The Associates have delivered an emphatic message to the International Cricket Council this World Cup: you can keep on making it as difficult as possible for us to qualify for the second rounds, but we’ll keep on battering at the door till it breaks open.
As the group stage of the World Cup winds down, things are at an interesting juncture. Contrary to popular belief, things aren’t as cut and dried as they seemed at the start. Both the pools have teams who may just pip a major cricketing nation to the quarter-final. This World Cup is going to get more and more exciting.
Let’s start with Pool A. At the top, things are quite straightforward. India should defeat Zimbabwe easily and going by current form (and if they can avoid bad weather in the form of a certain Gaylestorm!), should dispatch West Indies as well. South Africa have rediscovered form after the day off against India and should defeat both Pakistan and UAE with ease. In that case, India and South Africa should finish at 1and 2, respectively.
Things are far tighter in the battle for third and fourth position where all three – Ireland, Pakistan and West Indies are in contention. The match between Pakistan and Ireland has become particularly interesting. A win for Ireland sends Pakistan out of the tournament. However, even if Ireland lose to Pakistan, they are still not out of the reckoning, provided they win against Zimbabwe.
In such a scenario, West Indies (provided they defeat UAE and lose to India), Pakistan and Ireland will all be stuck at 6 points with the Net Run Rate coming into the equation. Currently, West Indies and Pakistan have better NRRs than Ireland, but remember: Pakistan have still not faced the ABD typhoon. Who knows, even their NRR might be in ruins once South Africa are done with them.
I’m going out on a limb and suggesting that these will be the quarter-finalists:
Pool A
New Zealand (provided they win all their remaining games)
Australia (provided they defeat Sri Lanka and win all their other games)
Sri Lanka (provided they lose to Australia and win all their other games)
England (picking them to defeat Bangladesh in their virtual pre-QF)
Pool B
India (provided they defeat West Indies as well as all their other games)
South Africa (provided they defeat Pakistan as well as all their other games)
West Indies (provided they lose against India and win against UAE, while maintaining their superior NRR)
Pakistan (bit of a punt here, going with them to defeat Ireland while losing against South Africa and squeaking through because of their superior NRR)
If the above does take place, this should be the likely quarter-final line-up:
South Africa v Sri Lanka, on March 18, Sydney
Sri Lanka have looked decent after a bad start. More importantly: South Africa’s reputation for choking is legendary! On current form, South Africa should easily progress to the semi-finals. Again, Sydney has a reputation for spinners which might benefit Sri Lanka, but to take full advantage of that, they’ll need Rangana Herath to get back from injury. Too many permutations and combinations in this match; as Ravi Shastri says, all three results are possible!
India v England, on March 19, Melbourne
Now this might turn out to be a tricky banana peel. If England do manage to overcome Bangladesh and qualify, this will give a lease of life to their campaign and might serve to embolden them a great deal. It is important to remember that England have defeated India once already this summer and the memory of that encounter will add spice. Going by current form, India should be favourites but England will have every reason to back themselves.
On the other hand, Bangladesh (if they do defeat England) would prove noticeably easier opposition for India. Melbourne will not offer much purchase for Bangladeshi spinners and India would probably breathe a huge sigh of relief.
Australia v West Indies, on March 20, Adelaide
It’s difficult to look past Australia for this match. West Indies rely too much on Gayle and Samuels, while Australia are looking better and better after the loss to New Zealand. Faulkner is back in the team and he adds teeth to both the batting and the bowling. The equation for this is simple: if Gayle comes off, we might see a good match, otherwise Australia should progress.
New Zealand v Pakistan, on March 21 at Wellington
New Zealand v Pakistan in a knockout match. Return of 1992, anyone? If Pakistan do manage to qualify, look out for them. On a good day, this Pakistan team can defeat anyone in the world with the talent they possess. Irfan, Riaz and Rahat Ali will fancy bowling on seaming conditions to a slightly fragile-looking New Zealand top order. New Zealand remain the favourites for this game, but the added incentive of replicating Imran’s Tigers will provide impetus to Misbah’s men.
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As the group stage of the World Cup winds down, things are at an interesting juncture. Contrary to popular belief, things aren’t as cut and dried as they seemed at the start. Both the pools have teams who may just pip a major cricketing nation to the quarter-final. This World Cup is going to get more and more exciting.
Let’s start with Pool A. At the top, things are quite straightforward. India should defeat Zimbabwe easily and going by current form (and if they can avoid bad weather in the form of a certain Gaylestorm!), should dispatch West Indies as well. South Africa have rediscovered form after the day off against India and should defeat both Pakistan and UAE with ease. In that case, India and South Africa should finish at 1and 2, respectively.
Things are far tighter in the battle for third and fourth position where all three – Ireland, Pakistan and West Indies are in contention. The match between Pakistan and Ireland has become particularly interesting. A win for Ireland sends Pakistan out of the tournament. However, even if Ireland lose to Pakistan, they are still not out of the reckoning, provided they win against Zimbabwe.
In such a scenario, West Indies (provided they defeat UAE and lose to India), Pakistan and Ireland will all be stuck at 6 points with the Net Run Rate coming into the equation. Currently, West Indies and Pakistan have better NRRs than Ireland, but remember: Pakistan have still not faced the ABD typhoon. Who knows, even their NRR might be in ruins once South Africa are done with them.
I’m going out on a limb and suggesting that these will be the quarter-finalists:
Pool A
New Zealand (provided they win all their remaining games)
Australia (provided they defeat Sri Lanka and win all their other games)
Sri Lanka (provided they lose to Australia and win all their other games)
England (picking them to defeat Bangladesh in their virtual pre-QF)
Pool B
India (provided they defeat West Indies as well as all their other games)
South Africa (provided they defeat Pakistan as well as all their other games)
West Indies (provided they lose against India and win against UAE, while maintaining their superior NRR)
Pakistan (bit of a punt here, going with them to defeat Ireland while losing against South Africa and squeaking through because of their superior NRR)
If the above does take place, this should be the likely quarter-final line-up:
South Africa v Sri Lanka, on March 18, Sydney
Sri Lanka have looked decent after a bad start. More importantly: South Africa’s reputation for choking is legendary! On current form, South Africa should easily progress to the semi-finals. Again, Sydney has a reputation for spinners which might benefit Sri Lanka, but to take full advantage of that, they’ll need Rangana Herath to get back from injury. Too many permutations and combinations in this match; as Ravi Shastri says, all three results are possible!
India v England, on March 19, Melbourne
Now this might turn out to be a tricky banana peel. If England do manage to overcome Bangladesh and qualify, this will give a lease of life to their campaign and might serve to embolden them a great deal. It is important to remember that England have defeated India once already this summer and the memory of that encounter will add spice. Going by current form, India should be favourites but England will have every reason to back themselves.
On the other hand, Bangladesh (if they do defeat England) would prove noticeably easier opposition for India. Melbourne will not offer much purchase for Bangladeshi spinners and India would probably breathe a huge sigh of relief.
Australia v West Indies, on March 20, Adelaide
It’s difficult to look past Australia for this match. West Indies rely too much on Gayle and Samuels, while Australia are looking better and better after the loss to New Zealand. Faulkner is back in the team and he adds teeth to both the batting and the bowling. The equation for this is simple: if Gayle comes off, we might see a good match, otherwise Australia should progress.
New Zealand v Pakistan, on March 21 at Wellington
New Zealand v Pakistan in a knockout match. Return of 1992, anyone? If Pakistan do manage to qualify, look out for them. On a good day, this Pakistan team can defeat anyone in the world with the talent they possess. Irfan, Riaz and Rahat Ali will fancy bowling on seaming conditions to a slightly fragile-looking New Zealand top order. New Zealand remain the favourites for this game, but the added incentive of replicating Imran’s Tigers will provide impetus to Misbah’s men.