Cricket World Cup Biggest Upsets - Who Will Provide the Upset in 2011 Cricket World Cup?

Greatest Cricket World Cup Upsets - Who Will Provide the Upset in 2011 Cricket World Cup?

(This article was initially published at www.xomba.com)

Who will provide the customary upset in this Cricket World Cup 2011?

The ICC Cricket World Cup is from February 19 - 2nd April 2011. No Cricket World Cup in recent times has escaped a major upset. Some of them have been really really shocking - like the one Ireland gave Pakistan in the 2007 World Cup. The teams causing the upsets have been Zimbabwe, Kenya, Bangladesh and even Ireland! Here are some major World Cup upsets in the last three editions of the World Cup.

2007 World Cup Upsets

Ireland shocked Pakistan and shell shocked the nation with a win in the preliminary rounds. Set a target of just 132 - Ireland reached the target much to the horror of Pakistan fans. This horror ended in tragedy with the death of high profile Pakistan Coach Bob Woolmer (a death first speculated to be homicide by media - but later confirmed to be from natural causes). The only light Pakistan fans saw at the end of the dark tunnel was India getting upset and ousted out of the Cup by Bangladesh!

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/247465.html

Bangladesh beat the high profile Greg Chappell coached Indian team in a dismal match for the nation. Bangladesh needed 192 and got it without much ado. India were virtually out. Bangladesh made it to the Super 8.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/247464.html

2003 World Cup

Kenya defeated Sri Lanka in a shocker played at Nairobi to the delight of home fans. It was ironic that Sri Lanka in the same tournament had bowled out Canada for just 36 - the lowest ever World Cup score! A team comprising of stalwarts like Jayasuriya, Murali, Attapatu, Tilakratne, Jayawardene and Sangakkara first let Kenya reach 210 and then managed to score just 157 while chasing. Kenya even made it to the Super Six by virtue of this dramatic win!

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65258.html

1999 World Cup

Zimbabwe was the suprise package for the 1999 Cricket World Cup. It beat more fancied opponents India (India had already lost to South Africa) and South Africa to make the Super Six, ahead of defending champion Sri Lanka and England!

The India vs Zimbabwe was a scorcher with India first conceding 252 runs thanks to some generous bowling by Ajit Agarkar and then falling short by just 3 runs by getting all out in the final overs!

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65200.html

Zimbabwe defeated South Africa for the first ever time in ODIs in that World Cup in a stunning victory

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65218.html

While all these upsets have caused setbacks to some regular team - no upset has caused as much havoc or change in World order in Cricket as cthe 1983 World Cup Finals! It is a memory still cherished and treasured by every Indian who watched the game or loves cricket, when real minnows India actually walked away with the trophy after upsetting the mighty West Indies team. India defended a miserly total of 183 against an overconfident and complacent West Indian team to lift the Prudential Cup on June 25 in 1983.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65090.html

Here is a list of the greatest World Cup upsets as listed at Wiki down the years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cricket_World_Cup_teams

Who will cause the upset this World Cup? My bet is on Bangladesh. They look determined to not only get into the last 8 stage - but maybe go a few stages further! Bangladesh Captain Shakib Al Hasan leads a side where the highest age of a player is 28. It just needs a couple of good days to make good. A team which could score 283 chasing a total of 370 under such pressure of a home crowd must have a few surprises in store.

I can't wait for the Cup to get on!

Update

As I write this - Netherland have scored a massive 292 runs against England - the highest ever by an Associate member. Though England look set to comfortably overtake that score - it signals that Associate nations are not at the World Cup just to make up the numbers