ALL LINED UP!!!!

It was the first day of no matches since the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 began. As a result it has been a very boring day for me and the eagerness for the quarterfinals has reached a fever pitch.

As I promised in my post yesterday that I will analyse each team’s performance (except India, dealt with in the previous post) in the group stages and also give my opinion on what they should do to win their quarterfinal encounters. We have the best eight teams of the tournament in the quarterfinal which I think is a very fair result.

SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa is by far the best team in the tournament. They have been very clinical in all their games except the one against England. Their middle order had a few problems in the game against England but since then it has looked a very settled part of their line-up. Amla, De Villiers, Kallis, Du Plessis and Duminy have all come good at some stage of the tournament and would take this confidence into the quarters.

The only small concern for them would be the form of Graeme Smith. He has struggled in the tournament so far and will hope to make an even better contribution in the quarters. He is known to rise to the occasion when it is most needed and I back him to perform against New Zealand.

There is not much to say about South Africa’s bowling. Clearly it is the best bowling side in the world. If AB de Villiers comes in one of the spinners would have to sit out. In my opinion Johan Botha may be dropped as Tahir and Peterson have done very well. Botha hasn’t done anything wrong but the situation calls for it.

AUSTRALIA

It has taken 34 games for Australia to be beaten at the World Cup and it had to happen in their last league game against Pakistan.

To be very honest, Australia haven’t been tested in the group apart from the game against Pakistan. They really needed a tough game to test their abilities and would now be in a better position to face India. They should retain the same team although I believe Cameron White should be replaced by Ferguson. It may be a risk for a knock out but who knows Ferguson may come good.

There are no concerns regarding the Australian bowling as Lee, Tait and Johnson have been terrific. However, in the game against India they should bowl more of spin on the Ahmedabad pitch. Thus Krejza should be partnered by Smith and Clarke in the middle overs.

NEW ZEALAND

The performance against Pakistan has really changed the confidence of the New Zealand team. However, one major factor is their slight weakness against spin. The other night at Mumbai they were struggling against Muralitharan and the South Africans may have seen it and made plans to bowl spin at particular batsmen with Tahir and Peterson. Guptill and Taylor are the key in my opinion. If both of them get in and play their strokes New Zealand would be able to put up a good total or would be able to chase successfully.

Their bowling has been good and should be bolstered by the return of Vettori. Daryl Tuffey has replaced Hamish Bennett in the squad and if he is included it might just be a good move. Fielding is their strength and it should help them save 20-30 runs easily.

PAKISTAN

One of the most unpredictable sides in international cricket has started to show consistency and will hope to continue this streak. Their batting and bowling has been terrific on most occasions and what has surprised me the most about them has been their fielding. Even the seniors in the team like Misbah are diving around to stop the ball. This team has self belief and would look to translate that into better performances.

As we all know on the days they are good they can be really good and the next day they can surprise you with mediocrity. This has happened on only one occasion for them in this tournament that was against New Zealand and it is good that it happened in the league stage and not in the knock-outs. All their departments are performing and should continue to perform if they have to do the ultimate.

WEST INDIES

This is another unpredictable and dangerous side. Three wins in the group stages that too all against the weaker teams doesn’t do justice to the talent that they have. Their bowling has looked good in this tournament which was a concern early on. Russell and Kemar Roach are doing the pacers job and the spinners Bishoo and Benn have also done well.

The biggest mistake the West Indies made in this tournament was the batting order shuffle against England. That has unsettled their line-up a bit and they should agree on a decided batting order for their game against Pakistan. In my opinion Shivnarine Chanderpaul should come in to play the quarterfinal. He may have been struggling, but quarterfinal, a big match, I would back experience to win a game and handle the pressure.

SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka is the most balanced side in the tournament. They have everything a fantastic ODI team needs. They have got some world class players in all their departments. In the group stages they played very well and the game at Wankhede would hold them in good stead. Their bowling and fielding has been fantastic and this should be a very decisive factor in the quarters.

The Sri Lankan top four is fantastic. Tharanga, Dilshan, Sangakkara and Jayawerdene form a very strong top order. The middle order comprising Mathews, Samaraweera and Silva have to back the efforts of the top four and should score more runs. One weakness Lanka have is that they tend to lose wickets in a heap at times. If I were Andrew Strauss I would attack any of the incoming batsmen as the chances of a wicket would always be there.

ENGLAND

The story of the tournament so far. Got out of jail against Netherlands, tied with India, lost to Ireland and Bangladesh and won in thrilling fashion against West Indies and South Africa. They have faced almost everything in the tournament and let us see what they do further.

England are a strong team but their biggest concern has been their inconsistency. The win against West Indies should hold them in good stead and should give them the confidence to do anything. People may say they are playing at Colombo and the track may spin but they forget that England have played two games on a turner like the Chepauk pitch and have had positive results in them. They should retain the same eleven that played against the West Indies as it is the best combination that can win them the match in Colombo.