Challenges for Aussies in World Cup 2007

[crazy4_crick]

Hey guys,
Welcome to put what you think about chances that Aussies will win world cup 2007.
Would like some views on which teams are going to put up a tough front and why?

And most importantly who is going to be the winner of World cup 2007 ???

India, New Zealand, Pakistan, England, South Africa.....????
Come on guys Let the COUNTDOWN BEGIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[y2j826]

Australia will win as usual 3 world cup in rows, and about challenge, there will be rain only in WI but not a team, a strong line up Aussies will rock.

 

[.::Stevo::.]

People can you feel the excitement............................................................................................................................................... :

 

[SaiSrini]

Its too early to say now.. We have two more years to go till that mega event! The Aussies look still in very good form now. they have beaten New Zealand and crushed the World XI in the Super Series. They will always remain overwhelming favorites and it will take a superlative effort to regain the cup from them!

But the teams that might challenge them very closely are put here! Remember, its based on the current situation!

1. South Africa - A superb ODI side. They almost won in India and look very good and razor sharp on the field and have lot of aggression in their squad to challenge the best! They have a brave innovative captain in Graeme Smith! Their bowling looks very tight and they give away very little. Have good bowlers like Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini and a promising off spinner Johan Botha who can spin well.

Negatives:

Havent yet proved that they have shedded the tag of 'chokers'.

Should control their aggression which can sometimes overdo itself!

2. India - A great ODI side in the making! Have inducted a very good amount of youngsters and still have some seniors who lend a valuable edge to the team! Its to their strength that senior players like Ganguly, Laxman and Kumble dont find a place in the side and are waiting to come back! Are leaping ahead on the fielding front though not yet to the likes of South Africa or Australia! Batting as always, is the most dangerous looking part of India as it has always been! Have lot of match winners in Irfan, Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir, etc

Negatives:

Bowling needs more improvement! Murali Kartik wont take them too far till the 2007 WC! Piyush Chawla has to be blooded early and be made ready for the event!

Again like South Africa, are famous chokers and that too, in multi national finals! Havent yet got the opportunity to prove it wrong under the new full fledged captain!

Need to bring back some experienced pace bowlers like Zaheer and Balaji to bloster the bowling experience!

3. New Zealand - Another fantastic ODI side! Have a great captain who is considered one of the best in the world, Fleming! Have been a superb fielding side! Lots of all rounders and as usual, have match winners

Negatives:

Dont look too good in the batting front! Needs more solidity in the batting!

Apart from Bond and Vettori to an extent, the bowling needs tune up!

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Of course, after the top 3, we have Pakistan and England!

 

[angryangy]

Australia
Strength: all star batting lineup, strike bowlers
Weakness: age
Holy Grail: a genuine all-rounder

England
Strength: bowling
Weakness: middle order
Holy Grail: a leg spin bowler

India
Strength: batting
Weakness: pace bowling
Holy Grail: the next Tendulkar or Kapil Dev

New Zealand
Strength: all-rounders, teamwork
Weakness: dependency on all-rounders
Holy Grail: Shane Bond fit

Pakistan
Strength: well balanced
Weakness: inconsistency, transiency
Holy Grail: an opening pair with more than 10 matches together

South Africa
Strength: youth, top order, pace bowling
Weakness: lower order, spin bowling
Holy Grail: on paper strength to materialise

Sri Lanka
Strength: experience, Murali
Weakness: age
Holy Grail: success away from home

 

[SaiSrini]

Australia
Strength: all star batting lineup, strike bowlers
Weakness: age
Holy Grail: a genuine all-rounder

England
Strength: bowling
Weakness: middle order
Holy Grail: a leg spin bowler

India
Strength: batting
Weakness: pace bowling
Holy Grail: the next Tendulkar or Kapil Dev

New Zealand
Strength: all-rounders, teamwork
Weakness: dependency on all-rounders
Holy Grail: Shane Bond fit

Pakistan
Strength: well balanced
Weakness: inconsistency, transiency
Holy Grail: an opening pair with more than 10 matches together

South Africa
Strength: youth, top order, pace bowling
Weakness: lower order, spin bowling
Holy Grail: on paper strength to materialise

Sri Lanka
Strength: experience, Murali
Weakness: age
Holy Grail: success away from home

Add weak batting to Sri lanka's weakness. They seem to be found wanting against formidable sides in their ODI batting!

 

[kodos]

NZ don't have weak batting. If the likes of Cairns and Astle stay around till the 2007 WC than NZ will be a formidable team. The likes of Vincent, Astle, Fleming, Styris, Cairns, Oram and recently McCUllum is a world class batting lineup but still not par with India and Australia. The real threats to Aus will be India, South Africa and NZ. But you may never know, there could be a few surprises just like the 03 World cup when Kenya qualified to the Semi-Finals. Perhaps 07 you may see Bangladesh or Scotland in the finals

 

[Sando]

Can't wait for this to come around, hopefully will take some time off from Uni to take in a few matches.

It's difficult to say this far out who will contend for the World Cup.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Bangla!!!

They have 4 spinners -all who are really good- whom come to mind immediately, a good upcoming pace attack(except Baisya, he isn't world class at all), strong(ish) batting, are great fielders, and are all young. They also have decent allrounders, and good up and coming players(Saqibul Hossain and Mushfiqur Rahim). They also have experience in Bashar, Ashraful, Masud and Rafique.

I'd say Zimabawe could be a threat too, but the way things are going now, I doubt whether they will have a team at all by 2007...

 

[langerrox]

Don't know any challanges for Australia only challenges, Ill change the thread name for ya matey

 

[Hariz]

Well tough competition is what cricket needs and the teams are certainly improving. I hope the competition lives up to its hype and is not as boring as the last WC. Australia are certainly dominant but they'll have to work hard this time round, with many faces entering the squads. Lets see..........................!!!

 

[sohum]

Well, the last world cup was certainly not boring. At least not if you were an Indian fan. India could have done better in the final by batting first, but that's something we can't really discuss.

 

[Cricketman]

well the only threat to Australia is probably India, and a roaring england.

 

[Indiangod]

My favourites to win it is South africa........easily the best side all the ay through to the 90s, They deserve to win a win cup, South africa got robbed in the semis in 92, a batting callapse in 96 cost it for them, that Donald run out cost it from them in 99 when they was so close and in 2003 the wrong d/w calcualtions cost it for them.

I had a similer thread to this.

 

[Sureshot]

I think Pakistan have a good chance, they have been impressive in this series, key for England is Harmison, he did well in WIndies last time, let's hope he can replicate that.