Assessing the Teams

oz_fan · 01-04-2006, 06:26 PM

Australia
Likely Team:
Gilchrist
Katich (they've stuck with him up to now)
Ponting
Hussey (will replace Martyn)
Clarke
Symonds
Hogg (or Warne if he makes a comeback)
Lee
Clark
Bracken/Clark
McGrath (Will be back in time for the world cup)

Strengths
When batting first usually post high scores that are tough to chase
5 - 11 provide bowling options.
Big hitters - Symonds, Lee, Hussey, Gilchrist, Ponting, etc
Good opening bowling pair: McGrath (accuracy)/ Lee (aggression)

Weaknesses
Gilchrist is hit and miss and when he gets out the scoring rate drops.
Katich falls into the trap of batting too slowly
Willstruggle for bowlers if McGrath or Lee is injured.

Prediction
Definitely make the semis. Best ODI team in the world. Should win.

South Africa
Likely Team
Smith
Dippenear
Gibbs
Kallis
Kemp
Boucher
Pollock
Hall
Boje/Botha
Nel
Ntini

Strengths
Bat down to number 9
Big hitters - Pollock, Kemp, Boucher
Good opening bowling pair - Pollock (Accuracy)/Ntini (Aggression)
Finish the bowling well in the last 5 overs with Hall, Pollock, etc
Score a lot of runs in the last ten overs

Weaknesses
Often choke
Kallis and Dippenear can slow down the run rate
Not much bowling variety
Could have a new captain if Smith continues to fail

Prediction
Will be looking to make up for last time. Have never made a final but might be in with a chance.

adharcric · 01-04-2006, 08:46 PM

India
Likely Team:
Sehwag
Tendulkar
Dravid
Yuvraj
Raina (will jump ahead of Kaif in the pecking order)
Dhoni
Pathan
Powar
Harbhajan (or Kaif, up the order, if they opt for 6 specialist batsmen)
Patel
Sreesanth (or VR Singh if Sreesanth continues to be expensive and VRS proves his mettle)

Strengths
Explosive opening pair, if Viru & Sachin fire they are extremely devastating
Flexible batting order & solid run-chasers in Yuvraj & Dhoni (Raina?)
Pathan's early-wickets tendency & Powar and Bhajji shutting down the RR in the middle overs
Dangerous off-side cordon (Yuvi/Kaif/Raina) and overall improvement in fielding

Weaknesses
Top-order bats sometimes choose to crumble all in the same match .. not good
Dravid and Kaif get bogged down at times (this has improved though)
Harbhajan with the Kookaburra?
Will Tendulkar's injury woes go away?

Prediction
Definitely good enough to make the semis. From there, depends whether the chokers of old or a revitalized India shows up when the pressure is on.

alternative · 01-04-2006, 09:56 PM

couldn't have said it any better..

oz_fan · 01-04-2006, 10:36 PM

West Indies
Likely Team
Gayle
Morton/Ganga
Sarwan
Lara
Chanderpaul
Hinds
Bravo
Ramdin
Collymore
Powell
Edwards

Strengths
Solid top order - Gayle, Lara, Sarwan, Chanderpaul
Home team
Lara's last hoorah? Will want to gout with a bang
Explosive batsmen - Gayle, Lara, Sarwan
Explosive all rounder - Bravo

Weaknesses
Leadership problems
Often when a big wicket goes (Lara, Gayle, etc) confidence is lost.
No really recognised bowlers
Not many big hitters down the list

Prediction
Could cause a few upsets. With the home town advantage should make super six. Doubt they'll go further than that.

adharcric · 01-04-2006, 10:52 PM

Well said, except 3 of the "strengths" are closely related ... I would say the fact that they've got a fiery all-rounder in Dwayne Bravo is a strength.

oz_fan · 01-04-2006, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adharcric

Well said, except 3 of the "strengths" are closely related ... I would say the fact that they've got a fiery all-rounder in Dwayne Bravo is a strength.

Definitely Bravo is a quality all rounder and on the improve.

oz_fan · 01-04-2006, 11:07 PM

England
Likely Team
Trescothic
Strauss
Vaughan
Pieterson
Collingwood
Flintoff
Geraint Jones
Giles
Hoggard
Harmison
Simon Jones

Strengths
Good opening batsmen
Explosive middle order - Flintoff, Pieterson
Best all rounder at the moment - Flintoff
Quality quartet of fast bowlers

Weaknesses
Injury prone
Middle order could be fragile.
Don't often post large targets
No wicket taking spin option

Prediction
Should make the Super six. Lowly ranked ODI side.

adharcric · 01-04-2006, 11:13 PM

Pakistan
Likely Team
Butt
Malik
Younis
Yousuf
Inzamam
Afridi
Akmal
Razzaq
Naved-ul-Hasan (or Sami, still can't rule him out)
Akhtar
Asif

Strengths
Explosive batsmen throughout the lineup
Late-order rearguard attacks from Razzaq and Akmal are huge
Seam attack has great potential

Weaknesses
Shotmakers may falter on a track with assistance for the seamers
Team Chemistry? It's been a problem in the past and could resurface.
Fielding needs to improve and Shoaib & Inzy need to stay fit

Prediction
Should make the SuperSix stage and have a good shot at the semifinals, their one-day formidability will be tested in the next few series

adharcric · 01-04-2006, 11:15 PM

Let's hope Vaughan, Giles and Jones can get back to the field soon enough. You reckon Hoggard will become a one-day bowler for England?

oz_fan · 01-04-2006, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adharcric

Let's hope Vaughan, Giles and Jones can get back to the field soon enough. You reckon Hoggard will become a one-day bowler for England?

There's no reason why he can't. Has really impressed in the test matches and I could see him playing a McGrath - like role for England.

chaminda_00 · 01-04-2006, 11:37 PM

Sri Lanka

Jayasuriya
Tharanga
Atapattu
Sangakkara
Jayawardene
Dilshan
Arnold
Vaas
Bandara
Murali
Perera

Strengths
Balance spin attack with one aggressive and one defensive, but both can adapt to the situation
Two of the best ODI batsmen in Sangakkara and Jayasuriya
Solid pace bowler in Vaas

Weakness
Batting line is very inconsisent
Rely to much on Jayasuriya and Sanagakkara to make big scores
Lack quailty seamers to back up Vaas
Lack a quailty lower hitter to finish off innings, but if Kappa or Maharoof develop they could fill that role
Atapattu, Jaywardene and Arnold tend to score too slow at times.

Prediction
Will make thre Super 8s, but will struggle to go further then that.

Blaze · 02-04-2006, 12:00 AM

Australia are the only side that we can bank on being in the semis IMO.

2-8 can easily beat each other on their day.

adharcric · 02-04-2006, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blaze

Australia are the only side that we can bank on being in the semis IMO.

2-8 can easily beat each other on their day.

India hasn't been tested on foreign soil yet, but I personally think South Africa and India are a notch above the rest as well (and below the Aussies), while Pakistan have the potential to be in that trio.

adharcric · 02-04-2006, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaminda_00

Sri Lanka

Jayasuriya
Tharanga
Atapattu
Sangakkara
Jayawardene
Dilshan
Arnold
Vaas
Bandara
Murali
Perera

I'd put Maharoof in there. Arnold isn't that useful at #7, but SL don't need 5 specialist bowlers if Dilshan and Jayasuriya do their usual 5th bowler duties. That said, perhaps Maharoof should come in for Bandara or Perera, depending on whether the pitch supports the seamers or the spinners. That would deepen the batting, which is pretty important because I don't think the Sri Lankan top order compares with that of Australia, India and Pakistan. Sangakarra should come in at #3, followed by Jayawardene, with Atapattu at #5. Otherwise, looks good.

Blaze · 02-04-2006, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adharcric

India hasn't been tested on foreign soil yet, but I personally think South Africa and India are a notch above the rest as well (and below the Aussies), while Pakistan have the potential to be in that trio.

I don't think that the gaps between 2-7are big enough for any team to be overly confident of victory in the games between each of those teams though.

01-04-2006, 06:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
oz_fan International Regular Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 3,977	Assessing the Teams Australia Likely Team: Gilchrist Katich (they've stuck with him up to now) Ponting Hussey (will replace Martyn) Clarke Symonds Hogg (or Warne if he makes a comeback) Lee Clark Bracken/Clark McGrath (Will be back in time for the world cup) Strengths When batting first usually post high scores that are tough to chase 5 - 11 provide bowling options. Big hitters - Symonds, Lee, Hussey, Gilchrist, Ponting, etc Good opening bowling pair: McGrath (accuracy)/ Lee (aggression) Weaknesses Gilchrist is hit and miss and when he gets out the scoring rate drops. Katich falls into the trap of batting too slowly Willstruggle for bowlers if McGrath or Lee is injured. Prediction Definitely make the semis. Best ODI team in the world. Should win. South Africa Likely Team Smith Dippenear Gibbs Kallis Kemp Boucher Pollock Hall Boje/Botha Nel Ntini Strengths Bat down to number 9 Big hitters - Pollock, Kemp, Boucher Good opening bowling pair - Pollock (Accuracy)/Ntini (Aggression) Finish the bowling well in the last 5 overs with Hall, Pollock, etc Score a lot of runs in the last ten overs Weaknesses Often choke Kallis and Dippenear can slow down the run rate Not much bowling variety Could have a new captain if Smith continues to fail Prediction Will be looking to make up for last time. Have never made a final but might be in with a chance. Last edited by oz_fan; 01-04-2006 at 06:28 PM.

01-04-2006, 08:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
adharcric International Coach Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 10,898	India Likely Team: Sehwag Tendulkar Dravid Yuvraj Raina (will jump ahead of Kaif in the pecking order) Dhoni Pathan Powar Harbhajan (or Kaif, up the order, if they opt for 6 specialist batsmen) Patel Sreesanth (or VR Singh if Sreesanth continues to be expensive and VRS proves his mettle) Strengths Explosive opening pair, if Viru & Sachin fire they are extremely devastating Flexible batting order & solid run-chasers in Yuvraj & Dhoni (Raina?) Pathan's early-wickets tendency & Powar and Bhajji shutting down the RR in the middle overs Dangerous off-side cordon (Yuvi/Kaif/Raina) and overall improvement in fielding Weaknesses Top-order bats sometimes choose to crumble all in the same match .. not good Dravid and Kaif get bogged down at times (this has improved though) Harbhajan with the Kookaburra? Will Tendulkar's injury woes go away? Prediction Definitely good enough to make the semis. From there, depends whether the chokers of old or a revitalized India shows up when the pressure is on. Last edited by adharcric; 01-04-2006 at 08:49 PM.

01-04-2006, 10:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
oz_fan International Regular Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 3,977	West Indies Likely Team Gayle Morton/Ganga Sarwan Lara Chanderpaul Hinds Bravo Ramdin Collymore Powell Edwards Strengths Solid top order - Gayle, Lara, Sarwan, Chanderpaul Home team Lara's last hoorah? Will want to gout with a bang Explosive batsmen - Gayle, Lara, Sarwan Explosive all rounder - Bravo Weaknesses Leadership problems Often when a big wicket goes (Lara, Gayle, etc) confidence is lost. No really recognised bowlers Not many big hitters down the list Prediction Could cause a few upsets. With the home town advantage should make super six. Doubt they'll go further than that. Last edited by oz_fan; 01-04-2006 at 10:57 PM.

01-04-2006, 11:37 PM	#11 (permalink)
chaminda_00 Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Murali CG Posts: 16,305	Sri Lanka Jayasuriya Tharanga Atapattu Sangakkara Jayawardene Dilshan Arnold Vaas Bandara Murali Perera Strengths Balance spin attack with one aggressive and one defensive, but both can adapt to the situation Two of the best ODI batsmen in Sangakkara and Jayasuriya Solid pace bowler in Vaas Weakness Batting line is very inconsisent Rely to much on Jayasuriya and Sanagakkara to make big scores Lack quailty seamers to back up Vaas Lack a quailty lower hitter to finish off innings, but if Kappa or Maharoof develop they could fill that role Atapattu, Jaywardene and Arnold tend to score too slow at times. Prediction Will make thre Super 8s, but will struggle to go further then that. __________________ The man, the mountain, the Mathews. The greatest all rounder since Keith Miller. (Y) Jaffna Jets CC (Battrick & FTP) RIP WCC and CW Cricket Member of the MSC, JMAS and CVAAS

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01-04-2006, 09:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
alternative Cricket Web Content Updater Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 11,075	couldn't have said it any better..

01-04-2006, 10:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
adharcric International Coach Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 10,898	Well said, except 3 of the "strengths" are closely related ... I would say the fact that they've got a fiery all-rounder in Dwayne Bravo is a strength.

01-04-2006, 11:07 PM	#7 (permalink)
oz_fan International Regular Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 3,977	England Likely Team Trescothic Strauss Vaughan Pieterson Collingwood Flintoff Geraint Jones Giles Hoggard Harmison Simon Jones Strengths Good opening batsmen Explosive middle order - Flintoff, Pieterson Best all rounder at the moment - Flintoff Quality quartet of fast bowlers Weaknesses Injury prone Middle order could be fragile. Don't often post large targets No wicket taking spin option Prediction Should make the Super six. Lowly ranked ODI side.

01-04-2006, 11:13 PM	#8 (permalink)
adharcric International Coach Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 10,898	Pakistan Likely Team Butt Malik Younis Yousuf Inzamam Afridi Akmal Razzaq Naved-ul-Hasan (or Sami, still can't rule him out) Akhtar Asif Strengths Explosive batsmen throughout the lineup Late-order rearguard attacks from Razzaq and Akmal are huge Seam attack has great potential Weaknesses Shotmakers may falter on a track with assistance for the seamers Team Chemistry? It's been a problem in the past and could resurface. Fielding needs to improve and Shoaib & Inzy need to stay fit Prediction Should make the SuperSix stage and have a good shot at the semifinals, their one-day formidability will be tested in the next few series

01-04-2006, 11:15 PM	#9 (permalink)
adharcric International Coach Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: San Francisco, California Posts: 10,898	Let's hope Vaughan, Giles and Jones can get back to the field soon enough. You reckon Hoggard will become a one-day bowler for England?

02-04-2006, 12:00 AM	#12 (permalink)
Blaze Banned Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: NZ Posts: 5,124	Australia are the only side that we can bank on being in the semis IMO. 2-8 can easily beat each other on their day.

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