Team Sri Lanka can win the 2011 cricket World Cup!

Daily FT poll shows an overwhelming support for team and confidence of winning

SRI LANKANS are brimming with confidence over the World Cup, with a special Daily FT poll showing that 68% believe that the home team will be able to lift the trophy for the second time in history.

The survey, which was conducted by research specialists Pepper Cube, showed that the overwhelming response was for Sri Lanka to win the World Cup. Second favourites are Australia with 6% and India lagging behind with only 3%.

The confidence vote is lowest for New Zealand, West Indies, South Africa and Pakistan with each scoring only 1% due to low performance leading into the World Cup. Pakistan in particular has been hampered with match fixing scandals with key players being dropped from the core team leading to low team support from their South Asian counterparts.

A buoyant fan base of 67% is positive that Sri Lanka has the right team to win the 2011 Cricket World Cup with all age categories overwhelmingly agreeing that the core team has the correct combination of talent.

The urban and rural populations are almost equally in agreement with 73% and 62% respectively supporting the chosen team. The doubters are limited to only 9% but 24% prefer to wait until the matches construct reality.           

Productivity is also likely to take a hit with the majority of those surveyed planning to watch the matches on TV or internet at office and home. Only 11% are planning to watch the match at the grounds with 64% preferring to catch the action on TV at home or office.

Surprisingly, 10% will not follow the cricket World Cup while 6% are unsure of their levels of interest. However, these are highly in the minority with 4% turning to internet and 1% to radio. Symbolising the gradual penetration of technology those who will be viewing the matches via internet is four times more than those turning on a radio.