ICC world cup SWOT analysis:WI vs Australia

India, Dead and Buried. Pakistan, Thrashed out.

While India's and Pakistan's exit has filtered out the causal fans, cricket purists will no longer have to wait for some lip smacking dose of their favourite game.

Here comes the Super 8. Here begins the World cup.

SWOT time for the big match of the Super 8 today! Hosts West Indies clash with Defending champs Australia!

West Indies

Strengths: Lara loves Aussies. Lara Loves Antigua. The likes of Shaun Tait and Bracken shouldn't give any sleepless nights to Lara. If he along with Chanderpaul, Gayle and Sarwan get going, i definitely see them giving the Aussies a run for thier money.
And talking of run, expect good young legs on the field from the Windies.

Weaknesses: Well, WI will surely not depend on their bowling to get them out of the dumps. Also Gayle has not been scoring for sometime and is surely a cause for concern.

Opportunities: WI have beaten Aussies in the past(remember the DLF and Champion trophy?) Australians come to Antigua from St. Kitts and the conditions there was totally different from here. If Australians go with the flow they had in St. kitts, they could be down the dumps.

Threats: Entire Australian team!

Australia:

Strengths: I would say the Aussie batting is definitely better off than its bowling attack with Lee and Warne out. It is their biggest strength and the one which they have not failed to use to its potential. Hayden, Gilchrist, Ponting, Symmonds...Bowler's nightmare!

Weaknesses: Except for a tad inconsistency in bowling, its one mean winning machine,

Opportunities: Gayle's low form and thier own current form!

Threats: Not much teeth in the WI attack to be a threat to the Aussies. Lara is the only man who can stand up to be counted as a threat. Home conditions for the West Indies and big crowd support.

Karth Inc predicts: Its gonna be yet another win for the Aussies. If the West Indies do win, it will be the 3rd biggest upset of this cup!

ICC world cup SWOT analysis:India Vs Srilanka

Cricket is not a matter of life and death, its just a silly old game for christ's sake!!!

The Killing of Bob Woolmer does'nt say so.

Our own coach, Greg Chappel's motivation talk to the boys would be something along this line "Please win today guys..You ain't want me dead right? "

OK..Lets head straight to SWOT Analysis for THE big match.

Srilanka:

Strength: Many! 2 perfect wins, a team with some great hitters in Jayasuriya and Sangakkara, awesome bowling options in Vaas and Murali and everyone brimming with belief.
You cant ask for more!

Weakness: Experience. This is pressure situation at its very best! Even though Srilanka are through to their next round, they would be at a great psychological advantage at the super 8 if they lose this. They have not been challenged in the World cup yet so this will set up the stage for them.

Threats: Indian batting will hit them hard. IF and i stress IF the Indian batters can recreate the magic of taunton or the Bermuda bash, Srilanka will be swept away.

Opportunities: Plenty! And i say this because, the Indian bowling has looked very meek this series and Kumble's record against Srilanka doesnt look great(Not sure if he will play though). Srilanka can easily steal 20+ runs if they target some old legs and weak hands. Murali's terrific record against the Indian top order can be handy too.

India:

Strength: Batting, Batting and Batting. Anyone who knows remotely about cricket can vouch for that. A team fully loaded with batsmen who can on thier day can tear any bowling apart. Yes that includes Vaas and Murali.

Weaknesses: Top 3 would be Fielding, Bowling and Consistency! I was watching the SA vs Netherlands match the other day and the south African's fielding was in a different league altogether. Compare this to our team, well, we better be good enough to hit 20-30 more runs to factor this in. Also don't think our bowling has enough teeth to take 11 wickets unless the Srilankans think otherwise.

Threats: Jayasuriya's hitting at the top, Sangakarra and Jayawardene's stability in the middle, Vaas and Murali's tricks with the ball.

Opportunity: If India chases and chases well,there is no question our batters can see us through big totals. I am counting on a Indian chase!


Karth Inc predicts: All reasoning and logic says Srilanka have a definite edge...hey but so did we did have an upper hand against bangladeshis..So did pak against Ireland.
I so hate this cliche, can't help but say it...Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainity...my heart says..Jeethega bhai Jeethega...Hindustan Jeethega!!

By the way, TOI has its own SWOT analysis for today's clash(can't find the link). Check it out in the epaper version

p.s Tommorow is a cracker of a match! Dress rehearsal of the finals perhaps?

ICC WCC 07:SWOT Analysis Eng Vs NZ!

Wow! Yet another big match today. Kiwis taking on the English!! Expect it to be nothing short of a blinder!

Sample this: Eng V Kiwi Matches played 58. England won 27, NZ..well 27 too! Hmm that doesn't help does it?

Lets get straight to business. SWOT time!

New Zealand

Strengths: Kiwis can bat and bat deep. Also going by their recent form(link to the Hadlee series) , looks like they can chase anything under the sun!
Jacob Oram is definitely the key player here. Vettori and Bond will play a key role as well. With the old ball, this spin-fast duo could prove lethal, more so if Bond is able to reverse it.

Weakness: Inconsistent!. Fleming needs to score if NZ want to go deep into the tournament. Kiwis are just not the same side while playing outside NZ.

Opportunities: Not so great English bowling attack if James Anderson misses play today. Collingwood might be the best In-form batsman for Eng but against the Kiwis he averages a dismal 20.8(His career average is 34 odd).

Threat:Craig McMillan might not play due to his toe injury. Andy Flintoff loves to take the wicket of Fleming which he has been doing pretty consistently.(Link here for stats)
England won the CB series playing against Aus and NZ..that will be a physcological boost.

ENGLAND

Strengths: Impact players-Flintoff, Collingwood and Pieterson. Can tear apart any attack on thier day. A very balanced side as well.

Weaknesses: hmm..Couldn't think of many. if James Anderson doesn't play and the pitch turns out conducive to seam, he will be a great miss. Also compared to Kiwis, the English doesnt seem to be very experienced lot. This could matter if the match goes down till the end of the wire.

Opportunities: Going by the Ken Vs Canada match conditions, Not to forget, Monty panesar who has a great chance of showing his skills on the big stage.

Threat: Well, Not sure if Michael Vaughan can hold up the full match due to his hamstring. Vettori will be a big pain if the condition is anywhere close to his likeness.

My prediction...Its going to be England all the way! Mind you..its not gonna be a easy one tho!