All about World Cup Cricket 2007

World Cup Cricket 2007, the ninth tournament of ICC World Cup, is going to be held from March 11, 2007 to April 28, 2007. Highest number of teams will participate in this world cup tournament. With 10 test teams, another 6 teams will be appeared in the tournament. Among the six teams just Kenya has one day status and other 5 were elected through ICC Trophy. This is also the first time, 5 teams got ticket from ICC Trophy and this is also the incident of joining highest number of teams from ICC Trophy. Ireland and Bermuda are two new comers in this highest event of ODI cricket.

Teams:

Teams with test status:

Australia:
For Australia, this would be the ninth event as they participated all of the world cup events. Defending champion Australia is the only team who has the record of winning highest three world cup tournaments. They won the last two consecutive tournaments held in 1999 and 2003. It is undoubtedly true that Australia will be the hot favorite team for this tournament too and they will try to attain their hat trick championship and their recent performance is well enough to make them hopeful for the next tournament.

West Indies:
West Indies is the in the second position in terms of winning world cup tournaments. The team could win 2 world cup tournaments so far and both the two championships, they won, dated back to the first two world cup tournaments in 1975 and 1979 in the history of world cup tournament. After the first two world cup performance graph in the world cup and also in ODI cricket have been falling down.

That is why many think that West Indies has seen its golden times already; I think, however, they are in the way of another glorious era. Brian Lara seems confidence as a captain and under his captaincy the team also seems more united and playing as a team where individual performance gets less importance.

Sri Lanka:
Sri Lanka also played in all the tournaments of world cup. They are also one of the favorite teams in the upcoming world cup tournament. Mahela Jayawardene as captain and Coach Tom Moody have gone through some ups and down with Sri Lanka cricket team since they were assigned in their respective post. However, I believe the champions of 1996 world cup, Sri Lanka, may come up with some extraordinary performance in the world cup as they have some emerging young players like Malinga, Mahroof.

England:
This has been an open secret in the world cricket that England, where cricket was originated and developed, could not win any of the tournaments of world cup though they were finalist in three world cup tournaments. After winning the Ashes series they could show their cricket skill but some recent incidents of injury including the regular captain of Michael Vaughn, has moved them a bit back. However, some fighting players like Flintof, Peterson, Jones, and recent star Monty Panesar can lead England to their untouchable championship of world cup for the first time in the world cup 2007.

New Zealand:
The team is a symbol of a united and idol ‘team’. It is said that though they have not nay high profile star, they could make success playing as a team rather than any sole performance and the captain Steven Fleming is considered to be the hey player of such team spirit of New Zealand. Recently, Fleming expressed his desire to win world cup and I think it is not impossible for a team like this. New Zealand also played all the world cup tournaments but has not won any title yet. Now, it is yet to see what they can attain in the world cup cricket 2007.

South Africa:
South Africa first played their world cup tournament in 1992 just after coming back to the international cricket after a long time suspension of ICC due to the government’s policy of playing only with the white nations. It is also said that they are the most unlucky team of world cup as in their first tournament in 2992 they had to lose in the semi-final against England due to an astonishing calculation of the then method for rain affected match. Under the captaincy of Graem Smith they are doing well in the international competition and they have a potential to win their first world cup in the world cup 2007. They played five world cup tournaments.

India:
India also played all of the world cup tournaments. Under the captaincy of legend Kapil Dev they won their only world cup in 1983. After that they could only reach in the final of the last world cup tournament 2003 under the captaincy of Sourav Gangly. They are also a favorite team for the world cup cricket 2007. However, analyst has put a question mark that whether they could repeat their performance of the previous tournament in 2003 as Chappel, new coach of India, has already been reported with some of the controversy including the dispute with the former captain Sourav Ganguly.

Pakistan:
Pakistan has gone through some in and out of field controversies recently. Due to these controversies many think that these will have a negative impact on the whole team. However, it is also true that Pakistan always play their best under the pressure. They also showed some of this performance under pressure. They won their only world cup in1992 under the captaincy of Imran Kahn and before that tournament they were under a huge pressure. Pakistan also played all of the world cup tournaments in world cup cricket.

Zimbabwe:
Zimbabwe played their first ever world cup in 1983 and till playing in the world cup. The Zimbabwean cricket is going through some of its crucial time with the association of the state politics. Protesting the involvement of state politics in their cricket, many former players have resigned from cricket including, Andy Flower, Henry Olonga, Tatenda Taibu, Stuart Carlisle and many more. That is why they are not participating in test matches now-a-days. It is a big question how will be their performance in the next world cup tournament in 2007 as their recent performance in international cricket is not good enough.

Bangladesh:
The upcoming world cup will be the third world cup of Bangladesh. Bangladesh is the latest member of test family of cricket. They have been participating in world cup since 1999. Though their first tournament had some glorious moment as they defeated Pakistan their group match but in the second tournament their performance was poor. For the next tournament, they can hope something better as their recent performance is good in international cricket. Under the coaching of famous Coach Dev Whatmore, they are gradually developing in the cricket world.

Team/s with one day status:

Kenya:
Kenya has played 4 tournaments in word cup. They have only one day status in international cricket. Since 1996 they are playing in world cup. Though they were the semi-finalist of the last world cup, their recent performance is not praiseworthy.

Teams qualified for World Cup Cricket 2007:

Bermuda:
World cup 2007 will be the first tournament for Bermuda in world cup. They have the ICC status of Associate with ODI status.

Canada:
Canada played their first tournament in world cup in1979 and after a long time they played their second tournament in 2003 and the upcoming world cup tournament will be their third tournament. They also have the Associate of ODI status of ICC.

Scotland:
For Scotland, world cup cricket 2007 will be the second tournament. They played their first tournament in 1999. They have the Associate of ODI status of ICC.

Netherlands:
After playing their first world cup in 1996, the next world cup will be their third one in world cup cricket. They also have the Associate of ODI status of ICC.

Ireland:
World Cup cricket 2007 will be their first tournament in world cup. ICC gave them the Associate of ODI status.