A look at the contenders for 2011 Cricket World Cup

A look at the contenders for 2011 Cricket World Cup

The biggest cricket tournament in the world starts in a month. Looking at the quality of teams this time , it looks like a tournament which will be closely fought. A billion hearts will stop when India starts its campaign against Bangladesh. Those who question the popularity of cricket , step aside. The world cup is going to enthrall you. World cup 2011 will be the biggest sporting action of the year and is expected to be watched by more than a billion people in the world , most of them cheering for the co-hosts India.  But who are the favorites for the title this time?  Lets take a close watch at the teams who are expected to make the semis.

INDIA  ( ICC Ranking 2 )

India have always been a very popular side around the world. Although this time  the expectations are huge with the home side under a lot of pressure to win the world cup. The team looks good especially the batting order which is lead by the swashbuckling Sehwag and the maestro Sachin. With Gambhir in good form and likes of Dhoni , Yuvraj and Raina in middle order, India is expected to make at least the semis , if not the finals. One of India’s worry is the all rounders slot with Yusuf Pathan being the only all rounder , although Yuvraj has done well on the bowling front in the couple of series. Also with no backup wicket-keeper it remains to be seen , what happens if Dhoni is injured. Indian bowling is lead by Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan, assisted mostly by two pacers among Munaf, Nehra and Praveen Kumar. Probably its a mystery why India decided to have two extra spinners in Ashwin and Chawla when they will mostly play a single spinner, with Raina, Yuvraj and Pathan bowling useful spin , whenever needed.

The last time the world cup was held in India , India went down rather meekly at the Eden Gardens with a weeping Kambli playing his last competitive match. The last world cup too wasn’t great for India where they lost to Bangladesh and Srilanka, and went out in  round one. This time though they have the opportunity to make amends by winning the world cup at home and wassail a billion hearts.

SRILANKA ( ICC Ranking 3 )

The Srilankan team might not carry a lot of hype like their Asian neighbors India or Pakistan but they do pack a punch. Filled with match-winners and renowned for bringing out unconventional bowlers , the Srilankan look like a strong unit. Lead by the stylish and flamboyant Sangakarra, the team has explosive batsmen like Jayawardene, Dilshan, Kapudegra and a strong bowling unit lead by Muralitharan and Malinga. They also have a quality all-rounder in Mathews who has improved by leaps and bounds in the recent years. The last time the world cup was held in the subcontinent, the Srilankans surprised everyone by winning it. Dont be surprised if they manage to do it again.

SOUTH AFRICA ( ICC Ranking 4 )

The South African team might be more famous for being chokers but in every world cup starting from 1996 , they have been the favorites at the start of the tournament. This time they have a very balanced team with quality fast bowlers and all rounders. Lead by Graeme Smith, they have some exiting and young but experienced players like Duminy and Di Villiers in the middle order. Moreover they also have the best all-rounder in the world in form of Kallis. Their bowling attack is lead by Steyn , who is probably the best fast bowler in the world right now. He is ably supported by Morkel , Totsobe , Parnell and Botha making their bowling attack very potent and lethal. The South African’s IPL experience in India have done them a lot of good and they are one of the teams to look out for.If they can do the simple things right and manage to play to their potential , expect them to do big things this time.

AUSTRALIA ( ICC Ranking 1 )

Australia are the Brazil of world cricket. Not only because they don the same color but also because of their achievements in the cricket’s best tournament. Since 1996, they have managed to reach the finals every time and have lost just once in the final. This time though, the team looks a shadow of the team of last year and they miss guys like Hayden, Gilchrist and McGrath. But they do have a lot of decent players in their line up . Ricky Ponting’s form is a worry but Shane Watson is in great form. With the Hussey brothers in the middle along with Cameroon White, they still have a lot of promise in the middle. Their bowling attack doesn’t look as reliable as last time but with most of their bowlers like Johnson , Lee , Bollinger and Tait familiar with the subcontinent , they will not  be pushovers in any way. They have the pedigree and it will be interesting to see if Ricky Ponting can inspire his team to one last flourish , in what will probably be his last world cup.

THE DARK HORSES – ENGLAND ( ICC Ranking 5 )

Probably the most inform team in world cricket right now , the England team has come a long way since winning the T20 world cup. Branded chokers in major tournaments like South Africa they have improved immensely since the last world cup. They have a very experienced and good opening pair with Strauss and the in-form Alaistar Cook. Their middle order isn't bad either with Peterson , Collingwood and Morgan. Morgan especially is one of the most exiting players at his age and is a talent to look out for. Their bowling attack is not bad either with Anderson, Broad and Swann performing consistently well since the last couple of years. With some exiting individuals, England could surprise a few and are certainly one of the teams to look out for this time.

With the format changing from super six to a knockout format after the league stages , it could be anybody’s game from the quarterfinals. For cricket fans it couldn’t have been better.