It is a million dollar question. If only I knew the answer before the tournament which starts in a few days, I would be making millions by betting. The betting has not started as yet and perhaps odds are being worked out by sharp brains and super fast computers.
On the face of it, the defending champion Australia will be fighting for an unprecedented hatrick to achieve three successive wins. However, their performances in last five one-day internationals has subdued them. Their ace player Brett Lee is out of the tournament due to injury and it is doubtful if Andrew Simmonds and Mathew Haydens would be fit to play. Despite these setbacks and their poor form, the Indian maestro Sachin Tendulkar has warned that Australia should not be written off as spent force.
As far as Sri Lanka’s chances, their captain Mahela Jayawardane is beaming with confidence. He has reportedly said “We have a great team and I am dreaming of winning the Trophy again. We won back in 1996 and the people are expecting great things from us again.”
Going by what people are expecting in India, the Trophy must be won. India had won it only once 24 years back in 1983 and lost the final in last World Cup tournament. The skipper Rahul Dravid sounded confident this time after recent victory over Sri Lanka and said “I am quite confident and ready to go”. India has Kumble and Harbhajan who can play havoc with the balls provided the pitch helps. No one can be sure if the pitches in the Caribbean will be fast and bouncy in which case India may have problems.
Pakistan Team without the world class bowlers Shoib and Asif because of their injuries will not be so formidable more so when Abdul Razzaq also is out of the tournament. One thing great about host West Indies skipper is his candid remark “We are looking to get to the semi-finals and then take it from there”. Lara added further “We have a very good record at home, and players are really looking forward to this major event. We have a fit team that is ready to go. We have the ingredients to do well”.
Fans support their teams often blindly without weighing the strengths and weaknesses of their teams. After all, cricket cannot be reduced to ‘SWOT ANALYSIS’ exercises common in management studies. That is because there’s too many a slips ‘twixt the cup and the lip.
So just sip tea and relax!
