Chris Gayle set a very high standard by becoming the first batsman to score a double hundred in the history of International Cricket Council’s World Cup. He bludgeoned the hapless Zimbabweans for 215 runs to get back into form and put more life into the tournament.
Not to be outdone, AB De Villiers raised the bar higher with a magnificent show of power batting when he smashed the West Indies bowlers for an unbeaten 162 of a mere 66 balls. He not only gave a fitting reply to Kiwi legend Martin Crowe who had questioned the leadership skills of the Proteas captain while also giving him some grooming tips: “Have a shave, AB, you look ragged and rattled. Smarten up. A touch of polish is required.”
While Gayle and AB set high batting standards by displaying raw power and demonstrating total control over the opposition, the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy saw the hosts beating their trans-Tasman rivals by the proverbial whisker. The game swung, in as much as the ball did moving the scales both ways throughout the game.
Eventually it was the temperament of Kane Williamson that tilted the balance in favor of the New Zealanders when he kept his nerve – even as wickets were tumbling around him – and coolly hit Aussie pacer Pat Cummins for a six to seal the game for the Kiwis who had only one wicket left in their kitty.
The clash of the two host teams verified one thing: there is little to choose between New Zealand and Australia. Considering the current form of the two teams, it is a no-brainer that they will qualify for the knockout stage. Their match was important only because it would decide which team would top pool A.
India must top pool B
The Aussie-Kiwi clash assumes importance for India, who, if all goes well, are poised to top the points table in Pool B after the easy victory against the UAE. The venues for the semi-final have been decided in such a way that the two hosts (if they win their quarter-final matches) will play them in their own countries irrespective of their qualifying positions in their Pool.
If India do top Pool B – which they should given their current form – and win their quarterfinal, they are most likely to play Australia (as the number two team in Pool A) at Sydney. This should give team India one more reason to keep their momentum going in the remainder of their matches and take the pole position in their Pool.
Even though the two hosts are tough opponents, India will prefer playing Australia at Sydney (the venue of the semi-final) to facing the Kiwis in Auckland. In the recent past, India have performed much better in Australia and have struggled in New Zealand thanks to the unpredictable wickets and inclement weather conditions. Not to forget the crowd support – as we saw in their two games against Pakistan and South Africa.
So India must beat West Indies
In this context, the next game that India plays at Perth against West Indies assumes a lot of importance. They need to keep themselves motivated if they are to win against a team that has loads of talent and are a volatile lot. With Rohit Sharma back in form, the batting looks a lot more stable than it did against Pakistan and South Africa.
Team India would love to see their strike bowler, Mohammed Shami recover from his injury and must be happy with the way Bhuvaneshwar Kumar bowled at Perth against the UAE. The hard, almost glassy wicket at Perth aids pace but also helps bowlers to move the ball thanks to the ‘Freemantle Doctor,’ a term used for the afternoon breeze, which makes the ball swing more at the venue.
Kumar, with a bit of help from the "Doctor", could just India’s antidote to counter the Gayle-storm.
Not to be outdone, AB De Villiers raised the bar higher with a magnificent show of power batting when he smashed the West Indies bowlers for an unbeaten 162 of a mere 66 balls. He not only gave a fitting reply to Kiwi legend Martin Crowe who had questioned the leadership skills of the Proteas captain while also giving him some grooming tips: “Have a shave, AB, you look ragged and rattled. Smarten up. A touch of polish is required.”
While Gayle and AB set high batting standards by displaying raw power and demonstrating total control over the opposition, the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy saw the hosts beating their trans-Tasman rivals by the proverbial whisker. The game swung, in as much as the ball did moving the scales both ways throughout the game.
Eventually it was the temperament of Kane Williamson that tilted the balance in favor of the New Zealanders when he kept his nerve – even as wickets were tumbling around him – and coolly hit Aussie pacer Pat Cummins for a six to seal the game for the Kiwis who had only one wicket left in their kitty.
The clash of the two host teams verified one thing: there is little to choose between New Zealand and Australia. Considering the current form of the two teams, it is a no-brainer that they will qualify for the knockout stage. Their match was important only because it would decide which team would top pool A.
India must top pool B
The Aussie-Kiwi clash assumes importance for India, who, if all goes well, are poised to top the points table in Pool B after the easy victory against the UAE. The venues for the semi-final have been decided in such a way that the two hosts (if they win their quarter-final matches) will play them in their own countries irrespective of their qualifying positions in their Pool.
If India do top Pool B – which they should given their current form – and win their quarterfinal, they are most likely to play Australia (as the number two team in Pool A) at Sydney. This should give team India one more reason to keep their momentum going in the remainder of their matches and take the pole position in their Pool.
Even though the two hosts are tough opponents, India will prefer playing Australia at Sydney (the venue of the semi-final) to facing the Kiwis in Auckland. In the recent past, India have performed much better in Australia and have struggled in New Zealand thanks to the unpredictable wickets and inclement weather conditions. Not to forget the crowd support – as we saw in their two games against Pakistan and South Africa.
So India must beat West Indies
In this context, the next game that India plays at Perth against West Indies assumes a lot of importance. They need to keep themselves motivated if they are to win against a team that has loads of talent and are a volatile lot. With Rohit Sharma back in form, the batting looks a lot more stable than it did against Pakistan and South Africa.
Team India would love to see their strike bowler, Mohammed Shami recover from his injury and must be happy with the way Bhuvaneshwar Kumar bowled at Perth against the UAE. The hard, almost glassy wicket at Perth aids pace but also helps bowlers to move the ball thanks to the ‘Freemantle Doctor,’ a term used for the afternoon breeze, which makes the ball swing more at the venue.
Kumar, with a bit of help from the "Doctor", could just India’s antidote to counter the Gayle-storm.
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