Llewelyn Scott-Hoy: ​Sports Analysis

 

Through my analysis of the above ranking systems and taking into account the conditions and the squads selected this is my prediction of the final standings of ICC World Cricket League Division Six:

 

 1. Vanuatu

 2. Guernsey

 3. Fiji

 4. Saudi Arabia

 5. Botswana

 6. Norway

 7. Cayman Islands

 8. Suriname

 

Suriname have shown that they struggle to perform outside of regional competitions on the global stage and I believe the travel to England and their recent performance history suggests that they won’t put up much of a fight in this competition. However having said that Suriname have a number of young talented players who are yet to reach their full potential if Suriname is to be a factor in this competition the younger players in their side will need to step up. Suriname have also omitted their experienced former captain Troy Dudnath however their current captain Mohindra Boodram has a good record with the bat and should cause some problems for the teams in Group A.

Suriname – Mohindra Boodram (captain), Shazam Ramjohn, Vishwar Shaw, Gavin Singh, Banerd Benjemin Bailey, Yuvraj Paul Dayal, Vejai Hirlal, Mohan Balkaran, Khemraj Jaikaran, Sauid Ahmed Drepaul, Arun Kamesh Gokoel, Hemradj Akash Basropansingh , Muneshwar Chris Patandin, Wasim Akram Haslim

 

The Cayman Islands have been on a downward slide having risen as high as Division Three before falling down into this competition. The stalwarts of the Cayman Islands team have largely departed and moved into coaching roles and so the team will need to rely more on their youth than they previously have. This I believe will prove too much for the Cayman’s and they will fail to progress out of the group stage. Though a warning should be held that Argentina who in 2013 appeared to be out of their depth prior to the tournament managed to put a fight in to finish fourth and beat more fancied opponents Kuwait and Bahrain and push some of the stronger nations. If the Cayman Islands can show that same fight and use their world cricket league experience to their advantage they might stand a chance.

Cayman Islands – Christopher Palmer (captain), Adrian Wright, Conroy Wright, Corey Cato, Darren Cato, Ramon Sealy, Omar Willis, Ryan Bovell, Alessandro Morris, Ian Rotsey, Neil Coley, Troy Taylor, Kervin Ebanks, Sacha DeAlwis

 

The 2012 Division Eight competition saw the Norwegians largely entering as favourites before losing all three group matches and failing to make the finals. However the back end of the tournament proved more successful with Norway winning the remainder of their games to finish fifth. In 2012 this could largely be because the side was under prepared having travelled half way around the world to make it to the competition and also facing unfamiliar conditions in Samoa. It also didn’t help that Norway were placed in the strongest group of the competition facing finalists Vanuatu and Ghana and home side Samoa. This year Norway will be playing much closer to home and will be more prepared having played in the recent Europe T20 competition in England. Norway have a very new look side composing mostly of expatriate cricketers from South Asia and so time will tell how those players perform in the upcoming tournament.

Norway – Raza Iqbal (captain), Safir Hayat, Vithyeswara Sarma, Amad Sheikh, Waqas Ahmed, Ibrahim Mughal, Rahul Raghunath Shinde, Prateesh Kumar Thangavadivel, Zeeshan S. Siddiqui, Wasif Jalal, Damon Crawford, Sheraz Khalid, Jawad Mir, Suhail Ifthikar

 

Botswana were favourites for promotion in the 2013 Division Seven competition but could only finish third and missed out on a place in Division Six. However that was in their home conditions playing on hard wicket. The turf conditions of England will make Botswana feel very uncomfortable and their more prepared opponents will probably be more than they can handle. The recent retirement of the batting superstar Faisal Rana will but the Botswanans under pressure to score runs it will be interesting to see who will rise to the occasion.

Botswana – Karabo Motlhanka (captain), Karabo Modise, Waseem Tajbhay, Thatayaone Tshose, Russel Withey, Rashaad Mosweu, Gaolape (John) Mokokwe, Sooraj Kollery, Inzimam Master, Nabil Master, Dhruv Maisura, James Moses, Reginald Nehonde, Adithiya Rangaswamy

 

The Asian Cricket Council sent Bhutan to their last entry level WCL division in 2012 despite Saudi Arabia and the Maldives outperforming Bhutan regionally albeit in the Twenty20 competition. Now the ACC has put in a strong regional contender that defeated higher ranked opponents Bahrain and Singapore who also finished with a net run rate higher than Kuwait to qualify for this year’s event. Saudi Arabia will be no pushover and will certainly be a contender for promotion and the title. The Middle Eastern nation has been biding their time waiting for a global opportunity and now here it is. It will be a fight between Vanuatu and Saudi Arabia to top Group B with the do-or-die semi finals to follow. It will certainly be a tight contest.

Saudi Arabia – Shoaib Ali (captain), Mohsin Shabbir Rajput, Abdul Waheed, Shahbaz Rasheed, Imran Azam, Kamran Hadi, Muhammad Waqas Ausaf, Arslan Mushtaq, Muhammad Mazhar Abbasi, Kashif Riaz, Muhammad Afzal, Muhammad Nadeem Javed, Ibrar Ul Haq, Sajid Saeed

 

Fiji are back on the rise after falling out of the World Cricket League structure after the ICC deemed Division Eight and Division Seven unnecessary. They have since hired former Bangladeshi coach, Shane Jurgenson, as national coach and Josefa Rika has come back out of retirement to captain the side. The team performed strongly in the recent East Asia-Pacific Trophy and will be tough to beat with a good batting and bowling line up. They will be ruing the five runs they needed to qualify for Division Six in 2013 and will want to prove that they can return to the top tiers of World Cricket.

Fiji – Josefa Rika (captain), Jikoi Kida Vanualevu, Giles Smith, Rabici Lesuma, Metuisela Beitaki, Sekove Ravoka, Viliame Yabaki, Sakiusa Dokosobau, Karan Kumar, Imran Khan, Kunaal Kumar, Riyad Khan, Viliame Mana, Jone Wesele

 

Guernsey have an almost home ground advantage by playing in England which historically has proven to be a major factor in promotion from world cricket league events. Guernsey have seen the retirements of their superstars but seemed to have uncovered a group of young talent to replace them. After performing well but failing to qualify for the World T20 Guernsey have a point to prove in this competition and will want to win promotion to face their channel island rivals, Jersey, in Division Five. They should start this competition as favourites and from here on it is their competition to lose. They recently defeated Jersey in their inter-insular match and so will be confident coming into this tournament.

Guernsey– Jamie Nussbaumer (captain), Ben Ferbrache, David Hooper, Matthew Stokes, Tim Ravenscroft, Max Ellis, Jordon Martel, Jason Martin, Lucas Barker, Oliver Newey, James Wilkes-Green, Oliver Nightingale, Tom Nightingale, William Fazakerley

 

I am predicting Vanuatu to win the tournament based on their recent performance history having lost only 3 of their last 17 50 over international matches in the last three years. I have been lucky enough to observe the Vanuatu Cricketers preparation over the last few years and believe they have the strength in their squad to meet the challenges of this tournament. They have 4 spinning options and 6 fast bowling options to go with the depth in their batting and will be tough to beat regardless of the condition of the pitch. Previously Vanuatu have toured with a strong XI but the bench players have struggled to make an impact. This squad boasts 14 players who can all win a cricket game on their day and indeed should win many in this tournament. The days are gone when Andrew Mansale was relied upon to save the team and reach a defendable total with the top 8 batsman all capable of scoring hundreds and building big partnerships. After winning the 2015 Pacific Games Vanuatu will be on a high and will want to carry that momentum into England. After missing out on promotion to Division Five in 2013 by a meagre 7 runs. Vanuatu will want to show the world that there is strength in the EAP region and that they belong in the upper echelons of Associate cricket.

Vanuatu - Andrew Mansale (captain), Trevor Langa, Jonathan Dunn, Simpson Hopeman Obed, Joshua Rasu, Wolford Kalworai, Patrick Matautaava, Jelany Chilia, Nalin Nipiko, Ronald Tari, Kenny Tari, Apolinaire Liplip Stephen, Callum Charles Blake, Niko Unavalu

 

Written by Llewelyn Scott-Hoy