By Denzil Fernandes
Mangaluru, Apr 11: There is nothing left for a cricketer other than winning the World Cup of Cricket for his country.
The 12th edition of the Cricket World Cup, scheduled to be hosted by England and Wales, from 30 May to 14 July 2019 will see the top 10 teams in World Cricket battling it out for the coveted trophy and a whopping prize money of $5 million (USD) for the winning team. A total of US$14 million will be given away to the 10 the teams with $50,000 for every win in the round robin stage for the respective teams. The two losing semifinalists are assured of at least $1 million (each). The 10 teams are host England, India, Australia, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and West Indies. 48 matches will be played across 11 venues. Top 4 teams at the end of their round robin matches will play in the semi-finals. Hosts England are hot favourites along with India.
Who will win the 2019 World Cup is one big question.
England are surely the red hot favourites not only as hosts but also because of their meticulous preparation.
Their team list has proven names like Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, Jos Butler, Bairstow, Curran and others. Although they did not overwhelm the West Indies on their recent trip the entire tour helped them to prepare for the forthcoming World Cup. Their players have been impressive in the ongoing IPL also which bodes well for England. With his confidence and intelligent bowling Curran may turn out to be England’s trump card along with Root.
India are also top favourites although the conditions in England may not favour them. Despite that, they have capable bowlers like Bumrah and Hardik Pandya who can rattle any batsman. The overall strength that India will be hot contenders to lift the trophy. In skipper Kohli they have a world class batsman who can ensure victory. They also have former captain Dhoni who is renowned for his quick scoring and finishing matches decisively.
Australia have to put their recent on field problems behind and concentrate on winning. They have a great cricket past and under coach Simon Katich greater days should be ahead. Both Warner and former captain Steve Smith will be more than keen to re-join the team and start winning. Warner has been in fine nick in the IPL and looks hungry for runs. With Steve Smith clicking in England they will be a menace for any team. Their battery of bowlers can always be relied to deliver the goods.
South Africa seem to be going through a lean patch at the moment. At various times in the past, they have produced stars like Kallis, De Villiers, Pollard, Ntini, Morkel, Steyn and several others who have excelled. Currently they have Rabada, Quinton, Du Plessis, Imran, Amla who can be match winners on their day. The English battle will be a huge test for their calibre.
New Zealand are a team full of enthusiasm and true grit. Skipper Kane Williamson who also captains IPL team Sunrisers Hyderbad is an ever smiling operator who knows a thing or two to outplay his opponents. The kiwis will surprise a few teams and may reach the semi-finals depending on how experienced players like Williamson, Taylor and Guptill and Southee perform.
Pakistan are one side loaded with huge talent at all time. Unfortunately, they have not been able to convert that into a winning combination. Always riddled with team problems including indiscipline, the team has failed to flourish. Players like Imran, Younis Khan, Afridi, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Wasim Akram and others were always a treat all times. How they will perform in England is anyone’s guess. As said before, plenty of misguided talent is how you can describe their stars.
‘Once mighty’ West Indies are going through a re building process. The threat of their terrifying pace bowlers is a ‘thing of the past’. One hardly sees a fiery like Hall, Holding, Marshall or Roberts in their ranks now. Even batsmen like Richards, Lloyd, Lara and others is a rare sight. There is promise, though, with the likes of a young brigade in Alzarri Joseph, Jason Holder, Kemar Roach and others. There is promise but the road ahead is long and trying.
Sri Lanka have faded over the recent times after promising so much. Theirs has been a ‘Now on, Now off’ kind of show with a high degree of unpredictability. When Jayawardene, Sangakkara, Jayasuriya, Dilshan played there were genuine expectations and hopes. After they left, there was a steady decline. How they will fare in England one cannot say. Only speedster Malinga stands apart from the crowd.
Bangladesh have always flattered to deceive. Generally, they have performed well but misfired when required. Probably, lack of self-belief has been their undoing. Individually, players like Shakib Al Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Tamim Iqbal and others have impressed. They will be hard pressed to put it past teams like England, India, and South Africa in the World Cup in England.
Afghanistan have admirably progressed in World Cricket despite starting late. Today, their team is capable of beating any side with sheer guts and bravado. The very fact that a couple of their players figure prominently in the IPL is good testimony for their rise. Spinner Rashid along with Nabi cannot be taken lightly anymore in any cricket encounter.
Who will be in the Indian team to England?
With so much on offer, every single Indian cricketer wants to be on the plane to England for the World Cup. Thanks to all round development of cricket in the country you can find any number of quality players in every nook and corner. Hence, it is going tool be a thankless job for the selectors to pick the stars who will and win the World Cup.
On current form, there are some players who are automatic choices for Indian side. Skipper Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, M S Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumra, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Rajendra Jadeja and Kedar Jadav.
Due to his explosive batting Rishab Pant should make the cut due to his match winning ability. If the selectors opt for another pacer Umesh Yadav should be picked. From the second group, with his impressive showing in the Indian Premier League (IPL), K L Rahul has almost cemented his place as the third. Ambati Rayudu has been terribly off key and this may cost him his place in the side. Spinner Chahal who plays for Kohli’s Royal Challengers in the IPL is erratic sometimes unlike young Kuldeep Yadav. Then there is Tamilnadu’s Vijay Shankar who has impressed even when he played in Australia and New Zealand earlier. The selectors are likely to blood him with an eye on the future. But who will he replace is the question? Pacer Umesh Yadav should be keeping his kit ready for a call from the selectors if they need another pace merchant. Personally, I would pick Krunal Pandya who is a splendid all-rounder with a fantastic temperament. Krunal can be counted to contribute in every department of the game. That will give Team India great variety and all round strength just like his brother Hardik who is a hard nut to crack. At the end, one expects Kohli, Rohit, Dhawan, Dhoni, Hardik, Bumra, Bhuvaneshwar, Shami, Yadav, Pant, Jadhav, Jadeja, Rahul, Kuldeep with spinner Chahal getting the last slot on that flight to England for the World Cup. There will be a few unlucky ones like Rayudu, Ashwin, Karthik, Vijay and Krunal who will have to be in the standby list. Final likely team: Kohli, Rohit, Dhawan, Dhoni, Hardik, Bumra, Bhuvaneshwar, Shami, Umesh Yadav, Pant, Jadhav, Jadeja, Rahul, Kuldeep, Chahal.
With so much on offer, and such huge cricket action in store, cricket excitement is guaranteed at the 2019 World Cup in England.
No team can be taken for granted. Of course, teams like Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and West Indies will have to work overtime if they hope to upset the regulars. England, India, Australia and New Zealand look likely to grab the last four spots leaving South Africa and Pakistan behind. Just at the finish, one foresees hosts England clashing with India to prove ‘We Are the Best’.