World Cup results/reaction thread

joel · Findin' Fundin

RE: World Cup results/reaction thread

paichukka · ...Ding!

Great match. Still keeps us on course for Aus, NZ, SA and SL.

Golcar CC · Bezalgo

Quite a match indeed. Sri Lanka v England is going to be a big one. I could even have added an exclamation mark to the preceding sentence.

Muppet · Je suis l'état et l'état c'est moi

Golcar CC wrote:
Sri Lanka v England is going to be a big one. I could even have added an exclamation mark to the preceding sentence.

Steady on there old boy...

El Presidente · Disco Brad

Just watched a replay of the 4 in 4 balls by Malinga here (while it lasts)

How owned was Ntini? What a ball.

Golcar CC · Bezalgo

Great video. Malinga the slinger's action has to be a little bit of an advantage at times, I'm sure batsmen don't like it.

Not sure you're picture above is of Ntini though, have you checked.

Fish · Member

WHAT THE HELL IS ROB CRAWFORD DOING TO THAT BLOKE ?

El Treasurorio · Senior Member

You posting on the wrong forums again?

paichukka · ...Ding!

Yeah, massive ownage of Ntini. Still think Mahela blew it with his field setting. Pack the cordon, fly slip, third man, you're not good enough to get anything more than edge on it mate. We would have seen another classic Proteas choke...

Golcar CC · Bezalgo

paichukka wrote:

Yeah, massive ownage of Ntini. Still think Mahela blew it with his field setting. Pack the cordon, fly slip, third man, you're not good enough to get anything more than edge on it mate. We would have seen another classic Proteas choke...

I never knew why the RSA team were known as Proteas but apparently it's a flower unique to South Africa

They also have a tree called stinkwood, but that never caught on as a nickname.

joel · Findin' Fundin

Pietersen will score 57 tomorrow.

-- Edited by joel at 17:59, 2007-03-29

paichukka · ...Ding!

Kiwis cleaning up the Windies. Bond is the world's best bowler. Should win from here, which makes them pretty sure of joining the Aussies in the semis.

England have to beat the WI and SA at least. Doubtful.

Golcar CC · Bezalgo

England v Ireland. I hope it's not another dull day of drudgery. There's talk of bringing back Dalrymple. Perhaps our probable failure in these Super8s will lead to a rethink of one-day tactics.

There's a time for pushing and prodding for runs, but if you go for the patient building approach you have to hit out big. The Windies have started fairly slowly and then failed in the middle in their past two games.

What did we do that was different in the last few CB games?

El Presidente · Disco Brad

sorry, but after writing this post, I realised it belonged here more than where I first posted it.paichukka wrote:You're only allowed in the team if the Aussies promise to start losing again. Cue Shane Bond...
The Kiwis look Ok but could suffer if their 3 other stock bowlers get taken after. On balance, the Sri Lankans and Aussies seem to have the sides with the most options and therefore are my picks to make it to the final. Sri Lanka with Vaas, Malinga, Murali and Jaysuriya really don't let you get comfortable.The Sth Africans have too many passengers with the bat at the moment and 5 rather similar bowlers. They may even miss the last 4 and I'm tipping England to beat them. After Bond and Vettori New Zealand should be able to be scored easily against, but the bonus for them is the form of their batsmen. Losing Vincent will hurt them more than losing Daryl Tuffey and their replacements don't convince me. Styris, Fleming, Oram, McMillan and McCullum is a good backbone though and if Taylor scores, he is a danger.The Aussies must be very happy that Tait is taking wickets and Bracken bowling like he's against a Ljubljana lefthanded opener (ie not getting scored off). Hogg has been the bonus bowler for Australia and that means we can hide Watson in the last 10 to be shared by himself, Symonds, Clarke or Hussey. McGrath can't be ignored (or relied on) but on balance I think the Aussies look the goods. Having an in-form Hayden is a massive plus too and Clarke has looked very dangerous so far. Our only worry is Hussey's present form, but I think he'll come good when it matters.

Golcar CC · Bezalgo

Joyce goes second over. Vaughn sure to follow before long...

Gets KP in anyway ... the sooner the better

El Treasurorio · Senior Member

What a moronic decision to bat 1st. England's only hope is to find out what pace the other team play at and prey that they can match it. Tame, tame England. McClaren for manager!!

Muppet · Je suis l'état et l'état c'est moi

Golcar CC wrote:
Joyce goes second over. Vaughn sure to follow before long...
Gets KP in anyway ... the sooner the better

Hope you're looking glum and not smug!

paichukka · ...Ding!

Ha. Vaughan really is **** at one-day cricket. I mean really really ****. Hopefully Bell won't last too long either.

Muppet · Je suis l'état et l'état c'est moi

I'm an eighth Irish. Any other Angles or Saxons else out there with some Fenian blood in them?
Wanna switch allegiances?

Golcar CC · Bezalgo

Muppet wrote:

Golcar CC wrote: Joyce goes second over. Vaughn sure to follow before long...Gets KP in anyway ... the sooner the better Hope you're looking glum and not smug!

The "cameo" king... sadly his cameos are now a brief look at what he would have gone on to do, if he got a score in the mid-20s.

paichukka · ...Ding!

Bell throwing down the gauntlet to Hayden, Jayasuriya, Smith, et al with a pulsating 24 off 52 balls during the powerplays...

paichukka · ...Ding!

Well, that ends one of the wost innings of all time. Bell cannot play the game. Rather like Vaughan and Joyce.

El Presidente · Disco Brad

From cricinfo-

Here's Collingwood to salvage England's innings once again. Apologies for the sarcasm, but honestly, England's top-order has been village today

Oops

El Presidente · Disco Brad

joel wrote:

Pietersen will score 57 tomorrow.

-- Edited by joel at 17:59, 2007-03-29

Impressive (only 9 runs out)

paichukka · ...Ding!

Jesus, this turgid England batting deserves nothing but defeat. Wonder what magic they can come up with in the final five.

El Presidente · Disco Brad

You have to admit that this guy Collingwood is a bloody class act, no matter who you support.

paichukka · ...Ding!

No argument with him. It's those tossers up the order who are patently useless.

El Presidente · Disco Brad

England were never in any real danger in this match today, but they are going to have to improve if they want to make the semi-finals.

On another point Ireland look like they have some real potential - a young squad and some raw talent. I hope the ICC makes sure they have regular international cricket so they can continue to improve. Zimbabwe would be delighted to have the likes of some of these kids playing for them. Hopefully they won't have to wait until the next World Cup to come up against quality opposition.

joel · Findin' Fundin

Given that England aren't going to get the ideal lineup in this WC, not least because of the impossibility of dropping Vaughan, what do the more clued-up among you think to moving a couple of players higher up the order? I'm thinking Nixon or Bopara, or even Flintoff. I've been impressed with Nixon so far, busy bollocks and all that. Take the attack to the bigger teams.

-- Edited by joel at 11:02, 2007-03-31

-- Edited by joel at 11:02, 2007-03-31

Golcar CC · Bezalgo

Ireland did give a pretty good account of themselves. They were fifth out of six in the tournament in Kenya just before the world cup (1-Kenya, 2-Scotland, 3-Netherlands, 4-Canada,5-Ireland, 6-Bermuda), which is a surprise, but it shows some of these teams deserve more of a go.

As for England they just refuse to try and control the game. So they'll get controlled and owned by the Sri Lankan's no doubt, and then they'll be more or less out. But you never know ...

In the last few games of the CB - without Vaughn (who got a couple of ducks earlier on) they turned it round. Maybe we should drop Pietersen! Joyce had a couple of good knocks then, so did Bell, but it was essentially good bowling that won those games, and Plunkett was playing well. He should be playing I think.

Sri Lanka (Wed) and Australia (next Sunday) are our next two matches.

Golcar CC · Bezalgo

Anyone know why the Windies have such a bizzare schedule for the Super8

27 (&28) March v Aus
29 March v NZ
1 Apr v SL
10 Apr v RSA
19 Apr v BANG
21 Apr v Eng

3 in 6 days and then 9 days between the next? What were they thinking of?

paichukka · ...Ding!

England have to beat WI and SA to have a chance. Hmm...

Golcar CC · Bezalgo

It's a 22 over game now for Australia v Bangles.

What are the odds on Australia still getting past 300?

Or could Bangladesh have a pop at them?

paichukka · ...Ding!

Sounds like jolly good bowling by Mr McGrath. Actually, it got me thinking about the Twenty20 world championships coming up later this year. I rather fancy the Kiwis for that one, and they might be worth a flutter right now...

I'd even be tempted to back England each way, but only if Adam Hollioake was still playing and Fletcher was no longer coach.

El Presidente · Disco Brad

An injury to Shane Watson. I'm quite pleased between me and all of you.

paichukka · ...Ding!

Bangladesh owned in general. Will Hussey open for a bit of practice?

Golcar CC · Bezalgo

paichukka wrote:

Sounds like jolly good bowling by Mr McGrath. Actually, it got me thinking about the Twenty20 world championships coming up later this year. I rather fancy the Kiwis for that one, and they might be worth a flutter right now...

I'd even be tempted to back England each way, but only if Adam Hollioake was still playing and Fletcher was no longer coach.

Presumably backed by a 40 year old ex-Zimbab keeper and some Surrey players no one else has heard of... wink

With all this rain, this comp is starting to turn into a Twenty20 World Cup by default.

-- Edited by Golcar CC at 14:27, 2007-04-01

El Presidente · Disco Brad

There's something you don't see everyday. Brian Lara was just stumped by Sangakkara standing up to Chaminda Vaas. Amazing keeping. It's early doors yet, but I'm calling an easy Sri Lanka victory here. Good batting by Jayasuriya today too. Good side Sri Lanka, they should have beaten Sth Africa easily.

paichukka · ...Ding!

Brave call that Pres.

You'll be tipping the Aussies to make the semis next.

paichukka · ...Ding!

Windies owned. And utterly disjointed. England might even beat them.

Golcar CC · Bezalgo

It's a pity or shame (not a disgrace - see the cliche thread) to see W Indies effectively go out of the tournament and such a complete waste of a fantastic opportunity for cricket round the world, but most of all in the Caribbean.

Poorly located grounds, no shuttle buses or parking, corporate controls, security controls, killing off all the local spirit - people with not so much cash.

And then the unbelievably stupid schedule. Why set yourself to play Australia and Sri Lanka (plus a handy NZ) in your first three games - before another 17 DAYS with one game ...

It's as strange as a BBC Prime scheduling decision.

paichukka · ...Ding!

Black Caps just destroyed Bangla. Looked like they were on course for 400. Some good games to come I reckon.

El Presidente · Disco Brad

paichukka wrote:

Black Caps just destroyed Bangla. Looked like they were on course for 400. Some good games to come I reckon.

Yes, but they'll have no players left. They have already lost Vincent and Tuffey (OK no great loss for the latter) and Gillespie has been missing in action all tournament. Plus my "bunny" Ross Taylor (no I'll never get tired of telling that story - "RLTaylor bowled BJ Eve 0 for those who have temporarily forgotten) is still on the sidelines. Mason went off after 9 balls of bowling today. I don't think they are quite as strong as we think at the moment despite the ease of todays's win and the great form shown by the likes of Styris, Oram and a few others.

El Treasurorio · Senior Member

Taylor's rubbish; even I can get some runs against you!

joel · Findin' Fundin

Has anyone ever gone through a WC playing every game match but never batting?

Thinking that neither Anderson or future England no. 8 Monty Panesar have batted yet.

paichukka · ...Ding!

Maybe McGrath's done it. Ian Bell's trying to do it...

joel · Findin' Fundin

De Villiers (wasn't he a Sherlock Holmes villain?) falls in what could be an interesting 35 overs v Ireland.

joel · Findin' Fundin

Come on the Irish, let's have an SA choke to end all chokes.

El Presidente · Disco Brad

I don't want to sound all "Tony Greig" here, but I have been quite impressed with the Irish team. Sure, they aren't going to score big 300 plus totals and their bowling isn't terrifying, but they have been competive in the true meaning of the word in every match they've played. The keeper Nial O'Brien has been a rock and I've been very impressed with this guy Andrew WHite (who just took that catch.)

They have to invest in Ireland to keep it an ongoing concern. Kenya is a classic example of how to "kill a team on the up" (a team who made the semi-finals of the last world cup and played about 4 competive matches in the following 4 years and even had no domestic competition.

C'mon ICC. You've made a real hash of this World Cup (the actual matches itself the only bright spot), at least recognise that this Ireland experiment could really work with a bit of common sense and good management. I'm sure I'm not the only fan the Irish have made so far. Let's keep them involved at a high a level as possible.

El Presidente · Disco Brad

joel wrote:

Has anyone ever gone through a WC playing every game match but never batting?

Thinking that neither Anderson or future England no. 8 Monty Panesar have batted yet.

McGrath, Bracken and Tait have not been out to the middle yet with a bat in their hand, despite playing 5 matches each (so far). Monty and Anderson haven't batted in their 4 games. Every other player to play every match who is still in the competition has had at least one bat.

As for mr Chukka's harsh criticism of Ian Bell not having batted as well - very funny indeed. Can I ask him what he thought of Michael Vaughan's spell with the ball the other day? I thought he bowled very well actually and I know this is the only thing Mr Chukka rates about the top 3 for England. Vaughan's occasional comedy spinners.

-- Edited by El Presidente at 22:29, 2007-04-03