Speculations and predictions are always part of the sports; but the intensity of such speculations increases as any mega event approaches to a take-off position whether it is soccer world cup, Wimbledon Tennis, or Cricket World Cup. The same is the case with fast approaching ICC Cricket World Cup 2011; which is now only 50 days away and every body including cricket fans, experts, and ex-cricketers are talking about the probable champions.
Every team is being analysed and weighed with respect to their respective strengths and weaknesses. More keen analytics are drilling down to more precise conclusions by spreading their work to player to player and performance to performance. Every team have such demonstrating players who can turn the tables on their specific day and it is always true that “Cricket by Chance”.
Every team will chase the glory with their respective targets like Australia would certainly want to make it big with their fourth consecutive world cup victory; as they have already champion for more than a decade. Despite having strong outfits New Zealand, England and South Africa still couldn’t win this mega event in the past. Therefore, New Zealand, England and South Africa definitely want to register their names as the World Champions. Then comes to Asian cricketing nations; Bangladesh is still in their growing stage having few good performances and upsets on their credit but not big enough to threaten the remaining three forces of their region. India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are winners of World Cups in 1982, 1992 and 1996 respectively; but still they are hungry and capable enough to take the pride winning their second world cup title. Rest of the teams will just try to leave their impression on the history by exhibiting occasional performances and trying to create any upsets.
Let’s talk about individual teams which are more likely to be champion this time with respect to their recent performances, facts and figures.
1. My first choice is England that has all the chances and guts to be World Champion in 2011. In the perspective of England’s performance in the ongoing Ashes Series; I can say with a certain level of confidence that they will not ready to linger on their chance to be world champion of the sport that originated from their own region. With the present outfit; England is a perfect blend of teamwork and enthusiasm. England is also current Twenty20 world champion and they will certainly try everything to make it even bigger by winning ICC Cricket World Cup 2011. No doubt, England have all the weaponry in their bags required to top this coveted mega event. With bowlers like James Anderson, Chris Tremlett, and Graeme Swann; they can thrash any batting side and with likes of Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss, Jonathan Trott and Eion Morgan; they can smash any bowling attack.
2. In my cards India comes second to be world champion in 2011. With their one of the best batting side and advantages of home crowd & home grounds team India stands second in the list of probable winners. As these line are being written; India is touring South Africa and very close to tie the test series while been thrashed in the first test. It will surely boost their confidence.
3. Despite the current situation prevailing in ongoing Ashes Series, Australia have the capability and resources to be world champion fifth time in the history. Therefore, I would rank Australia on the third in the probable winner of ICC World Cup 2011. An interesting fact to be noticed is that in all their previous three wins, Australia has faced the three Asian giants in the final. 1999 was the year when Wasim Akram’s Pakistan failed miserably after scoring just 132 runs in the final. The 2003 final saw Indian bowlers being smashed to all parts of the ground in South Africa. In 2007, Sri Lanka were hoping to replicate their 1996 World Cup win but failed.
4. Sri Lanka can be easily placed number four in the list of probable winners. They have also advantages of home crowd and home ground which will certainly boost their confidence to repeat the 1996 episode. Sri Lanka have many star players which are most likely to be retire from international cricket after the ICC World Cup 2011, like the most successful pace bowler for Sri Lanka Chaminda Vaas, spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan. These stars will surely give their best to finish their international career on the top.
5. On the number five position of probable winner of ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, South Africa and Pakistan equally shares the chances. South Africa had good records in sub-continent and a formidable outfit to challenge any team in the upcoming flagship event of International Cricket Council (ICC). Pakistan with their characteristic of being ‘unpredictable’; can be disastrous for any good team running ahead of them in this probable list of winners. Although, Pakistan has lost their chance to co-host upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup; but the home-like conditions will surely help them pursue their world cup bid in an impressive way. Few players like Shahid Afridi, Abdur Razzaq and Umar Akmal can turn the tables on their day.
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