World Cup 2019

JGK wrote:What aare the stats about batting first in this tournament.  Seems like chasing has been very hard.

The pitches have been weird, roads for the first 30 overs or so, then they slow up and become tacky. The ICC deny having tried to influence the groundsmen, but the pitches have been quite unlike those served up in recent years for ODI's over here.

Basil wrote:

JGK wrote:What aare the stats about batting first in this tournament.  Seems like chasing has been very hard.

The pitches have been weird, roads for the first 30 overs or so, then they slow up and become tacky. The ICC deny having tried to influence the groundsmen, but the pitches have been quite unlike those served up in recent years for ODI's over here.

Yeah, I don’t know if it’s pitch preparation or just the effects of the really bad early summer weather we had. But it has made it near impossible for chasing sides.

In terms of the format, India should think themselves lucky that broadcasters insist on a format that guarantees them at least nine games.

Bizarrely, I wonder if it's time to roll the dice and choose to bowl first, it's partly cloudy and quite humid and you would have to think that Woakes would know what sort of length to bowl on his home pitch.

Bradman wrote:

taipan wrote:

Ronnie Sawyer wrote:

Bradman wrote:Good thing it's in England and not Oz.  Much easier to claim asylum.

Prove you're an enemy and you get in with little effort in UK now.  Even those who left to fight for ISIS have been given homes and food and money. They should have all been jailed for life. Or better still kept out for life.

True I tried to renew my UK passport last month and had endless shit

Why not get an EU passport and visa into the UK if worse comes to worsest.

They finally relented after I produced full birth certificates for my father and mother as well as their full marriage certificate and my expired passport

Well good, but I heard the EUs handing the things out all over the place, and if you ancestor into a UK passport visas in future wouldn't be a problem though EU visas might be.

Bradman wrote:Well good, but I heard the EUs handing the things out all over the place, and if you ancestor into a UK passport visas in future wouldn't be a problem though EU visas might be.

I have always been a UK passport holder

Reflecting - was that first semi-final the least expected result in the tournament?

Granted, England losing to a SL apparently on the wane was not widely predicted. But you're talking of a cricket team that has to lost a few to Ireland, Netherlands, BD when still weak, just about anyone in the last few years ... and SL (Mathews, Malinga in particular) have often been bugbears for England.

Granted, Paistn had some wacky results, win or lose. But again: that IS Pakistan ...

It's odd also because half the NZ team have barely functioned at all. Taylor at best in fits and starts, very out of sorts most of the time. Guptill having a nightmare tournament (with the bat) so far; no functioning opening partner (until, to an extent, this last match), Latham contributing very little with the bat either, and De Grandhomme looking decidedly average with both bat and ball.

Odd.

btw: Is anything happening today?

I think with their lack of resources the kiwis have always relied on guile, imagination and surprise to play above their weight in big tournaments and more than a few test series. Of course the surprise yesterday was that their bowler's were world class.

LOL, Oz 2/10 with both openers out.

Looks like an early night

Recovery on.

Shocking selection.

What does Stoinis bring to the table? Handy is tripe and Maxwell is a short ball bunny!!

Well that's  a charming scoreline to wake up to. Useless qunts control by a stubborn coach who insists on sticking with no-talents like NoShow & the Groin.

So Eng v NZ final then.

OMG that is an awful decision

Officially a hiding

So we have a first time winner...

We’d certainly have taken NZ as opponents but can take nothing for granted, their opening bowlers and Williamson can take a game away from you. But play like that again and it’s ours to lose, really.

Dad and i just had the most awesome day out. The atmosphere at the ground was amazing today from ball 1. First live cricket the old boy has seen in 17 years.
Eng-NZ final, perfect. Bring it on and yes we are both going as is my son.

India lost the fewest matches in the world cup. Moral winners, if anyone has a claim...

Should have guessed it would be an England v NZ final once Chappelli predicted it would be Oz v India.

Comprehensive win to the Poms.

Australia haven’t won at Edgbaston in any format since 2001

Australia’s selectors sealed their fate

And Warner falls one run short of Rohit in the race for the Golden Bat, or whatever it’s called (I assume there’s no third place match?) Root or Williamson could still snatch the title with a century in the final.

Geez what a pissweak effort all round by Aus. Saved our worst for last.

Glad I was out sightseeing all day.

Congrats to England.