World Cup 2011 Predictions !!!

Yet another cricket world cup is on the horizon.With an open format till the quarters  unlike the previous ones ,even co-host Bangladesh can make it to the last eight at expense of west indies or maybe England from their group.With that being said ,here goes my predictions : 

Team :South Africa

Prediction : Semifinalists

Key Players :Kallis , Smith,Steyn, Botha, Devilliers

MVP :Kallis

South Africa would have been my favorite to win the World cup this time,but the choker tag still holds true for them. They neither have the pressure of being favorites, nor they are playing in front of their home crowd. The tag of being chokers might actually work in their favor this time. Because they have been labeled chokers, it may release the any expectations on them, and may ultimately release any pressure on them. They have one of the best batting line up and best the best fast bowler in the world in their line up. South Africa can open their account for World cup trophies.

Team : Pakistan

Prediction : Quarter Finalists

Key Players: Afridi,Hafeez,Aktar,Gul,Umar Akmal

MVP :Boom Boom Afridi

The most unpredictable team ever, and the most unpredictable team in this tournament. Pakistan is not being given much of a chance by the pundits, but you should discount Pakistan at your own peril. Again, less expectation from this team may eventually work in their favor. Moreover, not having to play before home crowd, yet playing home like condition may also favor them. They may not have the best team in the world on the paper, but have the team to beat any team, and have players who can change the course of the game from any situation.If they reach the semis watch out !!!

Team :England

Prediction : Quarter Finalists

Key Players :Swann , Pietersen,Strauss,Anderson

MVP :KP

England has also emerged as a very strong team in the recent past. They could repeat their success in T20 edition of the World cup in the one day version, of course with little bit of luck at crucial stages of the tournament. England also has considerably less pressure on them.I do see them struggling with their bowling against teams like India which has power packed top order batsmen,especially if they bowl first in the D/N matches.

Team :Sri Lanka

Prediction :Finalists

Key Players :Malinga,Jayawardane,Sangakkara,Murali

MVP:Malinga

 Sri lanka is a good team, but will be under pressure playing in front of their home crowds. I do  see Sri Lanka going all the way if the batsmen  at the top of the order shed down  their indifferent form. Dilshan, Sangakara and Jayawardane are the key players , but there is an  absence of big hitters especially in the middle order. They do  have a pretty unorthodox and diverse  bowling line up in slinger malinga,accurate kulasekhara, spin wizard murali and the carrom ball genius mendis. Lot of people don’t expect them to reach the summit clash,but i do believe they have every chance being in the finals.Look out for malinga and his toe crushing yorkers.

Team :NewZealand

Prediction :Quarter Finalists

Key Players :Ryder, Mcullum,Vettori

MVP:Brendon Mcullum

New Zealand is one team, about whom the less said the better. They have some capable cricketers, but are failing as a unit. A couple of good games at the knockout might just give them an outside chance of winning the trophy.They got blanked by bangladesh and India recently and considered a push over ,although they have few game changers like Mcullum and ryder. Difficult to see them any serious inroads.

Team :WestIndies

Prediction :Quarter Finalists

Key Players :Gayle, Dwayne Bravo,Pollard,Roach

MVP:Gayle

West Indian team of today is exactly opposite of the West Indian team that participated in the first three editions of this prestigious tournament.Apart from kemar roach ,its bowling attack is made up of medium pace and spinners  I do not see West Indies winning this tournament, but cricket is funny old game.With a little luck they can make the semis.There have explosive batsmen in Gayle and pollard ,but the bowling is weak in subcontinental conditions

Team :INDIA

Prediction :Finalists

Key Players :Sachini,Dhoni,Harbhajan,Pathan

MVP:Sachin

Can the MIB(Men in Blue) do it after 28 years of wait ?That's the question a billion odd people has in their mind ?Experienced bowling attack led by Zak & Bhajji,possibly the best batting line up in the world including people who are match winners - Sachin,shewag,pathan,yuvraj,dhoni and cool captain.If India field well and their part timers bowl well,they have every chance in reaching the finals and possibly the trophy.

But the most important areas that India needs to do things the right way are bowling in the  the power plays and the strategy while chasing under lights.These are the two areas that has sometimes let them down in the last year. Dhoni has shown a tendency to go with just 4 front line bowlers .So if one of them has a poor day with a 3 or 4 over spell,then obviously the part timers like yuvraj ,pathan and raina would be needing to bowling close to 15 overs.

Team :Australia

Prediction :Semi Finalists

Key Players :Watson,Lee,Ponting,David Hussey

MVP:Watson

The country with the best record in world cup,winner in the last 3 editions..sounds good ,eh ?But this time the kangaroos are coming to an Worldcup with out that aura around them.Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden and Andrew SymondsHussey

Kreja.But in batting belters that would be seen in this WC,the pace of the ball can be a serious disadvantage unless its spot on.

As Ian chappel says “Pace will win or lose the Worldcup for Austrailia “.The attack seems one dimensional,but you can never bet against the never say die spirit of the Aussies .Amazingly, the last time Australia were defeated at the tournament was on May 23, 1999, when they were upstaged by Pakistan in a group game.Should make it to the semis.

Surprise Team of the Tournament: Bangladesh


Prediction:A good start would ping them into the quarters


Key Players :Tamim,Shakib,Razzak


MVP:Shakib Hassan


Bangladesh blanked newzealand 5-0 two months back and know their environment pretty well .They have the potential to beat big teams especially in the world cups and could make the quarters.Bunch of left as proved in the last edition would be vital this time also .Plus if tamim iqbal can provide good starts they can put pressure of teams like west indies and England especially while defending  a decent total 




Thought of putting my thoughts on one ICC Associate team also,since they are quite an interesting bunch of individuals.

Team : Canada

Prediction :Will find hard to win a match

Key Players :Bagai,Davison,Cheema

MVP:Davison

I still remember davison trashing the windies bowlers all over the park in WC‘2003.However that turned out a one time heroism in their dismal world cup record Ashish Bagai agai, the wicketkeeper so synonymous with Canadian cricket and one of seven professional players in the side, is leading a team that has seven different nationalities and an age-bracket typical of the ICC's Associate nations.Tough to win with such inexperience.