2015 Cricket World Cup

ICC World Cup 2015 Prediction: Who’s gonna win? You think?

The World Cup league matches are played out and done.

The results are in. England are out.

Bangladesh are surprisingly still standing tall.

Team India have made the quarters without a blemish despite lackluster performances in the run-up to the tournament.

Trust MS Dhoni to come up trumps when it matters. And the World Cup matters, especially when you are the defending champs.

The quarter-final line-up is as follows:

• 1st Quarter-Final – South Africa v Sri Lanka
• Sydney Cricket Ground
• 2nd Quarter-Final – Bangladesh v India
• Melbourne Cricket Ground
• 3rd Quarter-Final – Australia v Pakistan
• Adelaide Oval
• 4th Quarter-Final – New Zealand v West Indies
• Westpac Stadium, Wellington

South Africa have always choked in the knock-out phases. Will they do an encore? Perhaps, perhaps not. But their build-up to this point has not been smooth. They lost to sub-continental giants, India and Pakistan. Can Sri Lanka make it a hat-trick? Sangakarra can tell.

My pick: Sri Lanka. They have been finalists at the last two World Cups. Be surprised if they do not make the semis.

Bangladesh have celebrated as though they have the World Cup in their pockets. India have been ruthlessly efficient till now. Dhoni has foregone chopping and changing; it helps his cause that the team keeps winning. Indian journos and fans would not have been as forgiving otherwise.

My pick: India. I do not foresee any changes to the squad barring injuries. Each match could be the last of the tourney from now on.

Australia are favorites against Pakistan and they are playing on familiar ground. Pakistan could spring a surprise. Misbah may be no Imran Khan but he is no slouch either when it comes to inspiring his side.

My pick: Australia. Watch out for Mitchell Starc. How Wasim would love to have him bowling for Pak instead.

New Zealand have an unbeaten record and are  firmly installed as bookie’s darlings.

West Indies have great batters but it’s their bowlers that have let them down. In that sense, they are much like Ireland; capable of springing surprises but inconsistent.

My pick: New Zealand.

Prospective semi-final line-up:

New Zealand versus Sri Lanka. (60/40)

India versus Australia (50/50)

Final:

New Zealand versus Australia.

Winner: Australia.

Disclaimer: Cricket is a funny game. And all it needs is a stand-out performer on a single day to turn things around especially in ODI and T20 cricket. Test cricket? Now, that’s a different cup of tea, altogether.

ICC’s CEC caves in to BCCI pressure on DRS

 

The BCCI may have won but cricket is the loser.

The ICC Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC) gave its approval to a watered down version of the Decision Review System (DRS). The system will now include just the Hot-Spot (infra-red cameras) and audio-tracking. The ball-tracking technology (Hawkeye or VirtualEye) is not mandatory. It will be used only if parties in a bilateral series agree.

This is pretty  much in accordance with the BCCI’s stand on the system. It will be interesting to see the effect of this ruling on number of  correct decisions in the coming months. The resolution effectively takes out the leg-before referrals.

The use of DRS made a case for increasing the number of referrals in an inning to three. However, the diluted version rightly deserves only one.

The ICC intends to continue further research into the ball-tracking technology.

Other approved changes include use of two balls in ODIs—one at either end. This will keep them hard and fresh and will cut complaints about replaced leather’s quality. The batting and bowling power-plays can now be taken from overs 16-40. This is intended to retain interest in the middle overs where play tends to slow down.

Abolition of runners in international cricket is welcome. You don’t expect Rafael Nadal to have another player do his sprinting in a major if he’s injured, do you? So why this archaic rule for cricketers? They’re professional sportsmen and are expected to be fighting fit when they take the field.If they’re unfit or are hurt during a game, they either forfeit the right to be on the field or continue through injury.

The CEC approved the recommendation that captains be suspended for slowing the over-rates twice in a 12-month period.

Ireland, however, have received no succour from ICC executives. The CEC has recommended a qualification process for the 2015 World Cup but have refrained from specifying the number of teams.

Haroon Lorgat.,Sharad Pawar,Clive Lloyd,Mansur Ahmed,Subhan Ahmed,Michael Brown,David Collier,John Cribbin,Warren Deutrom,Francois Erasmus,Dr Ernest Hilaire,Gerald Majola,WilfredMukondiwa,Nishantha Ranatunga,N Srinivasan and Dr Justin Vaughan were the representatives in attendance at the CEC.

Approval of the DRS means that the up-coming Indian tour of England will see the system ending weeks of heart-burn and debate.

In an article in the Daily News and Analysis(DNA), the inventor of the HotSpot technology, Warren Brennan, says that it costs $10,000 per day and not $50,000 as stated earlier by BCCI secretary,Niranjan Shah.

Read previous related article here.

Also read: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/738619-cricket-ten-reasons-why-the-bcci-disses-drs-humour

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