ICC World Cup 2019 | Every team has massive chance, believes Dale Steyn
Dale Steyn is of the belief that every team going to the upcoming World Cup has a massive chance of winning the tournament. Steyn, who has joined Royal Challengers Bangalore for this year’s IPL, has also added that rankings in international cricket these days don’t have any particular meaning.
India and England are considered to be the two favourites for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup which will be played from May 30 in England and Wales. England being the favourites and with both the teams at the top position of the ICC ODI rankings, many pundits feel that the two teams have a very good chance of lifting the trophy in the quadrennial event. Steyn, however, stated that rankings in international cricket these days don’t have any particular meaning.
"I think you really need to take rankings and throw it out of the window. Rankings these days don't mean anything. I don't even know what ranking West Indies have, and they just beat England. Australia were losing, and then they've started winning again," Steyn told TOI.
"I think every team going to the World Cup has a massive chance. England are playing in England, and they're playing some good white-ball cricket," he said refusing to name any clear favourites. You just need to go there, figure out which teams are best adapting to the conditions, and then the team that hits the ground running first has the best chance."
The experienced South African pacer might be playing his last ODI World Cup and would want to win the cup for the first time. The Proteas have won 11 out of their last 13 one-day matches but many people don’t give them a chance to win the tournament in England, especially because of their history in the multi-nation tournament. Steyn said that there is no point going to play the World Cup if they don't give them the chance to win the trophy.
"I don't think South Africa have lost an ODI series in two and a half years but no one gives us a chance and then somebody does," he said as they've won 11 of their last 13 ODI series,” the South African pacer explained.
"If you're not going to the World Cup expecting to win, then you probably shouldn't go. But I'm not going to lie, we have some fantastic players."
With Faf du Plessis and Imran Tahir performing well with the bat and the ball respectively for Chennai Super Kings and Kagiso Rabada in a great rhythm in the Delhi Capitals side, Steyn is hopeful of the players carrying the same form into the showpiece event as well.Â
"We're led by Faf, whose been in fantastic form lately. And in the IPL, Imran Tahir has been right up there in terms of wickets. From Quinton de Kock all the way down to No. 11, they're all match-winners. We just need to go there and hope for a bit of luck - weather, a missed no-ball - goes your way, and you could win the tournament,” Steyn mentioned.
"You look at KG (Rabada). He's been bowling exceptionally well. Kagiso is a wunderkind. Just hope he continues that kind of form. He's come on to the scene in international cricket and grabbed the opportunity with both hands. We've seen players come in, show signs of extreme excellence and then fade away, but KG is someone we can get used to.”
Steyn has replaced injured Aussie cricketer Nathan Coulter-Nile in the RCB camp for the remainder of the 12th edition of the Indian Premier League. He said that coaches in the league make their plans and chose their players according to that.
"He (coach Gary Kirsten) asked me have I been playing, have I been bowling, and I said yes. I was actually prepping to play our local T20 tournament. It can sometimes be difficult coming halfway through the IPL and the World Cup coming up, but we got through it, and here I am.
"I wasn't originally picked up for the IPL, but that's totally okay. Coaches have plans and structures, and if you're not in those plans, you shouldn't take it personally. It's nothing personal, it's business. But to be honest, I just love playing cricket," Steyn signed off.
