Entertainment Begins

Warm-up phase is over and the actual tournament will kick-start from tomorrow. All the experiments have been done and each team now hopefully knows where they stand and would be already working on their line-ups.

Irrespective of the sport or the competition, there is always an added pressure on the hosts to perform and the expectation is no less than the top position. When it is joint hosts, then it becomes all the more interesting. Both Australia and New Zealand will be mindful of that huge expectation. At the same time they will also be aware that it is only India that has ever won a World Cup final at home. The last time in 1992 when these two countries hosted the world cup, only New Zealand made it to the semis where they lost to the eventual champions Pakistan. Both the teams would definitely try to rewrite the history. 

To add to this if one is also playing on the opening day, the pressure builds up even more to start on the winning note. It becomes even more challenging if your opponents are Sri Lanka and England. At the same time what could be in their favor is the fact that they are at their home turf and no one would know these surfaces better than them.

Australia v England

England are not meeting Australia for the first time this year. Both of them would know that Australia defeated England in all the three matches that they have played this year coming into this world cup. But the stage of world cup is different and here too Australia had been dominating England on head to head. One statistic that would come handy for England would be the fact that when England defeated Australia last time in a world cup match it was in Australia in 1992.

Australia's raw pace in the form of Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc combining with Josh Hazlewood or Pat Cummins will try to inflict the damage right at the start and kill games off at the beginning. With all round options in Watson, Marsh and Faulkner, they would only go for three pacers in the eleven. Faulkner is doubtful and thus most probably, it will be Marsh who will be playing tomorrow. Similarly Clarke will also stay out of this game and that gives Bailey to captain the opener. With Maxwell in the team, it is least possible that Doherty will be part of the playing eleven.

On the other hand, England's side looks pretty settled from the way they approached their warm-up games. With the Australian pitch supporting pace, Anderson, Broad, Woakes and Finn, all will find a place in the starting eleven. Like Australia, here as well Moeen Ali would do the role of specialist slow bowler and Tredwell may not get the nod. The only suspense is in case of Ravi Bopara where the English management would undecided. If they choose against him, Ballance could make the cut.

The stats are highly swayed in favour of Aussies at the MCG where they have lost only two games in the last ten and of these last five have been wins. When it comes to playing against England, Australia have won 15 matches against England in ODIs at the MCG.

New Zealand v Sri Lanka

There is no doubt on what both the teams can offer but at this point of time both of them are in contrasting forms. The two teams played against each other last month in bilateral series where New Zealand won the series 4-2. New Zealand then went on to win their two games against Pakistan. Their warm-up against Zimbabwe was washed out and they defeated the mighty South Africans convincingly. On the other hand Sri Lanka lost both their warm-up games against South Africa and Zimbabwe in addition to the series against New Zealand. The only comforting chapter in their story is that they have spent a lot of time in New Zealand in the recent past and hence are familiar with the conditions which is vital for the preparation. Another factor that could come as a boost for Sri Lanka would be that New Zealand have lost their last five World Cup games against Sri Lanka, but coincidentally like Australia-England encounter, the last time New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka in a world cup match was in 1992 and that was in New Zealand. But New Zealand would be reminded that Sri Lanka are the finalist of the last two editions and semi-finalist in 2003 and it is the same trivia that would come as a moral booster for the Lankans.

This time the Kiwis look very formidable and all the 15 in the squad are available which is a happy situation to be in. Explosive openers in Martin Guptill, and Brendon McCullum, dependable Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, all rounder Corey Anderson, accurate and consistent Tim Southee and Trent Boult are certainty to start. Daniel Vettori with his experience also adds value to the team and spin department. Then they have the choice of Kyle Mills and Mitchell McClenaghan.

On the other hand Sri Lanka's batting line up is top heavy and has names that are envy of most other teams. The middle order will be supported by Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera. In bowling Nuwan Kulasekara is accurate and Rangana Herath can definitely pose questions with his spin. Then you have Lasith Malinga, who can single-handedly sway the course of the game. But somehow there is a crack in the middle order and in the bowling department as well it is not very incisive.

Of the four teams playing tomorrow, Sri Lanka looks the most vulnerable. After the kick start tomorrow, we would know how these team soak the pressure of the opening game. Once the game is over, it will settle not only their nerves but also to some extent of the other teams in waiting. 

Tomorrow's result will determine which team has a Valentine date :).

Let the entertainment begin...