World Cup Cricket

All over the world cricket fans and human fans are breathlessly tuned in to World Cup Cricket matches. To the uninitiated, these matches might seem confusing and endless, or just endlessly confusing. We present a brief overview of the competing countries. It's always important to know who's on first and who will be sent home first. We've kept it as simple as possible. For additional information, tune to ESPN-42 and enjoy 24-hour coverage of every pitch and every teatime.

At the time of this writing, we know who the countries might be. We do not, however, know who the winner of the cup will be. We can predict, pontificate, prognosticate, and prevaricate, but it would all be for naught. Instead, we shall focus on the makeup of the tournament. We shall provide insight into each squad for the benefit of cricket fans worldwide, even the United States.

Countries competing in The World Cup of Cricket are subdivided into a single pair of categories called Groups. The groups are dubbed "Group A" and "Group B."

Here are the countries that have been assigned to these groups. Any country not on the list has not been assigned to a group and will probably not be competing in the Cricket World Cup. The United States does not appear in either group, leading this author to suspect that no team from America will appear on the pitch when the World Cup of Cricket initiates.

Watching cricket matches is much more enjoyable when you have a familiarity with the competing teams. Here is a brief synopsis of what each country brings to the proverbial table.

Australia:

This powerhouse team is battle-tested and ready to compete. No Australian World Cup team ever had quite the make-up of this squad.

Pakistan:

Pakistan continues its' rich tradition of cricket in the 2011 World Cup. Their team has a balance of youth and experience that will make every match exciting.

New Zealand:

Just when the most ardent cricket fan thinks he has seen everything, this team somehow manages to surprise, At the beginning of the season they were not well-regarded by some cricket aficionados, but be sure to keep a close eye on this team.

Sri Lanka:

A youthful mixture of enthusiasm and exuberance may carry this team deep into the competition, but don't be shocked to see things change drastically in some matches.

Zimbabwe:

This disparate group of players has trained very hard with the goal of becoming a single functioning unit of cricket. Individually they may not be world-beaters, but together they can meld into a serious challenger. New fans and old fans will love their style of play.

Canada:

Their style may not be what we're used to seeing from previous Canadian teams, but this team certainly belongs where they are. Each player works hard on fundamental play and good hard competition. They will have to work very hard to earn everything they get throughout this competition.

Kenya:

We've all seen that these guys have done in the past, now we will see what they can do in the present. Expect them to play as a single cohesive unit despite disparate backgrounds and experience levels,

India:

Injuries may slow down some of the Indian players but we all know that their experience and high level of interest in the World Cup trophy will carry them through the toughest matches. The young guys will look to the older and more experienced players for guidance, while the veterans will need strategic rest in order to survive the grueling World Cup schedule.

South Africa:

Look for many exciting plays to be made throughout each match by South African cricketers. These guys know how the game is played and they play it exactly that way. No one can get in their way when they are playing the way they know they can play.

England:

No one needs to tell these players what is on the line during these patches. Each and every player wants to being home the World Cup instead of coming home empty-handed. Watch out for high scores, high-intensity, and a general all-around well-played match each and every time you watch this team.

West Indies:

After many big wins and some struggles throughout their warm-ups, this team has really come together as a team. They play like a real team and they compete every time they step out onto the cricket grounds. Their fundamentals are usually very good, but sometimes not as good.

Bangladesh:

Rabid cricket fans all over the cricket-playing world are familiar with some of these guys. Look for new faces to combine with old faces to build a team that plays together but with some bumps along the way, because they may not have played together enough.

Ireland:

Cricket may not have been invented in Ireland, but most fans know the rich tradition of Irish Cricket when World Cup matches appear on the cricket calendar. It's always somebody new stepping up and making a fantastic play to save the day.

There, you have it. You have an in-depth overview of the competing teams for then 2011 Cricket World Cup. Enjoy the matches!