2011 ICC Cricket World Cup Teams
Group A
Australia:
Australia team is one of the strongest team of ICC cricket world cup series. Since 1996, it won 4 ICC World cup continuously out of 6 final appearances. The team won first ICC World cup against England team in 1989 by 7 runs. Australia beat India by 125 runs in the 2003 World Cup final. Australian team has exciting young talent such as David Warner, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson and Stephen OKeefe all includes in the final fifteen squads. But now, the team does not have quality spinner to carry in Indian subcontinent. Its great spinner, Nathan Huritz is not in his best form because he was injured in Indian series when Austria was beaten both in test and ODIs. Both captain Ricky Ponting and vice captain Michel Clarke are also suffering from minor injuries, so whole world cup batting responsibility is on Mike Hussy and Shane Watson. Australia’s experienced batsman Brad Hodge and young spinner Xavier Doherty is not included in the 2011 ICC World Cup squads. Currently, Australian team is not in its best form because some of players have suffered hamstring injuries. But we can not predict about this team that it will win or not, because it already has got last three world cups by its best performance. Every time it jumped in World Cup Series with unbelievable form, so we cannot say anything about this team.
Australian Squads: Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke (vice captain), Doug Bollinger, Brad Haddin (wicketkeeper), Brett Lee, Tim Paine (wicketkeeper), David Hussey, Mike Hussey, John Hastings, Nathan Hauritz, Mitchell Johnson, Steve Smith, Shaun Tait, Shane Watson, Cameron White.
Pakistan:
Pakistan team is not much strongest team but it is capable to beat international best cricket team Australia, South Africa, England, India and also Sri Lanka. The team had become an ICC world cup champions in 1992 against England team. It won only one ICC world cup series out of 2 final appearances. It is not fully prepared for 2011 ICC World cup series. This time it is in Group A and will play the cricket against Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Canada. Currently, Australia, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya are considered as week teams, so it is not a big challenge for Pakistan to defeat these teams. Batting part of the teams will depend on their openers Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Younus Khan, Misbah Ul Haq and Afridi. Asad Shafiq is also the best batsman of the Pakistani Team, who is included in 15-men squads. Brothers of Akmal, Kamran and Umar will also include strength to their batting. Pakistani team will play in 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup without their key players Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer who were all conditionally suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on charges of spot-fixing. Pakistani team is strong in bowling so World cup responsibility will depend on their bowlers like Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar, Abdul Razzaq, Sohail Tanvir and Saeed Ajmal. Pakistani team all rounder Shoaib Malik and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria are also removed from the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. Past performance of Pakistani team in ICC world cup is little poor, it won only one time but this time we hope that pakistani players will come back with their dangerous cricket form.
Pakistani Squads: Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Kamran Akmal, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Abdur Rehman, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, and Sohail Tanvir.
New Zealand
New Zealand is a national cricket team that never won a World Cup in the history. The team has also never entered in the world cup finals. The team’s biggest power is their spin attack and the weakness is the fast bowling strength for the slowish pitches. Daniel Vettori and Nathan McCullum are the best spinners of the New Zealand team who can hold the opposition off well. James Franklin is one of the best all-rounders in the world. The shortage of batting reliability is a big problem for the New Zealand. This time New Zealand team adds new face Luke Woodcock in the World Cup. Key performer of the New Zealand team, Jacob has great experience which will be invaluable at the World Cup. Team’s fast bowler Hamish Bennett is also included in 2011 world cup. New Zealand team is little bit strong so maybe it can win world cup series.
New Zealand’s 2011 World Cup squad: Daniel Vettori (captain), Hamish Bennett, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Jamie How, Brendon McCullum, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson, Luke Woodcock.
Sri Lanka:
Sri Lanka cricket team is second host of the 2011 ICC World Cup. It won world cup championship in 1996 against Australia team. It appeared two times in world cup finals and both times it was against Australian team. The batting of Sri Lanka has been a key to their successes, and the best part of the team is their spinners not only Muthiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis, but also Suraj Randiv and Rangana Herath who will create difficulty for the opposition. This is the first time Sri Lanka team comes with two all-rounder’s Angelo Mathews and Tissara Perera who can bowl fast and also excellent in batting. Ajantha Mendis bowls mixture of googlies, offbreaks, top-spinners, flippers and legbreaks, will sure become an eye-catcher!!!! Sri Lanka’s 2011 Squads are great compared to 1996’s squads. This time Sri Lanka is leading with strong batsmen and bowlers, so it has 100% chances to win in world cup series.
Sri Lankas 2011 World Cup squad: Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Mahela Jayawardene (vice-captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Silva, Chamara Kapugedera, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath.
Zimbabwe
The national cricket team Zimbabwe will play its 8th ICC World Cup in Group A. It will be one of the so-called minnows in the 2011 world Cup series, but given their recent presentations cannot be taken too unconscientiously. Zimbabwe has not won world cup trophy even once as well as not ever get final and semi-finals appearance. But this time, Zimbabwe team is stronger more than before. The team will play their first 2011 world cup match against strongest team of ICC cricket world cup, Australia. The batting of the team is expected to be opened by the experienced Brendon Taylor with Regis Chakabva. The biggest strength of the team is their spinners who are capable to get the better of many batsmen. Raymond Price is good blower of the team and this time he is standing with his best form.
Zimbabwe’s 2011 World Cup squad: Elton Chigumbura (captain), Charles Coventry, Graeme Cremer, Regis Chakabva, Sean Ervine, Craig Ervine, Gregory Lamb, Shingirai Masakadza, Edward Rainsford, Christopher Mpofu, Raymond Price, Tatenda Taibu, Brendan Taylor, Prosper Utseya, Sean Williams.
Canada
The National cricket team, Canada will play their 4th ICC world cup in Group A with Australia, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Sri Lanka and New Zealand. Canada will be also so-called minnows in the 2011 world Cup series. Canada team did not ever get world cup quarter final, semi-finals and finals appearance, always it out from the series in first round. This time it will be standing with young squads, so let’s see they can reach at quarter final or not. Ashish Bagai who is the captain and wicketkeeper of the team is returning player from the 2007 World Cup squad. Henry Osinde, Khurram Chohan, Harvir Baidwan and Rizwan Cheema are main bowlers of the Canadian team who are all included in 15-men squad. May be this time Canada team will come with its new form and make history in the cricket world, but it is all like dream so lets see it will be true or not.
Canada World Cup Squad: Ashish Bagai (captain and wicketkeeper), Rizwan Cheema (vice-captain), Nitish Kumar, Jimmy Hansra, Tyson Gordon, John Davison, Harvir Baidwan, Hiral Patel, Henry Osinde, Parth Desai, Ruvindu Gunasekera, Balaji Rao, Karl Whatham, Khurram Chohan, Zubin Surkari, Hamza Tariq (stand-by).
Kenya
Another national cricket team Kenya has also got their place in 2011 ICC World Cup Championships. It is the 5th ICC world Cup for Kenya team. They have done fantastic job at the Associates cricket level, but unfortunately from the last few years, their performances have been decreased at international level. Since 1996, Kenya is participating in ICC world cup series, but they have not won World Cup Championships even once. The team will be led by Captain Jimmy Kamande and experienced player Steve Tikolo. Another experienced player, Thomas Odoyo is Kenya’s most important assets in recent years. This year Kenya team’s left-arm spinners Hiren Varaiya and Seamer Ragheb have missed the chance to play in 2011 ICC world cup due to their ineffective form in the World Cup preparations. The lack of quality and mature batsmen is the main weakness of Kenya team, in spite of that this time they have good chance to beat the strongest team Australia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka because these team are struggling in recent times.
Kenya’s 2011 World Cup Squad: Jimmy Kamande (captain), Seren Waters, Alex Obanda, Elijah Otieno, Rakep Patel, David Obuya, Collins Obuya, Steve Tikolo, Tamnay Mishra, Maurice Ouma, Nehemiah Odhiambo, Thomas Odoyo, Shem Ngoche, James Ngoche, Peter Ongondo.
Group: B
India:
The National Cricket Team of India is one of the hot favorite team in cricket world. It won World Cup championships in 1983 against West Indies and in 2003 it got the final appearance against Australia. In the recent time, Indian team is in best form with experienced and new comer players. But it has not got full time for World Cup preparation. Batting form is the strongest part of the team, so whole series most responsibility depends on their batsmen like MS Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, and the danger blaster Yusuf Pathan and currently, bowling of the Indian team is also in best form. India’s bowling attack for the World Cup will be considerably different from their standard Test attack. Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh are included as bowlers in ICC World Cup 2011. The fast bowling pair of Sreesanth and Ishant Sharma, and Ojha has been replaced by Ravichandran Ashwin, Piyush Chawla and an allrounder Yusuf Pathan for ICC World Cup 2011. Munaf Patel has found a fourth seamer place. Presently, India’s four players including Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Praveen Kumar are suffering from injury. Despite their injuries, they have been included in the India’s final fifteen squads for ICC world cup hoping that they will be fit eventually and play for their team in the forthcoming biggest cricket event. The past record of the Indian team seems that this time maybe it will take the World Cup trophy.
India’s 2011 World Cup Squads: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin, Piyush Chawla, Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel, Ashish Nehra, Praveen Kumar.
South Africa:
South Africa has not won ICC World cup Championships and not ever get final appearance too. The team had lost last ICC tournament by some huge freak shows and controversies. The biggest strength of the team is their consistency together with their fielding which include the likes of Herschelle Gibbs, AB de Villiers, and JP Duminy in the covers. Dale Steyn, Morkel and Tsotsobe are the keybowler of team with great form. Their inabilities against spinners will be an enormous problem for them in the upcoming tournament. Most of the oppositions possess quality spinners that could also create problems for South Africa team. Most experienced wicket-keeper Mark Boucher and dashing All-rounder Albie Morkel have been removed from the final squad for the World Cup 2011. Morne van Wyk has been selected as an extra wicketkeeper option for ICC world cup. South Africa form for ICC world Cup is very good, so this time it will complete their dream to become world cup champion. After defeteing india on own home ground this team gets confidence an lets see what wonder can african do in cricket world cup 2011.
South Africa’s 2011 World Cup Squads: Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers (wk), JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Morne van Wyk (wk), Colin Ingram, Johan Botha, Imran Tahir, Robin Peterson, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Dale Steyn and Lonwabo Tsotsobe.
England:
England Cricket team is also strong team in World cup history. It had three times appeared in the world cup finals, but lost in all the finals. So this time it will jump in ICC world Cup series with full preparations. The bowling of the England team is very strong. England team best bowlers Graeme Swann and Michael Yardy are standing with their best form and this time they will create more difficulties for the opposition. But England team sub continent form is very weak, recently they toured India and they had lost it 5-0. So this time they will have to defeat their weaknesses. England team best bowlers Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, and all rounder Yardy all are included in the England team final squads. This time England team is stronger compared to other world cup cricket team.
England’s 2011 World Cup Squads: Andrew Strauss (captain), Matt Prior (wicketkeeper), Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Tim Bresnan, Eoin Morgan, Kevin Pietersen, James Tredwell, Luke Wright, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott, Michael Yardy, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Ajmal Shahzad.
West Indies:
West Indies team had won first two world cups in 1975 & 1979. And in 1983 it lost the final against India, since then they never reached the final of the tournament. Leg spinners Devendra Bishoo and Anthony Martin, batsmen Jonathan Carter and Kirk Edwards, and fast bowler Jason Holder are not included in the West Indies final 15-men squads for ICC world Cup 2011. West Indies batting is very strong with Chris Gayle, Captain Darren Sammy, Adrian Barath and Kieron Pollard. Left-arm spinners Sulieman Benn and Nikita Miller will be very important for the West Indies squads. Bowling of West Indies is rather fragile and easy to go after. Current form of the team is not much good, west indies team has confidence about making history.
West Indies’s 2011 World Cup Squad: Darren Sammy (captain), Darren Bravo, Carlton Baugh (wicketkeeper), Sulieman Benn, Nikita Miller, Adrian Barath, Dwayne Bravo, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Kieron Pollard, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Devon Smith, Ravi Rampaul, Chris Gayle.
Bangladesh
Third host of the 10th edition of world cup series, Bangladesh had never been the champion of the world cup. It is the 4th championship for Bangladesh team and in past three world cup they never reached at semi-finals. It is one of the weakest team in the world cup series. But in the recent series, it beat West Indies Team by 4-0 and Zimbabwe by 3-1, so we can not neglect this fact. Bangladesh’s most improved batsman of 2010, Imrul Kayes is included in the 15 men-quads, hoping that he will continue his performance in 2011 ICC world cup series. The lack of speed bowling potency and over-dependence on their main players Iqbal and Shakib al hasan will create a huge issue for them. For this world cup, Shafiul Islam has improved a wicket taking habit. Let’s see, Bangladesh team can reach at world cup finals or not.
Bangladesh’s 2011 World Cup Squad:Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Tamim Iqbal (vice-captain), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Md Ashraful, Imrul Kayes, Shahriar Nafees, Juaneed Siddiqui, Roquibul Hasan, Mahmudullah Riyad, Naeem Islam, Abdur Razzak, Suhrawardi Shuvo, Shafiul Islam, Nazmul Hossain and Rubel Hossain.
Ireland
2011 ICC World cup series is the second series of Ireland cricket team. It will come in 2011 ICC world cup with their old players. Ireland team is also weak team of the world cup series. The team will be led by William Porterfield as caption of the team. It played world cup in 2007 and took 8th place of the best team. It gave biggest shock to cricket world cup when they beat Pakistan in the first round. The batting form of the Ireland team is very strong with William Porterfield and Niall O’Brien, both can score runs against any players. Generally Ireland team plays their entire cricket in and around the Irish conditions, where the ball seams and swing around a lot as compared to the World Cup. In this series they will need to win at least 3 games out of six to prove themselves.
Ireland’s 2011 World Cup Squad: William Porterfield (capt), Andre Botha, Alex Cusack, Niall O’Brien (wkt), Kevin O’Brien, George Dockrell, Trent Johnston, Nigel Jones, John Mooney, Boyd Rankin, Paul Stirling, Albert van der Merwe, Gary Wilson (wkt), Andrew White, and Ed Joyce.
Netherlands
Netherland team played their first world cup series in 1996. Like other weak teams, it also has never won the world cup championship. In their all past world cup series, it was eliminated in the first round. The lack of best batsmen and bowlers is the weakness of the team. Netherlands is one of the weakest teams in the world cup series. In 2011 ICC World cup series, the team is led by Peter Borren as captain of the team. All-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate, Westdijk, and Fast bowler Mark Jonkman are also included in the world cup series. This time Netherlands team has to give their best performance other wise they will once again beat in first round.
Netherlands’s 2011 World Cup Squad: Peter Borren, Wesley Barresi, Adeel Raja, Mudassar Bukhari, Atse Buurman, Tom Cooper, Tom De Crooth, Alexie Kervezee, Bradley Kruger, Bernard Loots, Pieter Seelar, Eric Szwarczynski, Ryan Ten Doeschate, Berend Westdijk, Bas Zuiderent.
Source:
http://hubpages.com/hub/2011-ICC-Cricket-World-Cup-Teams-Player-list