World Cup 2011 (III)

Hard to pick which of these teams could win three in a row at the mo. SA on paper I spose and a SA/Pak final would be a punter's nightmare (coin toss time).

AUS/NZ could be the omen given recent events and give the whole thing a feel good factor.

In reality it'll probably be PAK/SA as IND will probably beat Oz and I can't see Pak throwing a game against India.

Nath wrote:NZ should be slightly more of the outsiders than the Windies

The Windies haven't beaten a non-minnow since June 2009

Bradman wrote:Hard to pick which of these teams could win three in a row at the mo. SA on paper I spose and a SA/Pak final would be a punter's nightmare (coin toss time).

Pakistan can't win 3 in a row against the best opposition without an Imran, the snoozers, (those admirable over achievers) might fuddle through two, with the tide and breeze from the right direction the Windies & England may just jag one, Australia and Sri Lanka may just have enough talent or chuckers to win two, leaving India & the japies as the only sides that can win all three.

Somehow I think 2011 will be the WC year of the chokers, the Proteas & the Blecks.

Brass Monkey wrote:Well, they have a couple of bowlers who can bowl at a lick - OK they aren't the big whizzcheese yet but it's like saying England haven't got Alfred Mynn and Aus haven't got Spofforth. Doesn't mean they're the shittest IMO.

I see definite signs of recovery in the Windies - they could be a force again in two or three years, provided they have some decent leadership on and off the field.

NZ have had their moments in the tournament so far.

Should've given the bowling highlights for the group round as well:

Best bowling Roach v Netherlands 6/27
Best bowling versus a major team Bresnan v India 5/48
Best bowling by a member of a minor team Shafiul Islam v Ireland 4/21
Best bowling by a minor versus a major, Mpofu v Sri Lanka 4/62

Most wickets Afridi 17
Most wicket by a member of a minor team, Baidwan 13

Best average (min qual 5 wickets) Imran Tahir 12 @9.83
Best average by a member of a minor team, Price 9 @ 18.77

Best economy rate (min qual 5 overs) Mendis 2.84 rpo
Best economy rate by a member of a minor team Shuvo 3.3 rpo

Best SR (min qual 5 wickets) Imran Tahir 15.2
Best SR by a member of a minor team, Mpofu 23.1

Most 4fors Afridi 3

Midge to 'target Sehwag's ribcage' apparently. Wonder where the ball will actually end up.

Still, Aussies to win this easily. India has lost their last four games at the ground.

Henry Nolonga wrote:Midge to 'target Sehwag's ribcage' apparently. Wonder where the ball will actually end up.

Still, Aussies to win this easily. India has lost their last four games at the ground.

Would be good. Or the opposite would be good.

God I'm looking forward to this match.

Ha, look at them trying to reverse woof each other!

Henry Nolonga wrote:Midge to 'target Sehwag's ribcage' apparently. Wonder where the ball will actually end up.

Still, Aussies to win this easily. India has lost their last four games at the ground.

will probably be a beamer, and he'll be pulled from the attack

Puke Shite being interviewed on Sky, says that "Andy Flower likes to prepare players for the type of bowling they're going to face"... camera cuts to someone "chucking" one down in the nets

England of course will be the last team to require preparation for that particular opposition bowler...

beamer wrote:Puke Shite being interviewed on Sky, says that "Andy Flower likes to prepare players for the type of bowling they're going to face"... camera cuts to someone "chucking" one down in the nets

..

That's media gold

Calamitous exit for the boys from the Caribe'.

Absolutely marooned.

All good work down the pan.

What they need is clearly someone to overhaul and revitalise the sport in the Islands. A billionaire, say, with oodles of cash to throw at the game.

Yardy leaving, has depression
http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/content/story/507748.html

Thanks Red.

Nath wrote:Yardy leaving, has depression
http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/content/story/507748.html

Ah, you beat me to the punch.

And Old Father Collingwood needs a new knee (or an operation or something) - it's carnage out there in the England camp. Who's still standing? Is Andy Flower eligible to play yet? Did Goochie bring his pads?

Nice cupcakes Dell.

It might just be because I've been concentrating on England games more than others, but this world cup hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be, prefer it to the 2007 one at the moment.

vilkrang wrote:It might just be because I've been concentrating on England games more than others, but this world cup hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be, prefer it to the 2007 one at the moment.

Absolutely. Mainly due to England's craziness and unpredictability, this has been the best World Cup since 1996. And the crowds have been pretty good for all matches- even matches not involving the host nations (Pak v Aus the other night at Colombo was watched by around 25,000 people at the ground) thanks to low ticket prices, so full marks to the ICC/BCCI there.

In a non-cricketing sense it's much better than 2007 (poor crowds and atmosphere, not to mention the Woolmer saga) and 2003 (Zimbabwe and Kenya and the boycotts etc.) - in terms of on-field matters, the format didn't give it the best chance but thanks to England's determination to make every match a cliffhanger we've had some drama in the groups even if we had a lot of one-sided crap and minnow-bashing and the eight teams they clearly wanted to go through all did so. Straight to semis would have been better, although would have produced more dead rubbers between teams already out I guess.

Also the weather has helped, with only one heavily affected match. Let's hope we have a classic semi or final to define the competition.

beamer wrote:In a non-cricketing sense it's much better than 2007 (poor crowds and atmosphere, not to mention the Woolmer saga) and 2003 (Zimbabwe and Kenya and the boycotts etc.) - in terms of on-field matters, the format didn't give it the best chance but thanks to England's determination to make every match a cliffhanger we've had some drama in the groups even if we had a lot of one-sided crap and minnow-bashing and the eight teams they clearly wanted to go through all did so. Straight to semis would have been better, although would have produced more dead rubbers between teams already out I guess.

Also the weather has helped, with only one heavily affected match. Let's hope we have a classic semi or final to define the competition.

At least it was a case of every quarterfinal team could beat every other on a good day - and yes, even if England go out on Saturday, their fans will have had enough excitement for their money.