Cricket World Cup Preview - Team by Team Guide

Cricket World Cup Preview – Team by Team Guide

We’ve put together a comprehensive guide of every side competing in the Cricket World Cup with odds from Beteasy.

Afghanistan

History: Despite taking part in three editions of the World Twenty20, Afghanistan are yet to take part in the 50-over format. 2015 is a new era for Afghanistan cricket.

Form: Afghanistan had an excellent Premier League tournament in Malaysia where they won four out of their five matches. They followed that with a tied series against Zimbabwe, and then toured New Zealand and Australia playing first class sides to varying levels of success. They also managed to sneak in another series against fellow World Cup newcomers UAE where they lost 3-1.

Squad: Mohammad Nabi (capt), Afsar Zazai (wk), Aftab Alam, Asghar Stanikzai, Dawlat Zadran, Gulbadin Naib, Hamid Hassan, Javed Ahmadi, Mirwais Ashraf, Najibullah Zadran, Nasir Jamal, Nawroz Mangal, Samiullah Shenwari, Shapoor Zadran, Usman Ghani.

Strengths: Led by Hamid Hassan Afghanistan possess a decent pace bowling unit. They are also coached by former New Zealand coach Andy Moles, who is an excellent planner. He should be able to get the best out of his players and provide valuable insights into opposition players.

Weaknesses: A lack of x-factor is the glaring worry. They rely too heavily on captain Mohammad Nabi, and the others may get found out. Would love to be wrong though (and we do think they’ll do very well in future World Cups).

Player to Watch: Hamid Hassan is in the rare-breed of sub-continent quicks who can generate express pace. Capable of bowling 145km/h, Hassan will love the pitches of Australia and New Zealand.

Odds: $1001

Australia

History: Australia is the most successful nation in Cricket World Cup history, having won the trophy four times (1987, 1999, 2003, 2007). Their most recent effort was a quarter-final loss to India in 2011.

Form: Australia wrapped up their preparations with an easy win in the Carlton Mid Tri-Series final. In fact, the favourites have lost just one of their last eight ODIs; all played against India, England or South Africa. Ominous form.

Squad: George Bailey, Michael Clarke (capt), Patrick Cummins, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin (wk), Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson.

Strengths: Balance and depth come to mind when you think of Australia’s strengths. They bode a fearsome mix of power, craft, aggression and patience and are likely to be able to call upon any of their players to deliver a match-winning performance. Intent is another term that can describe the mindset of both their top order batsman and wicket-taking seam attack.

Weaknesses: The only hole in the line-up is a world class spin option. For the second consecutive Cricket World Cup Australia enter the tournament without a recognised slow bowler capable of taking big wickets. Xavier Doherty might not even play that often as Australia rely on Maxwell to play the containing spin role.

Player to Watch: If David Warner can avoid getting himself banned for some stupid sledging incident he could be a big factor in this World Cup. One century in an otherwise quiet Carlton Mid Tri Series means he due to punish opposition bowling attacks. The matches against associate nations could springboard him into some form for later in the tournament.

Odds: $2.90

Bangladesh

History: 2007 was the highlight in an otherwise underwhelming record at World Cups. In that year they beat India to make the group stage but haven’t made it there in any of the other tournaments. Have won only eight of 26 World Cup games.

Form: Bangladesh began 2014 searching for a win for the longest time, but as its recent 5-0 rout of Zimbabwe at home shows, the signs were there of the side coming together well. It played 18 ODIs in 2014, winning five, losing 12 and with one match against India in Dhaka abandoned due to rain.

Squad: Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), Tamim Iqbal, Anamul Haque, Mominul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan (vice-capt), Mahmudullah Riaz, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Nasir Hossain, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Al-Amin Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Soumya Sarkar, Sabbir Rahman, Arafat Sunny.

Strengths: Bangladesh could play as many as four spinners in their run on World Cup side in what is an obvious strength. They won’t get too many pitchers that turn, and the small grounds of New Zealand won’t suit them, but may take wickets by benefitting from some team’s aggressive pursuit of runs.

Weaknesses: Too often the likes of Shakib, Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah are tasked with picking up the pieces. If Bangladesh are to do well in this tournament the top order must contribute.

Player to Watch: Shakib Al Hasan is one of the best players to ever play for Bangladesh (if not the best). He consistently gets runs and wickets in all situations with his handy left arm spin and quality ball striking. For a little guy he has an uncanny knack of finding the boundary, and his round arm slingers have already proven effective in Australia after a brief Big Bash League stint.

Odds: $201

England

History: Pretty woeful recent results (9th, 6th and 7th) have masked earlier success in which they finished second on three occasions.

Form: England have not won an ODI series since beating West Indies in their last four attempts. After discarding Alastair Cook, England have appointed Eoin Morgan to lead them to glory. To do so they need to get past their poor recent efforts. Showed glimpses of form in the Carlton Mid Tri Series but still outsiders.

Squad: Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler (wk), Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Eoin Morgan (capt), Joe Root, James Taylor, James Tredwell, Chris Woakes.

Strengths: Probably seam bowling from Broad, Finn, Woakes and Anderson but even then they have struggled on their recent Australian tour. Broad and Anderson are proven performers in Australia and Woakes and Finn took trip-series wickets too, so they could bundle out sides quickly if they have momentum.

Weaknesses: Moeen Ali is an ultra talented opener and off spinner, but it’s a lot to ask to do both. Lacking a World Class spinner could hurt England and Ravi Bopara’s form is a big concern.

Player to Watch: Joe Root is handily placed to break-out as an ODI player during the World Cup. Despite some epic test knocks he’s yet to really set the world alight despite being ranked 14th best in the World. Root is one of those players who can accumulate quickly if he doesn’t get stuck on the crease and knick out as is often the way in Australia.

Odds: $11

India

History: Defending champions after a faultless run through the Asian hosted edition. Also won in 1983 and finished second in 2003.

Form: Is inconsistent. In 2014 in New Zealand they lost 4-0. At home they beat the West Indies and Sri Lanka easily. But back to Australia they didn’t win a game in the tri-series. The form in the conditions in which tournament will be played is a huge worry.

Squad: Ravichandran Ashwin, Stuart Binny, Shikhar Dhawan, MS Dhoni (capt & wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Akshar Patel, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav.

Strengths: The top order is undoubtedly the strength of the 2nd ranked ODI side. In Rahane, Kohli, Rayudu, Dhawan and Raina they have players who can score big runs in the shorter format, and because they’ve been in Australia for such a long time, should be well suited to the conditions. The draw has been kind to India too. They play just two games at the bouncy WACA (against West Indies and UAE); a ground where their batsman may have struggled against quality opposition.

Weaknesses: The Indian seam bowling attack resembles a bit of a rabble at the moment. Struggling in both the long formats and the shorter formats, the bowling is definitely the achilles heal of the squad. That isn’t worrying India though, they are working on a theory whereby they play one more batsman and back themselves to chase any total. Bowlers can concede as many as they do and their strength will bail them out.

Player to Watch: Virat Kohli is the third ranked ODI batsman in the world (and 12th best test batsman). He has the ability to score big ODI hundreds, with 21 hundreds already to his name. He has also been in one pretty decent form in Australia during the recent test series. The only question is whether his shoulders can carry the weight of expectation that is now on him following Sachin Tendulkar’s retirement.

Odds: $10

Ireland

History: The Irish shocked everyone in 2007 when they qualified for the Super 8’s. They couldn’t repeat that in 2011 but did upset England when they chased down 329 courtesy of Kevin O’Brien’s record breaking hundred.

Form: Have been okay against the minnows but hasn’t beaten a test playing nation since the last World Cup. They are generally one of the better associate nations.

Squad: William Porterfield (capt), Andrew Balbirnie, Peter Chase, Alex Cusack, George Dockrell, Ed Joyce, Andrew McBrine, John Mooney, Max Sorensen, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson, Craig Young.

Strengths: In a word accuracy. They might not have out and out speed demons but their bowlers are all accurate and stifling. In Young, Mooney and Dockrell they have three bowlers who should frustrate the opposition enough to make mistakes.

Weaknesses: The experienced Irish are getting on in age these days. A large portion of their squad are now over thirty, and while theres no substitute for experience we think that will mean they’re behind the eight ball for most of their matches. They could also struggle when the pace is taken off the ball.

Player to Watch: Ed Joyce has the strange honour of having represented two different sides in consecutive World Cups. After playing for England in 2007, Joyce then switched back to Ireland for the 2011 version. Joyce is also a quality player, who has a huge amount of first class cricket experience and is more than capable of helping Ireland to big totals.

Odds: $501

New Zealand

History: The Black Caps have reached six semi-finals from ten tournaments and boast a record of 40 wins, 29 losses (including a forfeit against Kenya in 2003) and a no result.

Form: The co-hosts are in top form. After knocking off Sri Lanka 4-2, the Black Caps then beat Pakistan 2-0. Further back still they beat Pakistan again in Dubai. The draw has also been very kind to them as they play all of their round-robin games at home.

Squad: Brendon McCullum (captain), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Adam Milne, Luke Ronchi (wkt), Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Daniel Vettori, Kane Williamson.

Strengths: The New Zealand form is pretty special, and most of their players are in decent knick themselves. They field sensationally, they are playing an aggressive brand of cricket and in front of their home crowd will be a force to be reckoned with.

Weaknesses: None in the makeup of the side, although they’ll be hoping Martin Guptill’s notoriously slow starts and inconsistency doesn’t derail them. Belief could also be a factor as the Black Caps have made a host of Cricket World Cup semi-finals without ever making the final.

Player to Watch: Kane Williamson may be the most important player to any team in this tournament. The rock in the New Zealand batting line-up Williamson holds New Zealand’s chances in his hands, despite their increased depth. Williamson’s role is to bat through the middle overs so that McCullum, Taylor, Ronchi and Anderson can all play their naturally attacking games. Williamson i s averaging 70 in one-day cricket matches for 2014/2015.

Odds: $6

Pakistan

History: The last time the tournament was hosted by Australia and New Zealand a star-studded Pakistan side won it. Since then they were runners up to Australia in 1999, and semi-finalists most recently in 2011.

Form: Three consecutive ODI series defeats to Australia, New Zealand and New Zealand again mean Pakistan are not entering on the best foot. If we were being optimistic we would point out their impressive test form in 2014.

Squad: Ahmed Shehzad, Ehsan Adil, Haris Sohail, Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Irfan, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Shahid Afridi, Sohaib Maqsood, Sohail Khan, Umar Akmal, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah, Younis Khan.

Strengths: Experience is important in World Cups. Pakistan have it by the game-load. In Younis Khan, Misbah, Hafeez and Afridi Pakistan have proven performers who could guide their side to the final staes of the comp. They’ll need runs from all of them if they are going to compete.

Weaknesses: The Pakistan seam bowling stocks have taken a bit of a hit. Junaid Khan is out, Wahab Riaz is injured, and Bilawal Bhatti got smashed all round the place by New Zealand. Come to think about it, their spin bowling stocks have also been reduced with Saeed Ajmal’s ban.

Player to Watch: Shahid Afridi has x-factor by the bucket load. Even at 34, he will still play an important role with both bat and ball. A top 10 ranked bowler and a destructive batsman is desirous in every team, and we’ll be watching his every move.

Odds: $15

Scotland

History: Scotland have not won a World Cup game in two appearances (1999, 2007).

Form: The Scots were excellent in World Cup qualification where they won seven straight games. They also had some experience in Australia and New Zealand in a pre-Christmas tour of first class outfits.

Squad: Preston Mommsen (capt), Richie Berrington, Kyle Coetzer, Freddie Coleman, Matthew Cross (wk), Josh Davey, Alasdair Evans, Hamish Gardiner, Majid Haq, Michael Leask, Matt Machan, Calum MacLeod, Safyaan Sharif, Rob Taylor, Iain Wardlaw.

Strengths: Mommsen, Coetzer, Machan are all excellent batsman in their own right. Aggressive stroke-makers who often attempt to take the game to opposition bowlers, they also represent the best chance of winning games.

Weaknesses: As much as Mommsen, Coetzer, Machan are the strengths of the side, they also represent a reliance or a weakness for the Northern underdogs. If these three don’t score runs, Scotland won’t either, and won’t win games.

Player to Watch: Majid Haq is a quality spinner with over 200 games experience. The crafty veteran is considered one of the better bowlers from the associate nations and has a best of four wickets against the West Indies.

Odds: $2001

South Africa

History: South Africa have a shocking record considering their cricketing stocks having never won or never made the final.

Form: Most recently South Africa beat New Zealand 2-0 away from home, and then visited Australia where they lost 4-0. In truth they did rest a few players in both of those match-ups.

Squad: Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wk), AB de Villiers (capt & wk), JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Vernon Philander, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir.

Strengths: Everywhere. But if we were to pinpoint one, it’s their pack bowlers. Steyn, Morkel and Philander all contribute to a well balanced and threatening attack. Look to them to devastate the world’s best batsman, before spinner Imran Tahir plays the supporting role.

Weaknesses: In the absence of Jacques Kallis the South Africans have struggled to find an impressive all-rounder. The options – Wayne Parnell and Farhaan Behardien (after Ryan McClaren was left out) – have a big task ahead of them, one that requires them to bowl overs and score valuable runs.

Player to Watch: AB de Villiers is the best batsman in the World. He showed that recently when he pummelled a hundred off 31 balls against the West Indies. de Villiers was incredible when South Africa played in Australia recently, and his form will dictate how deep South Africa go.

Odds: $4

Sri Lanka

History: Sri Lanka have a consistent history of excellent World Cup performances. The blow of losing finals in 2011 and 2007, and a semi-final in 2003, is softened by the win in 1996.

Form: A bit inconsistent of late. Losses to India and New Zealand surrounds a series win against England.

Squad: Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Rangana Herath, Mahela Jayawardene, Dimuth Karunaratne, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga (subject to fitness), Angelo Mathews (capt), Jeevan Mendis, Thisara Perera, Dhammika Prasad, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Sachithra Senanayake, Lahiru Thirimanne.

Strengths: Big players in big games with big experience. Sangakkara, Jayawardene and Dilshan are those players. Sri Lanka rely on them, but that doesn’t phase the imperious three who have all scored runs in the recent New Zealand series.

Weaknesses: Probably another team weak in the seam bowling department. Without Malinga the attack is too same/same and have failed to stop NZ lately. Herath is quality; Mendis is handy; Dilshan useful; that leaves too much expectation (and thus targeting by other teams) on the balance.

Player to Watch: If de Villiers is the best in the World, Kumar Sangakkara is the second best. Officially he’s the best test batsman and the fourth best ODI batsman – how good is that record? He’ll score runs that is for certain, the test is whether does it in the big games and his bowlers can support him.

Odds: $11

United Arab Emirates

History: Just one appearance in 1996, where they shocked the Netherlands.

Form: The most improved associated side by a long way. They deserve their spot in the World Cup on the back of some excellent lead up form.

Squad: Mohammad Tauqir (capt), Khurram Khan (vice-capt), Swapnil Patil, Saqlain Haider, Amjad Javed, Shaiman Anwar, Amjad Ali, Nasir Aziz, Rohan Mustafa, Manjula Guruge, Andri Berenger, Fahad Al Hashmi, Muhammad Naveed, Kamran Shahzad & K Karate.

Strengths: The two 43-year olds are the mainstays of the side and their best players. Mohammad Tauqir (capt), Khurram Khan will hopefully put their captaincy differences aside to be the key contributors for the UAE.

Weaknesses: The UAE lack the experience of the other competitors. There are also reports that their fielding is a bit below par.

Player to Watch: The player to watch is also their captain, Mohammad Tauqir. The offie has taken 34 wickets at 29.05 in his first class career.

Odds: $2001

West Indies

History: In the glory days the West Indies won the title in 1975 and 1979, and finished runners up in 1983. However, of late, there has been nothing to write home about.

Form: Pretty ropey. Losses to South Africa and India on the pitch and battles off it mean the West Indies enter the tournament without posing a serious threat.

Squad: Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, Jonathan Carter, Sheldon Cottrell, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder (capt), Nikita Miller, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith, Jerome Taylor.

Strengths: Big hitting batsman are nothing new to West Indies cricket. Smith, Gayle, Samuels, and Russell can all swing the willow to devastating effect, but can they do it consistently? They recently cause 236 in a Twenty20 game in South Africa but all too often if Gayle fails so does the team.

Weaknesses: Consistency issues still plague West Indies cricket. World beaters one day, calamitous the next, the West Indies need to form throughout the full six weeks. It could also be said the WICB selection methods are also weak after they left out stars Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard.

Player to Watch: Chris Gayle is the rock-star of the side and with multiple World Cups under his belt needs to finish with a bang to ensure he’ll still get picked up by various Twenty20 franchises from around the world.

Odds: $26

Zimbabwe

History: Zimbabwe has played in all subsequent editions of the ICC Cricket World Cup. It peaked in the 1999 and 2003 editions, making the Super Six stage each time.

Form: In its last ten ODIs, it has managed only one win, but that came against Australia in August, a three-wicket victory in Harare led by Chigumbura’s unbeaten half-century.

Squad: Elton Chigumbura (capt), Sikandar Raza, Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Chamu Chibhabha, Craig Ervine, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Hamilton Masakadza, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Solomon Mire, Tawanda Mupariwa, Tinashe Panyangara, Brendan Taylor (wk), Prosper Utseya, Sean Williams.

Strengths: More than ever before Zimbabwe have some players to rely on. Cigumbura, Taylor, Williams, Masakadza and Utseya are more than capable of performing against ever nation, so even if they suffer early blows this Zimbabwe side can bounce back.

Weaknesses: When Heath Streak and Tatenda Taibu played the lower order more than held their own. However, this year’s squad lacks that solidity and could be wrapped all too easily by decent bowling attacks.

Player to Watch: Brendan Taylor is the best batsman in the Zimbabwe team. He has put together a nice record in the many forms of the game and should be comfortable on the bouncy surfaces of Australia and New Zealand (that’s probably being generous to the NZ pitches though).

Odds: $501