Preview of World T20 : Complacency India's biggest enemy

[vvvslaxman]

Complacency India's biggest enemy ICC World Twenty20 'Complacency India's biggest enemy June 5, 2009 Ian Chappell looks at the prospects of the top nine teams in the upcoming World Twenty20 Australia Twenty20 is one form of the game in which, during their golden run, Australia haven't been a dominant force. This is the one major trophy they haven't got their hands on. so Ricky Ponting's men will be extremely eager to perform well. It won't be easy. They have a strong side, but they are also in a tough section of the draw. In the round-robin stage they are in Group C, along with Sri Lanka and West Indies. One slip or Chris Gayle whirlwind knock and it could be curtains. However, Australia don't often beat themselves and they should survive the group of death. Having done that, they then jump from the frying pan into the fire. In the Super Eights they are lumped in with India, South Africa and England in Group E - that's the four best sides in the tournament, all in one group and only two progress to the semis. Australia's strengths are a long and aggressive batting line-up with numerous players capable of clearing the rope; a strong attack that has a good mix of wicket-taking and economical bowlers, a number of genuine allrounders, and a good fielding side. Australia's achilles heel has been spin. South Africa was able to stifle their batting with good spin bowling, while Australia themselves have decided to rely on part-timers rather than frontline spinners. Nevertheless, Ponting is very good at marshalling his troops for the big occasion. And if they can avoid an early stumble, Group E can provide some fireworks. Australia will need to be at their best to reach the semi-finals. Bangladesh Bangladesh has been favoured with a very good draw, and if everything goes right for them and they play out of their skins, they could make the semis stage. However, that won't happen. They are too inconsistent and there is not enough self-belief in that team. Since upsetting West Indies in the last world tournament, they have taken a pounding from the major sides, and recently failed to beat a below-strength South African line-up. Bangladesh is always a dangerous opponent because they have some talented individuals. But putting all facets of their game together on the same day has been beyond them against the stronger sides. Players like Mohammad Ashraful and Abdur Razzak have put in some dazzling performances, but despite being in international cricket now for as long as it took Sri Lanka to go from debutants to World Cup champions, they are still cannon fodder for the major teams. England The country that invented the game is still searching for its first major trophy in the shortened cricket format. England have a lot going for them. Their cricketers have played more Twenty20 than those from other countries, they are used to the conditions, and the early draw should see them stroll through to the Super Eights. Then it starts to get difficult. They are likely to run into the big three in the Super Eights - the defending champions India, and two powerhouses in Australia and South Africa. Also, England have displayed a tendency to freeze in front of their home crowd. And the last time they staged the World Cup, they didn't even get past the opening round. They have a strong side - undoubtedly weakened by the absence of Andrew Flintoff - but still very capable. They are a bit light on for match-winners when compared to the big three, but if Kevin Pietersen fires with the bat it will make a huge difference to their performance. They have solid players in Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad and Paul Collingwood, and Dmitri Mascarenhas can be explosive. If the conditions suit swing bowling, then James Anderson will be the ideal striker with the new ball. England will be workman-like and if they were in the other side of the Super Eights draw, they would have been certain for the semis. However, they don't have the firepower to match the big three, and they seem destined to be still staring at an empty section of the trophy cabinet. India India has really benefited from two seasons of tough IPL competition. Young players like Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma have graduated with honours. Yusuf Pathan has discovered his calling, and Yuvraj Singh revels in the Twenty20 format. India has more potential match-winners than any other side, and if Virender Sehwag discovers the secret of Twenty20 batting they will almost be unstoppable. India has the batting to set or chase big targets. They have Zaheer Khan to make early breakthroughs, and Harbhajan is a cagey spinner at any stage of the innings. They have explosive allrounders in the Pathan brothers, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni with his calm but aggressive captaincy is the ideal leader for a team that plays with a lot of passion. The youth policy pursued by Dhoni in winning the South African tournament has resulted in a much-improved fielding side, and even their bench strength is the envy of most other sides. India should qualify for the semis despite being in such a tough group. And that will be the hardest part. If they make the last four, it then becomes an easier road to the final. The only thing standing between India and a chance to defend their crown is over-confidence or complacency. New Zealand Some recent victories over world champions India will have boosted New Zealand's confidence. The draw should have also excited them. If they survive the opening salvo, which they should, then in the weaker Super Eight Group F they have a legitimate shot at a semi-finals slot. ,However New Zealand has a bad habit of playing really well till they sense victory. And the thought, like good wine, goes to their head. Unlike good wine, the aftertaste is not so pleasant. This is a typical New Zealand cricket team - full of hardworking players but not much in the way of outstanding brilliance. Brendon McCullum and Daniel Vettori are the two exceptions. And both can be match-winners. Jacob Oram would normally be in that group but lately is batting has lost its luster, and his bowling has slipped due to injury. Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor and the unpredictable Jesse Ryder can all be great support to the explosive McCullum. But they lack consistency. New Zealand's upper order often lets them down, and the bowling is only steady, with Vettori being the standout performer. Despite their frailties, New Zealand only requires a good win over either Pakistan or Sri Lanka and they will reach the semis. That's provided they don't fall to Bangladesh or suffer stage fright. Pakistan Pakistan has a few things going for them in this tournament: a good draw, a strong bowling attack, and they have been flying under the radar lately. Pakistan only have to ensure victory over Netherlands in the first round to open up a golden opportunity to make the semi-finals. Like the three other major teams in Group F, Pakistan only has to clinch victory against Bangladesh and a win over either New Zealand, or possibly Sri Lanka, and that would be enough to ensure a semi-final berth. Umar Gul and Shahid Afridi are a couple of very successful Twenty20 bowlers. They are both capable of taking wickets and keeping the scoring-rate in check. Sohail Tanvir with his quirky action and late swing is a strike force, early or late in the innings. And a return to his first-season IPL form would be a huge boost to an already strong attack. It's when it comes to wielding the willow that things can go astray for Pakistan. Misbah-ul-Haq is a cool-headed batsman with a dose of flair. Afridi, on the other hand, oozes flamboyance but bats as though he is yet to make acquaintance with common sense. As is their wont, Pakistan has chosen a few youngsters, and because they are the one major nation that still regularly gambles on youth, it would be good to see them succeed. If they bat reasonably and Younis Khan can keep the players pointed in the same direction, a semi-final berth should be theirs for the taking. South Africa South Africa's record in major world tournaments is not what it should be. They have generally tended to get stage fright at the most inappropriate moments. If you had seen Graeme Smith's side play in Australia, you would say they had laid that ghost to rest. Then they came out and played like novices in the early going at home to once again suggest that the favourite tag doesn't sit well on them. There is no doubt they have the talent to win this world crown. South Africa benefited greatly from this year's IPL tournament - it confirmed the star status of JP Duminy and AB de Villiers, and despite being known on a first-name basis, Roelof van der Merwe is an above-average spinner. South Africa has the right ingredients for Twenty20 success: aggressive strokemakers to bat around a solid sheet anchor in Smith; Duminy, de Villiers and Jacques Kallis providing a combination of solidarity and flair which can then be capitalised on by the power-hitting of Albie Morkel and Mark Boucher. Dale Steyn and Wayne Parnell have pace and swing - a great combination for taking wickets and stifling strokeplay. Kallis and Morkel are both more than useful allrounders, and like Rumpelstinskin, South Africa have finally woken from a slumber to discover the benefits of spin. Johan Botha, van der Merwe and Duminy are three good options in the middle- to late overs. If South Africa make it through the minefield leading to the semis, it might just mean they have the form and self-belief to get the monkey off their back. Sri Lanka Sri Lanka's greatest challenge is in the first round. The game against West Indies could well decide if they could make it to the Super Eights stage. In Group C, each team could conceivably finish the first round with one win and have to rely on a superior net run-rate to advance. Sri Lanka's younger players have not matured sufficiently to compensate for their ageing stars. There are signs that Sanath Jayasuriya may be slipping finally. He can still wield the willow with devastating effect, just not as consistently. Without Jayasuriya to get Sri Lanka off to a galloping start, they have always been vulnerable. Tillekaratne Dilshan displayed signs during the IPL that he might have finally discovered consistency. If he fires, it will help compensate for a slip in Jayasuriya's form. Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene can both be relied on for steady contributions, but they need a spark from players like Dilshan and Chamara Silva. The bowling depends heavily on Lasith Malinga to get early wickets, and Muttiah Muralitharan to bamboozle in the middle overs. If they succeed, Sri Lanka can be a handful. There were also signs during the IPL that batsmen were beginning to fathom the mysteries of Ajantha Mendis. If this is the case, it will put a lot of pressure on Sri Lanka's medium-fast bowlers. Sangakkara will do a good job as captain but Sri Lanka is in danger of making an early exit. If this were to happen, it might signal the right time to embark on a more extensive youth policy. West Indies Predicting West Indies' revival is a lot like trying to determine when the world economy will flourish again. In late 2006, West Indies made the final of the Champions Trophy; then just 11 months later, they made a disappointing first-round exit in the World Twenty20 tournament in South Africa. If it was horse racing, they would be calling for a swab. West Indies have some brilliant individuals: Chris Gayle can win a Twenty20 match in the first few overs; Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul provide him with excellent run support, and Dwaye Bravo is a top-flight allrounder. The fast men, Fidel Edwards and Jerome Taylor can be lethal, but the rest are a lottery, and unfortunately that is not where you find regular winners. Something always seems to mar West Indies' progress: a batting collapse here, a bowling meltdown there or a dose of butterfingers in the field. The consistent progress in not there and they will need to be at their best in a tough group to even survive the first round. Like Sri Lanka, too few of their younger players have matured into reliable international cricketers. Next to the England players, those from the Caribbean have played the most high-pressure Twenty20 matches, but it hasn't produced a corresponding lift in standards. West Indies are candidates to miss out in the group of death and this would send another wave of disappointment through the Caribbean.

[Sachinism]

Very true, we have a class side that can beat anyone on the day, we shouldn't get complacent, make sure we get our basics right and there shouldn't be a problem

[kooljatt]

this guy is a retard, dnt listen to him. Remember, he wanted Sachin to retire way back.so, STFU Chappel bros :icflove: