World Cup Predictions

Yes, we are on the eve of the 2007 World Cup, one of my favourite events on the cricket calender - along with the Ashes. Every man and his dog seems to be making some predictions, trying to guess who might make it through to the Super 8s, the Semi finals and ultimately who will lift the ICC World Cup trophy. So I'm going to bow to peer pressure and make some fearless predictions:

The best minnow? I like the chances of Bangladesh, but it is arguable to call them a total minnow. Half a minnow...anyway. Shahriar Nafees is a classy left handed opener. But their bowling could surprise more than their batting. Fast bowler Mashrafe Mortaza and left arm spinner Abdur Razzak are their top rated bowlers and both of them took 4 wickets against NZ in the warm up game last week. Razzak took 3 more against Scotland. They also have Mohammad Rafique, who is another wily left arm spinner. The Rafique/Razzak combo could be suffocating during the middle overs.

They are in Group B with India, Sri Lanka and Bermuda. Forget Bermuda straight off, but the games between the 3 Asian nations will be fascinating. If Bangladesh upsets either of the big 2, the game on March 23 between India and Sri Lanka would be crucial and could be a virtual knockout game. If Bangladesh can't manage a win by then, the game won't matter two hoots.

The most surprising real minnow? Might just be the Irish. They are in probably the weakest group - with Pakistan and West Indies. Both of these teams have suffered humiliating World Cup defeats to bad teams in the past and given that neither are playing brilliantly at present, perhaps the Irish might be able to sneak a win and shock the world.

The leading run scorer in the group stages? I'd say a guy like Mohammad Yousuf looks like a good pick. None of the teams in group D have a good attack, so run scoring should be pretty easy. Yousuf has been in great form in the last couple of years and he should enjoy the conditions at Sabina Park.

The leading wicket taker in the group stages? Shane Bond, if he can stay fit should have a great time against Canada and Kenya. He bowled pretty well at England too during the summer, taking 7 wickets in 4 games.

Semi Finalists? Australia and South Africa would seem like locks to make it this far. It would need a major upset (or maybe just some poor reading of the Duckworth/Lewis sheet) to deny either of these 2 a spot. My other 2? India have too many good players not to make it this far and Pakistan will play some exciting cricket to fend off challenges from New Zealand and Sri Lanka for the other spot.

Finalists? India could surprise and make it here, but their recent form has been poor. South Africa wiped them down in SA recently and if they meet again, you'd have to favour the South Africans again. Australia have never lost a semi final (although they tied one in 1999...ahhh seems like just yesterday) , so if they make the semis - you can pencil them into the finals straight off. So I can see Australia v South Africa playing in the final (yeah a little boring I know, but they are the 2 best teams).

And...Winner? Australia of course...it would be un-Australian of me to pretend that South Africa might not choke and have a real chance of taking the cup. Seriously though, Australia has more top quality stars than South Africa and it is often those stars that will be relied upon in a Final.