SabWorld Cup match winners
February 9th 2007 01:00
Look out spectators in the Carribean, the white ball will be a hazard. The World Cup beginning next month is sure to bring some heavy-hitting with huge scores on the offering on those small grounds.
The teams are all currently in World Cup mode and there have already been some impressive scores and brutal batting. The last World Cup in South Africa was dominated by the ball, particularly early new-ball bowling, where the likes of Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath and Shane Bond dominated. Only in the final, where a rampant Ricky Ponting produced an amazing innings of power hitting, where Australia scored a final record score of 2-359.
All teams now have players who can potentially become match-winners with the bat, which is the most intriguing element of the upcoming event. Everyone knows Australia will probably win, but the fact that every team has a capable match winning big-hitter at least ensures the Aussies are not over the line just yet.
The lead-up matches to the World Cup have just proved how much of an impact these players are going to have. Forget about Australia for the minute, we all know that they have a flawless side, even though potentially their biggest-hitter Andrew Symonds is in grave doubt for the tournament with a bicep injury.
Despite England’s horrible Australian tour and one-day form in general over the last couple of years, they have a side which potentially could be dangerous. Whenever you have players of the calibre of Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flitoff, there is a chance of victory. Flintoff has had a disappointing tour with the bat, but the imposing Pietersen was the one shining light in a dismal campaign, before suffering a broken rib. For England to have any chance they must bat Pietersen at 3 and Flintoff at 5. The other players in the team are capable players, but are orthodox and don’t have the destructiveness to become match-winners.
New Zealand have a quality all-round side led by the best Captain in the world, a fine spinner and one of the rare good quick bowlers who don’t play for Australia. The only thing lacking for the Kiwis, which was highlighted in the tri-series, was their lack of a genuine superstar batsman. What they do have is Jacob Oram, who is the new Chris Cairns I the team. His batting in the tri-series was awesome o the big Aussie grounds, so one can only imagine what he can do in the Windies.
South Africa is a side who traditionally are noted for their dour, conservative play. However their flop in the last Cup on home turf has changed their mentality. Who could forget last year’s epic run chase of 435 at the Wanderers against the invincible Aussie side? Just last week they were close to scoring 400 against Pakistan thanks to a rampant Mark Boucher. South Africa are blessed with the big-hitters down the order in Boucher, Shaun Pollock and Justin Kemp. However the key is at the top, starting from aggressive Captain Graeme Smith. The opener is a intimidator when in form and has a great record in the Caribbean. The other key is Hershelle Gibbs, another inconsistent aggressor but when in form, like at the Wanderers, he is as good as anyone in the world.
Next column I’ll be analysing the big-hitters of the sub-continent teams, and the hosts- the West Indies.
The teams are all currently in World Cup mode and there have already been some impressive scores and brutal batting. The last World Cup in South Africa was dominated by the ball, particularly early new-ball bowling, where the likes of Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath and Shane Bond dominated. Only in the final, where a rampant Ricky Ponting produced an amazing innings of power hitting, where Australia scored a final record score of 2-359.
All teams now have players who can potentially become match-winners with the bat, which is the most intriguing element of the upcoming event. Everyone knows Australia will probably win, but the fact that every team has a capable match winning big-hitter at least ensures the Aussies are not over the line just yet.
The lead-up matches to the World Cup have just proved how much of an impact these players are going to have. Forget about Australia for the minute, we all know that they have a flawless side, even though potentially their biggest-hitter Andrew Symonds is in grave doubt for the tournament with a bicep injury.
Despite England’s horrible Australian tour and one-day form in general over the last couple of years, they have a side which potentially could be dangerous. Whenever you have players of the calibre of Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flitoff, there is a chance of victory. Flintoff has had a disappointing tour with the bat, but the imposing Pietersen was the one shining light in a dismal campaign, before suffering a broken rib. For England to have any chance they must bat Pietersen at 3 and Flintoff at 5. The other players in the team are capable players, but are orthodox and don’t have the destructiveness to become match-winners.
New Zealand have a quality all-round side led by the best Captain in the world, a fine spinner and one of the rare good quick bowlers who don’t play for Australia. The only thing lacking for the Kiwis, which was highlighted in the tri-series, was their lack of a genuine superstar batsman. What they do have is Jacob Oram, who is the new Chris Cairns I the team. His batting in the tri-series was awesome o the big Aussie grounds, so one can only imagine what he can do in the Windies.
(Destructive)
South Africa is a side who traditionally are noted for their dour, conservative play. However their flop in the last Cup on home turf has changed their mentality. Who could forget last year’s epic run chase of 435 at the Wanderers against the invincible Aussie side? Just last week they were close to scoring 400 against Pakistan thanks to a rampant Mark Boucher. South Africa are blessed with the big-hitters down the order in Boucher, Shaun Pollock and Justin Kemp. However the key is at the top, starting from aggressive Captain Graeme Smith. The opener is a intimidator when in form and has a great record in the Caribbean. The other key is Hershelle Gibbs, another inconsistent aggressor but when in form, like at the Wanderers, he is as good as anyone in the world.
Next column I’ll be analysing the big-hitters of the sub-continent teams, and the hosts- the West Indies.
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