It’s been 6 matches of the qualifiers and this year’s world cup is already giving the crowds goosebumps as matches are going down to the wire, and causing a lot of upset to the main teams as non-test playing nations are already causing threats to the test playing nation.
Just imagine if the qualifiers are giving us great matches, then wonder how great the super 12’s is going to be. The test playing nation (Sri Lanka and West indies) who are currently playing the qualifiers and were undoubtedly the favorites to qualify for the super 12’s is now in complete danger to get evacuated from the qualifiers. I mean who would have thought West Indies and Sri Lanka in danger. West Indies were classified the god of T20 cricket having won 2 T20 world cups (2012 and 2016) and then recently losing to Scotland by a huge margin, Sri Lanka who recently won the Asia cup lost to Namibia and again by a big margin… who would have thought this. That’s the beauty of cricket and therefore what we as human beings or sportsman can learn is never take any team lightly, especially in this format (T20). In contrast, as previously said above… both the teams are in serious danger.
Moving on, the super 12’s starts off this Saturday (22nd October) with last year’s finalist beginning the tournament (Australia and New Zealand) and then England vs Afghanistan which will be played in the evening on the very same day. However, everyone is eagerly waiting for the Sunday’s match (23rd October) …. India vs Pakistan. This is not just a match; this is the biggest rivalry!!!
Strengths and Weakness of the teams in super 12’s (Group A)
Australia’s Strengths
- Top 3 in terrific blazing form (Aaron Finch, David Warner and Mitchell Marsh).
- Playing in home conditions, so that gives a slight advantage.
- Great hitters including experience at the death with the likes of Tim David, Marcus Stonis and Mathew Wade.
- Zampa leading the spin attack and like the top 3 batters, he also is in great form, picking up vital wickets at different stages of the game.
Australia’s Weakness
- Middle order is out of form with the likes of Maxwell.
- Australia batters get stuck during the middle overs, which thereby in the end the batters at the death have too much to chase or get the score to a respectable total.
- The fast bowlers are going for plenty of runs at the first 6 overs and at the final 4 overs.
England’s Strengths
- The best batting line up according to me. An overall great package, where you have players who can smash the ball and also there are players who can play smartly. Not to forget even the low order batsman can also smash a few if required.
- These players will definitely suit Australian pitches as the ball nicely comes onto the bat.
- There X factor Mark wood has great amount of pace to trouble the batsman.
England’s Weakness
- Spin department is out of form with the likes of Adil Rashid. A great bowler to start off, England’s go to bowler to pick up wickets, but couldn’t find his rhythm during Australia Vs England Series. Maybe, the pitches in Australia don’t suit his style of bowling.
New Zealand Strengths
- Openers are in great form and also striking at a rapid pace.
- Experience batters like Glenn Phillips and Jimmy Neesham have the ability to go big at the end.
- Ish Sodhi will be suitable in these conditions. Big grounds and a bowler like him will loop it and get batters out.
- Great new bowl bowlers.
New Zealand Weakness
- Main players are injured with the likes of Lockie Ferguson and Darly Mitchell. Ferguson with his pace would have been really handful in these conditions.
- Kane Williamson form is a big concern
- They have leaked a lot runs at the death.
- Middle order looks a bit shacky which may include lack of experience
Afghanistan Strengths
- Unpredictable team. This is a full package and a star-studded team. Great Batsman, Great bowlers (Spin and Fast) and great all allrounders.
Afghanistan Weakness
- Even though it’s an unpredictable team, a lot of players (batters) will be having trouble adopting to the bounce of the wicket, specially, when they play against teams like England and Australia.
- Most of the batters and bowlers (fast bowlers) are new when it comes to playing in Australia. Hence, lack of experience.
Strengths and Weakness of the teams in super 12’s (Group B)
India’s Strengths
- Tremendous batting line up that includes both experience and impactful performances.
- Spin attack is in great form, and Yuzi Chahal at Australian grounds will be very handful.
India’s Weakness
- They’re fast bowling department looks all over the place. This includes from over 3-6 at the start, middle and at the death.
- India’s main experience fast bowlers like Harshal and Bhuvneshwar are coming out of injury and its not easy to deliver exceptional performances and that to straight away. Like a batsman needs time when his out of touch, a bowler to needs the same.
- India will also have a problem with their No.07 batsman Axar Patel. A great player, but will he be able to perform like how Jadeja has done for India in the past. That’s the question. A great bowler, great fielder, but in T20 we haven’t seen him much off with the bat for team India.
Pakistan Strengths
- They have one of the best openers in the world, and both their openers are scoring runs consistently.
- There bowlers are in red hot form that includes both pace and spin.
- Great allrounders that includes both Shadab and Nawaz. Match winners and they both have tremendous capability of striking the ball big at the death.
Pakistan Weakness
- The only problem I see is their middle order. Bulk of the runs are scored by the top 2. It will be interesting to see if incase those two fails (Babar and Rizwan), then how will the middle order cope up the pressure. Haider Ali another young talent, but lack of experience when it comes to playing a World cup.
South Africa’s Strengths
- Another full package team. Great bowlers, great batsman and great allrounders.
South Africa’s Weakness
- There captain Temba Bamuva. Bamuva has struggled in the India series, and it will be a big concern knowing that he is the team’s captain and there are some other big players sitting at the bench. Bamuva a great player, but his also coming into side with an injury. Thereby it takes time.
- South Africa always looked the best side on papers, but, its always those big moments where they fail to capture the ICC trophies.
Bangladesh Strengths
- Good and talented set off youngsters.
- Experience players like Shakib and Litton Das are there to carry the team when in under pressure.Soumya Sarkar and Mehidy Hassan- players to watch out for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Weakness
- There coming out of massive defeats in the recent tri series held in New Zealand.
- Haven’t got those impactful performances from the middle order, which thereby then pressurizes experience players like Shakib and Litton Das.
- No big hitters at the death.
Why I feel this year’s World cup will be better than the previous one?
Note- We already have a hattrick now in this edition by a non-test playing nation (UAE) against a test playing nation (Sri Lanka).
Short and simple, teams who win the toss won’t be judged winners in this world cup. 99% teams who won the toss in the previous World cup edition had eventually gone onto win their matches and this includes the final as well. This was because in the 2nd innings you had dew, pitch got better which then eventually made it tough for the team bowling second.
Another advantage in this world cup you’ll see is the big grounds in Australia. This makes it advantageous for the bowlers and thereby you’ll also see good sensible cricket played by the batters as well.
In conclusion, get ready for a roller coaster ride of this year’s world cup. If the qualifiers are going neck to neck and will be only decided on the last day of the qualifying round then do picture on how the super 12 teams are going to compete immensely to contest for the top 4 spot.
My Semifinalist
Group A – England and Australia
Group B- India/South Africa and Pakistan