The co-hosts needed to make a statement on the opening day of the International Cricket Council’s World Cup and they did. Sleepy Indian eyes were woken up by some fireworks in the first ten overs as New Zealand skipper, and man in form, Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill blasted the Sri Lankan bowlers for 77 runs, thereby setting the tone for the rest of the game.
A few hours later, England captain Eoin Morgan took a defensive stance when he decided to field against a strong Australian batting side. The Australian run build-up, post the early bumps, was expected from a side that bats up to number eight. England’s grim scenario finally ended, with a wry smile, thanks to Steven Finn’s five-for complemented by some superb out-fielding by the visitors.
While MCG was being peppered with sparklers from Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell, McCullum’s bowers were applying the finishing touches with clinical precision at Christchurch. The Lankans were never in the game, having to chase 331, thanks to the constant pressure exerted by the Kiwi attack which delivered the first win for their team as was expected.
Morgan’s gamble of giving the Aussies first use of the drop-in pitch at the MCG shows very clearly that he does not have confidence that his bowlers will be able to defend a total.
The England batsmen are not in good nick and the fear factor (read Mitchell Johnson), while batting on a fresh wicket must have prompted him to field first and try and make inroads into the Aussie line-up.
What must have also worked on Morgan’s mind was Australia beating India with comfort, chasing 267 runs with an over to spare, on the same ground in the Tri-series. Morgan probably forgot that he has a better attack at his disposal than Indian skipper M.S. Dhoni had when they lost to the Aussies.
It happens, ever so often, that the captain’s form (miserable in Morgan’s case) plays a decisive role when it comes to deciding what to do at toss time. The standard practice, when teams are trying to settle down at the start of a series, is to bat first and put as many runs as possible on the board then try and put pressure on the opponents while they chase.
Even though they may be in superb form, co-hosts – New Zealand and Australia must have been under tremendous pre-tournament pressure to maintain their flow. The way they beat Sri Lanka and England – no spring chickens - must have settled their nerves.
Sri Lanka have been struggling with injuries to their bowlers and the way Lasith Malinga went for 84 runs in his 10 overs has probably got them back to square one.
This, coupled with the lack of form of their batting bulwarks Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, has now put the team think-tank in a tight spot. Sri Lanka’s performance curve, after they won the Asia Cup last year, is moving further down south and it will take them some time to recoup and come back as contenders in this tournament. They are a talented, experienced side and have performed creditably in most ICC tournaments. A big win will do wonders for their morale.
Watching the co-hosts in full cry will give their opponents in Pool A of the World Cup plenty of food for thought. For starters they will be looking at slowing down the game to try and put breaks on the batting juggernaut.
After seeing tidy spells by two left-arm spinners: Rangana Herath (1 for 37) and veteran Daniel Vettori (2 for 34), it may make sense to bank on spinners to halt the momentum and use express pace for shock value. It just may be that spinners will play an important role in the eleventh edition of the ICC World Cup.
A few hours later, England captain Eoin Morgan took a defensive stance when he decided to field against a strong Australian batting side. The Australian run build-up, post the early bumps, was expected from a side that bats up to number eight. England’s grim scenario finally ended, with a wry smile, thanks to Steven Finn’s five-for complemented by some superb out-fielding by the visitors.
While MCG was being peppered with sparklers from Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell, McCullum’s bowers were applying the finishing touches with clinical precision at Christchurch. The Lankans were never in the game, having to chase 331, thanks to the constant pressure exerted by the Kiwi attack which delivered the first win for their team as was expected.
Morgan’s gamble of giving the Aussies first use of the drop-in pitch at the MCG shows very clearly that he does not have confidence that his bowlers will be able to defend a total.
The England batsmen are not in good nick and the fear factor (read Mitchell Johnson), while batting on a fresh wicket must have prompted him to field first and try and make inroads into the Aussie line-up.
What must have also worked on Morgan’s mind was Australia beating India with comfort, chasing 267 runs with an over to spare, on the same ground in the Tri-series. Morgan probably forgot that he has a better attack at his disposal than Indian skipper M.S. Dhoni had when they lost to the Aussies.
It happens, ever so often, that the captain’s form (miserable in Morgan’s case) plays a decisive role when it comes to deciding what to do at toss time. The standard practice, when teams are trying to settle down at the start of a series, is to bat first and put as many runs as possible on the board then try and put pressure on the opponents while they chase.
Even though they may be in superb form, co-hosts – New Zealand and Australia must have been under tremendous pre-tournament pressure to maintain their flow. The way they beat Sri Lanka and England – no spring chickens - must have settled their nerves.
Sri Lanka have been struggling with injuries to their bowlers and the way Lasith Malinga went for 84 runs in his 10 overs has probably got them back to square one.
This, coupled with the lack of form of their batting bulwarks Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, has now put the team think-tank in a tight spot. Sri Lanka’s performance curve, after they won the Asia Cup last year, is moving further down south and it will take them some time to recoup and come back as contenders in this tournament. They are a talented, experienced side and have performed creditably in most ICC tournaments. A big win will do wonders for their morale.
Watching the co-hosts in full cry will give their opponents in Pool A of the World Cup plenty of food for thought. For starters they will be looking at slowing down the game to try and put breaks on the batting juggernaut.
After seeing tidy spells by two left-arm spinners: Rangana Herath (1 for 37) and veteran Daniel Vettori (2 for 34), it may make sense to bank on spinners to halt the momentum and use express pace for shock value. It just may be that spinners will play an important role in the eleventh edition of the ICC World Cup.
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