The old saying “cricket is baseball under Valium” does not hold well any more. The five-day event has been bulldozed by the 50 over version, also known as one day internationals (ODIs), and more recently by the even faster Twenty 20 (T20) format, which concludes in under four hours. Cricket is no longer a sleep inducing pill.

The intermediate version — the ODI — is used as the yardstick to decide the world champion. The greatest cricketing extravaganza and the third most-watched global event will be under way on Thursday. It’s the Cricket World Cup in England and Wales.

Cricket is still to seize on the imagination of most Europeans and people from the Americas.

Thanks to the vast population of the Asian subcontinent, however, where cricket is a religion, the world viewership for the 2019 world cup is estimated to be a whopping 1.9 billion, which no one would have imagined when the world cup was first staged.

The amusing fact about the Cricket World Cup is that this is the only game where women got there first.

The women’s world cup was born in 1973 as against the men’s in 1975, when the International Cricket Council (ICC) with the help of the Prudential Assurance Company thought it was high time the men’s world cup commenced without further delay.

The first men’s world cup was played in England and the 12th edition is returning home.

During the last 44 years, the game has undergone a sea change, with the introduction of field restrictions, color clothing, a white ball (replacing the traditional red), flood lights, advanced TV coverage, blinking bails and, yes, heaps of money to take home.

England’s diverse mix of people and the high number of cricket enthusiasts ensures there will be a “home crowd” for every team.

The latest edition will have 10 teams battling for the silverware. It will take 46 days from soup to port. The grand finale will be played at Lords on July 14.

The format for the world cup, unlike the soccer world cup, changes every time. Different reasons are offered by host nations and the ICC. None of them are consistent or convincing.

During the last world cup in 2015 there were 14 teams under two groups of seven. Each team played against each other in their group and the best four went to the knock out stage: the quarters, semis and final.

In 2019, there are only 10 teams. Each of these 10 teams will lock horns with each other in a round-robin and the final four will make it to the semis. Quality versus quantity some may argue.

During 1975, 9,000 pounds (now US$11,410) were shared between the champions and the rest, while this year $14 million will be on offer as prize money, 40 percent more than the 2015 edition.

A colossal $4.8 million will go to the winner, $2.2 million to the losing finalist and $1 million each to the losing semifinalists. Each team will go home, even if they don’t make it to the last four, $500,000 richer.

What a jump in 44 years!

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Vishnu Kumar. R served as chairman of Cricket Indonesia in 2009 as well as Jakarta Cricket Association (JCA) in 2007-2008.

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2019 Cricket World Cup Teams

Now it’s time to swirl the crystal ball. The prophecies are constructed on team performance, ICC ODI rankings and some hunch!

The 2019 World Cup is the hardest to predict as the differences between the teams are razor thin. Here we go.

Afghanistan

An absolutely talented bunch of enthusiastic youngsters that displaced Zimbabwe and Ireland to emerge from the qualifiers. Can’t see it beating any regulars, yet can be proud of its advancement in recent years. A possible threat to other teams four years down the line.

Prediction: Back home after the round-robin.

Players to watch: Rashid Khan, Mohammed Nabi, Gulabdin Naib

Australia

Habitual finalists. Having won the tournament a record five times out of seven appearances in the final, no one can push it over. Its recent tour of India is testimony to its tenacious nature. Being down 0-2, it came back and won 3-2. Australia has two of its big names back in its side, who were suspended for 12 months after a ball tampering scandal.

Prediction: We will probably see Australia at Old Trafford or Edgbaston for the semis. Great prospects for seeing it again at Lords on July 14.

Players to watch: David Warner, Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins

Bangladesh

Led by the able Mashrafe Mortaza, Bangladesh has been an enthusing team to watch. It reached the quarterfinals in 2015, its best showing. There are some marvelous batsmen in this team but the same can’t be said of its bowlers. Graded number seven in the ICC ODI ranking, Bangladesh will ask some questions of the top six.

Prediction: Can’t see the likelihood of Bangladesh making it to the knockouts.

Players to watch: Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqar Rahim

England

The recent setback in the Caribbean notwithstanding, this English team is inspiring. England has made it to the final three times but never won the cup. With the backing of the home crowd and conditions, this could well be its golden chance. The number of quality all-rounders England has at its disposal, such as Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali and Tom Curren, could well power them through with the batting strength of Joe Root, Eoin Morgan and Jose Butler. Jofra Archer, an exciting player, may get picked up too. Jofra could add strength to the bowling attack, which looks vulnerable. However, collectively, it looks a venomous concoction.

Prediction: Semifinalists with a great chance of making it to the final.

Players to watch: Eoin Morgan (captain), Jose Butler, Jason Roy

India

The number one and two batsmen and number one bowler according to the ICC ODI ranking are from India. There are many pros for the two time world champions. All the players are well-oiled from the Indian Premier League. The cons are that India’s performance during the last series in England was not spectacular as well as its last home series debacle to the Aussies. There is a compelling dependence on the openers and world number one Virat Kohli, who is the team’s engine, rudder and bow. The poor form of the batsmen down the order is a worry. Spinners may not find the pitches in England to their taste. The bowling seems to be more potent than batting though.

Prediction: Odds of making into the semis look a touch iffy.

Players to watch: Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya

New Zealand

Fourth in the ODI ranking, New Zealand has been a regular in reaching the semis. Kane Williamson leads some top quality players. Trent Bolt, rated number two in the ICC bowling ranking, and Tim Southee will be a formidable opening attack followed by Santner and Sodhi, who are reputed spinners. Ross Taylor and Martin Guptil will spearhead the batting. The kiwis have three assured all-rounders in Colin de Grandhomme, Colin Munro and Jimmy Neesham. Unlike the last world cup, where it played most of its games in its backyard, this time it will be tested in English conditions.

Prediction: Semifinalist

Players to watch: Kane Williamson, Martin Guptil, Trent Bolt

Pakistan

Any game involving Pakistan is worth the ticket. It can beat the world champion on its day. It could also lose to a rank outsider on a cruel day. Pakistan has reached the final twice, winning in 1992 and losing in 1999. It has the advantage of reaching England early, playing five ODI’s with England this month, and getting acclimatized. Pakistan has sensational batsmen in Imam Ul Haq, Babar Azam and Shoaib Malik. Mohammad Amir, its bowling kingpin, is struggling with fitness. Pakistan’s other bowlers Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Hasnain, although talented, lack exposure. Pakistan is definitely capable of creating an upset or two.

Prediction: Unlikely to reach the knockouts.

Players to watch: Imam Ul Haq, Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam

South Africa

World cup hoodoo still seems to haunt this wonderfully talented team that is yet to find its mojo. South Africa has reached the knock out stage six out of the seven times. An enviable record. However it is yet to reach the last two! The closest was in 1999 and 2015, when it lost in the semis in nail biting endings. The Proteas have drawn up the table for a victory feast a couple of times. The dessert never arrived. This time, South Africa has an admirable batting line up comprising Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram and Hashim Amla. On the bowling front, though it has Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir and Lungi Ngidi, the fitness of Rabada and Steyn are in question. The opener on Thursday between England and South Africa will be a great match to watch.

Prediction: It is a flip of a coin between the Kiwis and Proteas. Based on form and performance, New Zealand has a more probable chance to make it to the last four. South Africa misses out.

Players to watch: Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, Lungi Ngidi

Sri Lanka

A country of 22 million that made its first foray in international cricket in 1981 has reached the final three times, winning once. A great achievement by any marker. The recent tour of South Africa was an eye opener. Sri Lanka fared remarkably well. Kusel Perera played an innings of a lifetime. Angelo Mathews, the side’s most experienced cog, and Lasith Malinga can still pull rabbits out of their hats. However, lack of experience for the team as whole is a concern. Dimith Karunaratne, their captain, also lacks experience.

Prediction: Will finish among the top six in the round-robin

Players to watch: Kusel Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Avishka Fernando

West Indies

Leadership has been the issue, not the talent. Ever since Clive Lloyd and Sir Viv Richards left the scene, the West Indies lost its compass. But Jason Holder seems to be bringing back the old sheen to this great cricketing group. The recent performance in the Caribbean against England is an example how leadership could impact the outcome. Chris Gayle, Andre Russell, Shimron Hetmyer and Carlos Brathwaite can make any bowler sob. For Gayle, the six shelling master, this will be his last world cup and he will want to leave the stage with a bang. Add to this the batting talent of Darren Bravo and Shai Hope. The bowling department is powered by Kemar Roach, Oshane Thomas and Sheldon Cottrell. Sir Courtley Ambrose believes if the West Indies can put competitive totals on the board, its bowlers can do the slaughter. If one believes in the black swan theory, then one should consider this team to be in the mix.

Prediction: The dark horse. Will be there with the big fishes.

Players to watch: Shai Hope, Oshane Thomas, Andre Russel

Clive Lloyd, the former West Indian captain who lifted the world cup twice, said "From Afghanistan to England, or from India to the West Indies, every team is blessed with top-class all-rounders. That's why I believe it will be an all-rounders' world cup." Come July 14 and we will know.

For viewers in Indonesia, most games fire up at 4:30 p.m.

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