May 17, 1999
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ON THE BALL Test of the Best Every team has quality players but this World Cup could see youngesters take centrestage. By Kapil Dev
Teams like Australia and England have seasoned players. They are all well known to the cricket-watching public. England especially has no key players. Everyone will be performing to the best of his ability, which I think is good. If your key player fails, the team gets demoralised. But if there are no key players, everyone has to perform; there is no dependence on any one figure. Australia have their stalwarts. Being a mature, well-balanced side, they carry no passengers. One expects their boys to deliver the goods. The likes of the crafty leg spinner Shane Warne and the young batsman Ricky Ponting, who is also an electric fielder, are expected to come good at the right time. On the other hand, I would definitely look out for New Zealand's Chris Cairns. He has the ability to bowl phenomenally and bat reliably. To my mind he could be one of the greatest all-rounders in this World Cup. If he can hang on to his fitness and perform the way he has done in the last couple of series, he is definitely my man to watch. The other winner will be Shoaib Akhtar. The way he has performed in India and Sharjah speaks volumes of his capability. He can win matches for his team single-handedly. A few players and critics have found his action suspect, though personally I have not felt so. Pakistan have the added advantage of Saqlain Mushtaq to support Akhtar. These two will be the backbone of the team. Undoubtedly, all eyes will be on West Indies captain Brian Lara, a fine batsman. But the West Indies team is so young and unexposed that nobody knows what to expect of them. Bowlers may not know how to handle them and batsmen will not know what to expect. Here, I feel, lies their strength. Their lack of exposure may well work to their advantage. They have nothing to lose and everything to gain. They will be going all out. I am really curious to see them. I have a great deal of time for them. We as Indians have all seen the capabilities of our regulars. Sachin Tendulkar, Javagal Srinath, Mohammed Azharuddin -- they should all rise to the occasion. But I get this feeling about Venkatesh Prasad. He will outshine the rest. Ajit Agarkar will prove dynamic too. And let us keep our eyes open for Amay Khurasia. I am sure he has some good stuff to offer. As would Jacques Kallis from South Africa. Kallis is extraordinary, an exceptional allrounder, not to mention an extremely safe fielder, who could rise to the occasion. This I feel will be the tournament of youngsters. They have the energy and enthusiasm, and will take a great deal of pride in representing their country. Nobody expects them to perform brilliantly but they are sure to go out and do their best. I cannot say much about other countries but in India our cricketers are like the soccer stars of Brazil. They head an unparalleled cult. Any Indian youngster who performs even fairly well will have made it. Financial stability and security are natural side-effects, as are name and fame. But the pride of having done something great for your country and then gaining all this makes it all the more special. Former India captain and allrounder
Kapil Dev will be writing a regular column exclusively for |
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I just cannot seem to get
used to all the hype that this World Cup is generating. I repeat myself again and again,
but it is uncanny. I am sure the excitement would be far more in India, Pakistan, Sri
Lanka and Bangladesh -- not surprisingly in soccer-mad England the World Cup is not yet
generating much excitement -- but all over the world this tournament is going to make or
break a few players. 
