DHAKA: ICC World Cup Cricket 2019 has entered business session. After 45 matches among 10 participating nations pre tournament favorites India, Australia, England and New Zealand qualified for playing in the semi finals.
The four qualified are the four top teams in the current ODI ranking. India won the trophy twice in the past, Australia won five times. England and New Zealand never won. On 9 July top of the table India plays New Zealand at Old Trafford. Australia would meet traditional rival England on July 11 at Edgbaston. The winners meet at Lords on July 14. Going by the trend of the matches one can conclude that the better teams having better quality, greater depth and diversity and stronger mental strength, physical toughness ultimately qualified.
Pakistan, Bangladesh may think hard done. But to be honest neither Pakistan nor Bangladesh were the teams to go the distance. Neither of two teams had perfect balance nor they could play consistently well. Three other teams Sri Lanka, South Africa and West Indies played few good matches but they also did not have the consistency or quality to force their way into top four.
Top five teams in World Cup 2019
Teams Matches Won Lost Rain Grace Points NRR
India 9 7 1 1 15 +0.809
Australia 9 7 2 0 14 +0.868
England 9 6 3 0 12 +1.152
New Zealand 9 5 3 1 11 +0.175
Pakistan 9 5 3 1 11 -0.430
ICC just released the raking of top teams, batsmen, bowlers and all rounder in ODI. If one review the rankings of teams, players one will see that the top four qualifying for the semi finals were no upset at all. Still some matches had controversy. Rain interferes created issues for some teams. 50:50 umpiring decisions going against some teams also had impacts on ultimate results.
Ten teams in ODI ranking
Teams Matches Weighted Points
England 52 123
India 55 123
New Zealand 41 112
Australia 49 112
South Africa 47 110
Pakistan 49 97
Bangladesh 43 90
Sri Lanka 51 79
West Indies 47 77
Afghanistan 40 59
England and India have same rated points but in small fraction England edges India. Same is the case with Australia and New Zealand. Current ICC ranking is not much different as the final points of ICC world cup 2019. The top four teams in ODI ranking moved into semi final. One may only say South Africa did not live upto their billing. Their star player AB de Villers retiring at wrong time and Dale Steyn not being available through injury hurt them.
Top 10 ODI batsmen in ICC ranking
Players Team Points
Virat Kohli India 891
Rohit Sharma India 885
Babar Azam Pakistan 827
Faf du Plessis South Africa 820
Ross Taylor New Zealand 813
David Warner Australia 803
Joe Root England 791
Kane Williamson New Zealand 790
Quinton de Kock South Africa 781
Aaron Flinch Australia 778
Top 10 ODI bowlers in ODI ranking
Bowlers Team Points
Jasprit Bumrah India 814
Trent Boult New Zealand 758
Pat Cummins Australia 698
Kagiso Rabada South Africa 694
Imran Tahir South Africa 683
Mujeeb Ur Rahman Afghanistan 681
Mitchell Starc Australia 675
Rashid Khan Afghanistan 658
Kuldeep Yadav India 658
Lockie Ferguson New Zealand 650
It is interesting to note that no batsman or bowler from Bangladesh, West Indies and Sri Lanka are in the list of top batsmen and bowlers. Two Afghan spinners are in the list of top bowlers though.
TOP five ODI all rounders
All Rounder Team Points
Shakib Al Hasan Bangladesh 406
Ben Stokes England 316
Mohammad Nabi Afghanistan 310
Imad Wasim Pakistan 299
Rashid Khan Afghanistan 286
Shakib Al Hasan being head and shoulder above the rest and delivering true to his potential almost single handedly carried Bangladesh to the doorway of qualifications for the semi final round. Had he been supported well by one or two consistent performers it could be different story for Bangladesh.
Afghan all rounder also made their matches against India, Pakistan and West Indies very interesting. If only Afghanistan had few quality batsmen Afghanistan could surprise few teams.
Previewing semi finals
Top of the table strong favorites India plays New Zealand at Old Trafford. India of their 9 matches only lost against England which according to many was a strategic match for India. Having better placed in winning position India did not go all out for the win playing safe. If India won that match the sfae passage of host England would not have been ensured. Rohit Sharma at the top is in rollicking form. Scoring 5 centuries in this world cup Rohit has already eclipsed the record of Sangakkara of Sri Lanka setting the record of 4 centuries he scored in 2015 world cup. England lost star opener Shikhar Dhawan through injury in the match he sustained against Australia. Young Rahul stepping into his shoes is also playing wonderfully well. We know what the top batsman of the world Virat Kohli is capable of. He has not scored a century yet in the world cup. Possibly he has kept yet reserve for the big matches.
India’s vulnerability is its middle order batting not clicking so far. Though young Rishabh Pant has given some impetus but Hardik Pandya, Karthik and Dhoni have not fired yet. If top three for any reason fail India may struggle against quality pace attack of New Zealand. On their day Boult, Ferguson and Hemry can be devastating. India possibly has the best bowling attack in the tournament. Bumrah with his special bowling action and deadly Yorkers can torment any team. Kumar swings either side at pace. Shami is fast and furious. Two finger spinners Chahal and Yadav and left arm spinning all rounder Jadeja give Virat Kohli lot of option. New Zealand batsmen would find it not easy going to chase if India batting first score 250 plus.
New Zealand success in this tournament was wins against lesser fries early on. They were at the top of the table for a long time. But they lost consistency and started loosing matches against stronger opponents. They qualified only just for better run rates piping Pakistan to the post. Batting to a large extent depends of prolific middle order batsmen Willamson and Taylor. Their star opener Guptill has not delivered so far. Jimmy Neesham, Tom Latham and Colin Grandhomme must contribute if New Zealand has to challenge strong India. Kiwis also lack a genuine spinner. These days with sun shining and wicket getting dry wicket will turn and grip. Spin will be weakness for New Zealand both when they bowl and bat against quality Indian spinners. India is favorite to win the match.
Australia Vs England to be played at Edgbaston:
This was the encounter reigning champion Australia was desperate to avoid. They could do that if South Africa did not pack the punch in the last match. Australia has already beaten England in this world cup. But then home team and top of ICC ranking England would not let Australia easy going at all. Australia had a rude shock losing the service of inform batsman Usman Khawaja through hamstring injury. Shaun Marsh was also ruled out. Australian batting would also heavily rely on blaster openers Aaron Flinch and David Warner. Steve Smith has to step into his top gear if Australia has to absorb the quality fast bowling attack of Archer, Wood, Woakes and Plunket.
Australia like their symbol Kangaroo can have their tail wagging. Fortunately Carey, Stonis, Coulter Nile and Cummins put up their hands when required. In bowling Starc in his brilliant best, Cummins is nearing that. Behrendorff is bowling consistently well .But against England I have a feeling that Nathan Lyon will be the key. Australia is very agile and smart in the field. Batsmen take singles and convert one to two clinically. They field well all being super fit top athletes.
England is the inform team at the top though they lost few matches in the tournament. Pakistan and Sri Lanka tormented them. They could be viewing the semi finals from the gallery if India went all out to overhaul the target they set. But any way England is back in winning mode and all grab the opportunity for winning semi final and earn a date for yet another final at Lords. England has not won any.
The top six batsmen Bairstow, Joy, Root, Morgan, Buttler and Stokes can bat any team out of the game when on song. Admittedly it won't be easy against quality Australian bowling. Even Moeen Ali, Woakes, Archer, Rashid can bat. It is expected that that this match will be a high scoring contest. It is a 50:50 any body’s game. But given the experience of winning matches in important time in World Cup would predict an Australian win.
BDST: 1105 HRS, JUL 8, 2019
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