Asian teams dominating the cricket world- A welcome change
In the era of 1970's the cricketing world was dominated by the West Indies because of the their strong pace bowling and strong batting line up and from 1999 onwards till 2006 the Aussies dominated the cricket world having the number 1 rank for a long time. In the recent months a great change is explicit that the Asian teams like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh are giving a tough fight to the other top teams.Afghanistan has qualified for the World Cup 2015 for the first time to compete with world's best .
In 2013 the Indian team has been performing brilliantly with 71% win record in ODI and 100% wins in test matches. The main reason of success has been the young players performing at the international level. Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Chateshwar Pujara are doing so well that the experienced players Sehwag, Gambhir dropped recently and Rahul Dravid and Laxman and Sourav Ganguly retired recently are not being missed . Master blaster Sachin Tebdulkar has also anounced his retirement after Mumbai's Test from 14 November 2013 his 200th game and I am sure will not make much difference to the team's performance though his support to the youngsters will not be there. Dhoni the cool captain has the capacity to lead from front and perform under pressure to chase huge scores is in ODI's to steal the victory from the jaws of defeat.
In ODI's the performance in the year of 2013 has been great winning the tournaments in England, West Indies, Zimbabwe and two series at home. The Indian team under Dhoni has to improve the performance overseas after the debacle in England and Australia. The Indian team has won 3 major ICC trophies the T-20 world Cup, World Cup 2011 and Champions trophy 2013.
The Pakistan team has lot of match winners but the main problem of this team is that they are not to chase scores in ODI despite the talent.In 1992 the team won the World Cup and then in 2009 they won the T-20 World Cup.In this year the Pakistan team has not been at his best losing 3 test matches and ODI series against South Africans. Top six batsmen though settled are leaving the scoring to tailenders when the team is chasing the scores, that they are not able to tackle the pressure. The worst part is that Pakistan team lost 1 ODI and 1 test match against the even team like Zimbabwe. The team comprises of some match winners like Shaid Afridi, Misbah, Umar Akmal, Hafeez. The bowling looks good which can trouble any team on their day but they have to improve the batting and learn to tackle pressure.The Pakistan team has to improve their mental attitude.
Bangladesh side have improved a lot in ODI's especially in 2013 with win percentage of 55% . In this year they have beaten the New Zeland 3-0 and drawing the series against the Sri Lankans 1-1. If the other teams take them lightly they can sting and surprise. The main achievement of the team was in the Asia cup 2012 when they defeated India and Sri Lankans and almost defeated the Pakistans in final. The team comprises of Tamim Iqbal, Anmual Haque, Nasir Hussain, Mominal Haque and spinners like Sohag Gazi who has recently scored a century and taking a hatrick in a test match and also Rubel Hussian taking a hatrick in ODI.
Sri Lanka cricket needs to nurture the youngsters before the top players like TM Dilshan who has retired from test cricket, Sangakaraka and bowlers like Malinga who can single hand win the match . The team has won the World Cup in 1996 and reaching the final of 2003 WorldCup, 2007 World Cup, 2011 World Cup and 2012 T-20 World Cup because of the talent pool.
On the contrary South Africa who is at number 1 rank in test cricket has been on the top because of the bowling which comprises of Steyn, Morkel, Philander and batting which has Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Smith and Ab dillviers. Aussies form has dipped as they lost the last 6 test matches in 2013.
The table below shows that the Asian teams are capturing more than half of the rankings. Lets hope that status will improve further in the coming months.
In 2013 the Indian team has been performing brilliantly with 71% win record in ODI and 100% wins in test matches. The main reason of success has been the young players performing at the international level. Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Chateshwar Pujara are doing so well that the experienced players Sehwag, Gambhir dropped recently and Rahul Dravid and Laxman and Sourav Ganguly retired recently are not being missed . Master blaster Sachin Tebdulkar has also anounced his retirement after Mumbai's Test from 14 November 2013 his 200th game and I am sure will not make much difference to the team's performance though his support to the youngsters will not be there. Dhoni the cool captain has the capacity to lead from front and perform under pressure to chase huge scores is in ODI's to steal the victory from the jaws of defeat.
In ODI's the performance in the year of 2013 has been great winning the tournaments in England, West Indies, Zimbabwe and two series at home. The Indian team under Dhoni has to improve the performance overseas after the debacle in England and Australia. The Indian team has won 3 major ICC trophies the T-20 world Cup, World Cup 2011 and Champions trophy 2013.
The Pakistan team has lot of match winners but the main problem of this team is that they are not to chase scores in ODI despite the talent.In 1992 the team won the World Cup and then in 2009 they won the T-20 World Cup.In this year the Pakistan team has not been at his best losing 3 test matches and ODI series against South Africans. Top six batsmen though settled are leaving the scoring to tailenders when the team is chasing the scores, that they are not able to tackle the pressure. The worst part is that Pakistan team lost 1 ODI and 1 test match against the even team like Zimbabwe. The team comprises of some match winners like Shaid Afridi, Misbah, Umar Akmal, Hafeez. The bowling looks good which can trouble any team on their day but they have to improve the batting and learn to tackle pressure.The Pakistan team has to improve their mental attitude.
Bangladesh side have improved a lot in ODI's especially in 2013 with win percentage of 55% . In this year they have beaten the New Zeland 3-0 and drawing the series against the Sri Lankans 1-1. If the other teams take them lightly they can sting and surprise. The main achievement of the team was in the Asia cup 2012 when they defeated India and Sri Lankans and almost defeated the Pakistans in final. The team comprises of Tamim Iqbal, Anmual Haque, Nasir Hussain, Mominal Haque and spinners like Sohag Gazi who has recently scored a century and taking a hatrick in a test match and also Rubel Hussian taking a hatrick in ODI.
Sri Lanka cricket needs to nurture the youngsters before the top players like TM Dilshan who has retired from test cricket, Sangakaraka and bowlers like Malinga who can single hand win the match . The team has won the World Cup in 1996 and reaching the final of 2003 WorldCup, 2007 World Cup, 2011 World Cup and 2012 T-20 World Cup because of the talent pool.
On the contrary South Africa who is at number 1 rank in test cricket has been on the top because of the bowling which comprises of Steyn, Morkel, Philander and batting which has Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Smith and Ab dillviers. Aussies form has dipped as they lost the last 6 test matches in 2013.
The table below shows that the Asian teams are capturing more than half of the rankings. Lets hope that status will improve further in the coming months.
RECENT ICC RECENT WORLD RANKING
Award
|
I
|
II
|
III
|
Asian
Contribution
|
Best
Teams
|
5/9
|
|||
Best Test Teams
|
South Africa
|
England
|
India
|
|
Best ODI Teams
|
India
|
Australia
|
England
|
|
Best T20 Teams
|
Sri Lanka
|
Pakistan
|
India
|
|
Best
Batsman
|
2/9
|
|||
Test
|
De villers
|
Hashim Amla
|
S Chanderpaul
|
|
ODI
|
Virat Kohli
|
Hashim Amla
|
Geroge Bailey
|
|
T20
|
Hales
|
B. Mcullum
|
Virat Kohli
|
|
Best
Bowler
|
5/9
|
|||
Test
|
Dale Styen
|
Vernon Philander
|
Hearth
|
|
ODI
|
Saeed Ajmal
|
Narine
|
Ravindra Jadeja
|
|
T20
|
Narine
|
Saeed Ajmal
|
Md. Hafeez
|
|
Best
All rounder
|
7/9
|
|||
Test
|
Ashwin
|
Shakib
|
Jacques kallis
|
|
ODI
|
Hafeez
|
Al Hasan
|
Dilshan
|
|
T20
|
Watson
|
Hafeez
|
Yuvraj
|
|
Grand total
|
6/12
|
5/12
|
8/12
|
19/36
|
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