India has a fantastic chance of winning the World Cup in 2011 as they have a very versatile team. Given the fact that they have remained unbeaten all year at home in a bilateral series lends an aura of invincibility to the team.
An explosive opening partnership in the form of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag followed by Gautam Gambhir, ICC Test Player of the Year for 2009, will ensure that India gets a good start more often than not. The middle order is just as destructive with Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yusuf Pathan all gracing India's lineup. With experienced bowlers such as Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh, along with part-time spinners tailor-made for the sub-continental pitches, India has a decent bowling attack.
Unfortunately for them, India has some of the poorest finishing bowlers in the game, and that could potentially cost them at shot at their first ODI World Cup title since 1983.
Prediction: Finalists
New Zealand, on the other hand, has been having a horrific 2010. After having been blanked by Bangladesh 4-0, Daniel Vettori's men have been overwhelmingly written off across the board. The unbelievable drop in form for the Kiwis can be partially attributed to the high number of injuries to have hit the team.
Jesse Ryder, who is notoriously known for spending more time in the bar than the batting crease, is still a talismanic batsman for them and provides a much-needed impetus. Jacob Oram has been a crucial part of the team as a handy all-rounder providing stability. Shane Bond is one of the prime fast bowlers in the world, but numerous injuries have curtailed the former New Zealand cop's promising career and left the team vulnerable in the bowling department.
Nevertheless, Vettori is considered a fine exponent of spin bowling and, when supplemented by electric fielding and some good hitters, the Kiwis are not to be taken lightly.
Prediction: Quarterfinalists
Now, let's move to the most exciting series taking place in cricket at the moment: the Ashes.
This year's competition is witnessing a power-shift in terms of the traditional cricket giants. After having been pummeled into submission ever since the '80s, the English team has taken a lead against the Australians 1-0, with three games to go. England has played far superior cricket against a rather average Australian team short on inspiration and without a bowling or batting leader. The "Pommies" — a term "fondly" used by their Aussie opponents — are dishing it out to the Australians, and the home supporters are not enjoying it one bit, especially after being used to mocking the English for hardly presenting a challenge for over 20 years.
My prediction remains what it was two months ago: England will win the Ashes in Australia 2-0.
These "power shifts" are refreshing to see in the game, ensuring that it never gets stale or monotonous. Pakistan, still reeling from its countless scandals, held the South Africans to a respectable tie in a test match tri-series. The same goes for the West Indies, which is still seeking to regain its lost splendor in cricket. However, they played excellent cricket to hold off Sri Lanka.
Cricket, like any other sport, has had its controversies, setbacks and uncertainties. One thing that does not change, however, is the fact that cricket will keep moving forward. The reason for that is the passion and the love emitted by you, the cricket fans.
The reason for this column this semester was to share the glorious intricacies of this game. As Lord Tennyson put it, "Cricket … has more in it than mere efficiency. There is something called the spirit of cricket, which cannot be defined."
I hope you enjoyed reading the column as much as I enjoyed writing it.
