West Indies v South Africa: Can Windies defeat Proteas? – ICC World Cup 2011
We have finally, at a very sluggish speed, reached the last opening match of the fourteen participating countries.
After today’s game, the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup 2011 will begin, in the true sense. The opening games of the participating nations will end and the results will project how the teams will really play in their next group matches.
Since the ICC planned the stronger teams’ opening games against minnows or the relatively weaker teams, the first round was more or less a one-sided affair with no upsets. Even though we tune in every day hoping to see some sort of exciting cricket, we got
instead strong teams making records, with only the Dutch giving the Poms a run for their money.
After all the “choker” questions, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Delhi-c780, India. Even if there is nothing exciting about the game, we can still look
forward to how the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium will fare.
The stadium will be on trial as it will be hosting the first International match after the pitch was “banned” for a year.
The cricket ground was under fire, back in December 2009, when a Sri Lanka-India match was abandoned because of “dangerous pitch for further play”.
Whereas the ground will be waiting for its test, the West Indies will also be given an acid test.
It is fair to say that West Indian cricket has been in disarray for some time now. Gone are the days when the Caribbean Kings ruled the game. Teams used to shudder in the shadows of West Indian fast bowlers and admire their batsmen.
They will always be the first country to win back-to-back World Cups in 1975 and in 1979. They reached the finals of 1983, losing to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 players
were cool and hip and they could do anything in the world.
But they do not dominate cricket anymore. The instability, the politics, the internal problems, funds, amongst other problems has suppressed the potential of the game in their country in recent times.
They have not defeated a Test team since June 2009 in a One Day contest whereas a contract crisis has plagued the West Indian cricket since 2005. The situation flared up and took its toll in July 2009 when the national Test team decided not to play a home
series against Bangladesh.
Going into the tenth World Cup, the Windies are facing pressure of another kind. They have dipped low in the ICC One Day rankings, sinking to their lowest position. Even http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 is placed above them but they are ready to prove their mettle and show the
world that they can still be counted among the top teams of cricket.
A little breakdown of the batting line up boasts the greatness of Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard, who have displayed their ability to take the game away from any opposition when they feel like. Ramnaresh Sarwan will be returning to the squad after many spells
of unfortunate injuries.
The team will be aiming, or at least should aim to be consistent with the bat as they have a pretty dependable experience in the middle order with Sarwan and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shivnarine-Chanderpaul-c90073. It will also be interesting to see how the next Brian Lara, Darren Bravo,
will fare on the big stage.
But the bowling attack seems a bit flaky, especially when up against great batsmen such as Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis. Their pace attack will be dependent on Kemar Roach and medium-pacer Ravi Rampaul.
West Indian Captain, Darren Sammy, will need to work his limited options on a spin-friendly deck. While the team is not known for its patience or discipline, West Indies need to get ahead of Bangladesh in order to make it to the quarterfinals.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely of the writer’s and do not reflect bettor.com’s official editorial policy.
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