On the big Melbourne Cricket Ground , India has gotta be the firm favourites . On small grounds with the size of bats and the strength of batsmen that we have today even misshits tend to go for 6. On MCG the ground is so big that even a goodhit can end up in the hands of the fielder on boundary line. So in MCG Ashwin and Jaddu are gonna have a field day. Also the pitch will definitely help fast bowling. Only quality batsmen are going to make runs on that wicket.
Tomorrow's match between South Africa and Sri Lanka is expected to be the most competitive among the matches to be played in the quarter-finals as both the teams are more or less equally strong. But South Africa have this chokers tag. Some unfortunate event keeps happening to them in WCs that knocks them out of the cup. I has been happening since 1992 when the played their first cricket world cup.
Like Netherlands in soccer South Africa is the best one day cricket team that has never won a world cup. Worst of all they were constantly knocked out of the cricket world cups due to some freakish event. Like in 1992 there were some of the most stupid rules the world of sports had ever seen . South Africa needed some 22 odd runs of 7 balls when rain came in which ultimately turned into an impossible 22 of 1 ball. In 1992 again South Africa were beaten by West Indies. The West Indian team had been beaten by cup débutante Kenya in a league match. In 1999 no one can forget that nerve wrecking semi-final against Australia in which they did tie the match but lost to Australia on run rate. Same has been their story in other editions of the cup.
In the other two quarter finals Australia and New Zealand are likely winners. However Pakistan historically has been an unpredictable team can spring a surprise against Australia. New Zealand must get the wicket of Chris Gayle as fast as possible he the other threat is all rounder Andre Russel. The inner politics of the West Indian team have made them devoid of likes of Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo. Presence of this two players would have made West Indies a much more stronger team.
As the World Cup of cricket enters its quarter-final stage the interest in each game will go up. I just hope that cricket fans around the world get to see some great cricket in the next 7 matches.
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