reached a World Cup Final. They start off in the stronger of the two pools but with AB de Villiers in record-breaking mood and their batting line-up always capable of posting a massive score, they could have their best World Cup ever.
Defending champions India are a side going through many changes at present and the days of Tendulkar and Dhoni are history. On their day though, they can still beat anyone. Pakistan are down to seventh in the latest ODI rankings and are unlikely to give Misbah-ul-Haq and Shahid Afridi a winning end to their ODI careers. Sri Lanka has a great record in this tournament and with Kumar Sangakkara still piling on the runs another good run looks likely.
New Zealand could well be the surprise side in this tournament. They have a strong batting line-up and home advantage too. If Brendon McCullum and Corey Anderson hit form, then any side they face will be in trouble. The return of Daniel Vettori and Grant Elliott are added bonuses.
Also rans
West Indies used to be the kings of one-day cricket but that was the last century. They pin far too many hopes on Chris Gayle blowing the opposition away. Having seen him bat against South Africa, when he just tried to hit every ball for six, he’s not going to be around too long in most of their games. As for the bowling attack, well they’ll probably be having nightmares for the next month after that hammering by South Africa last week.
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