[rijo_tj]

Just like the FIFA World Cup in Russia , this Cricket world cup will be the most open and exciting tournment to look out for since 1992 due to the round robin format it has applied.

[RajeevSharma]

I voted for England as their batting is very strong. They can post as well as defend big totals.
I am not sure if India can compete with couple of bowlers and most of batsman not on song.

[harry10]

Originally Posted by satishv1987

Most of us ( including myself) have taken it for granted that India will reach the semis. There is a possibility of crashing out during the group stages itself.

As usual one of our top three has to score big in every match. MSD is the fittest with Kohli in our team so i am not worried about that. His form is back which is good news for us. Concern is about Yadav and DK in the middle order as they keep blowing hot and cold.

Also, we wont crash out in group stages. Please don't forget we have been in top 3 rankings since a long time and that isn't a fluke. Every team has issues. Point is to start strong and don't leave it to later matches to qualify.

[jayguar]

Australia is becoming stronger at the right time. India, England, Australia and NewZealand/SouthAfrica would be the semifinalists. With the English pitches as flat as it can be and not as swing friendly as it used to be, India has a very good chance of winning. Hence, voted for India. However its not going to be easy with England and Australia providing a tough competition.

[shashant]

Originally Posted by Swap_Abarth

England for me.

Though my heart will always say India. England have explosive one day unit. Conditions will suit them also along with crowd support. Jason Roy, Bairstow, Stokes, Morgan, Buttler, Root & Moin Ali will form formidable batting line up.

They do have a weak bowling line up as well with no superstar in bowling department. That's why they are pushing for Jofra Archer.

[Nav-i-gator]

As strong as our top 3 are, if even one of them clicks big time in every match, India will win. However that seems a tough one. We need our no 4 and no 6, no 7 to to contribute a lot. Esp in keeping the run rate consistently high. There is no total safe nowadays below 340.

I would believe England to be the winner, going by the last 2 years form and sheer batting depth (as well as explosiveness) they have. Their bowling is also not that bad.

India's strength lie in our bowling though. There is not much to pick as favorites from all teams as far as batting might is concerned, England, WI, New Zealand and Australia have as good batting lineup as ours, if not better.

I have got a feeling that this world cup would be won by the best bowling team. And that's where Pakistan, New Zealand, Australia and India start with favourites (in increasing order of likeness to reach Finals).

There is some drastic fragility in England's unit in both bowling and batting that might fail their march to the cup at some crucial juncture. Same for India in their middle order.

I am most excited though for Afghanistan. Their batting will not be enough to reach semis, but they will definitely cause an upset or two with the sheer talent and depth in their bowling unit.

Also, I believe that if WI manage to reach semi-finals, they will most likely be in the finals as well.

Keeping in mind the last 2 years' performance trends though, India and England should meet at the finals.

[aabhimanyu04]

Originally Posted by hemanth.anand

It's one thing to root for your national team and it's another thing to predict. Looks like many here are just doing the former. Patriotism and support in the heart has taken over the mind IMO. If we ignore that, looks like England are the clear favorites.

Agree, I voted for England too, but I want India to win

[embee]

Today there is an article in Times of India the Indian team management, gearing up for the 2019 ICC World Cup in England, isn’t very happy with its cricket board’s conflicting policy on overseas staff being hired in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The reasons for discontent are multiple. Picture this: India’s opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan plays in the IPL for a franchise that is being coached by Australia’s national assistant coach Ricky Ponting and the team analyst working alongside Ponting, Sriram Somayajula, also serves the Sri Lankan national team in the same capacity. “Imagine the extent to which they understand Dhawan the cricketer. What clicks for him… what doesn’t...

Another example of the same is Cricket South Africa’s Chennai-based analyst Prasanna Agoram working with the Kings XI Punjab.

“The amount of work Prasanna has put in with the South African national team is tremendous. We got to know about it first hand when we visited South Africa last year. Now, this guy gets to spend two months right here in the Indian domestic circuit just weeks before he’ll accompany South Africa to the World Cup. This just doesn’t sound correct,” say some members of the Indian cricket team.

Basically, the Indian Team is pointing out the amount of analysis being done by the foreign coaches and team analysts and the amount of information they are able to gather at each and every step of the game. These guys see live players in action and have hands-on experience on the same.


Link to the article: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...w/69138671.cms

[Bee]

Originally Posted by embee

Today there is an article in Times of India the Indian team management, gearing up for the 2019 ICC World Cup in England, isn’t very happy with its cricket board’s conflicting policy on overseas staff being hired in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Their reasons are totally justified. It is understandable that these franchises are in the game to make money and 'nationalism' has little place in business. All the overseas staff can very well learn where the Indian bowlers lack and where the batsmen excel. This is very crucial information which normally the analyst teams spend hours scouring footage from different matches but now they get to have a more up close and personal experience.

Coming to the winner predictions. I'd definitely want India to win, but seeing their on/off form I'll be surprises if they cross the semis.

England seems like the favorites and Australia being the underdog this year

[SafariMan]

The cat is out of the bag. After the public attack on David Warner and the crying and sobbing 'Steve Smith' in South Africa for cheating, they have a point to prove. I think they would come hard on everyone especially in batting. Their bowling may let them down. Hope so. On chances of India, sorry India may not win the finals if they make it. I very well remember the India Pakistan final few years back and how helpless Virat was in the face of fierce accurate bowling.

[jayguar]

Originally Posted by embee

Today there is an article in Times of India the Indian team management, gearing up for the 2019 ICC World Cup in England, isn’t very happy with its cricket board’s conflicting policy on overseas staff being hired in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
...
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Don't the national team analysts study the oppositions' batting and bowling through a number of videos and also live matches when they are being played?If the Indian team management is worried about this, so should the team management of other national teams as their top players also play in the IPL and other leagues.

[revvenant]

My Pick:

Semifinals:
Australia
Pakistan
New Zealand
England

Finals:
England
Pakistan

Winners:
Pakistan

[noo.b]

I dont know how people are hoping that West Indies will make the semis, they're nothing more than a bunch of T20 specialists and it shows in both ODIs and Tests.

If Mustafizur gets well in time for the world cup then Bangladesh will be a very strong contender and make it to the semis, they have a knack of doing well in ICC events.

My picks for the semis are these :

1. India - Our bowling attack is the best in the world right now with a decent batting order too.
2. Australia - Steve Smith and Warner are back, batting was the only chink in their armor and wont be after they join, and both of them are in a great knick.
3. Bangladesh - These guys just don't give up, not very likable but extremely competitive.
4. England - but they're definitely not going further.


I am certain Pakistan, South Africa, New Zealand, West Indies aren't making it past the first round.

[PKH]

Semifinals
England
South Africa
India
West Indies

Finals
India
South Africa

Winner - India

[Nav-i-gator]

With the round-robin league structure this WC, it is going to be the tournament for consistent teams - teams that start steadily, playing to their strengths and settling into a stable winning momentum; rather than inconsistent teams.

On that count, Semi-final probables are:

1. England: They will implode in a couple of games, looking pretty ordinary (and thus messing with chances of qualification for other inconsistent teams), but will decimate opposition in other games (likely to sit atop the points table at the end of league stage, with best strike rate)

2. India: With one of the best bowling attack, even a slow start will allow them to scamper through to the semis. Plus, ICC tournaments usually bring out the best in Indian team. There is enough quality, consistency and relentlessness (and don't discount Dhoni magic behind the wickets) to get them through to Semis.

3. Australia: 4 times World cup winners, they just can't be discounted. Like India, there is enough quality now (with Smith and Warner back) to get them through.

4. Either of New Zealand and South Africa: Both the teams have good depth in both batting and bowling, plus x factor players who can get them to a win single handed on their day. Whoever makes it to the semi finals, would be sitting on 2nd place behind England by the end of league stage.

Rest of the teams, Pakistan, WI, Bangladesh in particular are too inconsistent to gain enough momentum to take them through to semis.

My 2 cents.