NationStates Jolt Archive

Well India are more or less out... How many minnows are going to be in the super 8, I'm still waiting on Kenya to beat England :D

Hey, the more minnows through, the less chance England have of finishing bottom of the super 8 :D

Hey, the more minnows through, the less chance England have of finishing bottom of the super 8 :D

If Kenya beat england then england wont be in the super 8 :D

GO KENYA!!!


NZ to win the World Cup!!!

Ho hum. Both of my favourites, whom I put money on, are now effectively out.

Ho hum. Both of my favourites, whom I put money on, are now effectively out.

So you did not support England? Why out of interest....given your ...errr....rather voluble patriotism...;)

So you did not support England? Why out of interest....given your ...errr....rather voluble patriotism...;)

Because; England= shite

India and Pakistan= reasonably good.

I also prefer their style of play to ours.

Because; England= shite

India and Pakistan= reasonably good.

I also prefer their style of play to ours.

Well thats a pretty clear cut reason! LOL

Of course I hope to see you eat those words when England win... :eek:

That was a very significant win by Sri Lanka. India & Pakistan exiting has really turned this tournament on its head.

I bet the Indian coach is going to be double locking his door tonight.

The advertisers and sponsors are going to be incredibly annoyed about India being knocked out as well. The biggest audiences for the World Cup have just seen their teams exit early - I wonder how much it will cost the ICC.

I bet the Indian coach is going to be double locking his door tonight.

The advertisers and sponsors are going to be incredibly annoyed about India being knocked out as well. The biggest audiences for the World Cup have just seen their teams exit early - I wonder how much it will cost the ICC.

Greg Chappell wasn't universally popular to begin with. I if I were him, I'd be sleeping in the hotel safe, or maybe the Police lockup tonight! :p

England stumbling on Kenya would be hilarious, but as we've already beaten them both it doesn't matter to me which of them gets through.

So, any Indians who think Bermuda can take down bangladesh?

Ho hum. Both of my favourites, whom I put money on, are now effectively out.
Should've put your money on Sri Lanka. Like I did. And I have the beginnings of a :D creeping onto my face.

Australia vs South Africa on now, Australia batting first.
0/33 after 4 overs.

England v Kenya is being delayed by rain. Which is fortunate, because it's extending England's time in the Cup by at least an hour. :p

England v Kenya is being delayed by rain. Which is fortunate, because it's extending England's time in the Cup by at least an hour. :p

09.20
Play will get underway at 11am local time (3pm GMT) with a revised 46 overs, so long as no more filthy rain falls. Bit of time to wait, I'm afraid. So in the meantime, tell us where you're from and send us any interesting snippets.

Australia off to a flyer. It's been a long time since I've seen Pollock taken to like that.

Australia off to a flyer. It's been a long time since I've seen Pollock taken to like that.

Looks like a great batting pitch, small and flat.

Hayden 100 of 66, fastest 100 in a World Cup game.
Australia 1/165 (yes they are playing the Proteas)

Hayden 100 of 66, fastest 100 in a World Cup game.
Australia 1/165 (yes they are playing the Proteas)

Yeah....amazing! I can't wait to watch the highlights tonight!

I see the BBC have given Hayden an impressive typo:

Earlier, Matthew Hayden hit the fastest hundred in World Cup history, reaching three figures from only 66 balls.

He struck four sixes and 143 fours before being caught off the bowling of Jacques Kallis for 101

I see the BBC have given Hayden an impressive typo:

That's an impressive effort indeed, 143 fours :p

Kenya are 2/53 off 13 against the English team.
That's with 15 extras.

Australia has 300 against SA now.

Looks like Australia were just warming up against Scotland and the Netherlands - 334 against Scotland, 358 against the Netherlands, now 377 against South Africa.

God knows what they're going to hit Ireland for...

Australia 377/6 (50 ov)
South Africa 220/2 (31.3 ov)

Well, it won't be as embarrassing as when we scored 434, but it'll still be embarrassing.

EDIT
Make that South Africa 225/3 (32.4 ov)
Also, that doesn't take into account Smith, who retired hurt, so if it is bad enough for him not to return that is 225/4. Maybe a chance...

EDIT 2, though nobody on right now probably cares much:
South Africa 259/4 (40.0 ov)
They have slowed down and need 11.90 an over, but Smith is due out again next so it is definitely doable.

Australia 377/6 (50 ov)
South Africa 220/2 (31.3 ov)

Well, it won't be as embarrassing as when we scored 434, but it'll still be embarrassing.

EDIT
Make that South Africa 225/3 (32.4 ov)
Also, that doesn't take into account Smith, who retired hurt, so if it is bad enough for him not to return that is 225/4. Maybe a chance...

EDIT 2, though nobody on right now probably cares much:
South Africa 259/4 (40.0 ov)
They have slowed down and need 11.90 an over, but Smith is due out again next so it is definitely doable.
A spectacular, almost English, collapse from 220-1 to 294 all out. As someone who's followed English cricket for over a decade now, I would like to congratulate South Africa for daring to be brave enough to emulate those heroes of mid-to-late-90s English cricket. :p

A spectacular, almost English, collapse from 220-1 to 294 all out. As someone who's followed English cricket for over a decade now, I would like to congratulate South Africa for daring to be brave enough to emulate those heroes of mid-to-late-90s English cricket. :p

lol. Still though, as I predicted at the start of this thread, SA are still Australia's main rivals for the cup IMO.

lol. Still though, as I predicted at the start of this thread, SA are still Australia's main rivals for the cup IMO.
I stand firm in my support of Sri Lanka. I'd say on their day they're capable of beating anyone.

correction:
Begorrah, but the boy did well so he did.
correction:
Begorrah, but the boy did well so he did, to be sure to be sure.:D

Damn england managed to sneak in. Oh well now Ireland can beat them :D. And aus beat SA, hasn't gone my way today.

correction:
Begorrah, but the boy did well so he did, to be sure to be sure.:D
reminds me of a joke:
An Irishman is with his g/f. They're about to do it so he stops to get a condom. She notices he puts two on - one over the other.
"Why do you use two condoms?" she asks.
"Ahh, to be sure, to be sure" he replies.

Looks like Australia were just warming up against Scotland and the Netherlands - 334 against Scotland, 358 against the Netherlands, now 377 against South Africa.

God knows what they're going to hit Ireland for...

Don't be so hard on the Netherlands. It's obvious that they deliberately lost their first two matches to ensure they wouldn't go through, as they wanted to go home to their wives and families. Did you see some of the wives that were actually there? Hell, even if I was an Australian player and had a wife like that, I would deliberately ensure my team lost in the first round so I could get home ASAP. I think their performance against Scotland shows what they are capable of. Surely you can all see that they could have easily piled on 400 against both Australia and South Africa if they had wanted to.

That's it: India is definitely out.

World Cup group B, Trinidad: Bangladesh 96-3 bt Bermuda 94-9 by seven wickets
High scoring game. :p

That's it: India is definitely out.


High scoring game. :p

No great bowling or just crappy batsmen :p

That's it: India is definitely out.

High scoring game. :p
To be fair, it was rain-affected, and reduced to 21 overs an innings.
Then again, that did save Bermuda from the embarrassment of not being able to bat out their overs.

I stand firm in my support of Sri Lanka. I'd say on their day they're capable of beating anyone.
Is that because the GF offered to give you a BJ if you said SL would win the WC?

Is that because the GF offered to give you a BJ if you said SL would win the WC?
:p

No, it's just that I'm biased towards them because of her, and they actually stand half a chance of doing well, unlike England.

This is quite interesting:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/6494577.stm

Pietersen tops the world rankings for one day batsman.

I don't know what it is about KP, but I'm always surprised when he does well in these rankings. I know he's an explosive batsman, but I always perceive him as being too inconsistent. He seems to always be getting out for 7, then the series ends and he has an average about 50.

This is quite interesting:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/6494577.stm

Pietersen tops the world rankings for one day batsman.

I don't know what it is about KP, but I'm always surprised when he does well in these rankings. I know he's an explosive batsman, but I always perceive him as being too inconsistent. He seems to always be getting out for 7, then the series ends and he has an average about 50.
That's usually because he manages at least one very high or unbeaten century in each series. Then goes on to score about 15 in every other innings he plays.

KP is great batsman but I'd prefer Ricky Ponting for consistency. Ricky is fantastic fielder, captain and all-round batsman in one-dayers and test area. KP is one great entertainer still.

KP is great batsman but I'd prefer Ricky Ponting for consistency. Ricky is fantastic fielder, captain and all-round batsman in one-dayers and test area. KP is one great entertainer still.
I wouldn't be so bothered about replacing KP with anyone. England need a few players who will consistently perform, rather than hoping that one player (Pietersen, Flintoff, Collingwood, whoever) is on form at the right time. Then we'd be a consistently good Test and ODI team.

As for the rest of this World Cup, I reckon we'll only make the semi-finals if other results go our way. Which is, to be honest, probably a good thing, as it might be the impetus needed to effect change.

This is quite interesting:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/6494577.stm

Pietersen tops the world rankings for one day batsman.

I don't know what it is about KP, but I'm always surprised when he does well in these rankings. I know he's an explosive batsman, but I always perceive him as being too inconsistent. He seems to always be getting out for 7, then the series ends and he has an average about 50.

Dude....thats the English way....! :D

KP is great batsman but I'd prefer Ricky Ponting for consistency. Ricky is fantastic fielder, captain and all-round batsman in one-dayers and test area. KP is one great entertainer still.

Ponting = boring. He also suffers from an incurable disease known only as "Ozzie Male Syndrome", and is hence a complete arse.

Why is Ireland not in this poll??? :upyours:

Why is Ireland not in this poll??? :upyours:

Cause they preempted someone who liked Ireland using that upyours smilie and decided to punish them?

Canada.

a bit of Windies is always good. Bloody rain and bloody Hayden

a bit of Windies is always good. Bloody rain and bloody Hayden

Hayden is in pretty incredible form at the moment. The secret weapon of the Aussie's seems to be the fact that there is always one of them in form at any time.

It does seem to be raining a lot in the Windies. Is that normal for this time of year?

Hayden is in pretty incredible form at the moment. The secret weapon of the Aussie's seems to be the fact that there is always one of them in form at any time.

It does seem to be raining a lot in the Windies. Is that normal for this time of year?
Yeah, big secret. :p

I guess the key to beating them is working out which one's on form...

I guess the key to beating them is working out which one's on form...

And then breaking their legs. :)

And then breaking their legs. :)
Exactly! :p

And then breaking their legs. :)
Just dress them up in a Blackcaps uniform, call them Lew Vincent, flip them upside down and have Shane Bond bowl at them.:p

Just dress them up in a Blackcaps uniform, call them Lew Vincent, flip them upside down and have Shane Bond bowl at them.:p

Windies bat tonight, they'll needed Lara to be playing well. That's Brian Lara, not Lara Croft :)

Windies bat tonight, they'll needed Lara to be playing well. That's Brian Lara, not Lara Croft :)

It's a big chase, but they're small grounds, so it's entirely possible.

A spectacular, almost English, collapse from 220-1 to 294 all out. As someone who's followed English cricket for over a decade now, I would like to congratulate South Africa for daring to be brave enough to emulate those heroes of mid-to-late-90s English cricket. :p
Following on from my glowing praise of South Africa's derring-do against Australia, I feel it necessary to equally praise Sri Lanka's performance today.

From a steady 195-5 to 209 all out (via 208-6) is mighty impressive, and I think that it would be a crime to let it go unnoticed. :p

It's a big chase, but they're small grounds, so it's entirely possible.

Lara did well, pity about the rest of Windies team batting ;)

Following on from my glowing praise of South Africa's derring-do against Australia, I feel it necessary to equally praise Sri Lanka's performance today.

From a steady 195-5 to 209 all out (via 208-6) is mighty impressive, and I think that it would be a crime to let it go unnoticed. :p

Of course SA arent to be outdone.

Wow, Malinga gets bowling moment of the world cup. Or rather moment(s). Sucks that it had to be spread over 2 overs, but still 4 in 4 is 4 in 4.

Wow, Malinga gets bowling moment of the world cup. Or rather moment(s). Sucks that it had to be spread over 2 overs, but still 4 in 4 is 4 in 4.
He probably doesn't care. If he'd managed 5 in 5 (and won the match in doing so) I think he'd be happier.

That was an incredible finish to the SA v Sri Lanka game. :eek:

This is turning out to be a really interesting World Cup, both on and off the pitch.

So who wants to attempt to predict today's game - Windies vs New Zealand.

West Indies were made to look rather average against Australia, but at least they've played recently, unlike New Zealand who last played a week ago, and haven't had a real test (if you can call it that) since playing England nearly two weeks ago. I'd go for a small West Indies victory.

So who wants to attempt to predict today's game - Windies vs New Zealand.

West Indies were made to look rather average against Australia, but at least they've played recently, unlike New Zealand who last played a week ago, and haven't had a real test (if you can call it that) since playing England nearly two weeks ago. I'd go for a small West Indies victory.

I think I'll pick New Zealand. The Windies have been playing well recently, and have the home advantage, but I still think their form over the last few years means they're the weaker side.

But I wouldn't be so confident as to say that NZ will definitely win. I'd go 60/40 in their favour.

I'd say New Zealand, with their more reliable batting and Vettori who might get a few wickets like Hogg did.

I think I'll pick New Zealand. The Windies have been playing well recently, and have the home advantage, but I still think their form over the last few years means they're the weaker side.

But I wouldn't be so confident as to say that NZ will definitely win. I'd go 60/40 in their favour.

Well you'd have thought so but it seems that attendances are not what they ought to be. The game between Oz and the Windies was played in front of a small crowd...

WI 89/4 off 25 overs. Barely 3.5 /over
Lara's still in, but another couple of wickets and they're into the tail
Oram's bowling bloody well. 2 wicket maidens, and another wicket over with just 1 run coming off it.

IF NZ can keep the pressure up, a win's definitely in their favour.

Well you'd have thought so but it seems that attendances are not what they ought to be. The game between Oz and the Windies was played in front of a small crowd...
Apparently there's a fairly small crowd at today's game as well:
5th over: WI 7-0
Maiden from the Mase. Crowd still limited at the Sir Viv Stadium, although there are some England fans here.

WI 89/4 off 25 overs. Barely 3.5 /over
Lara's still in, but another couple of wickets and they're into the tail
Oram's bowling bloody well. 2 wicket maidens, and another wicket over with just 1 run coming off it.

IF NZ can keep the pressure up, a win's definitely in their favour.
Indeed. I feel a little foolish predicting a Windies win. Though there's still plenty of cricket to be played, and, as you say, Lara's in.

4/103 with Lara and Bravo batting. Let's hope they make at least 200 from here.

4/103 with Lara and Bravo batting. Let's hope they make at least 200 from here.
They need to get 7 /over from hereon just to crack 250.
Doable, but it'll take a massive effort from those two.

They need to get 7 /over from hereon just to crack 250.
Doable, but it'll take a massive effort from those two.

With a strike rate of about 60 for both batsmen so far - I don't think that's going to happen unless Lara plays like Hayden.

EDIT: Bravo out for 18 - but Lara is still there.

7 wicket win. New Zealand have 4 super 8 points and still have to play Ireland and Bangladesh.

7 wicket win. New Zealand have 4 super 8 points and still have to play Ireland and Bangladesh.
Let's hope they don't stuff up on those two games. 8 points might just be enough to get into the next round and it certainly be handy to be able to rest a few players before hand.

Well you'd have thought so but it seems that attendances are not what they ought to be. The game between Oz and the Windies was played in front of a small crowd...

Yeah, I saw the game yesterday, and I'd be surprised if the ground was 1/3 full. The ICC insist at pricing the tickets at world levels (the number I heard was seats starting at £50), which is completely unaffordable for most of the locals.

It's a shame really, a bit more of a Caribbean atmosphere would add a lot to the games.

Yeah, I saw the game yesterday, and I'd be surprised if the ground was 1/3 full. The ICC insist at pricing the tickets at world levels (the number I heard was seats starting at £50), which is completely unaffordable for most of the locals.

It's a shame really, a bit more of a Caribbean atmosphere would add a lot to the games.
There are apparently some tickets for $25 (about £13) - http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tms/2007/03/malinga_brings_fireworks_for_g_1.shtml

“They’re pricing out the locals and that’s not right,” said one man I spoke to on the bank, where those with US$25 tickets were sitting on the grass or standing in groups. (tenth paragraph)

Anyway. England vs Ireland today. Anyone excited?

Anyway. England vs Ireland today. Anyone excited?

More like nervous. England can't afford to lose games like these, but I'm not at all convinced that they'll win it.

The fixture list for the Twenty20 World Cup has been announced. It'll only take two weeks, as opposed to the six weeks for the one-day version.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/6466855.stm

More like nervous. England can't afford to lose games like these, but I'm not at all convinced that they'll win it.
Heh, we'll be fine. So long as we're professional about it, we'll win.

Heh, we'll be fine. So long as we're professional about it, we'll win.

Hopefully, but we only just beat Ireland last time we met, and that Canada game showed that England can be threatened by anyone at the moment. And Ireland have all the momentum behind them.

Those Irish madman are taking on the English invaders now. England batting first. An EC Joyce is playing for England not Ireland :p

Heh, we'll be fine. So long as we're professional about it, we'll win.
And guess what...?

Hmmm...Joyce out already - and a comment to the TMS team on the BBC website: '"Has Joyce, racked by guilt for not representing Ireland, thrown his wicket on purpose, thus proving blood is thicker than water?"'

Also, could anyone shed any light on the background to this:

Nervy old start this from England. Vaughan screeches a lady-like 'no!' at Bell after a dab to point. The England skipper looks as nervous as Nathan Bracken walking through a red light district.

:confused:

Maybe a dig at his long blond hair?
Anyway, England now 23/2 in the 6th.

Maybe a dig at his long blond hair?
Anyway, England now 23/2 in the 6th.
Not good, though with Pietersen in now and Collingwood to come next, we'll hopefully be ok. Plus Bell looks to be playing himself in nicely.

An England win, but another entirely unconvincing one.

I think we should have a poll on where they finish in the Super 8's - 5th or 6th?

I'm picking SA aus NZ and SL for the semis

I'm picking SA aus NZ and SL for the semis

Can't really disagree with that. West Indies aren't looking too good at the moment, but can't completely count them out just yet. I'm sorry, but England can barely beat Ireland right now and they still have all the good teams to play, so I think we can count them out. Bangladesh looked good in the first round but apart from Ireland, they could only really beat England or West Indies here, which doesn't give them enough points. So Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Sri Lanka into the semi-finals, and it totally depends on who is playing who to be able to predict who will go into the finals.

I'm picking SA Oz NZ and SL for the semis
I concur.
Difficult to say just based on pool play, but I think a SA-Oz final. Possibly NZ-Oz.
SL aren't playing good enough to get into the final (unless they improve markedly over the next couple of weeks and the other teams drop)
NZ is always a funny team. Obviously I'd like them into the final, and they have the talent but realistically they're not consistent enough. esp if Bond gets injured, they're sunk.

I'm picking SA aus NZ and SL for the semis

Agreed, and any of those four would be realistic chances to win the WC.

good grief! even MS are getting in on the act!

http://www.bobharris.com/images/stories/travel/Caribbean/microsoft.jpg

http://www.bobharris.com/content/view/1344/1/

AS for the England win...well....it was a win...

good grief! even MS are getting in on the act!

http://www.bobharris.com/images/stories/travel/Caribbean/microsoft.jpg

http://www.bobharris.com/content/view/1344/1/

AS for the England win...well....it was a win...

Haha, typical. :p
And don't worry about the bad start NZ made in that game, we still went on to win comfortably. :D

Wow, Malinga gets bowling moment of the world cup. Or rather moment(s). Sucks that it had to be spread over 2 overs, but still 4 in 4 is 4 in 4.
Heh, i wouldn't discriminate.
One of our part time bowlers is sitting on a hat-trick yep they have to wait till next season.:p
And they've only had 2 bowls this season so maybe it'll never come.:D
Hmmm...Joyce out already - and a comment to the TMS team on the BBC website: '"Has Joyce, racked by guilt for not representing Ireland, thrown his wicket on purpose, thus proving blood is thicker than water?"'

Also, could anyone shed any light on the background to this:
Nervy old start this from England. Vaughan screeches a lady-like 'no!' at Bell after a dab to point. The England skipper looks as nervous as Nathan Bracken walking through a red light district.
:confused:
He looks like a Lady-boy with the long hair...
*Shrugs*

Rain delaying the Australia vs that nation East of India game.
I wonder if some rain dancing is going on?

Let's be honest here. Does anyone really think any more that the Aussies aren't going to win this?

Let's be honest here. Does anyone really think any more that the Aussies aren't going to win this?

Haha cause they wasted Bangladesh in a 20/20 match? They have a good chance of winning but I wouldn't rule out SA, NZ or SL. All it takes is one bad game in the finals and you're gone. And aus have shown they are hardly unbeatable of late. Lost the commonwealth bank, lost the chappell-hadlee, also lost their number one ranking.

Haha cause they wasted Bangladesh in a 20/20 match? They have a good chance of winning but I wouldn't rule out SA, NZ or SL. All it takes is one bad game in the finals and you're gone. And aus have shown they are hardly unbeatable of late. Lost the commonwealth bank, lost the chappell-hadlee, also lost their number one ranking.

In all of the games so far they have simply walked over the opposition, including my pre-tournament favourites South Africa.

The only way I see them losing it now is someone else getting lucky on the day, rather than anyone else being genuinely better than them.

In all of the games so far they have simply walked over the opposition, including my pre-tournament favourites South Africa.

The only way I see them losing it now is someone else getting lucky on the day, rather than anyone else being genuinely better than them.
That's the thing: Anyone could get lucky on the day. Oz aren't the unbeatable cricket machine they were a year or two ago. Both NZ and Eng kicked their butts recently. It could easily happen again.
As for the pool games - may as well forget them. Results there mean very little, if anything. Thrashing a side full of part-timers from a country than is lucky to find 12 people who have heard of cricket let alone know how to play it, hardly means you're going to win the WC*.



*Just to clear up any confusion, that's World Cup, not Water Closet.

Bangladesh did so well! losing by 10 wickets ... it was a 20/20 game really.

Impressive win by Sri Lanka today - 113 runs over the West Indies. Admittedly it seems thrashing the Windies isn't the most challenging achievement at the moment, but it's good to see Sri Lanka back on form after their match against South Africa.

Let's be honest here. Does anyone really think any more that the Aussies aren't going to win this?

Yes. Just because they're being really dominant now. And iIrC teams that set off being really dominant tend to be unable to keep it up all the way through. Besides their lower/middle order currently haven't produced anything in this World Cup.

They haven't had to admittedly, but if they come up against a good team, say Sri Lanka or South Africa in the semis or final and a few wickets go down then suddenly you've got a few batsman who haven't faced many balls or scored many runs with a lot depending on them. That's potentially a large problem.

But the BBC have done a good article on this

Who can topple the Aussies? (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/other_international/australia/6516247.stm)

Let's be honest here. Does anyone really think any more that the Aussies aren't going to win this?

Well they do have a rather large alergy to certain injury prone fast bowlers. (http://stats.cricinfo.com/guru?sdb=player;playerid=10280;class=odiplayer;filter=basic;team=0;opposition=AUS;notopposition=0;se ason=0;homeaway=0;continent=0;country=0;notcountry=0;groundid=0;startdefault=2002-01-11;start=2002-01-11;enddefault=2007-03-29;end=2007-03-29;tourneyid=0;finals=0;daynight=0;toss=0;scheduledovers=0;scheduleddays=0;innings=0;result=0;follow on=0;seriesresult=0;captain=0;keeper=0;dnp=0;recent=;viewtype=aro_list;runslow=;runshigh=;batpositio n=0;dismissal=0;bowposition=0;ballslow=;ballshigh=;bpof=0;overslow=;overshigh=;conclow=;conchigh=;wi cketslow=;wicketshigh=;dismissalslow=;dismissalshigh=;caughtlow=;caughthigh=;caughttype=0;stumpedlow =;stumpedhigh=;csearch=;submit=1;.cgifields=viewtype)

I see the semis with Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and New Zealand. Maybe England or Windies but they don't have much form.

I see the semis with Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and New Zealand. Maybe England or Windies but they don't have much form.


This seems to be the universal prediction.

Bangladesh v New Zealand underway.

I predict a glorious, 476 run win for Bangladesh.

Or, in the real world, an easy victory for NZ.

Bangladesh v New Zealand underway.

I predict a glorious, 476 run win for Bangladesh.

Or, in the real world, an easy victory for NZ.

Bangladesh might score 200! after chasing 400 when NZ bats.

Bangladesh are 14/0 after 5 overs.



Excitement.



Oh, and Mason has gone off with a calf strain.

Bangladesh are 14/0 after 5 overs.



Excitement.



Oh, and Mason has gone off with a calf strain.

Bond hasn't broken anyone's fingers yet?

I see the semis with Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and New Zealand. Maybe England or Windies but they don't have much form.

This seems to be the universal prediction.
Yup.

Unless New Zealand screw up against Ireland or Bangladesh.

69-2 of about 21/22 overs.

If they can up the run rate a bit then I think it'll be a genuine chase for New Zealand.

69-2 of about 21/22 overs.

If they can up the run rate a bit then I think it'll be a genuine chase for New Zealand.
Maybe. It's now 89-2 from 25 overs. A genuine chase would have to be over 250 so they'd need at least 6.5 an over for the second half of their innings. That's nearly double what it is now. I don't see them maintaining that sort of run rate for 25 overs. I'll predict about 210-230 all out.

I could be very wrong, though. 127-6 from 36 overs. Bond just delivered a double-wicket maiden. Probably be about 160 all out now.

Bang all out for 174
They were lucky to get that much, seeing as they were 140/9 at one point. Last two played sensible cricket and NZ let them get away a bit there, but nevermind. It's a extremely achievable target.

Styris bags 4 wickets. I can never understand quite how he does it. He bowls such innocuous slow deliveries which are just begging to smacked round the ground (and are occasionally). Yet more times than not, he grabs a couple of wickets and ends with decent figures.
Oram seems to finding his groove again, which is great news for the Kiwis. 3/30 off 9.3 overs.
Bond's awesome: 10 overs 4 maidens 15 runs 2 wickets.
Let's hope he does this again another 7 matches.

Well New Zealand cruises to another easy victory. There does seem to be quite a remarkable split in performance between the 4 sides everyone is predicting to make the semis and the other teams (note I know that this was against Bangladesh but the same can be said for west indies really, and England I supose its too early to tell although NZs win over them while not dominant wasn't exactly tight).

South Africa vs the drunk Irish today! I still expect South Africa to win but the Irish shouldn't be totally disgraced.

Bang all out for 174
They were lucky to get that much, seeing as they were 140/9 at one point. Last two played sensible cricket and NZ let them get away a bit there, but nevermind. It's a extremely achievable target.

Styris bags 4 wickets. I can never understand quite how he does it. He bowls such innocuous slow deliveries which are just begging to smacked round the ground (and are occasionally). Yet more times than not, he grabs a couple of wickets and ends with decent figures.


I think he just keeps it accurate and also varies his pace a bit to unsettle the batsman a little. Almost more like a spinner might bowl than a genuine pacer. Bond is indeed amazing, and is what changes a good team into potential WC winners. (If he hadn't started knocking over the wickets then the match could well have been much closer).

I think SA will kill the Irish. They'll be looking to post a high run rate and have too much class for the Irish.

South Africa vs the drunk Irish today! I still expect South Africa to win but the Irish shouldn't be totally disgraced.
Go Ireland! :)

Ireland won!

...is the headline you won't be seeing in tomorrow's papers. It's a bit of a shame really, I quite liked the upsets of the first round.

Maybe you'll get your upset. Would England beating Sri Lanka be an upset?

Yep. Not going to happen, though.

I'm really hoping for England to beat Australia (no, I'm not crazy, honest), just to shup up McGrath. He's been at it again:

England beat Australia three times in a row in the CB Series earlier this year but McGrath does not expect a repeat.

"With the way England have been playing and the way we've been playing, we should win pretty well," he said.

"They played well to finish off the summer in Australia - we probably let our guard down a bit and did things differently to the way we had been doing.

"Since we've been over here, we've prepared exactly the way we have wanted to and have been ready for every game we've played.

"I think we've played some awesome cricket - and to be honest, no team has really got close to us."

Australia go into the game having won all three of their encounters and McGrath, who is the leading wicket taker in World Cup history with 57, is relishing the chance of continuing the run against England.

"I always enjoy playing England - I prefer to beat them obviously," he said.

"Potentially it could be the last time I come up against these guys before I hang my boots up, so it would be nice to finish on a good note."

And the seam bowler dismissed a suggestion that England might pose the toughest task for Australia so far in the West Indies.

"It's hard to say this will be the toughest match so far - the South Africa match was always going to be a tough one," he said.

Australia beat the South Africans by 83 runs in their group game on 24 March.

Sri Lanka 235 all out from 50 overs. Good bowling and fielding from England, judging from the text commentary I've been following (BBC and Cricinfo), though Sri Lanka never really seemed to get going. I don't think they ever really recovered from losing Jayasuriya so early.

Anyway. England, set 236 to win, are 1 for 1 after three overs. Nice. :p

134 for 6 over of 34 overs or so. Only Bell and Pietersen getting decent scores.

England flatter to deceive as they always do, in all sports. And people say they're not sure what English-ness is. Snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory (if you ever get to the jaws of victory and don't get stopped at the doors of the restaurant).

and as a Welshman I love it.

Who would've thought. Glorious defeat for England! :p :rolleyes:

233 for 8 from their 50 overs. Needing three from the last ball to win, Bopara must've really gone for it, completely missed the ball, and Fernando clean bowled him. Looking forward to the highlights later.

Gaaaaah.

I've just been watching it on the TV. For one, brief moment, I actually thought they might do it.

Gaaaaaah!

Gaaaaah.

I've just been watching it on the TV. For one, brief moment, I actually thought they might do it.

Gaaaaaah!
Have you not learned to never have any confidence in England when it comes to sport? :p

Have you not learned to never have any confidence in England when it comes to sport? :p

I dared to hope. :(

England are pretty much out of the WC now. They need to beat Bangladesh, Ireland (both very doable) but also at least either SA or Oz.
And then that'll only give them 8 points, which means they'd also need to rely on NZ losing all it's games or, assuming it manages to beat Ireland, being so thumped by SA, SL and Oz, NZ ends up with a worse net run-rate.

And that's assuming it's based solely on NRR, and not on who beat whom.

England are pretty much out of the WC now. They need to beat Bangladesh, Ireland (both very doable) but also at least either SA or Oz.
And then that'll only give them 8 points, which means they'd also need to rely on NZ losing all it's games or, assuming it manages to beat Ireland, being so thumped by SA, SL and Oz, NZ ends up with a worse net run-rate.

And that's assuming it's based solely on NRR, and not on who beat whom.
TIEBREAKERS:
Team with the most wins - so assuming there's no tied matches in the Super 8, this'll be redundant.
Team with best net run-rate
Team with most wickets taken per balls bowled
Winner of the game between two level teams
Draw lots

This is a joke. Can somebody please some form of explanation why England play 3 identical players at the top of the order, and leave Mal Loye in England?

Who would've thought. Glorious defeat for England! :p :rolleyes:

233 for 8 from their 50 overs. Needing three from the last ball to win, Bopara must've really gone for it, completely missed the ball, and Fernando clean bowled him. Looking forward to the highlights later.

Fernando out thought him. Ran up and went through his action but didn't let go of the ball. Saw where Bopara was going to try and hit him and bowled against that and it worked.

Fernando out thought him. Ran up and went through his action but didn't let go of the ball. Saw where Bopara was going to try and hit him and bowled against that and it worked.
Yeah, I saw it on the highlights. There was some good cricket played by both sides yesterday. Best match of the tournament so far, I think.

Damn....2 runs! And I missed the highlights...ggrrr

Guess I was too hopeful for a England win.

/depressed

Fernando out thought him. Ran up and went through his action but didn't let go of the ball. Saw where Bopara was going to try and hit him and bowled against that and it worked.

That wasn't 'outbowling him', it was cheating, pure and simple. Bowden should have no-balled him.

That wasn't 'outbowling him', it was cheating, pure and simple. Bowden should have no-balled him.

Find the rule that says you can't.

Find the rule that says you can't.

Law 16.3: Should a bowler complete his bowling action but fail to release the ball, with the intention of causing some disadvantage to the defending batsman by (i) unsettling his concentration (ii) revealing his intended stroke (iii) some other disadvantage; then such ball shall not be dead but a Bowden Special no-ball.

That wasn't 'outbowling him', it was cheating, pure and simple. Bowden should have no-balled him.
It wasn't cheating. If it had been, the umpires would've called him on it. Notably, Gus Fraser and Aggers both had no problem with it when asked about it on the BBC highlights.

Law 16.3: Should a bowler complete his bowling action but fail to release the ball, with the intention of causing some disadvantage to the defending batsman by (i) unsettling his concentration (ii) revealing his intended stroke (iii) some other disadvantage; then such ball shall not be dead but a Bowden Special no-ball.

Law 16 regards the start and cessation of play.

Law 16 regards the start and cessation of play.

And what a good law it is too!

Seriously, though, while the 'non-ball' wasn't against the letter of the law, it was certainly against the spirit of it. It's a shame as well; it spoilt for me the end of what had been a very exciting game.

Didn't get to see the end of the game as I had a calc class. That was surprisingly close. Didn't know about that whole bowling thing but I wouldn't get that obsessed with it, shoulda played a different shot the second time.

Didn't get to see the end of the game as I had a calc class. That was surprisingly close. Didn't know about that whole bowling thing but I wouldn't get that obsessed with it, shoulda played a different shot the second time.
What? you forwent cricket for calculus?
What are ya? some kinda poofter?

As for the bowling - yeah. One would think that playing a different shot in those circumstances would have been the good thing to do.

What? you forwent cricket for calculus?
What are ya? some kinda poofter?

As for the bowling - yeah. One would think that playing a different shot in those circumstances would have been the good thing to do.

Yes I know I know hang my head in shame. In my defense I'm from NZ and we weren't even playing. Also calc isn't exactly an easy paper so I figured I should probably go. I did have someone texting me updates every like 5 mins, less when it was down to the business end of the game.

Bah, any good batsman should play the ball on its merits anyway making the whole pulling out thing irrelevent.


Not that I can talk, I just got my teams MVP award for the season, and the highest I batted was #10...

South Africa vs Bangladesh has started.

Bangladesh doing well! 0/33 off 8.2 overs.

cricket is a stupid game

*still sulking*

Bangladesh doing not so well now - 87-4 from 24 overs.

It says a lot when Bangladesh are in the super 8s when India and Pakistan are not. Get ya house in order and control all that illegal betting.

4/100 now and that's with 9 wides to help out the batting team.

4/100 now and that's with 9 wides to help out the batting team.
Another comfortable win for South Africa looks on the cards.

Another comfortable win for South Africa looks on the cards.

Even if Bangladesh score 200 somehow, it's not enough. SA can score 200 in 40 overs easy.

Bad news for SA
"Gibbs is off the ground. Calf strain. He will bat only if necessary."

It says a lot when Bangladesh are in the super 8s when India and Pakistan are not. Get ya house in order and control all that illegal betting.


Thats an unfortunate part of sports betting. Whenever Bangladesh or another minnow gets a win against a top team that is probably genuine, there are always people who assume match fixing.

Really, India and Pakistan need to legalise sports betting. Now. When it become transperant, match fixing becomes a whole lot harder.

This Aftab Ahmed is a slugger as well. A decent score is entirely possible.

35.6 Kemp to Aftab Ahmed, SIX
35.5 Kemp to Aftab Ahmed, no run, length-delivery around off stump line, pushed to cover point
35.4 Kemp to Aftab Ahmed, SIX, Super strike. Fullish, drifting on to the legs, Aftab leant forward, swung it over long leg. Wonderfully picked up. Clean swing of the bat.

Way to go!

Thats an unfortunate part of sports betting. Whenever Bangladesh or another minnow gets a win against a top team that is probably genuine, there are always people who assume match fixing.

Really, India and Pakistan need to legalise sports betting. Now. When it become transperant, match fixing becomes a whole lot harder.

Bangladesh did beat Australia, so this Bangladesh team is capable of doing the impossible but only once a while.

Oops

Ntini to Aftab Ahmed, OUT, It was a fluent drive. I thought it was going to go to four. Instead, it goes to the man at sweeper cover. Fullish, outside off and he drove it uppishly over cover. Nel runs in a bit , swoops low to take the catch.

5/160 now

Well, Bangladesh look like they might reach 200, barring a late collapse. However, they've taken one wicket so far in their two Super 8 matches, against New Zealand, so it's looking unlikely that South Africa won't win.

Well, Bangladesh look like they might reach 200, barring a late collapse. However, they've taken one wicket so far in their two Super 8 matches, against New Zealand, so it's looking unlikely that South Africa won't win.

I don't think SA will play like India did (ie crap). Let's hope Bangladesh get near 250 for a real game!

EDIT 6/202 from 44.3

Bangladesh 8/251 off 50 overs. Well done!
Ashraful was out for 87 and Nel took 5/45.

Let's hope Bangladesh get near 250 for a real game!
Seems like your wish has come true! :p

Amazing from Ashraful; I almost wish I was going to be in this evening to watch the highlights.

Still, SA should probably make 252 fairly comfortably. 4 or 5 overs to spare, I reckon.

Really could be a game on here, 31-1 after 8 overs. Smith totally missed a Rasel delivery. Still think South Africa will win, though.

I don't think SA will play like India did (ie crap).

Oh Really...

Well SA is 92/6 now with asking rate of 7.5 and climbing.

The bookies are making a killing.

w00t w00t South Africa lost. :D :p

I can't believe that result! This really is a fantastic tournament for upsets.

And, as a bonus, it makes it much easier for England to qualify.

Bugger me, seems like every time I predict a team will win they go and throw it away.

Uh...go Australia! :p

Thats an unfortunate part of sports betting. Whenever Bangladesh or another minnow gets a win against a top team that is probably genuine, there are always people who assume match fixing.

Really, India and Pakistan need to legalise sports betting. Now. When it become transperant, match fixing becomes a whole lot harder.
Read on the beeb website that the odds of Ireland beating Pakistan dropped from 500-1 to 18-1 just before the game started.
Yet Inzamam is still asserting that the game wasn't fixed.

Have to wonder about what the odds for the SA-Bang game did just before it started. As someone said, Bang got just 1 wicket in their last two games so it was certainly an amazing turn-around to bag all 10 this time round - especially against the supposed World's best OD side.

Have to wonder about what the odds for the SA-Bang game did just before it started. As someone said, Bang got just 1 wicket in their last two games so it was certainly an amazing turn-around to bag all 10 this time round - especially against the supposed World's best OD side.

Why did Smith opt to field first on a batting track? And the way he got out was atrocious.

Why did Smith opt to field first on a batting track? And the way he got out was atrocious.
especially since Bangladesh aren't that bad with the bat. It's usually their bowling that lets them down.
Also, look at how the Proteas played after Smith's dismissal - they went from 62/1 in the 15th over to 66/4 in the 20th.
No way are Bang that good a bowling side to restrict SA to 4 runs off 5 overs.

Wow, well done Bangladesh! Or SA just played badly but either way Bangladesh deserved to win. So England can beat Australia, err ... maybe.

Yay, looks like Nein will have coverage! (I don't have and can't afford Pay TV). All I can say is about time...

Nine is nothing, if not useless.

I reckon I'll at least try to catch the first team's innings.

(About the only thing worth watching on Nine is the sport, and they don't have much of that left).

Yay, looks like Nein will have coverage! (I don't have and can't afford Pay TV). All I can say is about time...

Nine is nothing, if not useless.

I reckon I'll at least try to catch the first team's innings.

(About the only thing worth watching on Nine is the sport, and they don't have much of that left).

Good, about time!

* Shakes fist at Fox Sports *

Well that Bangladeshi win over South Africa has really opened things up for England. I think it's safe to say that Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka are all through, and Bangladesh, West Indies and Ireland are out. Of course, Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka still have to play each other. If one of them were to lose both of those games, that team may find themselves stuck with England and South Africa on 8 points at the end of it all, and net run rate would come into play to decide the final two places. That would be very interesting indeed...

Well that Bangladeshi win over South Africa has really opened things up for England. I think it's safe to say that Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka are all through, and Bangladesh, West Indies and Ireland are out. Of course, Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka still have to play each other. If one of them were to lose both of those games, that team may find themselves stuck with England and South Africa on 8 points at the end of it all, and net run rate would come into play to decide the final two places. That would be very interesting indeed...
I can see NZ losing to Australia, Sri Lanka and South Africa (though I can also see them beating Sri Lanka and South Africa). So if England beat SA, I think NZ, SA and England could all end on 8 points, with two of them going through...that'd be interesting, especially as the last two matches of the Super 8 are Aus vs NZ and WI vs Eng. A thrashing for NZ could mean that England's job is just to win against WI to qualify.

England's best chance of qualifying is through seeing what Bangladesh did against SA and trying to emulate it - although I'm not sure how much success they'll have doing that on the Barbados pitch. Apparently the South African middle-order has been complaining that they've not had much batting experience at this World Cup, because of the success of the top order. Maybe if England can make a few breakthroughs early on against SA, they stand a decent chance.

Australia, FTW!

I can see NZ losing to Australia, Sri Lanka and South Africa (though I can also see them beating Sri Lanka and South Africa). So if England beat SA, I think NZ, SA and England could all end on 8 points, with two of them going through...that'd be interesting, especially as the last two matches of the Super 8 are Aus vs NZ and WI vs Eng. A thrashing for NZ could mean that England's job is just to win against WI to qualify.

England's best chance of qualifying is through seeing what Bangladesh did against SA and trying to emulate it - although I'm not sure how much success they'll have doing that on the Barbados pitch. Apparently the South African middle-order has been complaining that they've not had much batting experience at this World Cup, because of the success of the top order. Maybe if England can make a few breakthroughs early on against SA, they stand a decent chance.

I'd say chances are NZ will beat one of those three. As long as they win one of the games thats 10 points which should secure them a spot. And if they don't currently NZs net run rate is much higher, although since the theory involves NZ losing three straight games I suppose that would change.

I'd say chances are NZ will beat one of those three. As long as they win one of the games thats 10 points which should secure them a spot. And if they don't currently NZs net run rate is much higher, although since the theory involves NZ losing three straight games I suppose that would change.
Well, yeah, but I'm being optimistic for England here. It's a quality anyone who follows England in international sport needs.

I'm of the opinion that England fucked their World Cup chances when they lost to New Zealand in the group stage. Had we beaten them then, we'd have a good chance of making the semis, and then who knows what could happen?

It's do or die for England now, they need to win this. They did play well against Sri Lanka so they could beat Australia unless a bunch of old bowlers mess them up again.

It's do or die for England now, they need to win this. They did play well against Sri Lanka so they could beat Australia unless a bunch of old bowlers mess them up again.
Heh, I'm going to predict McGrath will get 5-25, or some other ridiculously low economy for 10 overs.

It's do or die for England now, they need to win this. They did play well against Sri Lanka so they could beat Australia unless a bunch of old bowlers mess them up again.

Ha! I dream for a bunch of old bowlers to come along and mess us up. It's the young ones that are shite.

Edit: You meant their old bowlers. I'm just going to go over here and hide now.

Well, yeah, but I'm being optimistic for England here. It's a quality anyone who follows England in international sport needs.

I'm of the opinion that England fucked their World Cup chances when they lost to New Zealand in the group stage. Had we beaten them then, we'd have a good chance of making the semis, and then who knows what could happen?

It's do or die for England now, they need to win this. They did play well against Sri Lanka so they could beat Australia unless a bunch of old bowlers mess them up again.

I see what you mean about being optimistic.... Nah I mean anything can happen but it seems like england are in a bit of trouble.

Ha! I dream for a bunch of old bowlers to come along and mess us up. It's the young ones that are shite.

Edit: You meant their old bowlers. I'm just going to go over here and hide now.

What's wrong with Kevin Peterson's bowling? :p

What's wrong with Kevin Peterson's bowling? :p

Well, the fact that he's one of our best, really. :p

Strauss is in for Joyce, although he's not opening. I'd assume he'll be in at three then. He'll probably be in by 3pm BST as well...:p

England won the toss and are batting first. Hopefully they'll make a total in the region of 275-300.

Strauss is in for Joyce, although he's not opening. I'd assume he'll be in at three then. He'll probably be in by 3pm BST as well...:p
Ahem, what did I say? 10-1, Vaughan out for 5.

Ahem, what did I say? 10-1, Vaughan out for 5.

2/24 now

Tait to Strauss, OUT, gone! A mirror of Vaughan's dismissal; short of a length, Strauss back onto his stumps, he tried to cut it but with a rather ugly cross-bat and it's dragged on

Tait has two wickets already, and no McGrath yet!

The master spinner from SA, KP is out there now.

2/24 now

Tait to Strauss, OUT, gone! A mirror of Vaughan's dismissal; short of a length, Strauss back onto his stumps, he tried to cut it but with a rather ugly cross-bat and it's dragged on

Tait has two wickets already, and no McGrath yet!

The master spinner from SA, KP is out there now.
Nice. He was out before 3 as well. :p

Bell's just hit three fours off McGrath in four balls. :D

Nice. He was out before 3 as well. :p

Bell's just hit three fours off McGrath in four balls. :D

M J Clarke, the batsman, is bowling well and then KP belted him for 6. Hogg is on!

M J Clarke, the batsman, is bowling well.
Well, he was...went for 13 off his last over.

Well, he was...went for 13 off his last over.

That's KP for you.

I have to say this is excellent from England after a terrible start. Bell and KP have both just reached their fifties (the hundred partnership is just four runs away), the run rate is more than five an over...at this rate we could comfortably reach 300.

Maybe 300 wouldn't be so comfortable now - from 163-2 to 167-4. Bell and Collingwood both out in the space of a few balls. The runs seem to have dried up a bit as well. Hopefully that's just a temporary thing.

Wonderful capitulation by England, hitting straight to our fielders right at the end. :D

England all out for 247 with one ball remaining.

Wonderful capitulation by England, hitting straight to our fielders right at the end. :D

England all out for 247 with one ball remaining.
Sometimes it's so fucking depressing being an England fan - from being in a position Vaughan would probably have given his left nut to be in (163-2) to a position that, while not atrocious, wasn't great considering what we had been on (230-5, with a few overs left) to 247 all out. How crap.

And now Australia are showing us how it should have been done. :mad:

Well, they were showing us how it's done. We've managed to limit them to only a few singles from the last few overs, plus we've got a couple of wickets - Hayden and Gilchrist. There's hope. 103-2 from 24 overs. England had reached that after 20 overs.

Just seen the score. Time to cut my head off.

Just seen the score. Time to cut my head off.
It's not that bad. A couple of quick wickets would change this quite dramatically.

Bleh. Far too easy for Australia. A seven wicket win for them, with a couple of overs to spare.

It's most annoying because we had a very good batting position at one point, that we really should have capitalised on by reaching at least 275, and with only moderately tighter bowling and fielding we could have made Australia really struggle. Poo.

Bleh. Far too easy for Australia. A seven wicket win for them, with a couple of overs to spare.

It's most annoying because we had a very good batting position at one point, that we really should have capitalised on by reaching at least 275, and with only moderately tighter bowling and fielding we could have made Australia really struggle. Poo.

Oh come on, once Bell and KP reached 70 we all knew it was too good to be true. I was just patiently awaiting our batting collapse. It happened right on time.

You know, at times I almost feel sorry for English cricket supporters. :p

I just watched the entire game. Once again, brief moments of hope come crashing to an end with a disappointingly easy finish.

You know, at times I almost feel sorry for English cricket supporters. :p

Almost, eh? :p Well, least we won the Commonwealth Series. ;)


The fact you smashed us in the Ashes is irrelevant, obviously.

I just watched the entire game. Once again, brief moments of hope come crashing to an end with a disappointingly easy finish.

It's becoming a trend with the English. It's a conspiracy, I tell you.

Almost, eh? :p Well, least we won the Commonwealth Series. ;)


The fact you smashed us in the Ashes is irrelevant, obviously.

Two words.

Five nil. :p

Panesar did impress me later in the summer though, I really think he has a future once he gets control of his wild bowls.

Two words.

Five nil. :p

Panesar did impress me later in the summer though, I really think he has a future once he gets control of his wild bowls.

Like I said, it's irrelevant. ;)

I love Panesar, I think he's great. You're losing McGrath soon, that could be a big blow to you. But with Symonds you've got a great all-round player.

Like I said, it's irrelevant. ;)

I love Panesar, I think he's great. You're losing McGrath soon, that could be a big blow to you. But with Symonds you've got a great all-round player.

How can one of the most historic rivalries be 'irrelevant'?

Symonds is great, especially when tonking the Poms all over the park. :p

Sorry, I'm in quite a stirring mood this morning...

You English, KP and Bell gave you the dream start and well ... threw it away again.

How do England manage to do it every time? They get themselves into an excellent position, then just throw it away in a really weak effort.

Aus, NZ & Sri Lanka are almost certain semi-finalists. The final spot could be quite a nail biting contest.

Well Aus are still going strong. Heres hoping NZ will be able to continue their unbeaten run tomorrow too. If they lose I wont be able to go out in public for a while. I mean obviously they should be fine but theres always that niggling voice that just says "If anyone will humiliate themselves and go from doing really well to losing to Ireland its NZ".

How do England manage to do it every time? They get themselves into an excellent position, then just throw it away in a really weak effort.
They wouldn't want to disappoint their supporters by actually winning, now, would they?

We are very, very close to being a really good one-day team. We are just not winning critical periods and doing enough during the whole match.

Well, at least he's always been honest. But his batting is so bad now that I reckon he'll stand down as one day Captain after this tournament. Fletcher will presumably be on his way as well.

Well, at least he's always been honest. But his batting is so bad now that I reckon he'll stand down as one day Captain after this tournament. Fletcher will presumably be on his way as well.
But who's going to replace him? Can't be Flintoff, not after he was stripped of the vice-captaincy. Bell? KP? Collingwood? Strauss?

And I wouldn't count on Fletcher leaving. If we make the semis (ie. if we beat SA), then he's almost certain to stay on.

The problem is that Vaughan's right. We really are very close to being a good one-day team. That's what's so irritating. Maybe if between now and the next World Cup we blood a lot of young talent, at the expense of older players (and, quite possibly, results), so that in four years time we do have a good one-day team - one with a lot of experience of one-day cricket. I seem to recall one stat given during the Eng-SL game - Jayasuriya (world record holder for ODI caps) and Muralitharan had more ODI caps between them then the entire England team that played Sri Lanka put together. That's a severe lack of experience.

w00t w00t South Africa lost. :D :p
Verily.
I hate those clutchie bastards.
----------------
I had my hopes up that i'd be able to stay up late and watch the NZ vs Ireland match on Monday, as i heard on tv, little did i know that it was Monday in the Windies, not here, it is Tuesday morning and i have work.
Waht type of torment is this?

All English putdowns aside, Australia was immense. Winning by 7 wickets after a 70-odd by Bell and a hundred by Pietersen... I wouldn't be at all surprised if they went undefeated throughout the entire Cup.

Well you'd have thought so but it seems that attendances are not what they ought to be. The game between Oz and the Windies was played in front of a small crowd...
Ah yes, i was going to say somethign about this(Unless i already have(though it's me so nobody would care *nods*))
When the Windies played Zimbabwae they had sell out crowds, when they play OZ and the tickets are like $90US which is like a weeks wages for those people it is no surprise they aren't sellouts or at least half full.
Then banning of the Music, it's bizarre.

All English putdowns aside, Australia was immense. Winning by 7 wickets after a 70-odd by Bell and a hundred by Pietersen... I wouldn't be at all surprised if they went undefeated throughout the entire Cup.
Maybe, but apart from Bell and KP, only one other England player reached doublefigures. Australia were really just professional about it - they made it look easy.

Plus Australia were fortunate enough to face Mahmood for nine overs. :rolleyes:

But who's going to replace him? Can't be Flintoff, not after he was stripped of the vice-captaincy. Bell? KP? Collingwood? Strauss?
The trouble is that he's in purely for his captaincy; he's not making any runs at all. And, if his captaincy isn't bringing the results, will he be able to withstand the pressure that is going to build up to stand aside?

Strauss would be an obvious choice, but seeing as he is currently suffering the same batting issues as Vaughan, he's an unlikely candidate. Collingwood is a name that gets thrown around a lot, but I don't know if he's ever been a Captain before. I also don't like putting too much pressure on one player, and he's already a batter, bowler and the best fielder.

I wouldn't want to risk Pietersen's form by making him Captain.

So the answer to your question is, I don't know. Maybe Panesar? :p

And I wouldn't count on Fletcher leaving. If we make the semis (ie. if we beat SA), then he's almost certain to stay on.
I think he's as good as gone already, to be honest. Personally, I would like him to stay on; he's been a phenomenally successful coach. But there is enormous pressure on him now to go; even more so than Vaughan, as he's seen to be personally responsible for the Ashes whitewash. He's said he'd reconsider his position after this tournament, so I wonder if he's already decided to call it a day.

The problem is that Vaughan's right. We really are very close to being a good one-day team. That's what's so irritating. Maybe if between now and the next World Cup we blood a lot of young talent, at the expense of older players (and, quite possibly, results), so that in four years time we do have a good one-day team - one with a lot of experience of one-day cricket.

I'm always sceptical about sacrificing current form for young talent that will deliver at some unspecified date in the future, as all too often they never do deliver. I would prefer an approach where young players are introduced gradually into the side, gaining match practice and learning from the more experienced players. Then, when they are settled, more young talent can be introduced, leaving a good balance between youth and experience.

The trouble is that England has been too unwilling to drop the old favourites (think Giles in the Ashes), and, more often than not, the new 'talent' is pretty shit. I really wish Harmison hadn't retired from the one dayers; I can't tell you how much I would prefer him charging in right now to Sajid bloody Mahmood.

We're also really, really missing Trescothick; one of those players you don't realise how much you rely on until they're gone. Perhaps if he were back at the top of the order, then players like Joyce could learn from him and perhaps become better players for the future.

Maybe, but apart from Bell and KP, only one other England player reached doublefigures. Australia were really just professional about it - they made it look easy.

Plus Australia were fortunate enough to face Mahmood for nine overs. :rolleyes:

That's the thing about the Aussies though. They just look like they aren't even stretched. They did the same to SA as well, remember.

Lol at the Mahmood thing. Flintoff is, by all accounts, off form, Harmi isn't playing (correct me if I'm wrong)... what's the English pace attack looking like? The screwy time differences mean I can't really watch entire matches.

That's the thing about the Aussies though. They just look like they aren't even stretched. They did the same to SA as well, remember.

Lol at the Mahmood thing. Flintoff is, by all accounts, off form, Harmi isn't playing (correct me if I'm wrong)... what's the English pace attack looking like? The screwy time differences mean I can't really watch entire matches.
Pace? What's that? :p

Erm, we've got Anderson and Flintoff. That's about it for pace - then we've got Mahmood, Panesar, Collingwood, Plonkit, Dalrymple and Bopara (who's not too slow), plus Pietersen occasionally.

So the answer to your question is, I don't know.
See? That's the problem.

I'm always sceptical about sacrificing current form for young talent that will deliver at some unspecified date in the future, as all too often they never do deliver. I would prefer an approach where young players are introduced gradually into the side, gaining match practice and learning from the more experienced players. Then, when they are settled, more young talent can be introduced, leaving a good balance between youth and experience.

The trouble is that England has been too unwilling to drop the old favourites (think Giles in the Ashes), and, more often than not, the new 'talent' is pretty shit. I really wish Harmison hadn't retired from the one dayers; I can't tell you how much I would prefer him charging in right now to Sajid bloody Mahmood.

We're also really, really missing Trescothick; one of those players you don't realise how much you rely on until they're gone. Perhaps if he were back at the top of the order, then players like Joyce could learn from him and perhaps become better players for the future.
Obviously keep the players who we know are going to be able to perform (though at the moment that seems to be only Pietersen and Collingwood), but then build a team around them. In the first ODIs England play after the WC, maybe we should consider dropping Vaughan, Flintoff, Mahmood, etc, and bring in players like Mal Loye, Owais Shah and Michael Yardy.

And pray that Simon Jones stops getting injured all the time. ;)

All English putdowns aside, Australia was immense. Winning by 7 wickets after a 70-odd by Bell and a hundred by Pietersen... I wouldn't be at all surprised if they went undefeated throughout the entire Cup.

Even so, only three batsman - Pietersen, Bell and Bopara - managed to get out of single figures. That's poor.

Lol at the Mahmood thing. Flintoff is, by all accounts, off form, Harmi isn't playing (correct me if I'm wrong)... what's the English pace attack looking like? The screwy time differences mean I can't really watch entire matches.

Harmison "retired" from ODIs. He's not even 30 yet. Bastard.
The English pace consists of Flintoff and Anderson. We need Simon Jones, really.

Maybe, but apart from Bell and KP, only one other England player reached doublefigures.

Even so, only three batsman - Pietersen, Bell and Bopara - managed to get out of single figures. That's poor.

*is suspicious, but lets it go*

And pray that Simon Jones stops getting injured all the time. ;)

We need Simon Jones, really.

Ok, you really are just nicking my posts, aren't you? :p

Harmison "retired" from ODIs. He's not even 30 yet. Bastard.
The English pace consists of Flintoff and Anderson. We need Simon Jones, really.

Bad luck for you. Flintoff is great (when suitably inspired), and Anderson and Mahmood are wank. Whatever happened to Simon Jones, anyway? Haven't seen him play since 05 Ashes.

Bad luck for you. Flintoff is great (when suitably inspired), and Anderson and Mahmood are wank. Whatever happened to Simon Jones, anyway? Haven't seen him play since 05 Ashes.
Flintoff can be great, but he can be average. Similarly, Anderson has flashes of brilliance, but most of the time he's either a solid bowler (though he can rarely maintain a consistent line and length) or just shit. Mahmood very rarely can bowl well. Otherwise...well, you get what happened yesterday.

Jones has been injured a lot. He was injured at the end of the 2005 Ashes (ankle injury), which meant he missed the tour of Pakistan. Then he injured his left ankle (not sure if the previous one was left or right), just before the tour of India. Then in an ODI against Ireland he fucked his knee, missing the Sri Lankan tour of England, and had surgery on it. He's probably recovered from it by now, but because he hasn't played since last May, he was never going to be included in the squad for the World Cup.

Bad luck for you. Flintoff is great (when suitably inspired), and Anderson and Mahmood are wank. Whatever happened to Simon Jones, anyway? Haven't seen him play since 05 Ashes.

Flintoff can be amazing, when on form. If he's not on form, he's absolute shite. Why Mahmood is in the squad is a mystery, and Simon Jones picked up an ankle injury.

I remember watching Plunkett (tour of Pakistan, I think) and thinking that he went alright. Impressed me more than Mahmood, anyway. Or he is even worse? Because he seems to be in and out (mainly out) of the team.

So, NZ vs Ireland.


Any picks?

I remember watching Plunkett (tour of Pakistan, I think) and thinking that he went alright. Impressed me more than Mahmood, anyway. Or he is even worse? Because he seems to be in and out (mainly out) of the team.

I always thought Plunkett was better. English selectors are mad, I tell ye.

The problem is that Vaughan's right. We really are very close to being a good one-day team. That's what's so irritating.
Naw, he's deluding himself if he truly thinks that.
England aren't a good OD team. They have a couple of excellent players (eg KP, Bell, Monty) a couple of erratic players who, when they fire, can easily turn a match (eg Flintoff) and the rest are decidedly average, if not sub-par.

lack of consistency marks an average team from a good one - and England are anything but consistent.

Vaughan's remarks sound more of excuse making than anything.

So, NZ vs Ireland.


Any picks?
NZ by 75-100 runs or 7-8 wickets.

So, NZ vs Ireland.


Any picks?

New Zealand. If Ireland win, it makes it difficult for England. But meh, it's not exactly like we're going through anyway.

I remember watching Plunkett (tour of Pakistan, I think) and thinking that he went alright. Impressed me more than Mahmood, anyway. Or he is even worse? Because he seems to be in and out (mainly out) of the team.
This is one of the major problems facing England selectors. Read through the Beeb cricket forums: every man and their dog has opinions about selecting and it invariably comes out as:
a. They want team consistency and to give young players a chance to find their feet
b. They want to get rid of whoever's playing like shite asap.

anyone care to spot the problem there?

The selectors have immense pressure to pick players, give them time to come up to scratch and yet at the same time are being pressurised by the public to drop non-performing players in favour of others. poor sods. I wouldn't want to be a Englad selector.

Naw, he's deluding himself if he truly thinks that.
England aren't a good OD team. They have a couple of excellent players (eg KP, Bell, Monty) a couple of erratic players who, when they fire, can easily turn a match (eg Flintoff) and the rest are decidedly average, if not sub-par.

lack of consistency marks an average team from a good one - and England are anything but consistent.

Vaughan's remarks sound more of excuse making than anything.
Don't forget Collingwood - I'd say he's been our best player at the World Cup so far. Second highest batting average, half-decent bowling average and economy for a part-time bowler, plus he has been excellent in the field.

Don't forget Collingwood - I'd say he's been our best player at the World Cup so far. Second highest batting average, half-decent bowling average and economy for a part-time bowler, plus he has been excellent in the field.
quite right. I knew there was someone else, but couldn't be bothered checking cricinfo.

I always thought Plunkett was better. English selectors are mad, I tell ye.

Hardly doing yourself any favours, are you? :p

Don't forget Collingwood - I'd say he's been our best player at the World Cup so far. Second highest batting average, half-decent bowling average and economy for a part-time bowler, plus he has been excellent in the field.

Yeah, he's been pretty outstanding. And Bopara nearly won the Sri Lanka match, I was really impressed.

I always thought Plunkett was better. English selectors are mad, I tell ye.

Yeah, Pluckett played well in Australia too. I'd have Simon Jones and him in the English team.

Hardly doing yourself any favours, are you? :p

Meh, we were never going to win :p

So, NZ vs Ireland.


Any picks?

NZ will flog em. Been as good as Australia so far.

Meh, we were never going to win :p

At least you didn't win a wooden spoon! :p

Yeah, Pluckett played well in Australia too. I'd have Simon Jones and him in the English team.

Yeah, but like we said, Jones is injured. Again. Hehe.

Yeah, but like we said, Jones is injured. Again. Hehe.

Australia lost Brett Lee, and well we had the backup in Bracken. Symonds was injured too, and then he turns up and belts England around.

Meh, we were never going to win :p

True, but setting yourself up for failure by not picking your best XI? Well, you guys still performed well next to Pakistan and India.

Australia lost Brett Lee, and well we had the backup in Bracken. Symonds was injured too, and then he turns up and belts England around.

Symonds is a beast. I really respect him, I think he's a piece of cricketing perfection.

True, but setting yourself up for failure by not picking your best XI? Well, you guys still performed well next to Pakistan and India.

I felt sorry for Pakistan and India, especially for Pakistan after Bob Woolmer died. But let's not hijack this thread, eh? :p

I felt sorry for Pakistan and India, especially for Pakistan after Bob Woolmer died. But let's not hijack this thread, eh? :p

I myself wouldn't call discussing teams involved in the WC in the 'cricket world cup thread' hijacking... ;)

I myself wouldn't call discussing teams involved in the WC in the 'cricket world cup thread' hijacking... ;)

I meant Bob Woolmer dying...:p

I meant Bob Woolmer dying...:p

Which happened during and within the surrounds of the WC. But I digress. :D

Which happened during and within the surrounds of the WC. But I digress. :D

Quiet you. :p

New Zealand win the toss and do something barely seen this world cup.. Fleming decides to bat. Jeetan Patel is in the team, so the plan is obviously to wait for the pitch to get slower. Still no Gillespie and no Taylor.

New Zealand win the toss and do something barely seen this world cup.. Fleming decides to bat. Jeetan Patel is in the team, so the plan is obviously to wait for the pitch to get slower. Still no Gillespie and no Taylor.

They decided to bat? Meh, I can't see them having any trouble anyhow.

They decided to bat? Meh, I can't see them having any trouble anyhow.

I think they took note of the Bangladesh game the other day. Bat first, play your spinners. I'm pretty sure its the same ground.

I think they took note of the Bangladesh game the other day. Bat first, play your spinners. I'm pretty sure its the same ground.

Vetori will enjoy bowling then. Might grab a bag of wickets.

I think they took note of the Bangladesh game the other day. Bat first, play your spinners. I'm pretty sure its the same ground.
Yep, it is the same ground. They'll reach a good total and bowl Ireland out fairly easily I imagine.

I think they took note of the Bangladesh game the other day. Bat first, play your spinners. I'm pretty sure its the same ground.
quite right you are - same ground as the Bang-SA game. Hence the decision to play Patel.
Bit surprised to see Bond in there. Thought they might rest him. Can't risk him getting injured at this time - and he is a fairly delicate sod.

Oh guess what, Kiwis won the toss and elected to bat.
What a surprise! :D

0/14 so far.

Oh guess what, Kiwis won the toss and elected to bat.
What a surprise! :D

0/14 so far.

What over?