Who will win the 2007 World Cup? “Australia” will be the immediate reply. Ok! Who is the second favorite to win the World Cup? Let me analyze.
There are two categories of team: Method team and Flair team. New Zealand and South Africa belongs to Method category. India, Pakistan and West Indies belong to Flair category. Australia has both Method and Flair in great quantities. Srilanka too have both Method and Flair in good proportions. Every team has both method and flair in some proportions. But the mixture differs.
Ok, what I mean by Method team? They are more professional, predictable and disciplined. They do the basics correctly.
What I mean by Flair team? They are naturally talented; rely on individual brilliance and unpredictable.
There are two categories of team: Method team and Flair team. New Zealand and South Africa belongs to Method category. India, Pakistan and West Indies belong to Flair category. Australia has both Method and Flair in great quantities. Srilanka too have both Method and Flair in good proportions. Every team has both method and flair in some proportions. But the mixture differs.
Ok, what I mean by Method team? They are more professional, predictable and disciplined. They do the basics correctly.
What I mean by Flair team? They are naturally talented; rely on individual brilliance and unpredictable.
Indian coach Greg Chappell is trying to inculcate Method in Indian Cricket system. Unfortunately it is not well received by our fans, media and ex-Cricketers. Yes he must be little slower in implementing his ideas.
On the basis of resources, performances and past records of their players, I rate countries in the following order:
1. Australia
2. South Africa
3. Pakistan
4. India
5. Srilanka
6. West Indies
7. England
8. New Zealand
So on the basis of this rating Australia, South Africa, Pakistan and India should form the semi-final line-up in the coming World Cup. But New Zealand’s performance is actually far better than many countries. It always lifts its performance in the World-Cup.
But success in World-Cup depends on lot of factors: current form, conditions, resources for the particular conditions, and format of the games. This World-Cup has round robin format in Super Eight round. Top four teams reach semi-finals. Normally in round robin format the teams that play consistently good cricket will go to the semi-finals. It means that Method teams have greater chance of reaching semi-finals. But conditions in West Indies do not favor a team like NewZealand. The conditions in the Caribbean Islands will mostly favor teams like India, Pakistan, and Srilanka.
So based on recent form, resources they have and conditions prevailing in Caribbean Australia and Srilanka are the only two teams that look convincing now and must reach semi-finals comfortably. West Indies may be the third semi-finalist.
Srilanka is the second favorites to win the World Cup. Srilanka have method, flair, resources, form and conditions favoring them. Remember I am neither a prophet nor an astrologer. I hope my predictions go wrong. I really want Rahul Dravid lifting the coveted trophy on April 28 at Barbados. Billion of people are also praying for that.
On the basis of resources, performances and past records of their players, I rate countries in the following order:
1. Australia
2. South Africa
3. Pakistan
4. India
5. Srilanka
6. West Indies
7. England
8. New Zealand
So on the basis of this rating Australia, South Africa, Pakistan and India should form the semi-final line-up in the coming World Cup. But New Zealand’s performance is actually far better than many countries. It always lifts its performance in the World-Cup.
But success in World-Cup depends on lot of factors: current form, conditions, resources for the particular conditions, and format of the games. This World-Cup has round robin format in Super Eight round. Top four teams reach semi-finals. Normally in round robin format the teams that play consistently good cricket will go to the semi-finals. It means that Method teams have greater chance of reaching semi-finals. But conditions in West Indies do not favor a team like NewZealand. The conditions in the Caribbean Islands will mostly favor teams like India, Pakistan, and Srilanka.
So based on recent form, resources they have and conditions prevailing in Caribbean Australia and Srilanka are the only two teams that look convincing now and must reach semi-finals comfortably. West Indies may be the third semi-finalist.
Srilanka is the second favorites to win the World Cup. Srilanka have method, flair, resources, form and conditions favoring them. Remember I am neither a prophet nor an astrologer. I hope my predictions go wrong. I really want Rahul Dravid lifting the coveted trophy on April 28 at Barbados. Billion of people are also praying for that.
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