Teams from down under meaning southern hemisphere are always favorite when it comes to world cup cricket. Australia to world cup cricket is what Brazil is to world cup soccer.
It is the only team that has won the championship 5 times from championship played at 5 different continents Asia, Europe, Australia, America, and Africa. It has won it thrice in a row 1999 ,2003 and 2007.
It also was losing finalist in 1975and 1996. Tasman cousins New Zealand never won the trophy but featured in the final twice in 2015 and 2019. Few times it finished among the top four. This time in 2023 both Australia and New Zealand have great possibilities for reaching the semifinals.
Australia Is Brazil of World Cricket: Australia in matters of winning the trophy and proving as the toughest competitor has always proved as the toughest team to beat in world cricket. It is a team that always plays to win. They lost the final at Lords to all-time great West Indies in the inaugural version in 1975 when the trophy was named Prudential World cup by 17 runs.
It was then played in white clothes and was 60 overs a side. It won the trophy first in 1987 beating England at the final in India. Between 1999 and 2007 it won three times in a row beating Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka in the finals played at England, South Africa and West Indies. Australia also won the championship beating New Zealand in the final at Melbourne in 2015. This year in 2023 with a strong enough team Australia is considered to reach semifinals and even going beyond.
Australian Squad: Pat Cummins (Captain), Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Josh Englis, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Cameroon Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Glen Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchel Starc.
In matter of class, form, fitness, and experience Kangaroos are always a fierce competitor. Flamboyant David Warnar playing his last year of international cricket appears to be in prime form. Unfortunately, his partner the dynamic Travis Head is still not match fit. He will be replaced by Marnus Labuschagne a prolific top order batsman capable of playing long innings. Steve Smith is still among the top four batsmen in world cricket. Australia possesses strong batting resources in Mitch Marsh, Glen Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Cameroon Green, and Alex Carey. Some of them playing in IPL have enough exposure to Indian conditions. Australians also bat deep.
If required Aston Agar, Pat Cummins can make useful contributions. Australians possesses world class penetrative fast bowling resources in Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. Mitch Marsh, Marcus Stoinis and Cameroon Green give the attack depth. Adam Zampa and Glen Maxwell are useful spinning options. Australians always among the top fielding teams in the world. Over all Australians are fierce competitors and can always surprise any team.
In their preparation for the world cup, they bounced back brilliantly against host India in the 3rd match of the recently concluded ODI series after losing the first two. Australia starts world cup mission playing against India in the first match at Chennai on 8 October 2023.
Time For Kiwis to Fly:
It is time that Black Caps from the land of Kiwis fly high and win the trophy. They have been the steadiest team of the championship always looking in good shape but failing to deliver the killer punch. They lost the final against Australia in 2015. They also lost against England at Lords in 2019 in the super over. This year they have a very strong all-round squad capable of surprising the best of the best. The country has lesser population than many cities of India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh yet they possess top quality international cricketers. Many regularly play and perform even in IPL in India
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (Captain) , Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Glen Philips, Will Young, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchel Santner, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson, Mat Henry, Ish Sodhi and Tim Southee.
The success of the black caps will largely depend on their captain Kane Williamson player of ICC World Cup 2019 still recovering from injury getting back into action. He is a class act as a world class batsman and great leader. Though not featuring in the series he travelled with the team in their pre-tournament series in England. Another key player great fast bowler very successful in India Tim Southee is also nursing injury. Black caps have a formidable batting unit. Devon Conway, Will Young, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell and Glen Philips, James Neesham are all very competent batsmen. Add to that Ken Williamson back at his brilliant best.
In Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson and Mat Henry black caps possesses one of the most fearsome new ball attack that can rock the best of the best. Most of them feature regularly in Indian IPL. Ish Sodhi, Mitchel Santner and Rachine Ravindra may exploit if wickets assist spin. New Zealand will be strong contender for reaching the semifinal.
They start their mission playing the first match of the tournament against reigning champions England at Narendra Modi Stadium on 5 October 2023. Black Caps are usually very unassuming. They are what we call silent killers. It is high time they win World Cup. But they must start well in their first match which is a repeat of their 2019 heart breaking final.
BDST: 1338 HRS, SEP 29, 2023
MN
