Cricket World Cup 2015: 5 Pivotal Factors to Decide Group B
The cliche goes that no match in a World Cup is easy, but Pool B is by far the less strenuous group of the 2015 Cricket World Cup.
South Africa are favourites to top the group, but it’s not going to be plain sailing. Group B could dish up some really interesting results and here are some of the key factors that will decide who progresses through Group B.
All quotes and information obtained firsthand.
1. Whether Chris Gayle Shows Up or Not
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Chris Gayle is a monstrous talent in limited-overs cricket. On a day where he is in form, he can single-handedly win matches for the West Indies. His recent form in one-day cricket is not so sparkly, though. He's not scored a hundred since 2013 and has not averaged over 22.33 in a calendar year since 2012.
His record in World Cups is not that hot either. In 20 World Cup games, he's scored just 604 runs at an average of 31.78. He has just three fifties and one hundred in the tournament. Still, you cannot underestimate Chris Gayle. If he hits form during the tournament, bowlers will be drawing straws to bowl at him.
2. Which Pakistan Decides to Show Up
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Pakistan are a comically unpredictable team, in all formats of the game. They will be without key man Saeed Ajmal and have just been dealt another blow after Junaid Khan was ruled out of the tournament.
Still, Pakistan are capable of surprising anyone on their day. Which Pakistan decides to turn up for the group matches will have a big impact on how the group standings look at the end of it.
3. India's Inability to Win Away from Home
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India have a fantastic record in ICC tournaments. As current world champions and ICC Champions Trophy holders, they seem to spark when it comes to winning silverware. They do, however, struggle to win away from home. They have won 28 of their 61 matches away from home since 2010 and were woeful in their recent tri-series in Australia, failing to win a single match.
That’s not exactly a confidence booster ahead of the World Cup. For all teams facing India, this weakness presents an opportunity to capitalise and sneak through the group.
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4. South Africa's Consistency
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South Africa have the most consistent record out of all the teams in the group.
Barring a series loss against Australia last year, they have a series win in Sri Lanka and New Zealand as well as a tri-series victory over Australia in Zimbabwe. They are also fresh off a comprehensive series win over the West Indies. If they can carry this consistency into the World Cup, they will be favourites to top the group.
5. The Minnows Beating One of the Powerhouses
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With India’s inability to win away from home, Pakistan’s unpredictability and West Indies’ woeful form, the “minnow” teams have a real chance to cause a few upsets.
Zimbabwe, Ireland and the UAE all have a chance to upset the apple cart. The number of upsets will play a big role in the final group standings and, of course, the intensity of the latter part of the group stage.
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