As all of us noticed the tumultuous opera between the India and Australian Cricket team there can be an ICC bash at the world cup when two protagonists will meet in the ground. This time in the quarterfinal there meet is not any roundabout game but a knockout match.

As the atmosphere is warming up the mind games have begun. As said by the Australian team coach Tim Nielsen—
“The match is a mini-final for the both teams and his side have got no fear now as they prepare to take on India in the quarter-finals of the World Cup”

With India and Australia being locked in this match the cricket cannot grow more big and tougher than this. For the India in this world cup both Yuvraj Singh and Zaheer Khan are the fire fighters and game-breakers. Zaheer khan for India is demeanor cricketer, partnership breaker, a performer with evacuee skills and glowering expression.

As said by Michael hussy for Zaheer Khan—
“The key to Zaheer's success was a decade of experience, and knowing your game well - that's a big part of success in international cricket”

With Zaheer khan being the left-armed the main advantage for him is swinging the ball in and around the wicket with his wrist and fingers and keep hiding his hands to disguise any grip.

As said bye a great innovator Homer Simpson—
“I've been working on a plan: I'll hide under some coats and hope that somehow everything will work out”
That’s a kind of feel facing Virendra Sehwag in the ground during the match when he is in his stride. From Australia, Mitchell Johnson is a kind of a bowler who is more fragile than any other average fast bowler. In the past few years Johnson has dismissed Sehwag many times and this is the player for which India really needs a good strategy for Thursday match. Johnson’s unpredictability is the main power for Australia in this match and India will be planning to get on him as quickly as possible. For Australia the off spinner Jason Krejza also needs to work on his of spin to face one of the best players of ICC world cup.

But if Australia’s strategy didn’t work this time than four times world cup winners will get knockout from quarterfinals.

It is still early days at this world cup and we passed the phase when only few players are assigned as light strikers and act like jetty for the team as in this world we can see that teams are adopting the old strategies of keeping the wicket in hands and are intrigued to score at the end of the innings. This strategy has definitely become the pattern for Pakistan in this world cup.

The first match of quarterfinals is between Pakistan and West Indies at Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium located in Mirpur near Dhaka.

Pitch Report-
A good pitch for spinners as the wicket will stay low and spinners could take the advantage of this. The pitch is dark in colour with few big cracks on it.

Possibilities—
Now in their do-or-die match both the teams will try to hid their worries behind the air of insouciance and give their best shots to reach the semi-finals.

For West Indies they not need hunk all rounder’s but hoon batsmen who are able grasp the condition and then play according to it and these batsmen should built a strategy to play on these Subcontinent Pitches and get used these spinning pitches.

As for the Pakistan who had rubber stamp their place in quarterfinals beating Australia would make a tough competition for West Indies with their superfast bowlers as they have thrived many times in the helping conditions. The opening pair of Umar gul and Abdul Razzaq can make West Indies bowlers hooligan for wickets. Pakistan with its openers and middle order batsmen can build a good score to challenge West Indies in the quarterfinals.

On the other hand West Indies with lost in its confidence have big work load ahead in this game at knockout stage. Chris Gayle and K. Pollarad need to build a challenging total for Pakistani’s to chase down or achieve the target.

At the end no matters who win a loose cricket fans for confirm will get to see a competitive match.

Its quite apt that south Africa take on Bangladesh in Dhaka one of the major cities in south Asia and capital of Bangladesh. With south Africa the 1st  team in group B to ensure their place in quarter finals and England scoring 7 points in group after their 18 runs victory against west indies in a tremendously played match in Chennai , India and Bangladesh are still baffling to ensure their place in quarterfinals

In the current scenario if Bangladesh loses to South Africa (which England will be praying) and India manages its win over West Indies, will make India secure their position in quarterfinals with 9 points and England and West Indies finishing on the 3rd and 4th position respectively.

But if Bangladesh beat south Africa, will make the three teams stand on the same level in score board with 8 points each and making net run rate as the only eligibility criteria for the securing a place in the quarterfinals. Now even if India loses its game to the west indies in the next match it will edge out England in terms of net run rate thus making India continuing their journey in quarterfinals.

The fortune of India is firmly on the Bangladesh- South Africa game on Saturday and there could a plenty of final day drama in this match, but this young cricket team generally plays well at home and has utility players suitable for sub continent conditions.

Cricket now a day is undoubtedly being an onus game for Bangladesh. Bangladesh is playing well compared to its past records. Proverb says,” Man can do what man has done”. While Bangladesh selection in quarter finals is vague in world cup 2011 is still worthy looking at the strength and weaknesses of the Bangladesh team in contrast with South Africa.

STRENGTHS
All of us know Bangladesh’s strength lay in their unpredictability. There were some doubts on the selection of the cricket team but the opening batsman of this team is their strength because if Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes continue their bating the way they way have been it could be a threat for South Africa.
But South Africa with Ab de Villiers, dale Steyn and Imran Tahir has no match. Graeme Smith is a great leader and plays from the front. Hashim Amla with its no.1 position in the ICC rankings is also matter of big worry for Bangladesh.  Although legs spinner is unlikely to be risked till the quarterfinals.

WEAKNESS

The main area to focus is fielding and partnership among batsman. Their inability to make a partnership leading into low score and poor fielding side is the strong weakness of this team in world cup.
South Africa has failed many times to win critical games in the successive world cups but I don’t think so this team has any weakness, with their good spinners and in form batting hand.

Match Status : South Africa won by 206 runs

Uncertainties of the game of cricket notwithstanding, few would put their money on Ireland against their last league game against the protease tomorrow when the two lock horns at the deified Eden Garden in Kolkata. Barring their show against England, South Africa has come shown why they are amongst the favourites to win the coveted Cup. Their only concern, the lower middle order, came good when it mattered most against India. The protease did a commendable job in that match by maintaining composure when India were all but running away with the game. That win has given the already potent side a huge boost, making them look formidable against any opposition.

Ireland, to their credit, by far has been the best of the associate member teams in this tourney. However, they have long way to go before they knock ICC’s door to claim Test-status. That said, they have shown the spark and ability to move up the ladder of international cricket in not-so- distant future. Their win against the Englishmen would remain in cricket buff’s memoirs for some time and the innings Kevin O’ Brian played to record the fastest century ever in a World Cup match is near unforgettable. Ireland also gave the Indian and the Caribbean team  a run for their money. Overall, they have done enough to win accolades in the cricketing firmament, which augurs well for them and the propagators of cricket who want to spread the game of cricket far and wide.

To get the better of South Africa would be a stiff task task, even for some of the Test playing countries, leave aside Ireland. However, cricket lovers would be happy to watch a closely contested match and would support the underdogs with élan, as is the norm. Don’t write Ireland off  just as yet.

South Africa (probable): 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Hashim Amla, 3 Jacques Kallis, 4 AB de Villiers / Colin Ingram, 5 JP Duminy, 6 Faf du Plessis, 7 Morne van Wyk (wk), 8 Johan Botha / Lonwabo Tsotsobe, 9 Robin Peterson, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Morne Morkel.

Ireland (possible): 1 William Porterfield (capt), 2 Paul Stirling, 3 Ed Joyce, 4 Niall O'Brien (wk), 5 Gary Wilson, 6 Kevin O'Brien, 7 Alex Cusack, 8 John Mooney, 9 Trent Johnston, 10 George Dockrell, 11 Boyd Rankin  

Ireland’s historic victory over England on Wednesday has cheered up the team to face Indian bulls on Sunday. On the other hand, Indian team is all geared up to beat the Irish team on their motherland. However, we all are looking forward; what will be Indian team’s new strategies to tackle this emerging star? Let us see what Mahendra Singh Dhoni has to say for his team’s planning for Sunday’s Group B match:

“As far as strategies are concerned, every day is different and accordingly you have to plan based on how a batsman is playing.”

“It was an unbelievable innings. We really enjoyed O'Brien's innings. As it was not against us, we can always be a spectator and enjoy each and every hit. It was really impressive to see him change gears at the end.”
Mahendra Singh Dhoni titled Irish master-blaster Kevin O'Brien as "unbelievable", seeing his outstanding performance in match against England. And why not, after all O'Brien deserves this title showing his smashing performance on Wednesday.

Now, Ireland cannot be taken lightly and so Indian team has to make some extra efforts to battle with the Irish team. Well, the very inning can forecast a lot about the match. So, all eyes are waiting for the moment when it will be decided that which team is going to blow the first attack.