World Cup warmup

[undyingking]

We're now just a few hours away from the start of the 2007 World Cup! And for those of you not instinctively stifling a yawn at the very mention of cricket, here is the often-imitated, never-bettered undyingking guide to the runners and riders.

• Australia -- still the best team in the world? They restored a bit of order by beating England in the warmup match just now, but this winter's experiences are bound to have shaken them, they're missing key players, and the rest aren't getting any younger. Surely good enough to get through the group and Super 8 rounds, but I think then they might stumble. My prediction: semis.
• England -- on something of a roll at the moment, but on past form not very likely they'll sustain it. Still very inexperienced (the Indian squad has a terrifyng 1600 more caps) and surely not ready for this yet. My prediction: semis.
• India -- enough great batsmen that they can win matches while half the team's performing dreadfully. And the pitches will suit them. But I'm going to stick my neck out and say that they'll have difficulty getting the top sides out. My prediction: Super 8.
• New Zealand -- up-and-down form -- they were beaten by Bangladesh in their warmup -- and injuries. They only have a few reliable players, and I don't think Shane Bond's pace is going to be as much of a shock factor as they hope. My prediction: Super-8.
  
• Pakistan -- in dreadful disarray (as usual). They will miss Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif, of course, but I think they'll miss that very steady performer Abdul Razzaq more. TBH I can't see them winning many in the Super-8 round. My prediction: Super-8.
  
• South Africa -- perennial under-achievers. Superb on their day, but rarely put it together for the big matches. Graeme Smith clearly has some of the qualities of the great captains, but not all of them. My prediction: Super 8.
• Sri Lanka -- another hugely experienced side, able to deploy the varied threats of Murali and Malinga, allied to plenty of fast-scoring batting, capable of turning the game from any situation. Impossible to write them off in any match. Could be the dark horses of the tournament. My prediction: winners.
• West Indies -- home advantage has never been that much use in the World Cup, with only one home winner. But they're coming into form at just the right time, with the enigma that is Brian Lara gelling well with the keen youngsters. Chris Gayle likely to be one of the big names of the show, both with bat and with ball. My prediction: runners-up.

Any thoughts? Please do post more detailed predictions below, but here's a brief poll for the finalists:
[Poll #945686]

Comments

[gbsteve.livejournal.com]

I used the time honoured d8 method.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Good thing I wasn't offering the whole set of participants, or you might have ended up with Bermuda!

[gbsteve.livejournal.com]

The d8 has failed me, Pakistan are already out, but at least Ireland won, and on St Paddy's day too.

[dr-bob.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty much in agreement with you in your analysis, with the exception of India - you don't need to get sides out in ODIs. You just need to stifle the run rate. But I reckon that the top teams will be India, Sri Lanka and South Africa, with any one of England Australia or West Indies joining them in the semis, with New Zealand having an outside chance on the strength of their lower order hitting.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Good to see WI looking reasonably up-for-it yesterday. Admittedly it was v Pakistan, but a good way to open up the contest. Mm, NZ could easily come through strongly if the dice fall for them. Maybe this will be the final test of whether Fleming really is a brilliant captain or just an intermittently lucky one.

[thecesspit.livejournal.com]

Canada vs. Scotland. I don't think you can find two countries who care less that they are in the cricket world cup :)

I am trying hard to get any response here to the thrilling match that will be the Maple Leafs versus the Roses.

Pakistan always strike me as a team on the verge of melt down but who can bring it out if they really all look in the same direction for 5 minutes.

Murli is potent for Sri Lanka, but how well will his style work on those hard flat pitches, in the limited overs arena? That's not quite as a rhetorical question as it sounds....

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

You'd think with the number of Scots-descent people in Canada they'd be up for it for idle flag-waving reasons if nothing else. Ah well. My money would be on Scotland by four wickets, 50 runs or some such margin.

[quantumboo.livejournal.com]

As far as I can see, Canada aren't going to play Scotland, though. They're too busy failing to bowl out Kenya.

[rotwang.livejournal.com]

Looks like you should have included Ireland and Bangladesh in the options and not bothered with Pakistan!

Glad to see the people back home are taking it all in the right spirit though, with calls for the players to be arrested ;-)

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Mm, I admit that I hadn't guessed Pakistan were going to be quite that hopeless.

Wishing though that I had added a para on "My tip for minnow to maybe sneak a game: Ireland", as I'd planned but forgot. Oh well.

Sad to hear about Bob Woolmer's death -- I'd enjoyed reading his candid and genuine-sounding blog thoughts about the progress of the Pakistan team under his management. I guess that may take some of the heat out of the reaction to them being knocked out.