What 2010 may bring us

Firstly, I must apologise for neglecting my blog. The advent of Christmas holidays plus a revolutionising of my career path have led to me being distracted.

Another year has gone and now we face 2010. India is the number one test side, Australia the number one ODI side. And 2009 was a year of definite ups and downs, with ups such as England’s against-the-odds Ashes win; Australia’s remarkable victory in the ODI series in India despite fielding a bits-and-pieces squad; Virender Sehwag’s remarkable appetite for destruction; the exciting Champion’s League; and India finally assuming the ranking of best test nation on the planet.

Downs were most certainly the IPL, which started brightly but faded into monotony by the end; Mitchell Johnson’s confusing Jekyll and Hyde transformations; the West Indian player strike; and finally the hideous and shocking attack on the peaceable Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore.

After a confusing year, it seems the appropriate juncture to offer my predictions ahead for this year’s test cricket (And maybe beyond).

Firstly, I predict Australia will probably win all their test series this year. And they will put up a firm fight (As most would expect them to) in their ODI series. Do not expect much of them at the World Twenty/20 though. If they play well, expect them to make the semi finals. But I cannot see them winning.
In fact, I reckon the West Indies are overdue and may steal the tournament from right under the noses of everyone, and they will face either India or Pakistan in the final.

Looking at the tests booked for next year, Australia looks to be playing the most series during the year, and an Australian may lead the run scoring charts by the end of the year. That said, England may turn it on and show a lot of fight to be in the running this year. And if anyone from that team is going to score runs, it’ll be either Andrew Strauss or Alastair Cook, who may finally realise his immense potential.

Following his successful 2009, the top bowler will be Graeme Swann, who has given England’s attack some much needed vitality. He will be pivotal in all England’s tours, and could end up being the difference in the Ashes.

India is going to soon face the harsh truth that their stalwarts of the middle order can’t go on forever. Despite a boom year for Rahul Dravid, and a solid one for Tendulkar, the majority of them are on the wrong side of 35 and they need to start thinking of bringing in the precocious young talents of Virat Kohli and Cheteshewar Pujara. Their bowling attack has been fine without being dominant, which is a worry outside of India. Thankfully Zaheer is back, and he makes a world of difference to their balance.

Australia is certainly ripe for the plucking, and they will face a weakened New Zealand team in New Zealand, and then Pakistan in England before the Ashes. If the groundsman want to see their colonials cousins jump, the least they could do is produce some green wickets which will make for some dynamic cricket.

Expect India to hold onto their number one test ranking this year, although they will have an interesting time against the powerful South African line up. Australia may surge back to second if they put up some fight. But I wouldn’t count on it.

ODI cricket will be as unpredictable as ever, and people may be drawn back to the format.
Twenty/20 will surge again, with the IPL hopefully fixing what went wrong last year (Being too damn long), and the Champion’s League proving popular. As an early punt, I expect an Australian team to win again. You could tell in the inaugural tournament that they were the most disciplined sides, and that it would take something special to beat them. But expect the odd shock, or maybe another brilliant calypso showing, or even an IPL team blitzing into the final.

Finally, on a more personal note, expect more blogging from me as my time is freed and I can write further about the game I am, quite unashamedly, obsessed about.