India's chances at the ICC Cricket World Cup: A detailed analysis

Disclaimer:Another post that was published when I 

was 14 years old. Another portrayal of childish innocence, I think. So, I again request you all to yet again bear with the language used. :p 

It was a memorable day for Indian Cricket way back on June 25^th 1983, when Kapil Dev, the then captain of India, lifted the World Cup trophy for all present at the Lord’s to see. Truly, 1983 is a stamp in memory for all Indian Cricket lovers. Now, there is hope in every Indian heart that this feat would be achieved again 28 years later, but, only time can tell whether it will happen or not. According to me, India stands a very good chance for the coveted title this time, in 2011. India is playing the World Cup in the Sub-continent which makes them familiar with the conditions but there are more reasons, which I will be mentioning. India has quite a good side on paper. Anyway, there is no point in talking about selection now as it is already over and nothing can be done about it. Execution is what matters now.

SQUAD:

Virender Sehwag (VC), Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Virat Kohli, M S Dhoni (C & WK), Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel, Sreesanth (as a replacement for Praveen Kumar),Suresh Raina, Ashish Nehra, Ashwin and Piyush Chawla.

 BATTING:

 The World Cup is taking place in the sub-continent, where pitches suit the batsmen more and India arguably has a world-class batting line–up. Anyone who goes through it right from the top order – with Sachin and Sehwag opening and Gambhir coming in at 3- and all the way down to the middle and lower middle order would say that it is the best batting line-up in the tournament on paper. The names of the top order – Sachin, Sehwag and Gambhir- are self-explanatory. The form of Virat Kohli is a huge plus point considering his performances in the recent past where he has thrived under pressure and has displayed the right temperament and the maturity to hold the innings together in the middle order. Adding to it, Kohli is an electric fielder. Yusuf Pathan – the man who sends shivers down bowlers’ spines whenever he walks out to bat– made a comeback into the team at the right time and immediately made an impact. His game-changing maiden century vs. New Zealand, his half-century which also turned the way things were going in the 3^rd ODI at Capetown and a century that went in vain at the Centurion is testimony that he is raring to go. A man who can single-handedly turn around the fate of matches coming down the order is always a plus point in any team. True, he can play rash shots and get out, but that’s the way he plays, we cannot do anything about that and we should see whatever positives he brings to the side. Any questions regarding his short ball problem were answered when he hit even short balls for sixes in the final ODI at the Centurion. Also, I feel such players with this degree of talent should be allowed to play the way they play as then only they thrive, such is the case with Yusuf. He is also a useful part-time off-spinner, which gives more options to Dhoni. Some men down the order – Harbhajan Singh, Ashwin, Piyush Chawla, and Zaheer Khan – can also contribute with the bat, which is another plus point. Although the batting was not up to the mark in the ODI series against South Africa, it can be taken note that they played in the absence of the regular top order and that that series was in South Africa and not in India, which is co-hosting the show piece event and the batsmen would be comfortable with the pitches in the sub-continent. Also, it is better for them to look at the brighter side of things before the World Cup and concentrate only on the World Cup, which they would obviously do and are doing considering the signals from the training camp.

BOWLING:

PACE DEPARTMENT:

The pace department in the World Cup will be obviously led by Zaheer Khan. As everyone is aware, he is not only a class bowler, but also a great mentor for the other pacers­- which is a great boost. Also, as M S Dhoni said, he always has a plan in hand. As Harsha Bhogle said, a fit Zaheer Khan can be really very dangerous. Munaf Patel has been in good form over the last 2 series; proof, his 4 wicket-haul at the Wanderers against South Africa in that miraculous victory and his performance in the ODI series vs. New Zealand. As everyone knows, he is a different kind of bowler who does not concentrate much on pace, but concentrates a lot on accuracy which has paid rich dividends. Although not much bounce will be provided by merely hitting the deck in the Sub-continent, Munaf obviously knows how to bowl the way he does on sub-continental wickets. Praveen Kumar, one of our main ODI bowlers, was unfortunate to have picked up an elbow injury during the one-off T20 match between India and South Africa and further aggravation forced him to be ruled out of the tournament. But, he has been replaced by Sreesanth, who has got his chance. He deserves to get it and I am happy for Sreesanth. Sreesanth is also a good bowler who is a natural outswinger of the ball and can also reverse it when required. He can be really dangerous when in rhythm and is a wicket-taking bowler, only thing he can get a bit temperamental at times. His economy rate in ODIs and his ODI record are not very good, but it will be wise for us not to judge him on that basis. He is an improved bowler now and not like the way he was. Also, the way he bowled in the ODI series vs. New Zealand was very impressive, especially the 1^st match in which he produced wicket-taking deliveries to finish off the match, also, he was impressive in the warm-up match against Australia. Not only that, we must remind ourselves that this is cricket that they are playing, so we will just have to wait and watch how he bowls on the field, i.e.; if he gets a chance in the playing XI. Sreesanth maybe a little too Test match suited, but he will learn.

SPIN DEPARTMENT:

As the World Cup is taking place in the sub-continent, every team would look to have their spin department decked up. The spearhead of the spinners would obviously be Harbhajan Singh. Although he was not in the peak of his bowling form for some series and was a bit defensive in his approach, he bowled well in the ODIs vs. South Africa, especially at the Wanderers during the middle overs. As Harsha Bhogle said, Harbhajan should be assuming the wicket-taker’s role. Ashwin impressed one and all in the only 7 ODIs he has played. He brings versatility into the team considering that he can bowl in the death and the Powerplay which is not easy for any spinner to bowl in and he also brings a lot of variety considering he is a thinking bowler and makes use of the carrom ball very well. Some would have questioned his presence in the team due to the presence of part-time off-spinners and Harbhajan Singh; but I would say, although Harbhajan Singh and Ashwin are both off-spinners, their style of bowling is different. Also, even though there are part-time off-spin options in Raina and Yusuf Pathan, they cannot bring the variety that Ashwin brings into the attack. Although he cannot be really judged properly considering that he has played only 7 ODIs, it can be taken note that he is in good form and there is no-one else to fit the bill. Yuvraj Singh brings the left-arm spin dimension into the attack; although he cannot bring that conventional left-arm spin as he is a part-timer, he stops the flow of runs and picks up wickets whenever required and that is more than enough. He too bowled well in the ODI series against South Africa. Also, as mentioned above, we have some really good part-time options in Raina and Yusuf Pathan. Piyush Chawla was a surprise to me considering he had not had many games before the World Cup, but if Dhoni had really asked for him; we had better trust it as majority of Dhoni’s hunches have proved to be right in the past. Besides, we have to accept it now, as nothing can be done about the selection and looking at the brighter side, it is good to have a leg-spinner with a good googly and flipper in the side as it adds to the variety, which is always good. Not only that, he put on a disciplined bowling performance against the Aussies in the warm-up game, mixing up the wrong ones rightly. With this, he puts some competition for the second spinner’s slot with Ashwin, in case the conditions demand it, and this is a good dilemma for the Captain. According to me, India’s spin department for the World Cup is one of the best on paper amongst those selected for the tournament.

OTHER POSITIVES:

Cricket is not only a physical game, but also a mind game. Any tournament of such a large scale such as the World Cup will not come without pressure, so does this World Cup and the Indian Team will be playing at home, thus, expectations from the home fans would be there. But, as M S Dhoni said, this side is better equipped to handle the pressure. Also, the calming presence of M S Dhoni in the dressing room and during times of pressure helps a lot. He has a calm and cool head and not for nothing he is called “Captain Cool”. Speaking of Dhoni, he has the penchant for winning big tournaments such as the ICC World T20, the IPL and the Champions’ League and he follows his gut feel while making any decision, just like the captain who lead India to the 1983 World Cup victory, Kapil Dev. Also, the players respect him a lot. Coach Gary Kirsten, for whom this World Cup would be a swan song, has had a positive influence on the players and is a great man manager - which helps in building team spirit and self belief. He has worked wonders with the team. The players would like to win this World Cup for Sachin Tendulkar – who on all practical purposes would be playing his final World Cup – and Gary Kirsten additional to their want of lifting the Cup for the country. Many have told that the probable playing 11 of the World Cup not playing in any match due to injury is a concern, but I feel that would not be a problem as they move together in the dressing room. Fielding has been quoted by some as a weak area, but I would say that we are not natural athletes and we have to accept that fact, besides, this Indian team is an improved fielding unit. Although the Men in Blue lost the ODI series against South Africa, it can be noted that the series was not lost without a fight, and that is really good to see.

ISSUES OF CONCERN:

The fitness issues with the batting department have been sorted out, so, the only concern that remains over there is the form of M S Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina. Yuvraj is a match-winner on his day, so his return of form is very important to the chances of the team. On the other hand, he gives the left-arm spin option and is one of the best fielders in the team at the moment. M S Dhoni weighed by the additional responsibilities of captaincy and wicket-keeping, has not played an innings of substance in the recent past. To win a match, it should be a team effort and a one- man show cannot be the case. Also, his style of explosive batting and shot-making is always useful. I understand that managing all the three – captaincy, batting and wicket-keeping- is not an easy job, but his runs are also important for the team. Raina might not get too many games or at least the first match as the performances of Virat Kohli have overshadowed his in the recent past and a player like Yusuf Pathan cannot be dropped for the first match for Raina to be accommodated. Glimpses of Raina’s form were seen at Capetown and at the Centurion, but he threw his wicket on both the occasions.   Otherwise, Raina can finish games excellently, has a variety of shots and is an excellent fielder wherever he is positioned. He also provides the part-time bowling option. For those positives - perhaps Raina's 50 in the warm-up match was too late-Raina’s form is also important, which is a good dilemma for the captain. Ashish Nehra is in poor form, which is another matter of concern. He can be good in the death. Zaheer Khan is apparently nursing a niggle and this is another issue of concern. There has been some pressure on Zaheer to deliver sometimes as mentioned in one of the papers, so, the other fast bowlers will have to step up and give him support.

This is what I have observed, being a fan of the Indian Cricket Team. Reading these chances of the team winning the World Cup, one can say that India have a very good chance. But, Cricket is a game of uncertainties, so, it is all down to how the players play on the field on that particular day. As Peter Roebuck, a famous cricket columnist said “Cricket is played on the field and the minds of men”.

The ODI series: Australia vs England

 Another post written when I was 14 :p
Before the beginning of this series, let me remind you, Australia were in a state of complete disarray as they were coming out of a disastrous Ashes campaign. England on the other hand, were in a moment of triumph after becoming the first English team after some 20-odd years to claim the Urn on Australian soil. But, the tables were turned in the ODI series. World Champions Australia trounced England by 6-1 in the series, ending their lean phase which existed for the past 5-6 months. They struck form at the right time.

ODDS BEFORE THE SERIES:
Although the English had just beaten Australia in the Ashes; Test Cricket is different from ODI cricket. Also, both teams had to miss out on some players due to injury before this series and in the game of Cricket, one can never predict anything. Keeping these points in mind, I could conclude that both teams stood equal chances. Even though the English do not have a very impressive ODI record, based on overall recent form, they had a slight upper hand.

AUSTRALIA:
The Aussies have come back to form at the right time, just before the World Cup. They have got the winning feel back and that acts as a confidence boost for them going into the World Cup. The very fact that the team has done well in the absence of key players is another morale boost for them, even though the conditions in Australia are different compared to those in the Sub-continent. This team has shown the spirit, and that is one of the key characteristics to have in different conditions. Another plus point would be the return of form of Vice Captain Michael Clarke - who had to captain a few games due to the absence of Ricky Ponting - as he is an important name in the Australian line-up and can be dangerous in Sub-continental conditions. The 82 which he struck at the Sydney Cricket Ground to help Australia chase that total of 300-plus set by England and a half-century in one of the games prior to that game at Sydney can tell us that Michael Clarke is back in business. The continuity of the blazing form of opener and all-rounder Shane Watson makes another plus point. The return of Brett Lee - who has a good knowledge of Sub-continental conditions - adds to the positivity. The only question mark that remains is the form and fitness of Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey and Nathan Hauritz. Adam Voges portrayed a good display of batsman ship in the final ODI which helped Australia rebuild their innings and that can have Voges coming in as a replacement during the World Cup in case of any injury. The Aussies have shown, by the intent and by the way they have played in this Commonwealth Bank ODI series, that they are more than ready to defend the World Cup.

ENGLAND:
However the performance of the English has been in this ODI series, I will not reject them as dark horses for the World Cup. They are a much improved team and in this series, they did not have the services of their premier spinner Graeme Swann due to injury who will be back in time for the World Cup. Also, the innings of Michael Yardy in the final ODI showed the fighting spirit of the English. Yardy was involved in the only two partnerships of substance in the English innings. When his partnership with Liam Plunkett ended, England required 80 to win and that partnership was a pretty good one. But, England had only 1 wicket left and at that stage, it was quite obvious that Australia was going to emerge victorious. If Plunkett had rotated the strike, had he existed a bit longer, anything could have happened, but Plunkett, after all is a tail-ender and having supported Yardy in that partnership being a tail-ender itself is a big thing. That is another sign of fight back. If only England had had wickets in hand in the final ODI, they could have won. There were a few fight backs in the previous games of this series by the English. This aspect - the fighting spirit - is also one of the reasons why they still can have a go at the World Cup. So, they have a few positives to take and it is better for them to concentrate on those and forget their ODI series upset Down Under. All in all, they had a decent tour of Australia. England's Australian Summer has the triumph of the Ashes in it which makes Australian Summer 2010-2011 memorable for them.