Personally, I
have no regrets about ignoring the latest IPL extravaganza. However, I shall
not allow the forthcoming Champions Trophy to suffer the same fate. It may be
the poor relation to the actual World Cup, but for a few splendid weeks in June
it will still give a platform to many of the world’s most exciting cricketers.
What’s more,
it all takes place here in the UK. And much of it in my home town of Cardiff! I
know all the publicity is focussed on the Champions League Final next Saturday but
come 6th June the city will also be hosting a genuinely global sporting jamboree, not merely the
two best club sides from a single continent. Yes, the football will be a great
spectacle, featuring the likes of Ronaldo, Buffon and Modric, but the Welsh
capital should soon be witnessing the likes of Root, Buttler, Williamson, Boult,
Mohammad Amir, Shakib, Hasan, Mathews and Malinga.
I have
tickets only for two fixtures. However, the first will be my first close-up
view of Bangladesh, as they face New Zealand next week. They may well be in place
of West Indies but they are there on merit, boasting some world-class players
and could well progress from the group stage. My other ticket is for the first
semi-final, which frankly could involve any two of the eight participants. India
v England? South Africa v Australia? Either would be a real lip-smacker, but I’ll
settle for anything!
I’m not sure how
much the ICC rankings matter when it comes to tournaments like this. Based on
the current positions, the semis should be South Africa against the Black Caps
and the Aussies (assuming they can actually field a team) facing India. But
that ignores the home advantage enjoyed by England. Highly fancied the last
time the competition took place here, they were defeated by MS Dhoni’s team in
the final. I definitely expect them to be at The Oval on 18th June,
too.
But if they
reach the last four, which side apart from Bangladesh from Group A will give
way? It’s a well-worn comment that NZ box above their weight in World Cups, and
with Captain Kane, Anderson, Taylor, Boult and Southee they have some top
players. Yet if the likes of Smith, Warner and Starc are performing, who could
bet against the Baggie Greens, for all their claims of poverty?
I’d love to
see India come to Cardiff on the 14th. I have happy memories of the
fervent, good-natured crowds in 2013, filling the stands of Sophia Gardens for
the victories over the Proteas and Sri Lanka. True, there will already have been
the sell-outs of England-Australia and India-Pakistan at Edgbaston, but surely
there can be room for another classic on the banks of the River Taff.
While they
came off second-best in the recent warm-up series against England, South Africa
cannot be discounted. Top of the rankings and claiming the best record since
the 2015 World Cup against the CT participants, they should get the better of
Pakistan and SL but the beauty of such a crisp, concise competition is that
anybody can win it. One unlikely group stage victory can form the foundation of
a march all the way to the trophy. Can anyone stop England? If India again
reach the final, and I think they will, I reckon the vocal power of their fans
will be the decisive factor. Kohli may be the man holding the trophy aloft but
it will be the virtual strength of the India supporters lifting him.
