So after a month long Saga, it?s finally crunch time at ICC Cricket WC 2011. Yes, it?s the knock out stages and the team that has one bad day has to pack their bags. After a debacle of 2007 World Cup, ICC twisted the format so that eight best teams make it to the quarters. Bangladesh for a while seemed to challenge ICC but they finally succumbed. So it?s the dream quarter final line up for all the Cricket fanatics round the world.
The first Quarter Final is between Pakistan and West Indies at Mirpur. Pakistan is the firm favorite to win this one by looking at their performance in this year?s edition of World Cup. But West Indies also have few match winners in their squad like Gayle , Pollard and Roach and can easily upset Pakistan. Another important factor is that which Pakistan Team will turn up on Wednesday at Mirpur. Will it the team that was all out for less than two hundred against minnows Canada or the team who bowled out Australia for 176. But still Pakistan hold the edge as they are in form and have players like Afridi, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul at their disposal.
The second Quarter Final is already termed as the mini final. It is between the World Champions Australia and ?TEAM INDIA? who are one of the favorites to lift the trophy. It?s really sad that one of these two teams will go out of the tournament on 24th?of March. Many cricket pundits had predicted an India ? Australia final but they got it wrong thanks to some ordinary cricket by Aussies and Indians in the league stages. It is very difficult to pick a favorite for this one but I will definitely go with my team i.e India. Apart from being a die-hard Indian cricket fan, I strongly feel that ?Team India? has the Team to beat the Aussies.
The main reason being India?s strong batting line up that can easily tackle the Aussie attack which has lost its edge after the retirement of greats like Glenn Mc?grath and Shane Warne. After the adieu to Cricket by Hayden and Gilchrist and with Ponting not in best of form, Australia?s batting is not the same as it was few years back and they can be easily troubled by Indian spinners on a dry wicket in Ahmedabad.
With champion like Sachin Tendulkar in the team along with players like Sehwag, Virat, Zaheer and Yuvraj, ?Team India ?looks good to knock the world champions out of the World Cup. But Aussies cannot be taken lightly Al tough they had an average world cup till now, but still they can pick up their game in the main matches. With quality players like Watson, Bret Lee, Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey and Cameron White in their squad, Australia has the arsenal to beat Team India. But still I will go with India for this one.
New Zeland and South Africa make the line up for third quarter final to be played at Mirpur on 25th?of March. I can easily put my bet on Proteas to win this one. The main reason being the bowling attack of the South Africans. Apart from having world class fast bowlers like Steyn, Morkel and Kallis, South Africa also have quality spinners like Botha, Pieterson and Imran Tahir in their squad. The slow and low wicket at Mirpur will be ideal for the spin trio of South Africa. With batsman like Kallis, De?Villiers, Duminy and Amla in top form, the batting of proteas also looks in good shape.
Talking about the Black Caps, even though they have some good players in their team but there is hardly any chance of surprise. They have pretty decent looking batting line up on paper with players like Brendon Mc?Cullum, Ryder, Guptill and Taylor but they have hardly performed in the tournament. Apart from the magical hundred from Ross Taylor or? Rose Taylor? against the Pakistanis, rest of the batting line up has not performed to their potential. New Zeland bowling also looks weak. Apart from Daniel Vettori and Tim Southee to an extent, there is no other bowler who can create fear in the opponents? camp. I think will it will be a cake walk for Proteas against the Black Caps.
The fourth and final Quarter final is between one of the favorites ?Sri Lanka? and the unpredictables ?England?. With match being played at Premadasa in Colombo and world class spinners like Murali and Mendis in their team, Sri Lanka will not have much trouble winning this one. However, there is small concern about the Sri Lankan batting which relies heavily on Mahela Jayawardene and skipper Kumara Sangakkara. Time has come for Silvas and Samarveeras to prove their worth in the team. Another X-Factor for Sri Lanka is ?Lasith Malinga? because of???his Yorkers or Slingers.
Well talking about England, this is the team that has provided viewers with maximum excitement with all of their matches going down to the wire. After being almost out of the tournament on 18th?of March, England has finally made it to the quarters. The teams which almost chased 338 against India and defeated Proteas from a hopeless situation have sadly lost both of their games against the minnows Ireland and Bangladesh. Much of the England hopes rely on their skipper Andrew Strauss. They also have some quality players like Jonathon Trott and Eoin Morgan in their team. English bowling is heavily dependent on the spin of Graeme Swann. I think it will be an easy win for Sri Lanka.
So cricket fans are expected to witness some high quality cricket in coming four days. As a diehard Indian fan, I am expecting Team India to reach the Semis by beating the Aussies. May be prayers from all over India may help. It is a golden chance for the ?GOD? of Cricket to score his 100th?international century on 24th?of March at such a big stage in Ahmedabad. So it?s TIME FOR THE KNOCK OUTS GUYS.