Cricket World Cup 2015: Are Top Teams Sorted After Warm-Up Matches?

The time for preparation, strategizing and analysis is perhaps over for all the top teams participating in the Cricket World Cup. Defending champions India, pre-tournament favourites Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and dark horses Sri Lanka and Pakistan have all played their warm-up matches and should have a fair idea of the combinations that could serve them best over the next six weeks. (Team India counting on local support vs Pakistan in World Cup)

 

While warm-up results never really tell the true story, they could impact the morale and psyche of players headed into cricket's biggest and most important event. All teams have had fair opportunities to test their key men and bench strength. (Complete coverage of World Cup 2015)

 

India, who have struggled on their tour of Australia, were crushed by the hosts in the first practice game, came back strongly against much weaker Afghanistan. The difference in quality of the opposition was clear to anyone who saw the two matches. At least India's first victory since landing in Australia in November saw some happy faces. But worries remain. (How India registered a win at last)

 

India's bowling still remains a concern, but they would take heart from Rohit Sharma's form against the Afghans on Tuesday. After passing a fitness test, Rohit showed he was truly ready for big-time cricket with a fluent 150 versus the minnows. However, experts are not very impressed with the way India capitulated against Australia in Adelaide, where the Indians will play the majority of their matches. (Read: Experts feel India favourites vs Pakistan)

 

But batsman Suresh Raina believes India will be ready when the main tournament finally starts. It is another matter that his captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is still not certain of the bowling attack or the final XI that would take the field against Pakistan in Adelaide on Sunday.

 

Australia, on the other hand, would be overjoyed with their warm-up games. A convincing win over India followed another cakewalk against the United Arab Emirates. But the most important outcome of their final pre-World Cup match was the return of Michael Clarke. The injury-prone Aussie captain slammed a quickfire 64 after coming back to competitive cricket, dismissing fears that he may not play the quadrennial event.

 

Cricket World Cup co-hosts New Zealand too have reasons to be upbeat about their chances - a comprehensive 134-run win over a powerful South Africa would have forced every other side in the tournament to sit up and take notice.

 

High stakes, high pressure? South Africa will hope to avoid the choke in 2015.

© AFP

The Proteas of course may have reasons to be more than just worried. They did beat Sri Lanka in their first warm-up match but it was a tense, rain-affected chase.  Though South Africa have been brilliant over the last two years, they have continued to struggle in conditions Down Under. Remember, the series loss to Australia in Australia last year? Batting mainstay Hashim Amla should be a very nervous man.

 

A lot of experts suggest that much should not be made out of the warm-up results, but that always does not hold true. Sri Lanka for instance, will be extremely worried with their performance - a defeat against South Africa was followed by a shocking loss to Zimbabwe, who had no trouble chasing down 280. The same is true for Pakistan, who won narrowly against Bangladesh and almost made heavy weather of a 251-run target against England. The four-wicket win versus England should boost Pakistan before the India clash.

 

Maybe, all these warm-up results will mean nothing when group matches start. Maybe, Sri Lanka's defeat to Zimbabwe was just indifference or overconfidence , a mere flash in the pan. The 2011 World Cup runners-up have some serious firepower in their ranks and they have the potential to stage a strong comeback.

 

At the end of the day, the conditions will be equal for everyone - all teams have had sufficient time to acclimatize - India, in fact have spent nearly three months in Australia! Have India learnt from their follies? Will South Africa pull up their socks after losing against the Black Caps or will the Aussies be too overconfident after their easy wins? We will get to know soon.