ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: The Terrace talk

Across streets and mohallas, conversations are in full swing. Everyday we lend our ears to those passionate voices.

Across streets and mohallas, World Cup conversations are in full swing. Everyday we lend our ears to those passionate voices. Today’s topic is a sentimental one:

WIN IT FOR…

West Indies

… what once was

Aside from the fact that the BCCI’s accountant-administrators want them buried for their insolence after they stood Indians up post the Dharamsala ODI, the West Indians have dug themselves another ditch to fall into. Their cricket contracts situation is one right mess, and anything short of winning this World Cup would mean they will go down the mire. The West Indian cricketing unity itself is fraying at the edges after stalwarts Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard were left out. Now no Sunil Narine either. But win the Cup, and all will be forgiven and forgotten.

Sri Lanka

… perfect send-offs

For sri lanka, finalists of the last two editions, this World Cup is almost all about the perfect goodbye for Dilshan, Mahela, Sanga and Malinga. Their cricket is riddled with corruption and facing debt, but the hard tryers on the field ought to be respected more. It’s a country in the middle of serious rebuilding after years of a civil war – better infra, faster highways that have quartered travel-time between Colombo and Galle. As World Cup champs, they might just get into a position to do what Arjuna Ranatunga & Co did for a fractured country — rekindle hope.

New Zealand

… martin crowe, M.B.E.

Crowe. 1992. World Cup semis. Resting himself from the fielding side, he’d watched NZ get beat. It’s what haunts him until now. The Kiwi great has had a cancer relapse and refused chemo. They ought to do it for their Crowe (in pic), the heroic leader of yore. As hosts, everyone’s favourite – and a great chance to stick one up to Australia. Tattoos’ve never looked so cool as when Brendon McCullum flexed while hitting the big ones. And NZ’s always everyone’s favourite in their dazzling blacks.

INDIA

… the sake of the cup

It’s bad enough that a billion people believe that Dhoni and Kohli (and every player that captains India in the future) is entitled to the World Cup. There’s a sneaking fear that should Indian not win the World Cup, the BCCI will scrap the event whimsically and declare the IPL the new World Cup. Also, how can “Achhe din” be complete without India also pocketing the Cricket World Cup.

South Africa

… a mourning nation

It was the dark cloud of death that hung over South African sport in 2014. Former world 800m champ Mbulaeni Mulaudzi died in a car accident in Mpumalanga, and two days later the national football captain Senzo Meyiwa (in pic) was shot dead by intruders visiting his girlfriend in Vosloorus. Separately, boxer Phindile Mwelase, who spent 10 days in a coma, died after being knocked out by Liz Butler in Pretoria. All this while their Paralympic hero Oscar Pistorius went through a very public downfall at his murdered girlfriend’s trial. The unifying presence of Nelson Mandela had fetched the Springboks the rugby World Cup 20 years ago. Madiba’s spirit could lead them on to the cricket one.

Australia

… hughesy

Phil Hughes. And then some more.

Playing at home, the Aussies would want to reclaim their erstwhile dominance – highlighted by their three consecutive Championship victories. As such, Michael Clarke, a class player, has little in terms of a legacy as captain in one-dayers, and would need this World Cup to establish one. The nation is coming out of a slew of scandals in doping in other sports. But the modern-day innovators with their fiery Big Bash could do with a formal tag of world champs.

England

… a new beginning

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After a mudslinging summer, England need to know once and for all that they can win without KP. They invented all sorts of shorter versions, but the country needs to face the Frankensteins they’ve created, and learn to win one-dayers. Realise that there’s a whole world out there beyond Ashes. And realise that pretty boy Jimmy Anderson is in their midst.

Pakistan

… the entire country

Fear of touring Pakistan (and BCCI’s stance to not allow the cricketers to play in IPL) has snuffed the life out of this once-swaggering cricketing nation.Ravaged by terror and the Peshawar school shooting tragedy, a Pakistan win could be the most heart-warming story . It’ll be cricket’s loss if the sport’s Peter Pan, Shahid Afridi (in pic), who was actually a pre-teen in 1992, cannot grow old to tell his grandchildren how he once won the World Cup.