CWC 2015: Sri Lanka: Mentally tough, physically awesome

Tilakaratne Dilshan plays away on the off side (picture: AFP)

(In conjunction with Infinity Cricket)

They’ve safely qualified for the quarter-finals.  Only Australia and New Zealand were able to defeat them comfortably; everyone else hasn’t really come close to the high-flying Sri Lankans.

Much of the credit can go to the incredible, well-oiled machine that is Kumar Sangakkara.  Four centuries, an average of 124, and 496 runs during the tournament have made a supreme statement of the class of the 37-year-old that he’s not stopping just yet.

CWC 2015: Associates tell ICC cutting World Cup teams is wrong

George Dockrell celebrates in triumph at the World Cup (photo: AFP)

‪#‎CWC15‬

Why the associates have sent a strong message to the ICC: “don’t take away our spots in the World Cup.”

It took just five matches before an associate nation decided that sitting in the shadows was going to be a thing of the past.

That team was Ireland, whose emphatic win against the West Indies was a testament to four years of hard work leading up to the World Cup. No longer was such a win an upset, instead the premise of building an organisation that wanted to achieve success. Ireland made the history books well before that though, beating England in 2011 and Pakistan in 2007 – something no-one was expecting at the time.

CWC 2015: Chris Gayle absolutely destroys a Zimbabwe outfit with no answer to the onslaught

Chris Gayle goes down the track (photo: ICC)

Here’s some stats about THAT Chris Gayle innings:
-He scored a six off every Zimbabwe bowler
-First 50 took 51 balls, he reached his ton in 105
-100-200 took just 33 balls
-He equalled AB de Villiers record of 16 sixes in an ODI game
-Chris Gayle is the ONLY player to score a T20I century, ODI double century and test triple century
-This is his second ODI ton or better in his last 21 innings

CWC 2015: Kiwis are very hard to crack. Cricketers are even harder

Trent Boult screams for an appeal (photo: ICC)

After just two matches, it is abundantly clear why everyone’s talking New Zealand in this World Cup.

They’re consistent, they’re like glue that doesn’t pull apart, and it’s extremely hard for most opposing teams to breakthrough the top six. However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing.

Scratchy and patchy might best describe the Kiwis road back to confidence. Household names now were just little specs in 2013. The biggest winning margin was 86 runs, whereas in 2014, they had four wins bigger than 50 runs or five wickets – a testament to the hard work the squad made to get back to an ultra-competitive level.

CWC 2015: New Zealand v Sri Lanka – Kiwis are intimidating at home

Kane Williamson against Sri Lanka (photo: Getty Images)

ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP

New Zealand v Sri Lanka

Saturday, 14 February 2015

Hagley Oval, 12pm AEDT

(Prediction: New Zealand. They’ve spent months at home preparing)

New Zealand

Like Australia, New Zealand have expectations placed upon them to do well at the World Cup.  One advantage for the Black Caps is they do not have to play a single game away from home, until the final, assuming they progress through the rounds.

CWC 2015: Australia v England – Aussies set to fire at home

Steve Smith in the ODI Tri-Series (photo: Getty Images)

(Read here for the same post on Infinity Cricket)

ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP: AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND

(Prediction: Australia. Both teams have talent, but Australia is putting it together with consistent performances)

AUSTRALIA

A home ground advantage in sport usually equates to visiting opponents being clinically beaten.

The way the Australians have prepared for the World Cup is ideal.  Back atop the ODI rankings, and a very convincing tri-series against England and India means their opponents need to watch out.