ICC Cricket World Cup 2011

[amolbhatia50k]

Yes, inexplicable indeed. The whole model of WI cricket needs to be questioned. But then again, we're talking about the age of 20-20 cricket, why would these players slog the whole year round to play in alien/toiling conditions whereas they can slog nicely in T-20 game for a couple of hrs, and collect a bigger paycheck.

Playing spin is just one of the glaring problems in WI cricket. I might be wrong, but to me, they dont even look arsed to improve their ways which if true is the biggest problem of all.

That's the big problem. Application is the key issue.

Lesser teams are applying themselves and not disgracing themselves like the Windies are.

As for the T20 thing, well, this is International cricket. You're playing for your country. The IPL and T20 will never match it in terms of importance and honor. One shouldn't need a reason to want to perform at the highest level. Besides, it's also your profession. You should want to be the best you can at what you do, rather than have people questioning your commitment and ability.

 

[JayWalker]

That's the big problem. Application is the key issue.

Lesser teams are applying themselves and not disgracing themselves like the Windies are.

As for the T20 thing, well, this is International cricket. You're playing for your country. The IPL and T20 will never match it in terms of importance and honor. One shouldn't need a reason to want to perform at the highest level. Besides, it's also your profession. You should want to be the best you can at what you do, rather than have people questioning your commitment and ability.

Yes it is. Lack of application and sincerity towards the cause.

In principle, yes. National pride is everything if not personal commitment. But not everyone thinks like that unfortunately. Symonds started the trend and plenty will follow suit, its just how it is. Ability is not the question, these players have it in them to perform much better, lets take Gayle for example, he's virtually undroppable from the WI team and wont be even after this shambles of a tournament, so he's safe in terms of international cricket but if he fails in the IPL or something, he knows he's in danger of not pocketting that big paycheck, so the need to perform comes in all the more. It shouldnt in principle as I said, but I'm quite sure it does.

I remember watching a WI game which was supposed to be going on simultaneously with an IPL auction. The whole time Gayle seemed only interested in knowing what price he went for. Hell, even the network covering the event were more interested in that than what was going on on the field.

 

[Tumbling-Dice]

Just caught the WI total but haven't watched the game yet.

Poor batting or excellent bowling ?

 

[Red Pavan]

Just caught the WI total but haven't watched the game yet.

Poor batting or excellent bowling ?

West Indies won the toss and decided to bat.. make of this what you will.

 

[Sultan]

This performance was a combination of abject batting, application and a lack of ability. However, as much as Windies were bad a lot of credit has to go the Pakistan team and it's high class bowling performance. This despite all the odds of a nation who cannot play cricket in their own back yard and losing their best bowlers in the betting scandal.

 

[ha_rooney]

Only caught the highlights and it was excellent from Pakistan but what were the Windies doing, they had no clue how to play the spinners. Awful from their batsmen.

 

[Sultan]

Just caught the WI total but haven't watched the game yet.

Poor batting or excellent bowling ?

No ability playing spin.

 

[Tumbling-Dice]

Cheers lads.

I just stuck on Radio 4 whilst I had my sandwiches. Pakistan are making short work of chasing the WI total, they're almost halfway there after 5 overs.

 

[ha_rooney]

Very easy win for Pakistan & they cruise into the semis. Terrific performance.

The openers played very well and about time they got runs together, Hafeez was very good. The spinners were excellent, the Windies were clueless.

 

[zing]

Sehwag may not play tomorrow. We'll go out if he doesn't.

Annoying how he gets injured always during the major tournaments.

 

[zing]

Cricket

Holy shit. Look at the articles down the page. They're really laying into him. I hope he doesn't make them eat humble pie tomorrow.

 

[Sultan]

India have a much better team than the Aussies. You're probably fearing Australia by it's past reputation.

 

[Neutral]

Cricket

Holy shit. Look at the articles down the page. They're really laying into him. I hope he doesn't make them eat humble pie tomorrow.

He'll be gone after the WC, he has absolutely no one left in his corner...but his replacement Clarke is much the same.

Regardless, Cricket Australia failed to do justice to Ponting as captain, and he'll take the fall for it, but they need to take a good look at themselves. We heard for years, they would make sure, there wouldn't be a complete rebuild required...yet the replacements have been mediocre at best.

The talent coming through is simply not good enough, by that I mean for international cricket, let alone the players they are replacing.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

India have a much better team than the Aussies. You're probably fearing Australia by it's past reputation.

For all our improvements out bowling has been rubbish in this tournament so the fear comes because:

a) We are quite clearly not at our best.

b) This is Australia. No matter how average they are today, they play hard and will always give a good fight.

 

[zing]

For all our improvements out bowling has been rubbish in this tournament so the fear comes because:

a) We are quite clearly not at our best.

b) This is Australia. No matter how average they are today, they play hard and will always give a good fight.

yes, agreed.

I'm very nervous.

Also, c) form temporary, class permanent.. Ponting, Clarke, White can't all forget to play cricket overnight.. one of them could play a blinder and we'd be out of it. White always plays well against us.

 

[Sultan]

I understand anything can happen on the day. However, India's batting even without the mercurial Sehwag is so much better than of Australia. Although the weakest part of the team I'd say even our bowling is superior to the Aussies. The only aspect of their game which is better is fielding.

Aussies are a spent force and have lost their invincibility.

 

[Sultan]

The biggest risk to an Indian victory is the crowds expectations, and Indian batsmen trying to play to the crowds wishes.

 

[Rams]

Aussies are a spent force and have lost their invincibility.

I hope for India's sake Brett Lee isn't reading this. I think Australia are a completly different ODI team to the test team. They're still the team to beat in ODI.

Back to today's game. A bit predictable really Pakistan have slowy been getting better whilst the Windies have been going to other way. I'm not convinced though that Pakinstan will be able to beat either India or the Ozzies though. But they are so unpredictable and could even go on to win the WC...

 

[amolbhatia50k]

yes, agreed.

I'm very nervous.

Also, c) form temporary, class permanent.. Ponting, Clarke, White can't all forget to play cricket overnight.. one of them could play a blinder and we'd be out of it. White always plays well against us.

Not so sure about the class. We have a lot more than them. Overall quality is much more. More worried about temporary form on the day.

 

[Sultan]

I hope for India's sake Brett Lee isn't reading this. I think Australia are a completly different ODI team to the test team. They're still the team to beat in ODI.

Back to today's game. A bit predictable really Pakistan have slowy been getting better whilst the Windies have been going to other way. I'm not convinced though that Pakinstan will be able to beat either India or the Ozzies though. But they are so unpredictable and could even go on to win the WC...

Can't see any Aussie quicks causing a problem mate. Conditions do not suit their bowling. Look at the top wicket taking bowlers in this tournament - they're all form the Sub-Continent. They don't even have a decent spinner in their squad.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

I understand anything can happen on the day. However, India's batting even without the mercurial Sehwag is so much better than of Australia. Although the weakest part of the team I'd say even our bowling is superior to the Aussies. The only aspect of their game which is better is fielding.

Aussies are a spent force and have lost their invincibility.

No doubt. That's why even though I can see us losing, I don't think they can win the competition.

 

[Rams]

Can't see any Aussie quicks causing a problem mate. Conditions do not suit their bowling. Look at the top wicket taking bowlers in this tournament - they're all form the Sub-Continent. They don't even have a decent spinner in their squad.

Lee, Tait & Johnson all bowl 90mph+, so you better makes sure you've middled it when you are going for your shots. This is different to test cricket where as a batsman you can be patient and wait for the bad ball. None of those trio are renown swingbowlers btw. They don't have a decent spinner, but they do have very good ODI batsman and bat all the way down to no.10.
I'm not saying India can't win tomorrow, but I'd say that as a unit the Ozzies are the slightly better ODI side.

 

[crappycraperson]

We have faced Lee plenty of times. He has done well against us but I do not think any of our batsmen will necessarily fear him. I think up top, we will definitely try to take on Tait, Lee and Johnson. If we succeed, we can potentially run away with the game because I do not think their spinners will be making much of an impact against us.

I fear only Watson and Hussey in their line up. Of course Pointing has the class to turn it on and turn a game on his own.

 

[Sultan]

Lee, Tait & Johnson all bowl 90mph+, so you better makes sure you've middled it when you are going for your shots. This is different to test cricket where as a batsman you can be patient and wait for the bad ball. None of those trio are renown swingbowlers btw. They don't have a decent spinner, but they do have very good ODI batsman and bat all the way down to no.10.
I'm not saying India can't win tomorrow, but I'd say that as a unit the Ozzies are the slightly better ODI side.

Watson, Tait and Johnson have been pretty ineffective in the WC. Only Lee has done the business. All their batsmen have been mostly average.

See WC stats

 

[crappycraperson]

Lee, Tait & Johnson all bowl 90mph+, so you better makes sure you've middled it when you are going for your shots. This is different to test cricket where as a batsman you can be patient and wait for the bad ball. None of those trio are renown swingbowlers btw. They don't have a decent spinner, but they do have very good ODI batsman and bat all the way down to no.10.
I'm not saying India can't win tomorrow, but I'd say that as a unit the Ozzies are the slightly better ODI side.

Tait is not a very good bowler. Rewind 8 years back and he won't even be in contention of a place in the Oz squad let alone first 11. (He will probably take a fiver tomorrow now..)

Johnson's way inconsistent to succeed in ODIs IMO. But on a good day, he is very handy.

I do not think Oz are a better ODI side to us despite what the ranking might say, especially taking into account an off colour Pointing. With him at his best, they might have a case.

 

[Sultan]

We have faced Lee plenty of times. He has done well against us but I do not think any of our batsmen will necessarily fear him. I think up top, we will definitely try to take on Tait, Lee and Johnson. If we succeed, we can potentially run away with the game because I do not think their spinners will be making much of an impact against us.

I fear only Watson and Hussey in their line up. Of course Pointing has the class to turn it on and turn a game on his own.

Pontings last WC game and his last as Aussie captain.

 

[Rams]

You guys really underestimate the Ozzie. They are still a very strong ODI side and they are only 3-4 players away from being the best test side in the world so I wouldn't write them off just yet. As they say: don't believe the hype.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

You guys really underestimate the Ozzie. They are still a very strong ODI side and they are only 3-4 players away from being the best test side in the world so I wouldn't write them off just yet. As they say: don't believe the hype.

Well there are two people confident and two people nervous, which is about apt I'd say.

 

[crappycraperson]

No one is writing them off. If they beat us, it won't be any kind of upset. Tomorrow match is very much 50-50 and very tough to call either way.

Disagree about them being 3-4 players from being no.1 test side in the world. India, SA and England are way ahead of them right now. They are struggling to get a opening partnership going, Pointing may not have a last renaissance ala Sachin, Hussey is old, no other talented lower order batsmen in sight, not even a competent spinner and even struggling to assemble a proper pace line up. That's way too many problems for them to sort out soon.

 

[Rams]

Well there are two people confident and two people nervous, which is about apt I'd say.

It will be very close I reckon and should be a cracker. It could well be down to the toss!

 

[Spoony]

Their bowling attack is very good. Where's the match being played? and what type of wicket will it be? It's going to be a cracker. And I didn't give the Windies a prayer...but even I didn't expect that.

 

[Rams]

No one is writing them off. If they beat us, it won't be any kind of upset. Tomorrow match is very much 50-50 and very tough to call either way.

Disagree about them being 3-4 players from being no.1 test side in the world. India, SA and England are way ahead of them right now. They are struggling to get a opening partnership going, Pointing may not have a last renaissance ala Sachin, Hussey is old, no other talented lower order batsmen in sight, not even a competent spinner and even struggling to assemble a proper pace line up. That's way too many problems for them to sort out soon.

Give them 1 of each of a spinner, fast bowler and top order batsman and they'll be back on the top of their annoying perch I'm affraid. And God knows what will be coming through their youth ranks in the next few years. The problem with the Ozzies is that they are the best country in the World at sports, even better than the Yanks

 

[crappycraperson]

Give them 1 of each of a spinner, fast bowler and top order batsman and they'll be back on the top of their annoying perch I'm affraid. And God knows what will be coming through their youth ranks in the next few years. The problem with the Ozzies is that they are the best country in the World at sports, even better than the Yanks

Nah.. read some of the blogs by clued up Oz cricket writers. For first time in ages, CA have left the ball drop. They do not have ready made replacements to step in.

Plus it is not as simple to say that give them 4 top class players and they will be best. Several sides over the years could have that applied to them as well.

 

[Spoony]

Give them 1 of each of a spinner, fast bowler and top order batsman and they'll be back on the top of their annoying perch I'm affraid. And God knows what will be coming through their youth ranks in the next few years. The problem with the Ozzies is that they are the best country in the World at sports, even better than the Yanks

Yeah per head of population they're as good as any nation. As for their cricket team...I think their batting's a bit ropey thesedays, though.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

It will be very close I reckon and should be a cracker. It could well be down to the toss!

Oh I've predicted an Aussie win. I don't like this Indian team in the field. Our bowling attack doesn't seems to have lost all potency. Maybe tomorrow will prove me wrong.

But I disagree about the Aussie dominance. Whether they win this tournament (which I don't think they will) or not, their period of dominance is well and truly over IMO. You can say they are three or four players away from being this or that, but I disagree. I think teams like India and South Africa have more quality coming through the ranks and are already ahead in terms of ability.

I don't know whether that will be reflected in this tournament. But in general they are well of their perch. There's a reason we are the number one test team in the world. And it isn't because we're the greatest team in the history of the sport. But rather we're a good one and they've severely fallen.

Having said that, forget about dominance and greatness, they are great competitors always and for that reason alone in a quarter final tournament have a chance.

 

[Rams]

Nah.. read some of the blogs by clued up Oz cricket writers. For first time in ages, CA have left the ball drop. They do not have ready made replacements to step in.

Plus it is not as simple to say that give them 4 top class players and they will be best. Several sides over the years could have that applied to them as well.

Knowing the Ozzies they will sort it out in no time and will be back to their winning ways. That's what happened in the past and it will happen again. The Ozzies are drama queens like the English so don't take too much motice of what the writers say, they'll sort it.

 

[Rams]

Yeah per head of population they're as good as any nation. As for their cricket team...I think their batting's a bit ropey thesedays, though.

They all play too much limited overs cricket nowadays (w.e.o. England who typically have spent 40 years trying to sort out their county system & youth coaching, but finally seem to have cracked it. Lets hope football follows suit, it's been almost 50 years with that.)

 

[Spoony]

What's their secret? good weather? according to Wiki 25% of the population participates in sports.

 

[zing]

Nah.. read some of the blogs by clued up Oz cricket writers. For first time in ages, CA have left the ball drop. They do not have ready made replacements to step in.

Plus it is not as simple to say that give them 4 top class players and they will be best. Several sides over the years could have that applied to them as well.

They don't have ready made replacements, but they have potentially very good players. Usman Khawaja, Callum Ferguson, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine are ones I've seen who I think are going to be really good. They have an all-rounder Mitchell Marsh who is supposed to be very good, although I've seen him only a couple of times. Their fast bowling is in good health. Plenty of young fast bowlers like Siddle, Pattinson, Starc, Hazlewood. Spin is a massive problem, though. They don't have anyone. All the ones they've tried like Krejza, Doherty, Hauritz and the ones likes Beer, O'keefe, all look very, very ordinary and would get outbowled by Yuvraj.

Australia's problems aren't as bad as they're being made out to be. And their opening pair is class, Katich and Watson..

Tomorrow's match is going to be all about who turns up. If Sehwag's fit and we play to our potential, I think we will win. Tait and Johnson are erratic, if they have off-days, it could go very badly for them, but when they're good, they're really good purely because of the aggression they bring. If we take Johnson or Tait to the cleaners, I'd fancy us because it leaves them with more or less only 2 obwlers. Krejza is very ordinary and Watson as a 5th bowler just doesn't cut it any more.

 

[KM]

Hugely nervous about tommorow's game tbh, our bowling has improved in the last two matches so hopefully we could do something about that. Personally I think we should drop Pathan and play Raina, if everyone's fit, this would be my team

Sachin
Sehwag
Gambhir
Kohli
Yuvraj
Raina
Dhoni
Ashwin
Harbhajan
Zaheer
Munaf