The Invisable World Cup Preview

With the country being driven into a frenzy with the anticipation of imminent excitement, held in the grip of World Cup fever, let’s have a look to the likely or possible outcome of the ICC World Cup 2015.

Trash talk of England's captain Morgan's ability by Geoffrey B, with the inevitable rebuffs from other of the usual suspects have tried to push the event up in the public conscience but still football reigns supreme; Andy Carroll is injured AGAIN. ......apparently.

England will (or should) get beyond the group stage but on to the semi-final is only a 50-50 prospect at best. Of the other two of the Big 3 of World Cricket governance, India, even with their Galactico-esque stellar squad, will possibly struggle in Australian and NZ conditions, as they did in the recent Tri-Series but could up their game for the big event; whereas Australia will be red hot favourites with only South Africa anywhere close to them in depth of squad and talent. 

New Zealand, with all the advantages of home comforts, could make it to the semi-finals and after their recent dominance over Sri Lanka, must be full of confidence.

Sri Lanka, in recent years, raise their game for tournaments and they too will be vying for a semi-final berth but will conditions suit their run stifling spin attack? Pakistan too would expect to reach the semi-finals but only if key elements of their squad fire at the right times.

In reality, it’s difficult to see beyond Australia storming to predictable tournament win but once the knockout stages have been reached; destiny can be swayed, one way or another by an individual’s performance on that day; Australia, India and South Africa just have more of those “individuals” in their line-ups.

West Indies' decline appears relentless apart from in the shortest format of the game, so any reduced over games would be a benefit to them but their recent last ditched salvaged victory over Scotland, allowing the Scots to score over 300, highlights their lack of bowling depth these days.

From a cricket global expansion point of view, you have to hope that the minnows give a blooded nose or two along the way but none of them are expected to escape the group stage; but good luck to Scotland and Paul Franks' charges, UAE. But with the cut in the teams competing in the next World Cup, does this put expansion on ice?

Putting green and gold tinted spectacles on further, fingers are crossed for James Taylor to score big and regularly, Stuart Broad to stay injury free and hold his line and length (wickets will follow) and that Alex Hales doesn't spill the drinks or any chances in the field as sub fielder. Should Alex get a chance to bat, I hope he dips his bread and cleans-up and is in the kind of form we saw around July last year.Good luck to Matty Cross too, playing for Scotland, any scores that get Mick Newell's attention can't hurt him but does he fit into Nottinghamshire future plans anymore with young Moores now on the scene?

So will South Africa and their bowling battery combined with their flamboyant batting overcome the hometown favourites, with their massive partisan crowds? We will see...... or will we?

In India, games will be aired on free to view on the Doordarshan network, putting certain other networks out of pocket (source ESPN) but in England under the control of the Murdoch Empire, chances of seeing live action is strictly confined to subscribers of that Murdochian package or to those drinking in the small hours in certain hostelries that’s not airing replays of other Murdoch monopolies of a more premier nature. Sky had hinted that it would start showing cricket highlights on its Freeview Pick channel but it appears not yet.

As games will be played when working folk are likely to be sleeping or working, this ICC World Cup is largely going to remain invisible to Joe Public and that any flags of St George being hung from windows etc, being motivated by activities at Twickenham rather than from down-under, unfortunately. DG