India Among Favourites as World Cup Will be Closely Fought Tournament: Graeme Smith

South Africa captain Graeme Smith has said that India will be the team to watch out for in the World Cup. 

 Smith believes that the home team will be aware of the conditions and are the best placed team prior to the tournament.

"I think the home teams will be right up there when it comes to the ICC Cricket World Cup. I think in the sub-continent conditions they'll be very crafty knowing how to read conditions while other teams need to find ways to be successful there," says Smith on this week's ICC Cricket World Radio Show.

Despite picking India as the team to beat, the South African skipper feels that the World Cup will be a closely fought tournament with many contenders.

"I think there are five or six teams that could win this World Cup which is probably going to make it a very exciting one," Smith added.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 - - Pakistan Chances As Per Rameez Raja: Pakistan Can't Be Ruled Out of Title Contention

Rameez Raja

KARACHI: Cricketer-turned-commentator Rameez Raja on Thursday said Pakistan may not go into the World Cup as one of the favourites but the other teams can not afford to write them off.

"Pakistan has a fairly settled and a very good one-day side. They know the art of playing one-day cricket. They have struggled in Test cricket because some of the players simply don't have the temperament to graft out long innings but the 50-overs cricket format suits them," he said.

"I don't think Pakistan can be ruled out of title contention. There will be less pressure on them and for our players 50-over cricket is a pretty natural format as they are natural hitters of the ball. And with the World Cup being played on sub-continental pitches I think the conditions will suit them," the former captain said.

Raja also observed that sub-continent wickets would suit the spinners and Pakistan had plenty of them in the side.

"I think they have done a good job to pick two specialist spinners in the squad in Abdul Rehman and Saeed Ajmal who are in form and bowling well. And I think both of them can also played on the sub-continental pitches," he said.

Raja said the team would also be depending heavily on fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq.

"They could be nearing the end of their careers but they remain heavyweights and the team would be depending heavily on them in this World Cup and if manage to fire things will be easier for Pakistan.

"With Shoaib you can't rule out another strong comeback for him. And I think both of them know this is their last World Cup and final shot at glory in this tournament."

He also advised Pakistan cricket fans to stop hoping for a comeback by any of the suspended players - Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif - in the World Cup.

"To me the case against them is an open and shut one and I think the writing is on the wall. The synchronization between what Mazhar Majeed says and what is happening on the field is damaging," he said.

The ICC anti-corruption tribunal is due to announce its verdict on the charges of spot-fixing against the suspended trio on February 5.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 - - Team India is Favourite to Lift The World Cup Title According to West Indies Batting Legend Brian Lara

West Indies batting legend Brian Lara has backed India to win the ICC World Cup which starts next month, but says the one-day powerhouses will need to play a measured campaign if they are to lift their second title.

"With the World Cup being held in Asia, India are definitely the favourites," Lara told reporters here Tuesday.

"India have been on the top of their game, they will be a very tough team to beat. They have a well-balanced team that can compete with anyone in the world, but playing before home crowds will not be easy."

India have been installed in Group B of the competition and will play alongside West Indies, Bangladesh, England, Ireland, The Netherlands and South Africa.

"As hosts, India may find it difficult because they would want to start on top and stay on top. They have to ensure that they do not run out of steam. This requires both physical and mental strength."

India last won a World Cup when they beat West Indies in the 1983 final in England.

One of India's biggest threats in the group will come from South Africa, but Lara says while they were a strong side, they always falter at the big showpiece.

"South Africa are a very good team. They can play consistently good cricket. But they have a bit of World Cup bogey which is why I won't put my money on them," Lara said.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 - - Post-ashes Australian Cricket Collapse Leave No Real Favourites for Upcoming World Cup

With teams such as India, South Africa and England at their peak, former England coach Duncan Fletcher feels the ICC World Cup 2011 will have no clear favourite.

 

Australia's collapse in world cricket has seen the emergence of India, South Africa, England and Fletcher said it was not possible to predict a winner for the upcoming mega-event.

"It is going to be an open World Cup. There are no firm favorites," said Fletcher.

"Currently, three teams India, South Africa and England are playing at their peak. But all the three teams have their set of strengths and weaknesses," he added.

Fletcher also warned that apart from these three nations, even Sri Lanka could not be ruled out.

"You can't rule out Sri Lanka. They are always a dangerous side," he said.

Elaborating on England's strengths and weaknesses, the 62-year-old Englishman said, "England can be considered a good athletic side in one-day cricket. And the best part is their confidence is high after beating Australia on their backyard.

"But they do struggle on the slow wickets of the sub-continent because in England they don't play on those sorts of wickets. Few of the young players might find it difficult to adjust to the conditions here," he said.

Fletcher said South Africa would be a huge threat but added that even though Australia are no longer the team they used to be they could never be underestimated.

"SA are undoubtedly going to be huge threat. With playing like Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers in their ranks, they would be a force to reckon with," he said.

"No one can though never write off Australia ever," said the former coach, adding that the same holds true for Pakistani team as well.

Although claiming that India were the favourites at the moment, Fletcher said that the hosts would be under tremendous pressure to perform on their home ground.

"India are be favorites at this stage. But on their home ground, they would be under enormous pressure. Whether they can handle that pressure would determine a lot of things.

"The pressure is being added by the success of the IPL. Not necessarily because the Indian players do well in the IPL but because of the mere fact that the cash-rich tournament takes place in India.

Meanwhile, talking about the key factors during the World Cup, Fletcher said that role of spinners would be crucial.

"I really believe that the spinners are going to be crucial. Also, I think fitness would be a key issue as it's going to be hot there. Adapting to the sub-continent wickets would be another key area as a lot will depend on applying the right techniques," he said.

Cricket by Chance: List of Probable Winners of ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 - - England Will Be Hot Favourite Followed by India and Australia

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.