Gecko’s Guide to the Cricket World Cup
With the 50 over World Cup just under a week away we thought we would take a look at the
tournament format and the teams competing. The tournament is taking place in India with games
being played across just over 6 weeks at 10 different stadiums across the country. The first game of
the competition is a replay of the 2019 Final as England kick off their campaign against New Zealand
in Ahmedabad on Thursday 5 th October. This is the 13 th edition of the Cricket World Cup and will
consist of ten teams who will face off in a round robin tournament with the top four progressing
through to semi-finals and then a final which takes place on 19 th November. That means there will be
48 games played in 46 days so there is plenty of cricket to keep you entertained through the British
winter. The ten teams competing this year are India, Pakistan, Australia, South Africa, England, New
Zealand, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who all qualified automatically due to their world rankings.
They will be joined by Sri Lanka and Netherlands who earned their spot in a qualification tournament
earlier this year. Let’s take a closer look at each team and their prospects for the upcoming
tournament.
Afghanistan
World Ranking: 9
Previous tournament: Group Stage
Afghanistan are one of the newer faces on the international cricket scene as this is just their third
appearance at a cricket world cup in their history. They have suffered a difficult time at each of the
last two tournaments failing to make it out of the group stage and winning just one game which
came against Scotland in 2015. However, don’t view them as a walkover as they have improved
significantly over the last few years and will be looking to cause some major upsets over the cause of
this tournament.
Australia
World Ranking: 3
Previous tournament: Semi Finals
Australia are always one of the favourites when coming into tournaments like this and rightfully so
due to their rich history at ICC tournaments as they are five time winners of the Cricket World Cup.
This years squad will be hoping to add a sixth to that however their form has been indifferent
recently as series defeat to South Africa and India have derailed their preparation. Don’t count them
out though as they have that typical Aussie grit to win games no matter what and always seem to be
there or there abouts at major tournaments.
Bangladesh
World Ranking: 7
Previous Tournament: Group stage
Bangladesh have qualified for every tournament since the 1999 edition and whilst they haven’t been
the most successful, they have shown the ability to knock some of the bigger teams at the
tournament of their perch. They have made it out of the group on two occasions, once in 2007 and
then probably more memorably in 2015 as they beat England to progress through to the quarter
finals. They also reached the semi-finals of the 2017 champions trophy beating out Australia and
New Zealand to progress. They’ll be hoping that in more familiar sub-continent conditions they will
be able to provide some more upsets at this tournament. They come into this tournament after an
indifferent Asia Cup where they did noticeably beat India showing their potential to beat anyone on
their day.
England
World ranking: 5
Previous tournament: Winners
Arguably the team to beat in white ball cricket ever since their disappointing exit at the 2015 world
cup, England have produced deep runs at each of the ICC tournaments since. This includes their
dramatic victory in 2019 over New Zealand as they hope to go back-to-back. They also won the T20
world cup last year meaning they are currently the holders of both white ball trophies, an honour
they’re not willing to give up easily. They haven’t played much 50 over cricket as of late but made
light work of New Zealand recently beating them 3-1 last month and their deep batting line up will
make them difficult to beat.
India
World ranking: 1
Previous tournament: Semi Final
The hosts come into this tournament as the favourites as they are the number one ranked side in
the world and have a wealth of white ball talent. They will be supported by thousands of home fans
In their typical loud and colourful way. India topped the group in 2019 before being beaten be New
Zealand in the semi-final as one of just two losses all tournament. They are arguably the most well-
rounded team at this years tournament and come into it in good form after winning the Asia Cup as
well as recently beating Australia their recent series.
Netherlands
World Ranking: 14
Previous tournament: Did not qualify
The Netherlands qualified for this tournament at the qualification tournament earlier this year
beating out teams such as West Indies who competed at the last World Cup. Whilst Netherlands
didn’t qualify for the 2019 or 2015 edition this will be their 5 th appearance on the biggest stage.
Unfortunately, they haven’t seen much success as they are yet to make it out of the group and have
only ever won two games. Don’t take them for granted though as they have caused upsets
historically beating England at both the 2009 and 2014 T20 world cup.
New Zealand
World Ranking: 6
Previous Tournament: Runners Up
New Zealand came as close as you possibly could in the last iteration of this tournament after a
heartbreaking super over loss to England at Lord’s. They also lost the 2015 final to Australia as well
as a T20 final against the same opposition in 2021. They’ll be hoping to go the extra step this time
and get across the line and they’ve got every hope of doing so hosting a squad mixed with
experience and talent as key players Trent Boult and Kane Williamson have both returned to the
squad for the tournament.
Pakistan
World Ranking:2
Previous Tournament: Group stage
Pakistan narrowly missed out on progression from the group stage last time around as they finished
behind fourth placed New Zealand on only net run rate. Despite the disappointment of last
tournament, they come into this tournament with high hopes after finishing as runners up in the
2022 T20 world cup and having the 2017 ICC champions trophy under the belt. Led by world number
1 Babar Azam and a strong pace attack they’ll be hoping to go deep into this tournament where
they’ll be a tough matchup for any side.
South Africa
World Ranking: 4
Previous tournament: Group Stage
After an extremely disappointing 2019 campaign where South Africa managed to win just 3 of their 9
group games and finished in a lowly 7 th place. The Proteas will be hoping to do better this time
around in what will be Quinton de Kocks final act in ODI cricket. South Africa come into this
tournament off the back of a come from behind 3-2 series victory over Australia however the loss of
Anrich Nortje to injury is a massive blow and could prove pivotal in the latter stages of the
tournament. They have a powerful batting line up that can chase any target on their day and will be
hoping to lead the Protea’s to their first world cup triumph.
Sri Lanka
World Ranking: 8
Previous Tournament: Group Stage
After missing out on the knockout stages at the last world cup Sri Lanka suffered a dip in form seeing
them fall in the world rankings forcing them to qualify for this tournament through the qualification
tournament in Zimbabwe earlier this year. They progressed through that with ease and followed it
up with an impressive Asia Cup run where they finished as runners up. They will hope to carry this
form into the tournament and hope to get back to the final, much like they did in the 2011 World
Cup. They have a young exciting batting lineup and are capable of beating anyone on their day so
don’t count them out from going far in this tournament.
by Daniel Sampson