Strengths and Weaknesses of World Cup Quarterfinalists

New Delhi: After four grueling weeks, thousands of air miles clocked up and 42 matches played, the World Cup quarter-finals will still feature the world's eight top-ranked teams.

The first round, as expected, saw Bangladesh, Ireland, Netherlands, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya fall by the wayside with some hitting the ground more painfully than others.

Ireland were the only associate nation to defy the odds when they pulled off a huge upset against England in Bangalore on the back of Kevin O'Brien's fastest ever World Cup century.

It didn't matter that England went on to lose to lowly Bangladesh or India were beaten by South Africa who in turn lost to England, the big beasts of cricket still made the quarter-finals their own.

West Indies lost Dwayne Bravo, Adrian Barath and Carlton Baugh while England packed Kevin Pietersen, Stuart Broad and Ajmal Shahzad off to the airport.

Champions Australia cruised quietly through the group stages before they lost their 34-match unbeaten World Cup run to Pakistan who played true to their unpredictable tag.

Maverick paceman Shoaib Akhtar hung up his boots, muddied by years of injury and controversies.

Fans turned out in huge numbers to cheer their home teams, but other venues were eerily empty as many first round matches failed to capture the imagination.

Following is a look at the strengths and weaknesses of the World Cup quarterfinalists.

Australia (ODI Rank 1)

Strengths:

• Second highest opening partnership average (71.2)
• Highest strike rate (110.9) by lower middle order
• Best average score per wicket (75.0) while batting during powerplays; only team not to have lost a single wicket during all the bowling powerplays.
• Second best economy rate by the fast bowlers (4.2)

Weaknesses:

• Poor average score per wicket (38.5) in middle order with a relatively poor strike rate (77.9)
• Bowling strike rate is poorest among all qualifiers (34.8 balls per wicket).
• Worst economy rate conceded during batting powerplay (8.7)

India (ODI Rank 2)

Strengths:

• Second best batting performance so far behind Sri Lanka
• Openers have the strongest performance, including highest strike rate (109.9); second highest average score (56.3); high average opening stand (57.2)
• In powerplay one and two their performance is the best by a distance but they have a poor average score (37.7) in the batting powerplay
• India have effected the second highest number of run outs (6) and stumpings (3) and taken the third highest number of catches (25)

Weaknesses:

• Poor bowling performance with an economy rate (5.2) and average (27.9). Poor strike rate of 31.9
• The weakest bowling performance from frontline spinners. Average of 38.5 runs a wicket only better than Australia; economy of 4.9 only better than West Indies; poor strike rate of 47.5

South Africa (ODI Rank 3)

Strengths:

• Highest middle order strike rate (93.4); second highest average per batsman (53.7)
• Only team to have bowled out all six opponents so far; bowlers have lowest average runs per wicket (17.1), best strike rate (23.8 balls per wicket), second best economy rate (4.3 runs per over), behind Sri Lanka
• Good fast bowling economy (4.2), average (17.3), strike rate (24.5)
• Best spin bowling with average (15.0), strike rate (22.1)

Weaknesses:

• Most number of run outs (6) conceded

Sri Lanka (ODI Rank 4)

Strengths:

• Best opening batting performance, including highest average opening partnership (85.3), high strike rate (92.2)
• Second highest runs per wicket scored (51.5) at run rate of 6.2 runs per over during powerplays while batting
• Second best bowling performance, behind South Africa. Best economy rate (4.3) with second best average runs per wicket (18.8) and strike rate (26.1)
• Best spin bowling performance with economy (3.5) behind the Vettori's men and average (16.7) second to South Africa

Weaknesses:

• Second highest number of run outs (5) conceded and extras (7.7%) higher than some other teams

England (ODI Rank 5)

Strengths:

• Showed their mental strength by surviving six close games.
• Excelling fielding, most number of run-outs (8)

Weaknesses:

• Lower middle order has lowest average runs (12.5) at relatively poor strike rate (77.3)
• Poorest performance during batting powerplay with a run rate (6.4) and an average of 12.9
• Poorest bowling performance so far with the worst economy rate (5.4 runs per over), average (30.9) and a strike rate (34.2) only better than Australia.
• Poorest economy (5.8) and average (37.8) in powerplay bowling,

Pakistan (ODI Rank 6)

Strengths:

• Lower middle order has highest average runs per batsman (31.2) at healthy strike rate (90.3)
• Best bowling economy rate during powerplays (4.2, with an 3.7 during powerplay one); good average (22.8)

Weaknesses:

• Lowest opening batting average (14.8), lowest strike rate (68.5)
• Lowest average during powerplays (28.7) and run rate (5.0)
• Most number of extras conceded (9.3%) relative to total score
• Lowest number of catches taken (19) alongside England.

New Zealand (ODI Rank 7)

Strengths:

• Opening batsmen have highest average runs per opener (57.6) and decent opening partnership (58.0)
• Lower middle order has good average runs per batsman (27.6) at healthy strike rate (98.6)
• Only team not to have suffered a single runout
• New Zealand's regular pacemen have the best economy (4.1), best average (16.1) and second best strike rate (23.1)
• Best spin bowling economy of 3.1 runs per over

Weaknesses:

• Middle order has lowest average score per batsman (31.5) with middling strike rate (85.5)

West Indies (ODI Rank 8)

Strengths:

• Good bowling performance, especially during powerplays; best average runs per wicket (18.0), decent economy rate (4.7)
• Fast bowling has best strike rate (22.8), second best average (16.9)
• Least number of extras (5.4%) conceded relative to total score

Weaknesses:

• Weakest batting performance, alongside Pakistan. Lowest average runs per wicket (26.5). Run rate (5.2) only better than Pakistan's.