Who Will be World Champion of Cricket ?

Kapil Dev`s statement:

JOHANNESBURG: India are better cricketers than Australia, former India captain and coach Kapil Dev said on the eve of the World Cup final.

``I think the Indian players are more talented than Australia. Australia are superior only in fitness and physique,`` Kapil said on Saturday.

The former all rounder, who led India to victory in the 1983 World Cup, added of India: ``They are playing like champions.``

India have won their last eight matches since being thrashed by nine wickets by the unbeaten Australians in the first round. Australia have not lost for a world-record 16 one-day matches.

Kapil is in South Africa as a television commentator but said he would not be at The Wanderers for the final.

He hoped attacking opening batsman Virender Sehwag and Saurav Ganguly would find their best form in the final.

Sehwag has hit one fifty from 10 innings. Ganguly has made three unbeaten hundreds but they have come against non-test sides Namibia and Kenya (2). His record against test sides in this tournament is just over 17.

``Sehwag is a very good player, but in this World Cup he has not shown anything which people in this country or elsewhere can enjoy,`` Kapil added.

``Saurav is a superb player... But he has not got many runs against genuine quick bowlers.

``He has scored runs against teams such as Australia, South Africa but over the period the impression he has given is he struggles against pace.``

Ganguly is likely to be targeted by Australia fast bowler Brett Lee, consistently the quickest bowler in the world and second in the list of World Cup wicket-takers with 20.


I don`t think that Indians are more talented lot than Aussies but they sure are at equal footing with them. And Physical fitness is an integral part of your talent its no good to have a raw talent but you can`t step in the ground.

Jarrar

I wanted to include following statistics in the article, and have no idea how I missed:


Feb 15 2003, Centurion: Australia won by 9 wickets

April 6 2001, Goa: Australia won by 4 wickets

April 3 2001, Visakhapatnam: Australia won by 93 runs

Mar 31 2001, Indore: India won by 118 runs

Mar 28 2001, Pune: Australia won by 8 wickets

Mar 25 2001, Bangalore: India won by 60 runs

Oct 7 2000, Nairobi: India won 20 runs

Jan 30 2000, Perth: Australia won by 4 wickets

Jan 26 2000, Adelaide: Australia won by 152 runs

Jan 14 2000, Sydney: Australia won by 5 wickets

Total matches played: 67

Australia wins: 40 India wins: 24 Tied/NR: 3

As they say that ``Statistics are like lamp pole, a drunkard can use to hold on to and it can also be used to light`` so use it the way you want to use.

Jarrar

Best of luck to India tonight.

I wonder how they feel with Pakistani fans in their corner.....

India is going to need the luck and a lot more.

Ras

Jarrar; lagta hai aap hamare madani sahab ko jaante nahin hain. . .unko logon ko aazmane ka shauq hai. . .beshak thore difficult hain lekin ab tak naik niyat ka muzaahira kiya hai. . .aage bhi yehi umeed rahegi. . .

Aamir

Reply #5:

{
..... i don`t know much about cricket and care even less,
}

Its quite obvious that you dont know anything about Cricket, and it also seems that you happen to not like Hindus, I have no idea why but I hope you might have some solid reasons.

I just wanted to make a point that the forum is not to vent such hidden anger, I am sure there are other chat rooms where you will be welcome.

Please pitch in your thoughts about the final so we can have a conversation about what the article is about.

Thanx for your understanding.

Jarrar

Jarrar:

Laws of averages go against Aussies. Last world cups trend analysis go in favor of India too (Pakistan had defeated Australia in group match, but had lost the final in 1999, similarly, Australia vs. Sri Lanka in 1996 and Pakistan vs. England in 1992).

Even then I would be willing to put my weight behing Australia. Its a game between professionalism and talent.

Throughout the 80s and 90s, India had world class batsmen who pummeled Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, England and New Zealand but collapsed against Pakistan, Australia, South Africa and West Indies. Against the ``Big Four``, India whimpered because of a lack of mental toughness and raw aggression.

I feel that the current Indian team has worked very hard over the last 2 years.. they exude more confidence and aggression.

However, to win against Australia, you need more than talent and aggression. Pakistan and South Africa have learnt this lesson the hard way.

The Aussies are the most attacking cricketers in the world today. They are the only team in the world that could lose 5 wickets for 80 runs and still go on to score 310. To win against the Aussies, you need talent + aggression + intelligent strategy. India will need to strategize on an over-by-over basis to win against Australia.

OK fine we will try to win this cricket shricket cup shup, you please now play and try to win hockey vockey.

..... i don`t know much about cricket and care even less, but i don`t want the indians to win .......... i can`t stand the thought of them winning anything ........heck, if i thought an indian was going to pick up my garbage from the curb, i`d bring it back in and put it in the middle of my drawing room......... i know this sounds insane, but it must be in the genes ......... the other day my kids, born and raised in the usa, went on the war path when i suggested buying a honda ...........``it is an indian car - specially those beige ones,`` they yelled and screamed ......... `` what`s next - are you going to make us eat veggie burgers and wear dots on our foreheads!`` ............ i wanted to point out that some of their best friends were indians, but then decided to give up before i was declared a senile hindoo-lover ...........

#2,

Thanx for liking the article.

I am sure (as I said) that India is the only team in the world that has the potential and will to defeat Aussies. Cricket is much more than simply playing a stroke and bowling a ball. Team role and cohesivness plays a big role in the victories.

Indian team is playing as if it is a one man (the whole is knitted into one unit). There isa lot of planning that goes into game planning and they must be planning this for quite a while. I have followed Tendulkar`s career with almost as much of an enthusism as an Indian would and I know he has never done the same mistake twice. Aussies wont be getting him out the way they got him in the league game.

If Indian can`t win it now then there is no stopping to the Aussies for many many years to come. I think Indian cricket has been heading in the right direction and it is paying off now.

Cheers,
Jarrar

...india is going to get a royal beating from mighty aussies...i don`t think it matters who plays the aussies...they will get a royal beating...


india batting first:

bowled out for 150 or so

australia batting first:

look for 350 or so

I want India to win. The Cup should come to South Asia.

In the present form, the Indian batting is the best in the world & Tandolkar, the best batsman.

I liked your article. It seems you observe a lot. But Indians prevailing over the aussies... naah.. :-)