Regardless of where you stand with regard to short format cricket, ODIs and T20 are not going away anytime soon.
In fact, it is more likely that the old-fashioned, multi-day affairs will follow the route of Thoroughbred staying races than any other route.
Former Australian quick Glenn McGrath, who played during the glory years when beating the Poms was something of a national pastime, not so grudgingly tipped England to win the 2019 ICC World Cup soon to start in England.
It cannot be held against McGrath, now a mentor to young pacemen at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai, for tipping England.
He offered various insights, amongst them the idea that sides such as England and India no longer spell during the middle 20 overs.
“Most teams used to go hard in the first 15 and the last 15, and consolidate in the middle. But teams like England, India are just going hard the whole 50 overs, and that’s the impact T20 cricket has had. So yeah, I don’t think I’ve ever said ‘England are the team to beat’ or the ‘favourites’”, McGrath told ESPNcricinfo.
It would appear that the bookies hold similar beliefs to McGrath, so far as the winners are concerned.
One bookmaker website (Ladbrokes) has England quoted at $3, with India at $4.33 (only in cricket) and Australia on the third line at $4.50.
The rest of the order is South Africa ($9), New Zealand ($10), Pakistan ($17), West Indies ($17), Sri Lanka ($81), Afghanistan ($101) and Bangladesh ($101).
We would favour India, but the pitch groomers in England and Wales have been up all hours trying to make it difficult for the India bowlers.
Who is to blame them?
Pitch doctoring is as much a part of the game, as, well, no need to delve into the topic of mucking around with the balls to gain an advantage.
