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It does not get bigger than this... ...when it comes to cricket, and when it is played here, at home, it becomes gigantic. The Indian subcontinent is what makes cricket the huge sport that it is and with the top event promising to capture the attention and imagination of all concerned, this one promises to make history. History is also something India will be looking at when they begin proceedings on February 19 at Mirpur against co-hosts Bangladesh. Not the kind of history created in the 2007 edition, when India, as always one of the favourites, went down to the same rivals by five wickets and never recovered, scripting one of their worst performances in the tournament. On the contrary, it is a repeat of 1983 that is the flavour of the season. While Indian fans always believe that their team would bring the Cup home, this time around, they seem to have the firepower needed to make their most serious effort at this. History, also, in the fact that no hosts have ever won the Cup.
While the frenetic activity of a One-Day International match will always be present, this is one World Cup where the slow and steady may well win the race. The spinners could well play a decisive role in 2011 and all teams seem to realise that. All-rounders have been the secret to success in the ODIs from the beginning. This time, it could well be the slow-bowling all-rounder, who makes the real difference. Spinners, who can keep the runs down, grab vital wickets and even swing the willow with some aplomb, will be worth their weight in gold. The pitches in the hosting nations have invariably been magnanimous to spinners. Add to this, the fact that when the event begins, the region will be coming out of winter and the tracks in question will just be beginning to change with the season. Some of these will surely help fast bowling for a while, but with all crucial games being played under lights, they will begin to slow down, with the bounce getting lower. A perfect stage to defend even modest totals. While the International Cricket Council will be promising a fair deal for all — fast bowlers, spinners and batsmen alike — when in India (or Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, for that matter), use spinners. Here is where the likes of Yusuf Pathan, Yuvraj Singh, Graeme Swann, Steve Smith, Shahid Afridi, Tillakaratne Dilshan or J.P. Duminy are likely to flourish. Batsmen, who can score with raw power or sublime skill, and then send down their share of overs, will play the ideal foil to spinning aces like Harbhajan Singh or Muttiah Muralitharan. This is also where the skills of batsmen will be tested. Scoring runs in this region is a bit of an enigma. While often, the power-hitters have been successful, technique and skill are the qualities that result in big scores and successful chases. The ideal choice will be a mix of the two. Take a look at the past two World Cups played in the subcontinent. The top five run-scorers in 1987 were Graham Gooch, David Boon, Geoff Marsh, Vivian Richards and Mike Gatting. The year 1996 saw Sachin Tendulkar, Mark Waugh, Aravinda De Silva, Gary Kirsten and Saeed Anwar claiming top honours. This is the stage where the scalpel is as lethal as the sledgehammer. The top 10 bowlers over those two World Cups were equally divided. Five fast bowlers and five spinners. But the key factor was that the 1987 Cup saw only day matches, and the early mornings, with the dew and the new red ball, helped fast bowlers. The 1996 edition was a different kettle of fish altogether. Who can forget the Indian fiasco in the semi-finals at the Eden Gardens, when even De Silva was unplayable under lights. The interim transition in 1992, where the clothes turned coloured and the cricket ball white, also played its part. Now for some administrative issues, and this is surely a sore point for Kolkata and the Cricket Association of Bengal. The Eden Gardens is regarded by all of West Bengal and a large majority of cricket-following people in India to be one of THE places for an event. But that won’t happen, as the ICC gave marching orders to CAB and its boss Jagmohan Dalmiya, and India won’t be seen in action there. Wankhede Stadium, the other venue in India under the microscope, along with Colombo and two other centres in Sri Lanka, were cleared. But Kolkata had to give ground to Bangalore, as the India-England match (February 27) was shifted there. Tournament director Ratnakar Shetty had also made some promises about filling up the stands, with encouragement to schools etc. to send students. This specifically will be focussed at matches involving some of the lesser sides. But since when have spectators been important? The Board examinations will be on when the World Cup begins, or even ends. So where are the students to come from? In any case, once the broadcast rights are sold, gate sales are an insignificant amount. So not to worry about that. But there will be no such worries when the big guns boom. The stands will be full. So, who will win the World Cup? Well, if the experts are to be believed, it will be a three-horse race, with India, Sri Lanka and England being touted as potential champions. India, as mentioned earlier, have the team to do it. England’s claim to fame is based largely on two aspects — their winning the T20 World Cup last year and their conquering Australia in the Ashes series. But one was a T20 tournament and the other a Test series. Post that, they faced a serious challenge from Australia in the 50-over format, a challenge they are still struggling to handle. Nevertheless, England, the eternal bridesmaid of World Cup cricket, will dearly love to win one. Sri Lanka have been going about their business with disconcerting silence. They announced their side early, and are not making too much noise about their own prospects. They are practically unbeatable at home, and as 1996 Cup-winning skipper Arjuna Ranatunga says, they thrive under pressure, unlike India. Australia and Pakistan are eternal threats but realistically that is where the options end. South Africa have proved time and again that they can’t handle the big stage, so one would have to wait and see what has changed. Very little, it seems, when it comes to a crunch situation. The event is now winding up like a spring, ready to snap open and pour its energy in a blast of noise and dust. The cricketing world waits for the action to begin and one nation will be ecstatic, come April 2. We, in India, hope it is our team. But the contest will be keen. Keep watching.
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In
the final match, the target of 184, which India had set, was
very small. Especially against the strong West Indian side,
which had destructive batsmen like Clive Llyod and Viv Richards.
