World Cup 2015

First topic message reminder :

Warm Up game between Ind and Aus ongoing...
it's an official ODI...though after so much cricket why do these sides need a "warm-up"

India's bowling in melt-down and the two most dangerous guys in Aus side Warner and Maxwell get 100s

Looks like Ind will be chasing 375

Very interested in Naveed's exaggerated wrist coc.k at as he bowls. Never seen it by a bowler I've worked with. Ostensibly, he should be able to gain an extra yard or two of pace, but I can't imagine his ligaments are going to be in agreement in a few years.

Oh Maan......woke up and saw the score card.......looks like UAE are on course for an upset

Or can Zim chase down 6.5 RPO for last 18.......with 6 in hand

I would think they can.....let's see

The Zimbabwe bowling wasn't crash hot and allowed UAE to take some advantage and post that sizeable score.

No need to panic (unless you support UAE)... Zim have this pretty much in control if they don't lose a few more wickets.

23 runs required off the last 4, still 4 wickets in hand.

Very good knock from Williams. He's a neat cricketer all round.

Is it my imagination or are the pitches for the most part run meccas?

part time workers form UAE..... from Ind and Pak....good university and club cricketers in their teens...now 30+ get a chance to play higher level of cricket...... ran on adrenalin for very long...about 80 over in the game....but then the professional/ organized and long been international side Zim took over and covered quite well.

Well played UAE...but I am not convinced with their system....they have zero home grown players...no FC system....little interest that UAE nationals have in cricket....ain't going anywhere UAE side

There could be some major disruptions to the Australia-Bangladesh game on Saturday.

Due to the onset of Tropical Cyclone Marcia (was Category 3... now upgraded to Cat 4) we might be looking at at 20-over a side match at best.

Even with the most advanced drainage system in place at the Gabba there is no way they could play when over 300mm of rain is expected to fall (in 24 hours) along with 120-160 km/h winds... gusting up to 225 km/h. It will lose power when it crosses the coast but the system will drag lots of moisture in off the southern part of the Coral Sea.

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml

Doesn't look good. (also another huge one - TC Lam is currently hitting the NT... luckily there are no matches up there.)

well if BD can escape with shared points vs Aus.....then it does improve their chances of qualification

KP_fan wrote:well if BD can escape with shared points vs Aus.....then it does improve their chances of qualification

Or a win if it turns into a T20 - the fewer overs, the much greater chance of an upset

The population in the UAE is made up almost entirely of immigrants, so it is not unreasonable that their cricket team reflects this IMO.

Anyway good showing by the associates so far... in fact of all the matches they (and Zimbabwe) have been involved in the only ones you could remotely call "competitive". Wonder what egg feels like on the face of Dave "only 8 competitive teams" Richardson.

We need public support on the side of the associates to stop the 2019 WC becoming a 10-team event (aside from anything, the idea of a round-robin opening round where all the 10 teams play each other will lead to a plethora of entirely meaningless matches and players going through the motions).

Anything that needs to be signed, I'm quite willing to (and champion it's cause locally). Just genuinely feel that the Assocs are finally beginning to be consistently competitive.

Mike Selig wrote:
Anyway good showing by the associates so far... in fact of all the matches they (and Zimbabwe) have been involved in the only ones you could remotely call "competitive". Wonder what egg feels like on the face of Dave "only 8 competitive teams" Richardson.

Richardson is a secretary to be honest acting on behalf of the BIG-3 who call the shots in ICC.......or a Director / CEO if you want to be kind but that doesn't change his level of autonomy....so he can't be blamed.
It's the powers who run the game and measure the viability on the scale of economic returns, that make the call.

Yes we should encourage the associates...but giving 2 additional seats in world-cup is not the only way of showing support and certainly not the best way towards sustainable development. World cup appears once in 4 years...what about the in between 4 years

the top 4 ( or even 6 ) associate sides should be offered space on the FTP or whatever the next 5 year schedule of the regular nations is called.

and each one should get about 10 ODIs and about 5 unofficial tests ( or A tours) against regular nations. This will give them exposure, sustainable development, some revenues from TV rights of thee games...and will allow them to compete and build their ODI rankings....

It is very likely for example..... IRE and Zim might displace WI and BD from the top-10 based on the talent, commitment and and regular exposure.....
This is a more sustainable model In My View.

Huge game for England tonight. For me, the black caps are my favourites for the semi's and possibly the final and will be a tough team to beat, especially with the strength of their new ball bowlers up front. Can see Ali falling early if the new ball is moving. As Morgan said in his press conference, senior players need to step up in games such as this, including himself who if he get's a score can really kick start his world cup and could lead England possibly to the latter stages, he's that important.

I think we will cause an upset. I can see it. I think we have a serious mental issue against Oz- but i think we are not as bad as we potray on here.

i agree myst, can't see anyone beating oz

Jos Buttler 79 ball hundred leads us to victory. Called it

Think this will be a bit of a struggle for gallant old England.

New Zealand are at home, in-form, and have won their opening two games. They have found their stride, the early pressure has abated somewhat - what with them already having one foot in the quarter-finals - and...England?

Well on the positive side, the English team is starting to settle. But finding a rhythm is another matter entirely. Our noble lads will need at least one player to conjure up some magical form if we are to dislodge the Kiwis.

It is all hope rather than expectation; still, even if England lose, their path to the knockout stages should still be relatively unobstructed.

c'mon England!!!

Yes, where were my manners? Let us go once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikynTH9oJg8

Come on England!

Yes there's the duty we know and love! *belts out Jerusalem*

Win the toss, bowl first, get Anderson/Woakes hooping it round corners, inevitable lower order revival, 143 all out, Anderson 5-31, Woakes 3-34, end up 49-5, knock it off 8 down, Taylor 63*, put your house on it.

Stage 1 complete! Batting first though, didn't realise it was at Westpac. Pitch sounds like it is going to be flat.

England are batting first!

I've forgotten which one we are crap at - chasing or setting - so I'll settle for some quiet optimism. Make 280+ and the job's a good 'un. #trustintaylor

Taylor still at six. It's only February, and it is England but they'll struggle to top that baffling selection

Come on Super Mo, your time is now.

That ball is moving . The one time we choose to bat first!!!

Shane Warne, Ian botham and Ian Smith on commentary together.

SAVE MY EARS SOMEBODY

How in Christ's name is Southee only 26?! He's been around for years!

Some classic Warne here suggesting that Bopara should bat 3/4 with Taylor and Root being the best English batsmen who's best positions are 3 and 4.

Jesus, he's winding me up. Tiredness and Warne are not a good combo. I actually like Bopara's bowling, but he can't say with one hand that it adds variety whilst dismissing Ali's bowling as part time with the other!

Now Bell's out. 200 all out coming up.

Also only took him 2 balls to mention his good buddy Michael Clarke.

Mat wrote:Also only took him 2 balls to mention his good buddy Michael Clarke.

Excellent tweeting on this matter young Matthew

I remember Southee giving our top order a pasting back in 2008!

Bell done by a good 'un.

Two Moeen drives in a row. Good job the watershed has passed, pwoar x rated stuff

Moeen has just realised England will be incapable of batting beyond thirty overs, so he's just giving it some now.

I remember Southee batting three for Essex in T20 and not really bowling, like his career was already winding down!

This is in no way a must win game for England too. We'd love to win it, but it really isn't.

Olly wrote:

Mat wrote:Also only took him 2 balls to mention his good buddy Michael Clarke.

Excellent tweeting on this matter young Matthew

I try my best!

For anyone who finds Warne etc's commentary painful listening, you should read this. A right seeing to.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2015/feb/13/channel-nine-destroying-cricket-legacy

Excellent by Southee.

England in early difficulty.

I've said it for ages, but southee abd boult are gonna tear us a new one in the summer. I can see cook nicking off to first slip already

Be very similar to when Pakistan came over in 2010 (?), bar all the horrendous spot fixing. Plenty of low scores from both teams, but England to triumph in the end.

Would be a good time for Morgan to gets some runs today please.

JDizzle wrote: ...

This is in no way a must win game for England too. We'd love to win it, but it really isn't.

Hi JD - whilst you are right, losing this game will sure crank up the heat for the remaining group games.

Btw, I find Botham more annoying than Warne. I thought Botham's criticism of New Zealand choosing to review the Ballance lbw was unjustified.

I've only just turned the volume back on because they were criticising Moeen. Glad to hear Atherton, one of my favourite commentators and certainly better than Warne or Botham.

guildfordbat wrote:

JDizzle wrote: ...

This is in no way a must win game for England too. We'd love to win it, but it really isn't.

Hi JD - whilst you are right, losing this game will sure crank up the heat for the remaining group games.

Btw, I find Botham more annoying than Warne. I thought Botham's criticism of New Zealand choosing to review the Ballance lbw was unjustified.

Indeed, winning this game would be a nice cushion, given England's propensity to lose silly games. I thought it was fair enough, they clearly knew how far back in his crease he was. In hindsight, with the second LBW actually being out it was a poor one, but it was a decent review at the time for me.

Mat - yep, I too like Atherton a lot. Understands what is good about the game but still expects it to be played hard. I fully sided with him a year or so back when - unlike several others - he had no sympathy for a batsman who was out 'mankaded' after a warning.

Olly wrote:Taylor still at six. It's only February, and it is England but they'll struggle to top that baffling selection

For the love of god put him back to three for next game you idiots

Unusual dismissal for Ballance, but he never looked comfortable for the duration of his innings.

Refreshing to see New Zealand persist with an attacking field setting; something England would never do!

That's a full on Cook'ing from Ballance today.

How's Mogs getting out today then? I reckon caught mid off after getting a toe end trying to dilscoop Boult. #gettingoutindifferentways

I hope Morgan is, at the very least, learning from this unorthodox and creative field placing by his opposite number.

Something regulars know I often bang on about - great credit to McCullum for keeping on a bowler with good rhythm and letting him (so far) bowl 7 overs on the reel. The ball from Boult which got Ballance wasn't particularly good at all but the build up to it certainly was.

McCullum is a very good captain. To think of all the fuss that happened when Hesson came in and removed Taylor and installed McCullum, unbelievable to consider it now.

'Vettori and Southee just seem to have gone on forever' Botham, 2015. Vettori, debut 1997. Southee, debut 2008.