International cricket teams and their New Year Resolutions in 2019

On 31st December 2018, another beautiful year came to an end. It was an eventful year from the cricketing perspective as we witnessed many heartbreaks, joys, victories, turnarounds, excitement, thrill and the rush. Some teams had decent outings this year while others had forgettable time but one thing is sure, cricket gives you time to make a comeback again.

So it is that time of the year again when we resolve to begin afresh keeping the past aside. With the World Cup and many other major tournaments lined up teams seek glory in 2019. Before the year sets in let’s take a look at some New Year resolutions International cricket teams may have thought of, albeit on a lighter note.

Here are the New Year resolutions for the teams for 2019:

1. England- To finally win the World Cup in 2019 

England, in limited-overs format, has been a brute force in the past few years or so demolishing each and every team they played against at home and away. They are currently the number one ranked side in 50-overs format and has a well-balanced team with a good mix of bowlers, batsmen, and all-rounders. Undoubtedly, the three lions are the favourites to lift the prestigious trophy following a rich vein of form.

The Brits, in the year 2019, should not waste the opportunity to win the World Cup and also should avoid being overconfident. With this current team, the only way Eoin Morgan led troops could lose is by committing mistakes themselves otherwise there is no way to stop this British juggernaut. So they should resolute to avoid mistakes from the past and win the cup at home.

2. Australia – Keep controversies at bay

Australia has always been a side which enjoys being in news for the wrong reasons both on-field and off-field. The biggest controversy that surfaced in the year 2018 was Australia’s ball-tampering scandal also know as ‘Sandpaper Gate’ scandal. Three Aussie players, which include former captain Steve Smith, former vice-captain David Warner, and opener Cameron Bancroft, were booked for tampering with the ball using sandpaper during a Test match against South Africa in March 2018.

There is hardly any time when Australian players were not involved in any kind of controversy. From claiming wrong catches to going overboard with sledging, the Australian team has always been termed as “Bad Boy” of the cricket world. The goal of the year for Paine & Co., in general, is to set a record of the lowest controversies in a calendar year and play with fair means no matter whether they win or lose.

3. South Africa- Win their first World Cup semi-final

 South Africa, since its re-induction in cricket in 1992, is known for getting nervous and choking in the crucial matches of the major tournaments. It seems like all the forces such as weather, luck, etc. join hands to act against the team, which at times lost due to the harsh ruling of Duckworth Lewis method and sometimes due to their own nerves and failure to handle the situation.

The Proteas, when entering any major tournament, are definite favorites to lift the trophy as they always have had a strong and brutal team capable of demolishing any side. But, it seems like the team is not destined to taste the sweet flavor of glory. With the World Cup around the corner in 2019, South Africa’s new year resolution should be to get rid of the “chokers” tag once and for all.

4. New Zealand –  To spend at least a year playing consistent cricket

The Kiwis are known for playing fair cricket with true sportsman spirit, however, they have never been able to get the recognition of the greatest team. This may be due to inconsistency in their performance at a high level. At times, they beat even the best teams in the world and, at times, they are beaten by even the most mediocre of the opponents. New Zealand has to play with more responsibility and commitment if they want to become a great team like India or England.

So, the Kane Williamson led side should take a resolution to be consistent on the field for at least a year by producing high-quality performances on a really consistent basis. They have the potential and players to take the team to high ranks but the team lacks exposure and needs much better scheduling of their cricket. 

5. Pakistan – To keep continue playing at Home

Pakistan, due to security concerns in its homeland, had to switch to UAE as their adoptive home. The team adapted to the conditions really well and is now a force to reckon which turned the desert nation into its fortress. Beating Pakistan in UAE, nowadays, is considered a formidable task for any visiting team. Of late, the narrative has changed a bit with teams like New Zealand also managing to win a Test series and a weak Aussie side giving them a run for the money.

Sarfraz Ahmed led team hasn’t played much cricket outside UAE in the past year or so due to which its achievements go unnoticed most of the time. Time has come to resolute to revive Pakistan cricket once again and the management should consider it a priority and schedule a few series against quality sides outside the sub-continent for the team is currently tagged as “home bully”. They did have a memorable year in the T20 format ending as the No.1 ranked team.

6. Bangladesh- To remain complacent and keep playing against low ranked teams

Bangladesh, in the year 2018, had played all the bilateral series against sides ranked lower than them. The only time they played against a quality side was either in triangular one-day series (with one side still of low rank) or in the Asia Cup where they had no choice but to play good sides like India or Pakistan. No doubt, Bangladesh, over the years, has been an improved side and it takes some effort even for the better teams to beat them especially in the limited-overs format.

However, the time has come for Bangladesh cricket to grow beyond and test their real character and limits by playing bilateral series against top-ranked sides. This will, not only provide them areas to work upon to grow better but also give them much needed confidence which will be beneficial in long-term. The Lions have a bunch of talented players in the side and by being complacent their talent is just getting wasted. So the goal of the sub-continental nation in 2019 should be to play a few series against better sides both Tests and ODIs.

7. Afghanistan- Last for more than a session while batting in next Test match

Afghanistan team that has given so many quality T20 players to the leagues around the world, was awarded the Test status by the apex body ICC in 2018. They found the going particularly tough in the whites and lost the only Test they played against mighty India in 2018. The fact that India is the number one Test side and at its dominant best at home ensured the game ended within two days and the visitors lost by an innings and 262 runs.

Although it was harsh on the new entrants in red ball cricket to directly put them on the field against the top-ranked Test side, the young Afghanistan side was able to survive for just a session while batting in both their innings. So, as the year ends, Asghar Afghan’s side should take a resolution to bat for more than a session an innings at least the next time they wear white clothes the on field.

8. India– To get the opposition tail out cheaply

Many times, in the past year, it was observed that the major reason for Team India’s defeat in 5-day format was its inability to get the opposition tail out cheaply. In the series against England, Indian bowlers lacked any concrete plan to get Sam Curran out early which proved costly. They let the batters from No.8 add enough runs in the innings that proved to be the difference and thus lost the series to the Brits.

Team India’s new year resolution should be to come up with a solid plan and make sure the bowlers get rid of the opposition tail before it wags. Though they are not scheduled to play a lot of overseas Tests in the upcoming cycle, it will certainly help them in ODI cricket as well where they will be playing the World Cup.

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9. Sri Lanka – To keep switching captains every match

Sri Lanka, after the retirement of their great players, has been struggling to find quality players to fill in the shoes. While the team was in the building phase another problem curtained them in 2017 when Angelo Mathews resigned from captaincy. Since then, the team management has been finding it difficult to find a perfect leader and keeps on switching captains, which is also hampering team’s performance due to inconsistency in leadership.

In the past year alone, the team has tried four different captains viz Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Suranga Lakmal, and Thisara Perera and kept on switching them almost every series. So, the management has to take the cognizance of the situation, stop moving captains around and stick with a single captain based on merit. They’ve, however, decided to pick captains on a series by series basis and for now, Lasith Malinga wear’s the captain’s hat.

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10. Windies- Keep rebuilding

Following the payments dispute with the cricket board, many top Windies players opted to not play for the international side anymore. The other good players like Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels etc are struggling for form and sometimes prefer cash-rich T20 leagues over international duties. The on-field performances have been appalling at best owing to the absence of several top players who prefer the lucrative T20 leagues around the world.

However, with the emergence of new talent, Windies cricket sees the hope of revival once again after playing a competitive series with India recently. After a very long time, some positives have come for the Islanders who are struggling for form for years now. With a capable leader in young Carlos Brathwaite, the team has to set some realistic goals for revival and slowly and steadily achieve those goals next year. Patience and guidance is the key for the Islanders as the squad is young with few of them just starting their international career.

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