Could we see an England vs West Indies final in the 2019 World Cup?

[docteurmanish]

looking at current wi team without its star players yet making 322 - feel this wc is going to be a contest between wi powerhitters and fast bouncy pacers with some decent spinners vs the allround batting depth of england

india- will get knocked out by eng or wi in semis
pak - will be the other semi finalist

nz and aussie will likely get knocked out with sa .. though bangladesh can surprise pak( cos pak doesnt seem to take them seriously )

 

[Sidilicious]

The way the teams are at the moment, all the teams have some form of weakness. And given this weakness, it becomes a lottery after the group stage. 1 freak innings or 1 freak spell can change the game, even against the strongest sides.

So I will only comment on reaching the semis.

Right now, England and India are the favourites to make the semi.

Aus and SA are in the 2nd favourites to make it to the semis.

Given their recent results, especially in batting, I would classify Pakistan in the 3rd set of favourites along with NZ.

Despite what you may have seen, WI, BAN, SL and AFG - it will be extremely unlikely the they will make it. They will have to win 5-6 matches in the group stages. The only way to do it, would be to beat all the 3 remaining teams in this group, beat at least 2-3 of SA, AUS, NZ and PAK. That is quite unlikely.

 

[RamLakhan]

So you are reading from an odd game on super flat Indian pitch against second string Indian bowling attack! But yes WI if they put their act together (the players, the board, their fans/media resurrect) they can definitely put a competitive team, but that has a long way to go, their regression happened slowly right from the time I saw guys like Keith Atherton, Roger Harper, Phil Symmons, etc, started playing for them even in early 90s (in spite of the presence of absolute legends like Viv, Lara, Ambrose, Walsh, etc! That itself was a mismatch). Then the mediocrity continued gradually & relentlessly every since (but still they had quality players like Sarwan, Merv Dillon, etc) Lately they even had guys like Gayle, Pollard, Bravo, etc, who had all the potential in the world but their heads were not in the right place (heads attacked by themselves & their board!) So it takes a heck lot to consider WI as a force for themselves (forget others considering them!) But they still have enough capabilities to make damages in T20s as they did last time (and also they won a multi-nation C-T20 league!)

 

[cricketindiafan]

Sounds too far fetched for WI to sustain any momentum through such a long tournament.

 

[Justcrazy]

Not possible.

 

[Executioner]

West indies lost ODI series to Pakistan and Bangladesh at home. Don't see much from them tbh

 

[Hasan123]

No chance.

 

[AMSS]

It seems unlikely but not at all implausible. Think of a line up of Gayle, Lewis, Hetmeyer, Bravo, Holder finding form. All bets would be off.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Don't think so. They won't even make semifinals. On those pitches i expect them to beat SL,BD and AFG maybe and maybe surprise SA. Other teams should thrash them.

 

[docteurmanish]

agreed- but west indies is throwing up serious talent in bowling ad batting . 6 of their top
players are not playing rt now but honing their skills in various leagues

to defeat engand - the only team that can demolish any attack is one which has gayle , heitmeyer, samuels , bravo , holder , lewis- its a scary lineup. they stay still and hit u out ...

they are the dark horses and honestly if they do well , all teams like them . most well behaved cricketers ever . unlike the aussies they are the most popular team wherever they go..

 

[Mp812]

Gayle ,Bravo,Russel,Pollard and others even if they return to the team, there will be no team coordination at least intially and team will need time to gel and it's very rare that on individual brilliance an odi world cup of this format can be won.

 

[PakLFC]

England have a good chance. West Indies have next to no chance of reaching the final.

 

[shokz1408]

Neither of those teams will make the finals. Pakistan or India will definitely be taking up one spot in the final (maybe both).

 

[RainMan_]

Bangladesh will definitely go to the QF. IF they don't find themselves at the receiving end of some pathetic on field decisions yet again, then there's a strong possibility that they might reach semifinal or even final.

 

[Syed1]

Bangladesh will definitely go to the QF. IF they don't find themselves at the receiving end of some pathetic on field decisions yet again, then there's a strong possibility that they might reach semifinal or even final.

There are no QFs

 

[rhony]

Bangladesh will definitely go to the QF. IF they don't find themselves at the receiving end of some pathetic on field decisions yet again, then there's a strong possibility that they might reach semifinal or even final.

It's a round robin with top 4 going to SF. Similar format to 92

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Why are people so obsessed with reliving the glory days of West Indies Cricket? That time is gone and it's not returning. As a team they are basically irrelevant now. The love for the game has left the islands, the culture of producing world-class pacemen is gone and their board has made sure to add the final nail to the coffin. They also have one of the worst bowling attacks in ODI cricket. They could have scored 400 last night and India would have chased it down with ease because 80% of the balls their bowlers bowled were rubbish half-trackers or full-tosses that Rohit and Kohli smashed into oblivion.

 

[CricketDon]

India vs England final I can see. Although I can see England choking. India on the other hand imo is already in the final.

Rohit
Dhawan
Kohli

Bumrah
Jadeja
Yadav.

What a batting and bowling line up. Best top three in the world with the bat. And probably the best three combo bowling line up.

 

[Robert]

England will have an off day and blow it again.

 

[Robert]

Why are people so obsessed with reliving the glory days of West Indies Cricket? That time is gone and it's not returning. As a team they are basically irrelevant now. The love for the game has left the islands, the culture of producing world-class pacemen is gone and their board has made sure to add the final nail to the coffin. They also have one of the worst bowling attacks in ODI cricket. They could have scored 400 last night and India would have chased it down with ease because 80% of the balls their bowlers bowled were rubbish half-trackers or full-tosses that Rohit and Kohli smashed into oblivion.

Sad but true.

 

[Mamoon]

India and England will meet in the final if they avoid each other in the semifinals. They deserve it as well - they are the two best ODI outfits by some distance, and it is only fitting that they face-off in the World Cup Final.

 

[Varun]

West Indies couldn't win a World Cup in England back when they were kings, nothing will happen with these T20 posers in 2019.

 

[WengerOut]

West Indies couldn't win a World Cup in England back when they were kings, nothing will happen with these T20 posers in 2019.

Maybe i misunderstood, but weren't the 75 and 79 WC held in England?

 

[Mamoon]

Teams like Pakistan and West Indies winning the World Cup would devalue the tournament. The World Cup should be not be a blip in the radar or a flash in the pan; it should be the end goal, the final destination. It is not just right for a mediocre, inconsistent team like Pakistan to win, because it shows that you do not have to be a consistent top team to win the ultimate prize in ODI cricket. There is no point in working hard over the years and achieving success, since all you need is a run of form over a few games and some luck to achieve glory.

Look a the Champions Trophy. We have made a complete mockery of the tournament with the way we were thrashed in Asia Cup in UAE conditions. Yes winning the title does not mean you are invincible, but at least you should show a semblance of your championship winning mentality and caliber in familiar conditions.

England and India have been the two best ODI teams for a while now. They beat each other 2-1 at home respectively, and are pretty much neck-to-neck. The World Cup should be the final showdown between the two teams for ODI supremacy, and a reward for the brilliant ODI cricket that they have played.

Someone like Pakistan would win the World Cup and follow it up by getting thrashed by Sri Lanka, making a mockery of the World Cup just like they made a mockery of the Champions Trophy. As a Pakistani, I of course do not care about all that and want my team to win, but as a cricket connoisseur, I want either England or India to prevail because they deserve it more than any other team.

 

[Varun]

Maybe i misunderstood, but weren't the 75 and 79 WC held in England?

Apologies. Brain fade moment from me there.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Teams like Pakistan and West Indies winning the World Cup would devalue the tournament. The World Cup should be not be a blip in the radar or a flash in the pan; it should be the end goal, the final destination. It is not just right for a mediocre, inconsistent team like Pakistan to win, because it shows that you do not have to be a consistent top team to win the ultimate prize in ODI cricket. There is no point in working hard over the years and achieving success, since all you need is a run of form over a few games and some luck to achieve glory.

Look a the Champions Trophy. We have made a complete mockery of the tournament with the way we were thrashed in Asia Cup in UAE conditions. Yes winning the title does not mean you are invincible, but at least you should show a semblance of your championship winning mentality and caliber in familiar conditions.

England and India have been the two best ODI teams for a while now. They beat each other 2-1 at home respectively, and are pretty much neck-to-neck. The World Cup should be the final showdown between the two teams for ODI supremacy, and a reward for the brilliant ODI cricket that they have played.

Someone like Pakistan would win the World Cup and follow it up by getting thrashed by Sri Lanka, making a mockery of the World Cup just like they made a mockery of the Champions Trophy. As a Pakistani, I of course do not care about all that and want my team to win, but as a cricket connoisseur, I want either England or India to prevail because they deserve it more than any other team.

To be fairly honest, I don't think you understand the point of the World Cup or ODI cricket in general. The most beautiful thing about the tournament is that you don't necessarily have to be the best team to win. Test Cricket is already there to prove is exactly who is the best. In the World Cup, what matters most is how you perform in crunch situations when the odds are stacked against you. Prevailing through those situations is what gets you the World Cup, not whether you're No.1 in the ODI rankings or whether you have the best Top 3 batsmen in ODI cricket. This, for me personifies the beauty of the format itself aswell. Obviously there is an exception of the Australian side of the 90s and 2000s but currently there is no team in World cricket that is that good.

And while you're here tell me this: Did India winning the 1983 World Cup devalue the tournament? Even an Indian would admit that the Indian team at that tournament was the ultimate underdog. They had medium-pacers while West Indies had the fastest bowlers in the World. Similarly, did Pakistan and Sri Lanka winning World Cups in 1992 and 1996 devalue the tournament? They were by no means not even the Top 3 teams at those respective tournaments. If anything, World Cups can serve as literal game-changers not just for players but for entire nations ala Sri Lanka's win in '96.

If you truly considered yourself a cricket connoisseur then you would know that that is the nature of ODI cricket.

 

[Wahid1234]

No chance India is going to win this world cup quite comfortably I say with the team they have it will be a shock if they don't reach the final to say the least.

 

[pakistani pride]

India and England will meet in the final if they avoid each other in the semifinals. They deserve it as well - they are the two best ODI outfits by some distance, and it is only fitting that they face-off in the World Cup Final.

LOL ENG will not reach the final. Kings of JAMODIS.. They will fail.

 

[EliteCynical]

There are no QFs

So looks like BD are already on the receiving end of a pathetic format then! No?

 

[EliteCynical]

West Indies couldn't win a World Cup in England back when they were kings, nothing will happen with these T20 posers in 2019.

If you think 1999 they were kings, then you might want to think again!
The won CT in England. Not even talking about '75 and '79.

Edit - I see your brain fade post. Cheers

 

[jeetu]

England have great chance of wining WC. India tend to well in WC so i think India will atleast reach semifinals. Pakistan tend to well in English conditions , so i am expecting atleast semi-final spot for Pakistan. Last semi final spot should be either Australia or New Zealand. But i have a feeling that Australia might get that spot.

 

[Indiafan]

Bangladesh will definitely go to the QF. IF they don't find themselves at the receiving end of some pathetic on field decisions yet again, then there's a strong possibility that they might reach semifinal or even final.

Really close decisions which fans from most countries agree was fair is pathetic because you lost. Hope your players dont have this whining mentality

 

[happydavy]

Bangladesh will definitely go to the QF. IF they don't find themselves at the receiving end of some pathetic on field decisions yet again, then there's a strong possibility that they might reach semifinal or even final.

I agree Bdesh have a very strong chance of reaching QFs esp because there's no QF format. That's Bdesh best chance of reaching QFs. I won't be surprised that the team and BD fans actually reach a ground to play quarters and then complain that other team didn't show up.

 

[alized]

Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Shannon Gabriel, Chadwick Walton, Darren Sammy, Jason Holder —

Windies are really scary on paper.

Compare them to...

Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammed Hafeez, Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali

Who looks like the team that can deliver a good performance?

 

[giri26]

Are we talking about the same WI team who with their full strength (with the stars back) lost the finals to Afghanistan in the qualifiers? The same team who would have been beaten by Scotland if the rain did not intervene? No they will not be anywhere near the finals. They may win 1 or 2 games and might upset some top team but will not reach the finals.

 

[gani999]

To be fairly honest, I don't think you understand the point of the World Cup or ODI cricket in general. The most beautiful thing about the tournament is that you don't necessarily have to be the best team to win. Test Cricket is already there to prove is exactly who is the best. In the World Cup, what matters most is how you perform in crunch situations when the odds are stacked against you. Prevailing through those situations is what gets you the World Cup, not whether you're No.1 in the ODI rankings or whether you have the best Top 3 batsmen in ODI cricket. This, for me personifies the beauty of the format itself aswell. Obviously there is an exception of the Australian side of the 90s and 2000s but currently there is no team in World cricket that is that good.

And while you're here tell me this: Did India winning the 1983 World Cup devalue the tournament? Even an Indian would admit that the Indian team at that tournament was the ultimate underdog. They had medium-pacers while West Indies had the fastest bowlers in the World. Similarly, did Pakistan and Sri Lanka winning World Cups in 1992 and 1996 devalue the tournament? They were by no means not even the Top 3 teams at those respective tournaments. If anything, World Cups can serve as literal game-changers not just for players but for entire nations ala Sri Lanka's win in '96.

If you truly considered yourself a cricket connoisseur then you would know that that is the nature of ODI cricket.

Some good points there. The ODI format, and now the T20s, are the great levelers of the game that favor those who play well during crunch moments, irrespective of rankings.

But still, there is only so much determination can get you in the absence of experience and talent. So coming back to the question, no, I don't see the Windies in the final of the next WC.

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

2019 is India's world cup to lose.

They have the batting (Shaw, Pant, Rahul) and bowling to easily dominate everyone.

England is their only realistic challenger but even they don't really stand a chance if India play as India normally do in ICC tournaments.

 

[Wahid1234]

2019 is India's world cup to lose.

They have the batting (Shaw, Pant, Rahul) and bowling to easily dominate everyone.

England is their only realistic challenger but even they don't really stand a chance if India play as India normally do in ICC tournaments.

Totally agree with you on this. This is most definitely india's world cup to loose. They just too strong atm and have all basis covered.

 

[CricketDon]

Teams like Pakistan and West Indies winning the World Cup would devalue the tournament. The World Cup should be not be a blip in the radar or a flash in the pan; it should be the end goal, the final destination. It is not just right for a mediocre, inconsistent team like Pakistan to win, because it shows that you do not have to be a consistent top team to win the ultimate prize in ODI cricket. There is no point in working hard over the years and achieving success, since all you need is a run of form over a few games and some luck to achieve glory.

Look a the Champions Trophy. We have made a complete mockery of the tournament with the way we were thrashed in Asia Cup in UAE conditions. Yes winning the title does not mean you are invincible, but at least you should show a semblance of your championship winning mentality and caliber in familiar conditions.

England and India have been the two best ODI teams for a while now. They beat each other 2-1 at home respectively, and are pretty much neck-to-neck. The World Cup should be the final showdown between the two teams for ODI supremacy, and a reward for the brilliant ODI cricket that they have played.

Someone like Pakistan would win the World Cup and follow it up by getting thrashed by Sri Lanka, making a mockery of the World Cup just like they made a mockery of the Champions Trophy. As a Pakistani, I of course do not care about all that and want my team to win, but as a cricket connoisseur, I want either England or India to prevail because they deserve it more than any other team.

That logic forms dictatorships and kills democracy. Following your flawed through process the World Cup should follow the rankings and one and two should automatically qualify for the finals. While everyone else just plays freindly games among each other. I’ve never heard such a silly and flawed logic in football either. The world cups regardless of sport and format is a tournament where the best team during it wins and is awarded the world trophy. Not a game between one and two ranked team who at the end the winner gets a trophy and if they are still on top 4-5 years later play each other again.

 

[topspin]

I agree Bdesh have a very strong chance of reaching QFs esp because there's no QF format. That's Bdesh best chance of reaching QFs. I won't be surprised that the team and BD fans actually reach a ground to play quarters and then complain that other team didn't show up.

This response is gold!

 

[Usman Chadda]

Teams like Pakistan and West Indies winning the World Cup would devalue the tournament. The World Cup should be not be a blip in the radar or a flash in the pan; it should be the end goal, the final destination. It is not just right for a mediocre, inconsistent team like Pakistan to win, because it shows that you do not have to be a consistent top team to win the ultimate prize in ODI cricket. There is no point in working hard over the years and achieving success, since all you need is a run of form over a few games and some luck to achieve glory.

Look a the Champions Trophy. We have made a complete mockery of the tournament with the way we were thrashed in Asia Cup in UAE conditions. Yes winning the title does not mean you are invincible, but at least you should show a semblance of your championship winning mentality and caliber in familiar conditions.

England and India have been the two best ODI teams for a while now. They beat each other 2-1 at home respectively, and are pretty much neck-to-neck. The World Cup should be the final showdown between the two teams for ODI supremacy, and a reward for the brilliant ODI cricket that they have played.

Someone like Pakistan would win the World Cup and follow it up by getting thrashed by Sri Lanka, making a mockery of the World Cup just like they made a mockery of the Champions Trophy. As a Pakistani, I of course do not care about all that and want my team to win, but as a cricket connoisseur, I want either England or India to prevail because they deserve it more than any other team.

By that reckoning South Africa should have had atleast one World Cup by now, specially 2015. They were a gun team, with an in-form Amla and ABD powering their engine.