ANALYSIS OF TEAMS - WORLD CUP SPECIAL

SOUTH AFRICA

They are currently No.1 ranked side. This side boasts of many all-rounders. Their lower-middle order is the strongest in the world. Lack of genuine spinners and slow conditions would derail them. They are often come as chokers in knock-out games. Their fielding and tight bowling would be irritating for most of the teams.

Strengths : Bowling, Fielding, Bats deep, Allrounders
Weakness : Top order batting, Lack of genuine spinners
Opportunities : They are in form
Threats : Conditions, ghosts of choking in crunch situations

Key Players : Shaun Pollock, Gibbs, Kallis

NEWZEALAND

They have few bits and pieces Cricketers. Like Proteas their fielding and tight bowling should irritate other teams. But apart from Bond they lack firepower in bowling. Their batting is not the strongest irrespective of their good showings against Aussies recently. But in Fleming they have most astute captain. Jacob Oram’s recovery is very essential for them. Ross Taylor may be the surprise package from Kiwis.

Strengths : Fielding, Shane Bond, Bits and Pieces cricketers, Fleming’s captaincy
Weakness : Batting, Bowling largely depends on Shane Bond, lack of flair
Opportunities : Confidence of beating Aussies recently
Threats : Conditions

Key Players : Shane Bond, Stephen Fleming, Vettori, Oram

SRILANKA

They have a well-balanced team. They have good batting line-up. But I feel they are vulnerable while chasing and under pressure. Presence of Malinga adds teeth to the attack spearheaded by Vaas and Murali. They are one of the better fielding units of this tournament. They are good in all departments but not great.

Strengths : Good in all three departments
Weakness : Vulnerable in pressure situations
Opportunities : Conditions
Threats : Good showing by others
Key Players : Kumara Sangakkara, Jayasuriya, Lasith Malinga

WEST INDIES

Under Lara they are resurgent now. Though they lack firepower in bowling, the conditions in Caribbean can be better exploited by the likes of Gayle, Bravo and Samuels. The batting is their strong point. They are also a good fielding unit. But they must be guarded against their inconsistencies.

Strengths : Batting
Weakness : Bowling
Opportunities : Home conditions
Threats : Inconsistency
Key Players : Chris Gayle, Brian Lara, Jerome Taylor

ENGLAND

They are most under-rated team of this tournament. They have Pietersen and Flintoff in their ranks both on a given day can dismantle any bowling attack. Plunkett has grown as a good fast bowler, which is an encouraging sign for English. Paul Collingwood would be England’sDravid, around whom other batsmen have to play, entrusted with rotating the strike.

Strengths : Batting
Weakness : Bowling
Opportunities : Confidence of beating Aussies and winning tri-series there in Australia
Threats : Conditions
Key Players : Andrew Flintoff, Paul Collingwood, Kevin Pietersen

AUSTRALIA

Currently they are beset with injury problems and recent run of losses. The typical Aussie mental toughness should motivate them to play their attacking brand of cricket. Recovery of Symmonds, Hayden and Clarke is vital their success. Stuart Clarke, Johnson and Tait are good fast bowling prospects and atleast one of them must rise above the occasion.

Strengths : Batting, Fielding
Weakness : Lack of good back-up bowlers
Opportunities : Motivation to grab three in a row
Threats : Injury Problems
Key Players : McGrath, Ponting, Symmonds (if fit)

PAKISTAN

They are currently plagued by problems of injury and doping. In Younis Khan, Yousuf and Inzy they have strong middle order batting. Surely they are going to miss Razzak and Asif very much. Likes of Gul and Kaneria should lead the bowling mantle.

Strengths : Flamboyant batting, good bowling potential
Weakness : Fielding, lack of solidity in batting, missing 3 key players
Opportunities : Conditions, bowling talent to utilize any conditions
Threats : Inconsistency, lack of cohesion
Key Players : Umar Gul, Danish Kaneria, Mohammed Yousuf