What to Expect In 2009 In The World Of Cricket

With the Australian team losing in India and then being beaten at home by the South Africans for the first time since 1992-93 when they were beaten by the West Indies, it seems as if for the first time in two decades that the power shift has changed and that this year may well see a new country emerge as number one in the test arena.

With tours to South Africa in Feb-Apr and then the Ashes in England in May-Sept the Australians will be hard pushed to maintain the top spot come Dec 31 2009.

Much will depend on their visit to South Africa as if they are beaten there they will lose their status immediately and with South Africa hosting England also at home the road to maintaining this position seems easier.

India are also in the picture and with a relatively easy two or three test series (at time of writing there are negotiations for an extension from two to three tests) against the New Zealand and the West Indies in the Caribbean in June-July and the hosting of Sri Lanka and and an away trip to Bangladesh at the end of the year it does set up a mouth watering possibility that they could be at No. 1 and Australia down at 2 or 3.

Looking at the other test playing nations it seems that England who once again are going through a transitional phase of both coach and captain will have to dig deep and hope that there senior players can bounce back from a rather emotional experience of the past few weeks.

Pakistan will continue to blow hot and cold and New Zealand, West Indies Bangaladeshand Zimbabwe will fill the bottom four places ( possibly with New Zealand giving sides the biggest run for their money).

This leaves Sri Lanka who are my dark horse for surprises and with two of the best spinners in the game they are able to pull off wins against any of the top 4 teams.

Players who in my opinion will have an impact on the global front will be Greame Smith, Hasim Amla and Dale Steyn (South Africa), Mitchell Johnson and Michael Clarke (Australia), Kevin Pietersen ( England), Ajantha Mendis(Sri Lanka) and Gautam Gambir(India).

Yes there are some interesting delicacies on show this year and the question that is on all connoisseurs lips will be who will be No. 1 come December 31 2009.