Shri
Mr. Glass
India in red hot form? No way.
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Road to the 2011 ODI World Cup
- Thread starter pasag
- Start date
Shri
Mr. Glass
!!!
Blaze 18
Banned
India have beaten pretty much everyone over the last two-three years : Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka (twice), Australia in Australia (tri series), New Zealand in New Zealand, West Indies in West Indies, Asia Cup 2010, South Africa in India, Sri Lanka in India, England in India, Australia in India - the latest one if you count that as a "series". The only real blots on the record are a 3-4 loss to England in England and a home series loss to Australia in 2009.
As far as I remember, India have performed spectacularly every time they have fielded their first choice ODI XI over the last two-three years.
As far as I remember, India have performed spectacularly every time they have fielded their first choice ODI XI over the last two-three years.
Howe_zat
Audio File
I agree, I think India are likely favourites, especially when you factor in home advantage. However, India's recent record has faltered because they have been shown up in the World T20 over the last couple of years.
Granted, it is a very different form of cricket but to some it would be considered bad news that such a good side failed twice in two years on the world stage.
akilana
International 12th Man
Exactly. India are favorite to win it. This's their best chance since 96.
Howe_zat
Audio File
Blaze - I also think you've underrated South Africa. They have a very strong side and some excellent young players coming through.
England may be a good outside bet. I've got them as dark horses at 7/1, which to me seems long for a side that won its last 7 limited overs series in a row, including the World T20, Australia, and South Africa away.
England may be a good outside bet. I've got them as dark horses at 7/1, which to me seems long for a side that won its last 7 limited overs series in a row, including the World T20, Australia, and South Africa away.
Blaze 18
Banned
India's poor performances in the last two World T20s have been primarily due to the inability of some of their younger batsmen to play the short ball. With Sehwag and Tendulkar in the side, and in considerably different conditions, I would be very surprised if they succumb to short pitched bowling next year.
If we are looking at performances in recent world tournaments only then Pakistan should be the favourites on the basis of this :
World T20 2007 - final
World T20 2009 - winners
World T20 2010 - semi-final
Champions Trophy 2009 - semi-final.
Personally, I wouldn't read too much into that. As far as World tournaments are concerned, only the eventual winners can claim success; everyone else is a failure, in my opinion.
Blaze 18
Banned
South Africa do have a strong side, but I just can't see them going all the way in conditions where they have traditionally struggled. Their recent form in such conditions does nothing to dispel that notion : they lost 0-2 to a depleted Indian side earlier this year before winning a dead rubber, and just about managed to overcome a depleted Pakistan a few days back.
South Africa's major concern will be scoring quick runs off spinners. They manage to play them just fine without losing too many wickets, but they just seem incapable of upping the ante against them. That could very well be a problem on pitches where even a total of 300 doesn't guarantee a win.
England are a chance, certainly. I would probably give them more of a chance than South Africa.
Shri
Mr. Glass
Zaheer Khan wasn't there when they did that. The death bowling is not the main issue imo. The real problem is the 5, 6 and 7 slots with Yuvraj horribly out of touch, Gambhir out of touch, Dhoni in average form and the need of a replacement for Jadeja.
The only certainties in the XI are:
Virender Sehwag
Sachin Tendulkar
?(Gambhir)
Virat Kohli
?(Yuvraj)
MS Dhoni
Suresh Raina
?(Jadeja/Ashwin)
Harbhajan Singh
Zaheer Khan
Praveen Kumar
Pragyan Ojha
Too many problems in the side. Wouldn't take much for one of the issues to bite the team in the ass during a must win game. Not first favourites to me, maybe 3rd or 4th likely side to win the WC. Backing Sri Lanka, Australia or South Africa to win it.
vic_orthdox
Global Moderator
But then your quick for the death overs is Praveen Kumar, who resembles a ball machine come the last 10. There's still an issue there, IMO. That and the number 7 slot, as I think you may not have settled numbers 3 or 5, but there are a number of well credentialled players for those slots.
The other issue is having 12 players in your team.
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
Meh, I reckon the batting will sort itself out. Form doesn't mean too much this far out - the blokes you mentioned are quality ODI players.
The fifth bowler and the death bowling are by far the biggest issues IMO. I like Jadeja but he's definitely not consistent enough for the type of cricketer is at the moment. I think he has genuine allround potential and he's definitely over-criticised for mine but he's not ready yet. The best option is probably just playing seven batsmen at the moment, and getting overs out of Yuvraj, Sehwag and Raina (or maybe even the Sofa's favourite bowler
).Praveen's a terrible death bowling option though. I'd sooner bowl Harbhajan at the death with that lineup and just have Praveen bowl out with the new ball.
Shri
Mr. Glass
The other issue is having 12 players in your team.
Yeah. Fix'd.
Virender Sehwag
Sachin Tendulkar
?(Gambhir) ?(Yuvraj)
Virat Kohli
MS Dhoni
Suresh Raina
?(Jadeja/Ashwin)
Harbhajan Singh
Zaheer Khan
Praveen Kumar
Pragyan Ojha
Shri
Mr. Glass
Other bowling options are Sreesanth, Nehra and Ishant. Your idea could work if the part timers have good day but would also let the opposition recover from collapses if there are any if they don't do well. No players in the team now to finish things off when we have an advantage. Don't see these issues troubling us much in the league stages but would become serious only from the QFs. Will need luck to reach the semis but can't see us in the finals.Meh, I reckon the batting will sort itself out. Form doesn't mean too much this far out - the blokes you mentioned are quality ODI players.
The fifth bowler and the death bowling are by far the biggest issues IMO. I like Jadeja but he's definitely not consistent enough for the type of cricketer is at the moment. I think he has genuine allround potential and he's definitely over-criticised for mine but he's not ready yet. The best option is probably just playing seven batsmen at the moment, and getting overs out of Yuvraj, Sehwag and Raina (or maybe even the Sofa's favourite bowler
Praveen's a terrible death bowling option though. I'd sooner bowl Harbhajan at the death with that lineup and just have Praveen bowl out with the new ball.
smash84
The Tiger King
I would say India has a good chance to reach the finals. I don't know why you are so skeptical. They would need luck to NOT make it to the semi-finals. They have a superb batting line-up and with the kind of form Tendu and Viru seem to be in of late they can bloody murder the opposition. But I agree they might not make the finals. I think they will lose out in the semi-finals like in 96.
Death bowling will be crucial (as almost always in ODIs). The best death bowling is with Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the moment. Umer Gul is a bit out of form but when he gets going there are few better yorker bowlers than him. He is the most successful T20 bowler. Malinga is another one who is superb in death overs.
After the recent series between Pak and SA, I have downgraded SA from being one of the top 3 favorites to win the WC. Their performance was quite terrible especially under pressure. In fact for once they looked worse under pressure than Pakistan (a side generally renowned for crumbling under pressure).
Australia are nowhere near the force that they were in world cricket but still competitive. I just don't see them winning the world cup this time around. Their bowling and batting is just not as good as it used to be. And after the recent SL-Aus ODI series Australia seem to have gone down more than a bit.
Sri Lanks seem to be favorites this time around. Unlike last time when they were not fancied before the WC. This time around they are. And seem to be the most balanced side in terms of batting and bowling. Their fielding too is generally of a good standard.
England are a good side but I am not sure how they would perform in the sub-continent. I don't think that the SC has been their best hunting ground. I am not sure though.
WI, Ban, and Zim might win a few matches here and there but I don't really see them giving a tough time to too many.
NZ after their disastrous tour of Bangladesh might not be hot favorites to win the cup. So no comments on NZ.
That is my analysis.
Pup Clarke
Cricketer Of The Year
I think Ashwin has to be a certainty in the WC, personally I'd look to play Ashwin, Jadeja and Harbhajan in the X1.
Lostman
State Captain
All you need is to win three consecutive games.
One player in the form off his life (Aravinda 96) can just carry the entire team.
I'll wait till Pakistan ban a few more players, and then place some $ on them. Last saw them at 8/1. Seems the perfect team for this setup. Bangladesh I also like but was hoping for something better than 33/1.
Love this format btw.
Guaranteed 7 do-or-die games for both teams, with no super 6/super 8 crap.
One player in the form off his life (Aravinda 96) can just carry the entire team.
I'll wait till Pakistan ban a few more players, and then place some $ on them. Last saw them at 8/1. Seems the perfect team for this setup. Bangladesh I also like but was hoping for something better than 33/1.
Love this format btw.
Guaranteed 7 do-or-die games for both teams, with no super 6/super 8 crap.
smash84
The Tiger King
