Fairytale and tragedy guaranteed for opposing legends

After a tournament of unprecedented fabulousness, the 2011 Cricket World Cup concludes tonight in Mumbai between the dramatic but fallible India, and top-heavy but spectacular Sri Lanka. Although both nations will richly deserve their success if they are victorious tonight, millions of Cricket fans the world over will feel a tinge of sadness thanks to a fairytale final showdown for two of the game's all time greats. There is an almost cruel dramatic perfection to the script that this World Cup has come down to Sachin Tendulkar and Muttiah Muralitharan's teams.

Tonight's match will be Muralitharan's final international for Sri Lanka. The situation is not so black and white for Tendulkar and certainly he looks destined to dominate Test Cricket for more years yet, but surely it is too much to expect him down under in 2015 for a dizzying seventh World Cup campaign at age 41. Their showdown is so perfect and cruel not merely because both men are the greatest Cricketers their countries have ever produced (which both are almost without question), but because both have forever altered the very fabric of not just their Cricket teams, but their nations themselves.

India has always been a cricketing stronghold, but largely because of the nation's origins as a British colony. India were perpetual seller-dwellers in the grand scheme of Test Cricket, and uniformly uninterested in ODI cricket until the spectacular World Cup triumph of 1983. That began the modern age of Indian cricket, where India stands still for important cricketing occasions, and controls 80% of the sport's financial assets. Sachin Tendulkar was the hero Indian cricket needed and largely thanks to his genius, India are at the top of the game on and off the field, and look set to stay entrenched there for decades to come. Further evidence of Sachin's influence is easy to come by when one looks at the media and public attention which follow the little master 24/7, to levels far beyond even Western Paparazzo standards. One man on Cricinfo exclaimed emotionally that he will never watch Cricket again after Tendulkar retires.

As for Sri Lanka, they are still in grand terms a baby of a nation, and were a Cricketing minnow until granted Test status in the 1990s. Murali has played for all but three years of Sri Lanka's existence as a Test playing nation and surely no-one would dispute that he is Sri Lanka's greatest cricketer, even accounting for the likes of Ranatunga, De Silva, Jayasuriya, Jayawardene and Sangakkara. Like India, Cricket is the be-all and end-all for so many Sri Lankans, but as a small island without the wider influences and interests of India, the journalistic hyperbole that 'every single person' literally stops for Cricket, may actually be closer to the truth. The fact of that matter is that Murali is often referred to as the greatest Sri Lankan of all time period. His captain Kumar Sangakkara said exactly that after their semi-final win over New Zealand. Not even Bradman can quite scale those heights in Australia.

The tragedy of the situation of course is that one of these men must end their World Cup careers with a loss. Although my support stands with Sri Lanka (by virtue of having picked them as my favourites to win the World Cup months ago), the lesser tragedy would be an Indian win. Murali at least has won a World Cup in 1996, and were Sri Lanka to win, the greatest player of our generation, perhaps of many generations, would end his career without a World Cup. That would be a travesty. But then perhaps it would be a blessing in disguise, and motivate the great man to come out here in four years time? What a privilege to witness that would be.

As for the Cricket, it is an intriguing contest with neither team having set the world sufficiently alight to feel unbeatable. Beyond Zaheer Khan and the unlikely hero Yuvraj Singh, India's bowling has lacked any consistent penetration, but they have shown to be the team for pressure situations in the last two matches and have shored up the middle order jitters from early in the tournament. Sri Lanka in turn choked and spluttered their way over the line against New Zealand, and their middle order remains every bit as utterly unconvincing as it did two months ago. But I stand by Sri Lanka as my pick. The top four of Tharanga, Dilshan, Sangakkara and Jayawardene have been mighty in the tournament even beyond India's top order, and their bowlers are clearly superior in variety and wicket-taking nous. The key for Sri Lanka is to avoid exposing their middle order too early if batting first, or even worse, exposing them to a tight chase. If the game gets tight and tense, then expect India to find a way home.

WORLD CUP: Group B Squads - India

India World Cup Squad

Batsmen

Virender Sehwag (Vice Captain) - 32 - Right Hand Opening Batsman

Gautam Gambhir - 29 - Left Hand Opening Batsman

Sachin Tendulkar - 37 - Right Hand Opening/Top Order Batsman

Yuvraj Singh - 29 - Left Hand Middle Order Batsman

Suresh Raina - 24 - Left Hand Middle Order Batsman

Virat Kohli - 22 - Right Hand Middle Order Batsman

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Captain) - 29 - Wicket Keeper - Right Hand Middle Order Batsman

All-Rounders

Yusuf Pathan - 28 - Right Hand Middle Order Batsman - Right Arm Off Spin Bowler

Spin Bowlers

Harbhajan Singh - 30 - Right Arm Off Spin Bowler

Ravichandran Ashwin - 24 - Right Arm Off Spin Bowler

Piyush Chawla - 22 - Right Am Leg Spin Bowler

Fast Bowlers

Zaheer Khan - 32 - Left Arm Fast Medium Bowler

Ashish Nehra - 31 - Left Arm Fast Medium Bowler

Munaf Patel - 27 - Right Arm Medium Fast Bowler
Sreesanth* - 28 - Right Arm Fast Medium Bowler

*Edit: Sreesanth replaces original squad member Praveen Kumar who was withdrawn due to an elbow injury.

Fate and chance have conspired to build an immeasurable load of pressure onto the shoulders of India's marvellous cricketers. India are now the No.1 Test side in the world, and have a formidable One-Day lineup which can beat anyone on their day. It could be argued that they'd be No.1 in both forms if it wasn't for the Indian obsession with resting their superstars in the One-Day game. Although I suppose the prioritisation on Test Cricket is commendable. If this wasn't enough for the disturbingly Cricket-mad public of India to build pressure on their team, this World Cup also happens to be come after the disaster that was India's first round exit in 2007, and on top of this, the chance for retribution comes at a World Cup which India are hosting. For all the successes of India's national team over the past decade, there is a distinct feeling that this 2011 World Cup is the make or break moment which will define the final legacy of this golden era.

On paper, India justify the tag of favourites, as ever because of the strength of their batting. Only Harbhajan and Zaheer are really world class bowlers outside India but it doesn't really matter very much when you have a batting line-up such as India's. But at home India's bowling unit is so effective, as Harbhajan and the slew of seemingly pedestrian medium-pacers manipulate the unique conditions which only they seem able to ever truly master. The biggest discussion point over the squad is the selection of young spinners Ashwin and Chawla over Test-incumbent Pragyan Ojha. I feel the arguments are somewhat mute though. Although one of the two will likely get solid game-time on the spinning wickets, their most important role in reality is to cover for the unthinkable, an injury to Harbhajan. The effectiveness of Sehwag, Yuvraj, Tendulkar and Pathan as a backup quarter to Harbhajan are the key to India strangling sides in the middle overs. Although I have no doubt India will go the double-pace-double-spin option on occasions, logic would dictate that the most formidable setup would be to play three quicks and rely on the depth of those support spinners.

India's squad, unfortunately for anyone supporting another country, shows a well-timed wake up call from the selectors. Dozens of young but rusty hopes, particularly in the fast-bowling and all-rounder departments as well as inconsistent under performers, most notably Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja, had played major parts in recent Indian One-Day Cricket. But when push has come to shove,the selectors have gone the tried and tested formula, and only the young spinners Ashwin and Chawla are of any particular surprise.

Prediction

For India it is all about how they handle the immense pressure of the home World Cup, and all its peripheral circumstances. Presuming they are not overwhelmed, then the Indians are surely favourites in their fortress-like home arenas. India or South Africa should top Group B and of the two, India are surely less likely to suffer a monumental choke. Once India reach the semi-finals (which they should easily enough), its anyone's guess.

Hosford's XI

Tendulkar, Sehwag, Gambhir, Yuvraj, Kohli, Dhoni (C), Pathan, Harbhajan, Zaheer, Patel, Nehra

Favourites wobble at the Asian Cup.

The first round of games in this year's Asian Cup football tournament in Qatar have been completed and once again, we've been given a significant reminder of how compact the competition in Asia has become. Asian powerhouses like Australia, South Korea and Japan may not be achieving quite the progress many suggested was possible early in the decade, but while they've stuttered, the overall burgeoning strength of Asian football has allowed the rest of the pack to close up behind.

The tournament of four years ago was full of unexpected results and finished with a major upset in Iraq being crowned Asian champions, and there's every indication similar upsets could rule this time. Most games in the first week have gone to some sort of schedule, but the prevailing point to be made is that every game has in some way proven closer and more competitive than expected, even including Australia's 4-0 win over India to an extent.

But the major anomaly has been Group B, where the state of Arabian football was spectacularly highlighted by heroic performances from the underrated Jordan and supposed minnows Syria. The Jordanian defence held up throughout the first half against the might of Japan, before a goal from Abdel Fattah against the run of play right on half time. Trailing 1-0 into the second, Japan looked shell shocked, as if the sheer astonishment of such a scoreline had violently struck them across the face. They slowly took control of the game however and 2 minutes into injury time came Maya Yoshida's last gasp, and for all fans of the under-dog, desperately disappointing equaliser.But there was satisfaction for upset junkies just a few hours later when Syria shocked their regional rivals 2-1.

As for the Socceroos, they did what they had to do. India, perplexing qualifiers through a questionable playoff system, were spirited but comfortably outclassed. India's clear standout was goalkeeper Subrata Pal, who prevented a scoreline which could easily have been 7 or 8 to nothing. 4-0 on paper looked like a disappointing result, and the Socceroos certainly were very scratchy in their basic skill execution in the second half. But this kind of lethargy can often result from such gross mismatches. The important boxes were ticked. Three points. Tim Cahill showing he is in fine finishing form. Harry Kewell reminding of his still spectacular prowess with a powerful long range bullet for Australia's 2nd goal. Brett Emerton was also particularly impressive, although there are definite improvements needed, especially from Mile Jedinak and David Carney on the left.

In Group C's other game, South Korea were comfortable but unconvincing winners over Bahrain 2-1. Any worry about The Socceroos being in goal difference danger because of their theoretically small margin over India should not be a concern. Bahrain gave no sign that they will be any threat to Australia. Despite being ranked 7th of the 16 teams in the tournament, and twice coming within a final playoff of reaching the World Cup, Bahrain were clearly out of their depth against South Korea. They showed the clear step down in class from the big boys that the lower-ranked Syria and Jordan were supposed to show. Meanwhile South Korea also were not too intimidating. As ever they relied on their individual brilliance and skills as opposed to any sort of clinical dominance. Providing India can stay motivated through three big losses, the big question really, South Korea shouldn't win by too much more than four.

If such a situation arises where passage to the quarter finals depends on goal difference, then there is no real cause for expectation for glory anyway after such a disappointing group performance.

At any rate, all will become clear on Friday when South Korea and Australia face off in their second group matches. A combination of the surprise results four years ago, FIFA's questionable ranking system and the hosts Qatar, a weak team comparatively, taking one of the four top seed positions in each group for themselves, has allowed the unlikely instance of Asia's two strongest teams on paper ending up in the same group. A convincing win will be needed for the Socceroos if they are to entertain any notion of being genuine contenders for the final trophy.

Results

Group A

Qatar 0-2 Uzbekistan

Kuwait 0-2 China

Group B

Japan 1-1 Jordan

Saudi Arabia 1-2 Syria

Group C

Australia 4-0 India

South Korea 2-1 Bahrain

Group D

North Korea 0-0 UAE

Iraq 1-2 Iran