The 9th edition of the world cup gets under way in les then a week and we enter the world cup with no clear favourites where the last decade and two world cups were totally dominated by Australia. The Sub-continent hosts its 3rd world cup, with Australia winning it in 1987 and Sri Lanka in 1996.
This will be the first 50 over world cup since the launch of T20 cricket which has been dominating crowds and revenues. This world cup has got a lot riding on it, the main question is can 50 over cricket still be a valid product for players and fans. With so many miss-matches in the group stages it will be hard to judge and the world cup will only start in the quarter final stages which have been bought back since the 1996 version and it will bring more excitement and hopefully better cricket in the last 10 days of 6 week competition.
So who are the main challengers for the world cup, it will be hard to see Australia win it for the 5th time, but winning is a habit and crushing England 6-1 and with Ponting to come back will only give them more confidence but the lack of a quality spinner and the loss of Michael Hussey will be a massive miss and could be ultimately the defining factor. I do think the 2007 finalists Sri Lanka look the best all around team and playing at home they will be tough opponents to beat then it will come down to there ability to handle the pressure in the later stages at crucial times and recently that has cost them.
Then we are on two teams who have suffered from not handling the pressure, firstly South Africa they are known as the chokers but once again they are seen as a team who should make the semi finals at least. The team selected for the world cup is relatively young and the surprise of Imran Tahir could help South Africa on slower and lower pitches so maybe this time around they will finally prove everyone wrong and win the world cup for the first time.
India are seen as hot favourites playing at home, the final being in Mumbai the home of Tendulkar and then the pressure from all the fans and media that the world cup is won for Sachin. On paper they have a very strong outfit, the batting on there day is unplayable which is there strength and will have to be a major part of winning the world cup for the 2nd time. There bowling is v.good on home conditions without being spectacular but having so many part time bowlers could be very decisive but the question is can they handle the extreme pressure to win when it comes to the later stages, under Dhoni they have shown they can but then the recent records in ICC Tournaments is embarrassing.
You never know what to expect from Pakistan as they have shown in New Zealand, they have the ability to blow any team out even in the biggest of matches but the problem for them is there is not much in between where on other days they can play as they don’t want to be playing for there country. If they had the likes of Butt, Amir and Asif they would be very strong outsiders but you can still not write them off.
The 6-1 drubbing will not have helped England in there preparation for the world cup but the loss of Morgan is even bigger and is probably rules them out of winning the world cup for the first time but under Flower and Strauss this England team have shown resilience in abundance. With Morgan out the pressure is on Pietersen who loves the big stage to shine but in recently he has been unable to produce the consistency, the other major issue for England is the opening pair going to be hindrance or a help.
Both New Zealand and West Indies from the main international teams are the weakest and it will be hard to see either teams reach the semi finals but they have match winning players in Gayle and McCullum but there are far stronger teams that will end up winning the world cup.
The last team and host Bangladesh with them beating New Zealand 4-0 will only give them huge confidence and there first and opening match of the world cup against India will show far they have come. They will most probably looking to dismantle West Indies to reach the quarter finals and then anything is possible and the luck of the draw.
I think for everyone in cricket would love to see Tendulkar finally win the world cup but unfortunately I cant see India being able to handle the pressure. I do see India reaching the semi finals with Sri Lanka, South Africa and Australia with Sri Lanka winning the world cup for the 2nd time.
