World Cup ladder predictions

[DaveW]

I know there's been a few threads on this, but I'll have a stab at all the finish positions and not just the winner.

Group A

Australia
Pakistan
England
India
Zimbabwe
Namibia
Netherlands

Australia will be vulnerable in their first match with injuries and suspensions, but will hopefully edge out Pakistan, both teams will win their remaining group matches after that. England will take third spot. India will once again finish in a position that doesn't do justice to their side's talent. Zimbabwe's only hope of fluking a super six spot again is a boycott or two. (I'm assuming there won't be any.) The Netherlands and Namibia will be severly out of their depth for the most part, in the match between the two I expect Namibia not to choke as they did in the ICC Trophy final.

Group B

South Africa
New Zealand
Sri Lanka
West Indies
Kenya
Bangladesh
Canada

South Africa should go through to the next stage undefeated on home soil. New Zealand will do well. Sri Lanka and West Indies will contest the third spot, I expect the former to pip the latter. Kenya will prove to the cricket word that they should've been the 10th Test side by beating Bangladesh. Canada will be the competition's whipping boys.

Super Six

I'll probably have to revise my predictions depending on what happens in the first stage, but at the moment I'll go for:

Australia
South Africa
Pakistan
New Zealand
England
Sri Lanka

This time carry thru points will be crucial, the two teams with zero points from the first round won't make the semis (like Australia did in 1999).

Australia and South Africa will be the semi final victors, and Australia will continue their recent dominance over South Africa, perhaps with the help of Protea choke in the final. :D (yes, I'm biased)

[ScouseCat]

Group A

On paper Australia are clearly the best team at the World Cup and over 7 matches will prove it by topping their group. I think England's seam bowlers will like the South African conditions and choosing India for the 3rd spot in the group. I have been less then impressed with Pakistan's form in the last year or so and think they'll be found out at this tournament.

1. Australia
2. England
3. India
4. Zimbabwe
5. Pakistan - big disappointment
6. Netherlands
7. Namibia

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Group B

Very much the weaker of the 2 groups with 4 teams to battle it out for the 3 spots. South Africa at home and New Zealand should qualify easily and I think the West Indies will sneak into the super six due to their superior pace attack compared to Sri Lanka, who's best chance is Sanath Jayasuriya getting lucky at the top of the order like he did at the SCG when they made 343. The other 3 teams are just making up the numbers, Bangladesh the best of the bottom 3.

1. South Africa
2. New Zealand
3. West Indies
4. Sri Lanka
5. Bangladesh
6. Kenya
7. Canada