The real ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Preview – Part III
(Continued from Part II)
The excitement and the buzz of the World Cup can be felt. The smell of victory and loss is in the air. It is near. The teams are ready, the players are donning their best shiny uniforms, and the sun-burn prevention creams are lapped on the skin.
The minnows have a last chance to prove to the big guys that they need this tournament to develop the game in other parts of the World as well. How can you call a World Cup a “World Cup” when the whole World is not even there? The ICC guys need to see the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Afghanistan-c745 cricket documentary called “Out of the Ashes,” countries like these need the game.
Anyways, the “official” preview continues as we begin the countdown for the opening game.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754
They have a thing of reaching the semi-final. So they really can’t be ruled out of messing another semi-final. They always end up being the dark-horse, their uniforms are unique. The colour is just so good than the eyes-glaring canary yellow of the Aussies or the garish orange Dutch uniforms. But the current form and the 2010 record does not make them the dark horse. Their recent loss to Pakistan and before that the 4-0 drubbing from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 will make the Black Caps enter the World Cup with some trepidation. They will be quite relieved if they manage to progress ahead. The Kiwis skipper, Daniel Vettori will be on his last assignment as a captain, and the Super-Dan will be seeking to perform for himself and of course on behalf of the team.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755
Controversies can be expected in the World Cup. The players are already being slapped fines under disciplinary actions and their World Cup bid hasn’t even started as yet. But they are either way overrated or way under-rated. They might peak too early. Their batting might click during the first round, but the bowling might not be strong or it can the other way around. The love of the supporters and the revenge to not play on their home ground might be enough to inspire them to play with twice as much passion. But the problem with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Umar-Gul-c94604 has the potential to be that shining star of the World Cup. Even if they are 120 for the loss of eight wickets, expect them to give the opposition 260 plus for chase.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757
Do not even dare to call them the “chokers.” The Proteas have vowed they will not choke on the sub-continent’s spicy street-food. But expect them to mess up the semi-finals. They have a great track record on their home grounds, too bad the World Cup is not taking place in the land of Mandela. Spinners will be cashed especially http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AB-de-Villiers-c887, but it will be Jacques Kallis’s new hair that will matter.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758
They have a great shot at winning the whole thing. They are neither over-rated nor are under-rated. The team has been so quiet throughout the World Cup build-up that it was forgotten that the Lankans are also co-hosting. They always do well in the sub-continent and they have a strong side. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Muttiah-Muralitharan-c78157 will be saying goodbye to International cricket so he would be charged up to lift the Cup one last time.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760
Let’s be honest. They don’t have a single shot of doing well, if they had something going on for them, they might have made more headlines than the PCB. But one can only wish they begin to play like they used to forty years back.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045
Well, you can’t even name four of their players without checking the official World Cup 15-man squad for the minnows. That pretty much summarizes the preview for Zimbabwe.
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