World Cup 2015

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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

Atherton is such a nice guy but oh, so boring. He has that special ability to send one to sleep... during the daytime. Botham even had a go at our deadly wildlife the other day. What a chip he still has!

I agree though, the Ch 9 lot are beyond themselves... full of that annoying irrelevant chatter. Embarrassing! Pity old Kerry Packer isn't still around to tap them on the shoulder - or better still, tell them where to go in his uniquely colourful language.

Root and Morgan steadying the creaky old ship here...

Magnificent by New Zealand.

Just all-round magnificence.

Time for sleep me thinks

Southee unstoppable. The young lad is destroying this batting line up.

I can feel a rant coming on

Now, now lads. Spirit of Chennai and all that!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/9415627.stm

We need about sixty more.

Olly wrote:I can feel a rant coming on

Beefy will have his say no doubt. "Just not good enough"... that sort of thing.

Hope you are right Duty - they need a score to work with.

Did Broad not want to bat?

That was pathetic.

Could do with some solidity and leadership in the top order. Someone like Cook?

Stupendous, sensational Southee. Wonderful Kiwi fielding to assist.

England torn apart. Only Root could stem the tide.

So England, what do you have left?

Um...27 runs conceded in the opening two overs.

I hope they're peaking too early... for Australia's sake.

57/0 after 4 overs. That is brutal.

What a brutal innings by McCullum. A shame he will not be there to hit the winning runs.

Oh for heaven's sake.

Twelve runs needed and we're taking a forty minute break?!

As close as there is to a complete ODI performance. Southee and McCullum astonishing.

Well done New Zealand.

Lol... England were taken to the shed. Didn't expect them to beat either of the hosts, and New Zealand basically produced the perfect performance, but they aren't in a great position, given the potential threat of rain in the latter group matches. Bangladesh seem destined to sneak a point against Australia due to weather. If they beat Scotland, then they already have five points, and a winnable game for England need only be washed out, and they are in very real trouble

So the game got over in just about 45 overs. England are totally brutalized.......

What a shower of s***. Spineless, pathetic and predictable load of rubbish. Bring them home now, two games in and o can't tale any more

VTR wrote:What a shower of s***. Spineless, pathetic and predictable load of rubbish. Bring them home now, two games in and o can't tale any more

It looks bad at the moment, but they can still qualify for the Quarters, an in one off matches anything is possible.

Besides, they might still find their form in the next 4 matches

To be fair, it was just one of those games where everything goes right for one side; everything the other side does just goes from bad to worse.
There's nothing you can do about it now. It doesn't happen very often between these two sides.

All England can do is (besides not panic!) is try to "fine tune" the selection (as best as possible) for the next match and put this one behind them. There's no use dwelling on it - they are back at ground zero and the only way is now forward. Has to be. Win the next match, then the one after, etc. If they can string together the next 4... then a QF place is still achievable.

Forget today.

The Loaded Dog wrote:To be fair, it was just one of those games where everything goes right for one side; everything the other side does just goes from bad to worse.
There's nothing you can do about it now. It doesn't happen very often between these two sides.

All England can do is (besides not panic!) is try to "fine tune" the selection (as best as possible) for the next match and put this one behind them. There's no use dwelling on it - they are back at ground zero and the only way is now forward. Has to be. Win the next match, then the one after, etc. If they can string together the next 4... then a QF place is still achievable.

Forget today.

That's the thing, you don't need to perform in the round robin, just get through, you need to win your play off matches.

Agree they can get to the quarters but what is the point in that? I don't even fancy our chances vs Scotland, they put in a much better showing vs nz than us today

The most one-sided game of the world cup so far involves no associate side. Besides, its been one of the bully boy side that got mauled.......

VTR wrote:Agree they can get to the quarters but what is the point in that? I don't even fancy our chances vs Scotland, they put in a much better showing vs nz than us today

They might meet the chokers

Biltong wrote:

VTR wrote:Agree they can get to the quarters but what is the point in that? I don't even fancy our chances vs Scotland, they put in a much better showing vs nz than us today

They might meet the chokers

...and Hagley Park is the closest you'll get to a typical English County ground. Someone was comparing it to Worcester the other day.
That has to be something for them to look forward to.

The poor Scots... they'd much rather be playing in Queenstown... at altitude.

Lol! Whoever finishes fourth in group A is guaranteed a semi final berth (assuming as I expect, we top the group)

Biltong wrote:

VTR wrote:Agree they can get to the quarters but what is the point in that? I don't even fancy our chances vs Scotland, they put in a much better showing vs nz than us today

They might meet the chokers

Ha! I'd like to see you choke vs. this lot. We'd probably set you about 80 to win!

Only need five overs to choke beyond repair... 80 is more than enough, we'd just need to start earlier.

VTR wrote:

Biltong wrote:

VTR wrote:Agree they can get to the quarters but what is the point in that? I don't even fancy our chances vs Scotland, they put in a much better showing vs nz than us today

They might meet the chokers

Ha! I'd like to see you choke vs. this lot. We'd probably set you about 80 to win!

I was reading an article on Cricinfo last night, the one Pakistan fan admits he hopes Pakistan plays against us in the quarters, he knows the choking thing is not really just that, but he thinks fans hope that SA choke, hence their continual reference to it.

Guys, can we stop all this choke talk. It's making me nervous. We have NZ next don't forget!

And whilst we're at it. No more "lols", raf.
Honesty, you are like a buzzard jumping up and down on some unfortunate road kill!

At least try and be sneaky... like the Tassie Devil... and keep the glee to an acceptable level.  

Even I feel sorry for our dear England fans.

I sincerely do hope they win the next 4 and thus meet India in the QF.  
SA (B2) to trounce Bangladesh (A3) though.

The Loaded Dog wrote:Guys, can we stop all this choke talk. It's making me nervous. We have NZ next don't forget!

And whilst we're at it. No more "lols", raf.
Honesty, you are like a buzzard jumping up and down on some unfortunate road kill!

At least try and be sneaky... like the Tassie Devil... and keep the glee to an acceptable level.  

Even I feel sorry for our dear England fans.

I sincerely do hope they win the next 4 and thus meet India in the QF.  
SA to trounce Bangladesh though.

Hmmm, you think if we mention the choke enough times, the effects will wear off

Biltong wrote:

The Loaded Dog wrote:Guys, can we stop all this choke talk. It's making me nervous. We have NZ next don't forget!

And whilst we're at it. No more "lols", raf.
Honesty, you are like a buzzard jumping up and down on some unfortunate road kill!

At least try and be sneaky... like the Tassie Devil... and keep the glee to an acceptable level.  

Even I feel sorry for our dear England fans.

I sincerely do hope they win the next 4 and thus meet India in the QF.  
SA to trounce Bangladesh though.

Hmmm, you think if we mention the choke enough times, the effects will wear off

Actually, yes I do.
Now can you please stop saying it!

The Loaded Dog wrote:

Biltong wrote:

The Loaded Dog wrote:Guys, can we stop all this choke talk. It's making me nervous. We have NZ next don't forget!

And whilst we're at it. No more "lols", raf.
Honesty, you are like a buzzard jumping up and down on some unfortunate road kill!

At least try and be sneaky... like the Tassie Devil... and keep the glee to an acceptable level.  

Even I feel sorry for our dear England fans.

I sincerely do hope they win the next 4 and thus meet India in the QF.  
SA to trounce Bangladesh though.

Hmmm, you think if we mention the choke enough times, the effects will wear off

Actually, yes I do.
Now can you please stop saying it!

Nah

I have a theory, constant failure removes the fear of failure and hence the potential to freeze n the face of failure, so the more we speak about it the more the Proteas won't care about it anymore.

Embarrasing

So Biltong, what you are saying is that SA is like England in a way? (see my point above about England reaching ground zero... so to speak)

Like you say above... just one match at a time and then explode when it counts at the pointy end.

(and keep fingers crossed it isn't an implosion again instead)

The batting was abject, but the bowling was embarrassing. Obviously no saving this situation, but in a tournament with rain about, NRR could play a role. Could have been over in five overs if Guptill also felt moved by the holy spirit

We lost. It happens.. Sa are nothing like england.We have very different issues/strengths.

What england are going through is a serious morale decline ,identity and set up issue. I doubt anyone even wants to be there.. This has been going on for a good few years.

Putting all this on morgan as well was the most inane thing to do. Waste a year saying cook is the capo and then change it last minute to the only worse performing batsman ..

its time to pack our bags..

Bilt and LD.

Nothing will make us england fans feel better. We should not by those amounts to Oz and nz. We are so much better and have so much depth to draw from.. NZ are not some super team. It's just the lack of quality on display against them is so shocking they look good.

It is embarrassing as an english fan,

Sack everyone in the ODI set up, get a new captain.. And rebuild.

The Loaded Dog wrote:So Biltong, what you are saying is that SA is like England in a way? (see my point above about England reaching ground zero... so to speak)

Like you say above... just one match at a time and then explode when it counts at the pointy end.

(and keep fingers crossed it isn't an implosion again instead)

No, we're the opposite, will win now and implode when it matters most

The football in Brisbane has been postponed tonight. Don't think there will be much of a cricket game on tomorrow.

Peter Moores should be sacked for over seeing such a spineless, gutless performance. Embarrassing isn't even the start off it

Olly wrote:Peter Moores should be sacked for over seeing such a spineless, gutless performance. Embarrassing isn't even the start off it

He'll see the positives.

Peter Moores positives:

1) Chris Woakes, 3-1-8-2. Great figures and over an entire innings that would be a six wicket haul!!

2) Joe Root was well set for a 50. If the others can bat around him he will make a hundred every game!!

3) We dropped less catches than against Aus. The fielding is improving and peaking at the right time!!

4) The players are well rested for the Scotland game!!

They beat us in 12 overs.

I feel like a brazil fan during the World Cup after that 7-1 defeat.

I might even support scotland next up!!!

Right anyway. Enough of that.. Of to work... It's only sport

Stella wrote:

Olly wrote:Peter Moores should be sacked for over seeing such a spineless, gutless performance. Embarrassing isn't even the start off it

He'll see the positives.

Best county coach of a generation? Maybe. International coach? Not upto the standard, now proven over two stints in charge.

Olly wrote:

Stella wrote:

Olly wrote:Peter Moores should be sacked for over seeing such a spineless, gutless performance. Embarrassing isn't even the start off it

He'll see the positives.

Best county coach of a generation? Maybe. International coach? Not upto the standard, now proven over two stints in charge.

Gillespie is being touted as the next man.

VTR wrote:Peter Moores positives:

1) Chris Woakes, 3-1-8-2. Great figures and over an entire innings that would be a six wicket haul!!

2) Joe Root was well set for a 50. If the others can bat around him he will make a hundred every game!!

3) We dropped less catches than against Aus. The fielding is improving and peaking at the right time!!

4) The players are well rested for the Scotland game!!

5) We know we are capable of better

And here I was thinking that Windies were embarrassing

The fact that England have lost to both Australia and NZ would normally not be an issue but the way in which they have been tonked is.

On paper, its a very solid and balanced side, mentally they just don't seem to be at the races.

That was nail-biting stuff but even though the floodlights weren't used for this day-night match, the Black Caps will be fuming that they didn't finish this match off ... before the tea break.

On a more serious note, nothing has really changed. NZ can win all its pool matches but momentum can be taken away just as quickly as it's built.

That's what England have to concentrate on. Qualify for the quarters and then it can all change so quickly in the knockout matches.

As for NZ, they did well to recover from their wobbly batting performance against Scotland. Good to see McCullum take a positive, aggressive approach with both bat and his field. He was like a shark catching a whiff of blood a couple of miles away. Brilliant decision to bring back Southee on and be aggressive with the fielding placements. England wilted under the pressure exerted on them.

NZ will need that level of positivity and execution for Australia. They have to make Eden Park work for them as it does in rugby. Get the psychological points in now because nothing's more dangerous than a confident Aussie side.

Nachos Jones wrote:The fact that England have lost to both Australia and NZ would normally not be an issue but the way in which they have been tonked is.

On paper, its a very solid and balanced side, mentally they just don't seem to be at the races.

Quite, its very much like the last Ashes. Its hard to believe this is the same side that pooed on India a few days ago, and contains several members of the side that was ranked 1 not so long back.

The decline has been going on sometime, but they really have hit new depths in this tournament.

Its certainly more than just selections or tactics thats the issue here, the manner of these defeats is horrendous. Finn must be close to a record for the worst 2 over bowling figures from a front 4 bowler in ODIs...yet has been in very good nick and picked up a lot of wickets on the tour.

Hats off the New Zealand and Mccullum as well for turning a beating into a humiliation but even against part timers he cant produce that kind of innings every time. maybe an element of the stars aligning as well, but two games in a row suggests its more than just playing better sides who have a good day and really that England arent producing what they should be capable of.
Morgan perhaps the case in point. His outlier century shows that buried somewhere under there there still is a player capable of passing 20 more than twice in 15 ODI's.

Root seems the only England player not fully wiped out by this collective mental breakdown. Maybe its the presence of KP in the commentary booth that de-stabilising the dressing room. I cant buy that its just things like dropping Woakes as an opener or not picking Tredwell thats causing this level of poor performance. There has to be an element of players being mentally broken and a collective under performance. It really doesnt matter what the tactics are if the players dont execute on the pitch.