World Cup 2011: Top Four Contenders

The World Cup Trophy

On the 19^th of February 2011, the most awaited spectacle of the cricketing calendar will kick-off. Co-hosts, India and Bangladesh will face each other in the opening encounter of the World Cup that will see one team being crowned as the Champions of the World. This is the third time the World Cup is being played in the Indian subcontinent after 1987 and 1996. As many as 15 teams will try to dethrone the Aussies, who have won three successive World Cups since 1999. In the previous two editions, in 2003 and 2007, the Aussies put up dominating performances and took the title without losing even a single match. However, things should not be that easy this time around. A number of key members of the side that dominated world cricket for a large part of the past decade like Glenn McGrath, Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist have retired and the Aussies are no longer the world beating side that intimidated teams around the world. Also, teams like India and South Africa have progressed rapidly over the past four years or so and they will surely not be going down without a fight. Here in this piece, we look at four of the major pre-tournament favourites to lift the coveted trophy.

India

This will probably be Sachin Tendulkar's (top) last World Cup and Mahendra Singh Dhoni's (bottom) men would love to win the Cup for him

India has historically been a difficult side to play at home. Even the best in the business have found it difficult to get going in India. And to make things worse for the opponents, the current Indian side is one of the best ever to have represented the country. In Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India has a clever tactician who has the ability to stay calm under pressure. Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag make up one of the most dangerous opening combinations ever in the history of ODI cricket. Sachin is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, to have ever played the game and has almost every record to his name. Sehwag, meanwhile, is a destructive force and on his day, he can take any attack apart. The World Cup is the only trophy missing from the cabinet of Tendulkar and considering the fact that this might be his last world cup, the entire team will be giving it all to try and win it for him. Senior pro Yuvraj Singh has had a difficult 18 months or so with the bat, but he showed glimpses of getting back his touch in the recently concluded ODI series in South Africa. Virat Kohli has in the past year or so emerged as a batsman capable of adapting to any situation. Dhoni himself too is the kind of batsman who can play anywhere in the middle order and can mould his game depending upon what the team and the situation demands. India’s most probable number 7, Yusuf Pathan has been in devastating form in the past few months and if he gets going, no ground in the world is big enough to confine him. The experience of Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh is a big positive in the bowling department. Zaheer’s fitness has been an issue, but he seems to be in good shape at present and the entire country will be hoping that the injuries stay away so that Zaheer can concentrate on his game. In Praveen Kumar, Dhoni has a very handy new ball bowler who can swing the ball both ways. Ashish Nehra has in the past few years developed into an ODI specialist. He is quite good at bowling yorkers and in home conditions, he will be expected to deliver on a consistent basis. In the fielding department, India has improved drastically in the past decade or so. With the home crowd behind them, cheering every run and every wicket, the Indian team is without doubt hot favourites to win the World Cup.

Squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain, wk), Virender Sehwag (vice-captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Zaheer Khan, Praveen Kumar, Ashish Nehra, Munaf Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin, Piyush Chawla

South Africa

South Africa's in-form batsmen, Hashim Amla (top) and AB de Villiers (bottom), will have a big role to play if the Proteas want to win their first World Cup

South Africa played their first World Cup in 1992. In every edition the Proteas have featured in, they have had squads capable of winning the Cup, but somehow they have faltered and they are yet to even reach a World Cup final, let alone winning one. Graeme Smith will hope that this time around his team can get rid of the tag of ‘chokers’. Opener Hashim Amla was the best ODI batsman in the world in 2010. If South Africa are to win the Cup, Amla will have a big role to play. Another South African who has had an excellent last 12 months is AB de Villiers. de Villiers can play both brands of cricket-defensive and offensive. He is quick on his feet too, an attribute that is bound to prove handy against the spinners in the subcontinent. Jacques Kallis is another legendary figure who is yet to win a World Cup. In all probability, this will be his last shot at it and he will definitely want to make the most of it. Jean Paul Duminy has slowly become into a very handy lower order batsman for the Proteas. There were a few concerns about his form a month or so ago, but he got a couple of good knocks under his belt in the recently concluded home series against India to drive away all fears. South Africa’s bowling attack too looks quite formidable on paper. In Dale Steyn, they have the best pacer in world cricket at this moment. His new ball partner will in all probability will be the left-armer, Lonwabo Tsotsobe who was a bit shaky at the start of his career, but has looked more at home with each passing day. Morne Morkel, South Africa’s third pacer is a tall fellow who can extract more bounce than most other bowlers on any wicket. To go with the bounce, he also has an average speed in excess of 140 kmph and he can be an extremely uncomfortable customer for even the best of batsmen. South Africa have the experienced Johan Botha as their lead spinner. They also have a fresh face, Imran Tahir in the spin department who is yet to make his debut. His domestic record is impressive and provided the opportunity he will surely try his best to make an impact at the biggest stage of them all. The Proteas pride themselves as a top-fielding side and the likes of Duminy and de Villiers have helped them in maintaining that reputation. A number of South Africans have been involved in the Indian Premier League, an experience that might prove to be handy.

Squad: Graeme Smith (captain), Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers (wk), Jean Paul Duminy, Colin Ingram, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Wayne Parnell, Johan Botha, Robin Petersen, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, Morne van Wyk (wk)

Australia

Shane Watson (top) will be skipper Ricky Ponting 's (bottom) primary weapon in the World Cup

Australia may not be the same side that they were in 2007 or even 2003, but the fact is that there is enough talent in the squad to clinch their fourth successive World Cup. Skipper Ricky Ponting, who has been widely criticised for losing the Ashes at home, will be desperate to win back some of his fans who might have gone astray and what better way can there possibly be than a World Cup triumph. Shane Watson at the top of the order is the key man for Australia. His form has been excellent in the past couple of years and his captain will expect him to continue getting those runs. The fact that Watson can bowl is a huge plus. Ponting and his deputy, Michael Clarke at number 3 and 4 respectively have all the experience in the world they will be expected to lead the team by example. Michael Hussey has struggled a bit with his form in test matches but he was back to his best in the Ashes. His ODI form too has been good quite good in the recent past. Hussey is a very busy player and he is someone Australia can count on to bail the team out of difficult situations. Lower down the order, Australia have a dangerous hitter in Cameron White who can turn a match upside down in a matter of minutes. A batsman like White is an asset for any team and the Aussies are fortunate to have him. Australia’s pace attack is probably the best in world cricket at this moment. Each of Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Doug Bollinger and Shaun Tait can bowl at speeds over 140 kmph on a consistent basis, a frightening prospect for any batting line-up. Brett Lee hasn’t played much international cricket of late, but he has improved steadily in the ODI series against England and Australia will hope that he is at his peak for the World Cup, both in terms of form and fitness. The only major area of concern for Ponting is the spin department. Australia do have Nathan Hauritz and Steven Smith in the squad, but neither of them can possibly be classified as a world-class spinner and that might prove to be a drawback on sub-continental wickets where the ball is expected to grip and turn. The Aussies have traditionally been a top fielding side and they will be expected to maintain the high standards they have set for themselves over the years.

Squad: Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke (vice-captain), Shane Watson, Brad Haddin (wk), Michael Hussey, Cameron White, David Hussey, John Hastings, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Doug Bollinger, Shaun Tait, Nathan Hauritz, Steven Smith, Tim Paine (wk)

Sri Lanka

Kumar Sangakkara(top left), Mahela Jayawardene (top right) and Muttiah Muralitharan (bottom) are experienced campaigners who can turn thing around in Sri Lanka's favour

The last time the World Cup was held in the Indian sub-continent, it was Sri Lanka who went on to win it and there’s no reason to believe that Kumar Sangakkara’s boys cannot do what Arjuna Ranatunga’s boys did in 1996. The biggest plus for the Lankans is the experience they have, especially in the batting department. Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene at number 3 and 4 is probably the best possible combination a team can have. They have an excellent understanding themselves and have won numerous matches for their team. Tillakaratane Dilshan will have to take the responsibility of giving his team brisk starts in the powerplay. Dilshan has been prolific ever since his promotion to the top of the order. He is not afraid to play his shots and a good start from him will be the perfect platform for the men to follow. Angelo Mathews has in about two years made himself as an indispensable part of the Lankan side. His temperament is good and his ability to read and judge situations is quite outstanding. He has starred in a number of rescue operations for Sri Lanka and is a proven match-winner. Besides being a good batsman, he is also a useful medium pacer. Sri Lanka have a potent new ball combination of Nuwan Kulasekara and Lasith Malinga. Kulasekara is someone who thrives on accuracy. His impeccable line and length has made him a premier ODI bowler. Malinga is probably the best death overs bowler in world cricket at present. He is one of the very few bowlers who can bowl the yorker at will. He also possesses an equally lethal bouncer and all that come at almost 90 mph. Add to that a well disguised slower delivery and you have all the ingredients of a world-class fast bowler needs. As far as spin is concerned, there cannot possibly be anyone better than the ‘smiling assassin’, Muttiah Muralitharan. Murali is the sole member of the squad who was also part of the 1996 World Cup winning squad. He knows what it needs to win the Cup. He knows how it feels to hold that trophy aloft. Murali has retired from test cricket, but the passion and the desire to touch that trophy has forced him to go for one last hurrah. Murali has already announced that this World Cup will be his last international assignment and one can be rest assured that he will put everything on line to win his second World Cup.

Squad: Kumar Sangakkara (captain, wk), Mahela Jayawardene (vice-captain), Tillakaratane Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Silva, Chamara Kapugedera, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath

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