World Cup 2011 (II)

Happily, this time the usual Saffie choke hasn't resulted in them being tragi-comically bundled out of the tournament.

Although, if Taips' view of the world is correct, that choke is still to happen.

JGK wrote:Happily, this time the usual Saffie choke hasn't resulted in them being tragi-comically bundled out of the tournament.

Although, if Taips' view of the world is correct, that choke is still to happen.

JGK has I have said we will lucky to make it through the quarters

Oh come on Taips, South African have arguably the best attack and the best top six in the tournament. They should do a lot better than be knocked out in the quarters.

"When I was 18, I would be excited about watching the world’s leading cricketers on television. If I had trapped two of them lbw in a World Cup match, I think I would have exploded. That is, of course, a big ‘if’. A very big ‘if’. So congratulations to George Dockrell not only for tweaking Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni back to the pavilion, but for not combusting on the spot.

When Sachin made his World Cup debut, Dockrell was still working out how to make the ball grip and turn in amniotic fluid. I do not know anything about Mr and Mrs Dockrell’s courtship, but it is possible that his parents had not even met when the Mumbai Master played his first international. Which says a great deal both for Dockrell, and for Tendulkar. "


zaltz

fk was that?

horace wrote:kennies on top against the cannies

Not ny more they're not.

taipan wrote:

vilkrang wrote:I think this article nicely sums up why the SA performance was a choke. The first comment also perfectly describes taips:

"Not every close defeat is a choke, but some people are now so (understandably) sick of the overused ‘choking Saffers’ tag they seem to have gone completely the other way and drawn the false conclusion that every close defeat is not a choke.

The Saffers choked today. Twice."

Vilks I predicted long before the tournament started that the SA tail was far too long and the incorrect players picked. If you still want to view it as a choke, so be it.

What would be your team ?

Only A Morkel seems to be an obvious omission who could have possibly strengthened this team.

Cannies cane the Kennies.

Kenya believe that?

Well done to the mighty moose maulers.

KP crocks again in a major tournament (cf. Ashes '09). At least this ensures that Bops is guaranteed a place for as long as England lasts in the competition (although his innings yesterday also went a long way to ensuring that too) as well as the recall of Morgan.

However once again the batting order has to be rejigged. Who will open with Strauss - Bops? Trott? Bell? Prior? It seems Bops is the favourite although Trott has proved the Mr Reliable of England's batting order so far and I think there is a strong argument for him being pushed up 1 place while Bell fills the No.3 spot.

KP is in danger of going the Freddie route and becoming an occasional international player giving only glimpses of his glory days before retiring prematurely. Although hernias can be repaired far more efficiently nowadays KP will need to give some indication of form before reentering the international arena. Which fc side, if any, is he attached to next season - I Zingari? (if they are still in existence) . In the wake of Collingwood's retirement from Tests England's middle order next season increasingly looks like consisting of Trott, Bell, Bopara and Morgan which is no bad thing imo.

Surrey.

Did he not just average 60 in the Ashes?

"Crocks again in a major tournament" - ave 55 in the last WC, Player of the Tournament at the World T20.

As far as I can tell, the only "major tournament" he's missed through injury is the 09 Ashes which he came into with a bad Achilles.

Henry wrote:

Batman wrote:So Peiterson out of the WC. Just when England started showing some dangerous streak......

He averages 23 in his last 30 ODIs. Based on form it's a blessing in disguise.

Unfairly selective stats, as he was rightly dropped for his poor form. Seems a bit disingenuous to then continue to judge him for failings which he has already been held to account for. If he scored three hundreds in his next six games, his "last 30 ODIs" record would still look mediocre.

Since his recall in Australia, he's averaged a not-special 32. But to put it in context, Ian Bell has averaged 31 from that point. Paul Collingwood @ 20. Eoin Morgan and Matt Prior just 18.

Which makes Pietsersen, in spite of not pulling up any trees, England's third best ODI bat this winter after Trott and Strauss.

Ian 'in the form of his life' Bell

So ... open with Strauss and Tredwell?

Fair do's, Dell. You make an excellent case for the defence and I absolve KP of any wrongdoing. There is no doubt that England will feel his absence. No one, least of all me, would suggest that KP is an insignificant player. With Colly's retirement from Tests probably only he, Swann and Broad are automatic choices for the England side in all three forms of the game.

There is no doubt that his absence will be a blow for England particularly as the decision to open with him seemed to make for a more flexible middle order and ended the ghastly experiment, at least for the time being, of having wicketkeeper-openers whether it be Prior, Davies or, previously, Mustard as a means of hearking back to the Alec Stewart-era.

Yes, KP was the Man of the Series in the World T20 as he reminded his Twitter fans when he was dropped from the ODI side last season. He struggled to find form after returning to the side following his Achilles injury and only averaged 25.29 against the Saffies last winter despite a reasonable performance in the opening Test. He himself admitted that he only Test.came back to something like his old self in the Ashes after putting in the hard yards of practice on his own account in South Africa.

Watching him in the WC it seemed to me that we were awaiting a big score from him which he appeared to be saving for the later stages which makes his injury that much more disappointing for both himself and cricket fans everywhere. I wonder if Strauss' decision to bowl him on Sunday played a part in the injury or would he have had to withdraw anyway? It certainly seems to have forced the issue.

Although the analogy between Freddie and KP may have been a slightly false one I think the expectation placed upon them at international level is similar and I think both find, or found, it a heavy burden to carry. I hope you're right about Surrey although I recall that when he played for them a couple of times last season they denied it was part of a regular arrangement but I have obviously missed something. I hope the Chocs give him a good workout, especially at the beginning of next season, post-operative recovery permitting, as he could learn a lot from Ramps as to how to make lots of runs in fc matches even if they don't matter all that much.

JKLever wrote:Ian 'in the form of his life' Bell

That's the boy. Gets more cringe-worthy every time it gets doled out. Just before he meekly chips one back to the bowler...

Allan D wrote:Fair do's, Dell. You make an excellent case for the defence and I absolve KP of any wrongdoing. There is no doubt that England will feel his absence. No one, least of all me, would suggest that KP is an insignificant player. With Colly's retirement from Tests probably only he, Swann and Broad are automatic choices for the England side in all three forms of the game.

There is no doubt that his absence will be a blow for England particularly as the decision to open with him seemed to make for a more flexible middle order and ended the ghastly experiment, at least for the time being, of having wicketkeeper-openers whether it be Prior, Davies or, previously, Mustard as a means of hearking back to the Alec Stewart-era.

Yes, KP was the Man of the Series in the World T20 as he reminded his Twitter fans when he was dropped from the ODI side last season. He struggled to find form after returning to the side following his Achilles injury and only averaged 25.29 against the Saffies last winter despite a reasonable performance in the opening Test. He himself admitted that he only Test.came back to something like his old self in the Ashes after putting in the hard yards of practice on his own account in South Africa.

Watching him in the WC it seemed to me that we were awaiting a big score from him which he appeared to be saving for the later stages which makes his injury that much more disappointing for both himself and cricket fans everywhere. I wonder if Strauss' decision to bowl him on Sunday played a part in the injury or would he have had to withdraw anyway? It certainly seems to have forced the issue.

Although the analogy between Freddie and KP may have been a slightly false one I think the expectation placed upon them at international level is similar and I think both find, or found, it a heavy burden to carry. I hope you're right about Surrey although I recall that when he played for them a couple of times last season they denied it was part of a regular arrangement but I have obviously missed something. I hope the Chocs give him a good workout, especially at the beginning of next season, post-operative recovery permitting, as he could learn a lot from Ramps as to how to make lots of runs in fc matches even if they don't matter all that much.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/counties/surrey/9214983.stm

One of those stories that flew under the radar in amongst the Ashes hype.

Well, Kenya have one more chance to win a match, and that will be against Zimbabwe but on form I think the Zims will win.

Kenya have gone way backwards since 2003. Shame really.

And Lordy we need more games like the Eng v SAf game. This tournament has been the epitome of tedium so far. Finding it hard to find any enthusiasm for the Sheep v Wacksters game tonight.

skully wrote:Kenya have gone way backwards since 2003. Shame really.

And Lordy we need more games like the Eng v SAf game. This tournament has been the epitome of tedium so far. Finding it hard to find any enthusiasm for the Sheep v Wacksters game tonight.

Gus like sageness. WTF is Australia only playing one game a week?

Surely they can play 2 games each day

You see, Skulls - you need us.

Never a dull moment - well, never a dull ending - in a Pom game.

skully wrote:Kenya have gone way backwards since 2003. Shame really.

And Lordy we need more games like the Eng v SAf game. This tournament has been the epitome of tedium so far. Finding it hard to find any enthusiasm for the Sheep v Wacksters game tonight.

The Snooze v The Sleaze.

Neither thrilling nor edifying in itself.

Could be a close tussle though.

PeterCS wrote:You see, Skulls - you need us.

Never a dull moment - well, never a dull ending - in a Pom game.

Aye Pete. A thoroughly enjoyable outing between your boys and the Dopey Hairybacks.

even the Nouveau - English Hairybacks choke when they play South Africa.

Must be like coming home ...