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

kingraf wrote:Clarke wasn't a weak selection. Far from it. He's recovered in time to have been picked for the first game, which means he's a justified selection. Moreover, he's got the third highest average of all players to have played >200 ODI's. Picking a player who was stated to come in two weeks into a tournament slated to start proper in four or five weeks is a no brainer.

--he is not playing first game
--he has not had proper match practice and tested his fragile fitness but rather will be played in the soft second game against a minnow
--if the team considers fielding him in the first tough game a risk...then he is indeed a liability in "current form and fitness"
--and if he breaks down in a game then the inertia surrounding it....media / selectors/ clarke/ lehamnn wisdom to have him at all will be questioned and very quickly the whole campaign gets side/tracked
--and think of Bailey...tomm he is captain...in the 2nd game he is not....and then the following game no one knows who will captain

--that he is an emotional baggage for this tournament is not a reflection on his career status as a player or captain

mystiroakey wrote:don't talk about betting on here mate . You may get blasted at for no reason.......

The Loaded Dog wrote: ...

Odds on it raining a lot during some of these matches is quite high. I'm putting my money on Duckworth Lewis coming into the final equation ...

... and seems made for Mad for Chelsea to excel on here!

- He hasn't had proper match practise, sure but his last international innings was a century. He played a three hour knock at grade level, batted for CA 2XI, and scored a half century in an internationalish level game. That's not a whole lot batting I digresss, but since his hundred, Eoin Morgan has faced eighteen deliveries. Clarke has been doing this for twelve years now. He doesn't have to play a dozen matches to get ready.

- He hasn't had the chance since recovery, but he's clearly passed all the required fitness Tests. What more can he do?

- known fact that he's sprinting and explosiveness is nearly back to full tilt. There are no guarantees, but he's addressed as many as possible without playing.

- Rather pathetic and weak willed bunch of selectors would not pick a player because of media pressure if he falls injured. Sharma was fit as a horse and he broke down. These things happen. You're allowed a replacement, no big deal. CA would have to be complete numptys to not pick a player in case the media get on their back.

- Professional sport isn't a charity. Clarke is a better batsman, and a better captain than Bailey. He understands this. What is there to think about?
- Emotional baggage for who? That's mere supposition.

Good win for Ireland yesterday. If they are to make the QFs, feel a lot will depend on their bowlers keeping it tight and chipping away.

mystiroakey wrote:don't talk about betting on here mate . You may get blasted at for no reason.......

But sod it. 10/1 isn't bad I suppose. It's just I can't see anyone but aus on these pitches. If some how we get swing we can beat anyone. But the Aussies will be preparing those tracks to there benefit.

I have ensured England will win by placing my bet on them to win with Coral; a bookmaker I rarely use.

But, in the times I have used them, I have had a 100% winning record - Four successful bets out of Four.

England will make it five!

Good lad- I hope you didnt put all your pocket money on it mate

I have gone for a small wager on root to be top England scorer at 4/1 for tomorrows game

England at 5/2 is ridiculous.

I might try and get up as early as possible tomorrow...

Haha, just a small bet. Promise!

England at 5/2 to beat Australia is decent. After all, the weight of expectation is huge on Australia, and Faulkner and Clarke are both missing, whilst England are entirely undaunted, with a full strength side to hand as well..

Just looking at the World Cup fixtures and thought I would compare the structure with the Rugby World Cup.

Cricket World Cup
Number of teams 14
Number of games 49
Number of days 44

Rugby World Cup
Number of teams 20
Number of games 48
Number of days 44

I always find it ludicrous that the cricket World Cup goes on for so long. With it being on Sky too, I lose interested half way through. Why not keep it to a month? It's not was if cricketers need so many days rest between games.

I also don't think the structure helps. I would much rather see them have 16 teams in four groups of four; top two go through to second round, two groups of four; then semi finals and final.

That's 39 games and would give the smaller nations a better chance of getting through. International cricket is far too 'franchise' based around the top eight teams.

It tough for the ICC- there are teams that bring money into the game and they are many others that only take.

I am all for Ireland getting test status- but do they deserve it??, until they fulfil the requirement set out!

I am sure most are trained up in the english County game.

International cricket is not big- its not wealthy.

They maximise games to try and make more money. And its cricket- you literally can not play that many rugby matches in a quicker space of time due to its physicality.

Would love Ireland to make the QFs.

And to get test status eventually - a first class competition started last year.

I guess the length of the Sri Lankan national anthem partly explains why this tournament lasts six weeks!

New Zealand 331/6 after their fifty over bash. Malinga 0/84.

That should be a coast for the Kiwis in the second half.

Pleasantly surprised to see DRS implemented for this World Cup.

SL Starting ok though.

Seems a decent batting pitch.

England win the toss and have sent Australia into bat.
There was some rain last night and early this morning... maybe some swing early.
Ballance in and Bopara out for England.

England win the toss and will bowl first. Looks a belter of a wicket, though.

Good decision to have Ballance over Bopara, at least.

Remember the finest day of English cricket happened in Melbourne: hold on to that for as long as possible!

Decent.. Thankfully I got to sleep at 8:00 pm . So I am up. But whether I will be attentive enough for the missus on V day is another matter

It's a killer sports day. Cricket, rugby and palace v liverpool on telly.. Couldn't Valentine's day have been suspended..

Fingers crossed for swing..

I'm sure if England win, Mysti, you will have all the energy in the world!

The pessimist says Australia have won nine out of the last eleven ODIs at Melbourne.

The optimist says the last three ODIs at Melbourne have been won by the chasing side.

Why have they moved Taylor from 3

This is a mess.. Oz flying. England have dropped 2. One of which should have been caught 8 in 10 and the other should have been at worst stopped.

That comes as a blessed relief after the wayward start from the English.

Oh Broady, Broady! 57/2.

BROAD on a Hatrick... Come on

Chopped on! 70/3.

Finch holds the key to the innings now. Vital he stays the course for Australia.

330-350 on here. Bailey scores big, and Australia's decisions become a little harder as to who falls by the wayside for the return of the prodigal son. Watson may be looking at the bench.... Especially if Clarke can bowl two or three.

England have honestly fallen behind the eight ball in modern cricket. It's an accepted practise, or theory, that the only way to contain a team is to keep taking wickets. In the modern game, long as wickets are in hand, the possibilities are endlessly painful. Morgan is trying to contain them by containing them. It's sort of working now, but with the caveat that all hell will break loose in a few

Well you did give him a chance, England!

Marvellous recovery from Bailey and Finch. 320+ clearly on, bar a spate of wickets.

England's fielding wavering in the face of some brilliant Australian running.

This will not be pretty towards the end.

300-320 seems likely. England would have done a magnificent job if they restrict it to less than 300.

England will need a Morgan special to win this. Looking like 350 now. Great crowd and atmosphere at the MCG. Great start to the world cup.

Hat trick for Finny!

Hatrick for finn....but maybe it would have been better to get in earlier on!!

They score 110 of the final ten. We normally get about 40 odd

Good to see Johnson try to score runs off that last ball, rather than be spared the ignominy of being the hat trick ball.

Most irrelevant hat trick of all time?

OLLY so true. But the history books will still have him as a hat trick taker in WC.

my general opinion is that if a bowler takes a fiver, than it doesn't matter how expensive he's been. Wickets are the currency bowlers operate in, and if you go at seven an over, but take wickets, the rest of the team just picks up the slack. This is an exception though, he's taken his last three with the damage irrevocably done.

Tbh In this position anything over 300 and a loss I will be happy with. RR could come into play and we should aim for second in the group. 3rd at worst.

Why is Taylor at 6 I really really don't get why you move the only dude who's played well at 3 since Trott

It makes zero sense.

Root and Taylor , the two bright talents in the game are just or have been messed about by the selectors.

Two moeen cover drives for four in a row

Pwoar glorious

mystiroakey wrote:It makes zero sense.

Root and Taylor , the two bright talents in the game are just or have been messed about by the selectors.

And don't get me wrong I like Ballance a lot, but he should be at 6 here

Thank goodness for hazelwood....

"Hey jos do that thing where you part the sea again"

I would always advocate Ballance over Bopara. But why give the tri series and a warm up to Ravi, to reaffirm what everyone can see, then bring in Ballance with no cricket behind him. He should have played in the tri series.

And moving Taylor from 3! What a shambles as usual..

IAN BELL IN FALLING FOR 30 ODD AFTER A GOOD START SHOCKER

Dear god it's Mitchell marsh you useless pricks

It was only Root.

"@TheCricketGeek: Just think, we moved the Ashes causing burnout, sackings and retirements so England could be better prepared for the World Cup."

Shambles

That was a ridiculous catch, blooming heck that was going like a rocket

What a catch from Smith! Brilliant.

5 wickets for Mitch Marsh already on his WC debut... to go with Swampy's WC debut ton in '87.

At what point does Moores come under fire? Eerily similar feel to his first reign at the moment