World Cup 2015

by KP_fan Sun 08 Feb 2015, 7:12 am

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

by **Biltong** Sun 22 Feb 2015, 6:02 am

Why the F is Parnell in this team?

by kingraf Sun 22 Feb 2015, 6:03 am

Parnell is feeding us garbage again. How can a cricketer so talented be so garbage?!

by msp83 Sun 22 Feb 2015, 6:07 am

After a poor over from Parnell, Duminy keeps Dhawan quiet, and he's on 99.

by kingraf Sun 22 Feb 2015, 6:11 am

Brilliant knock from Dhawan. Power play coming up. If we can keep that down to 25-35, we'll be back in it.

It's a bit of a problem having only taken two wickets though. When India launch, they'll just keep launching

by kingraf Sun 22 Feb 2015, 6:15 am

Am I the only one who who thinks Dhawan has pirate vibes? the Pantomime moustache, the earrings, the tail. Looking villainous

by **Pal Joey** Sun 22 Feb 2015, 6:38 am

Yes, was thinking something similar... pirate/street fighter. He's in a cut-throat mood all right.

They could get around 340-350 at this rate. Question will be: can SA do another special too?

by kingraf Sun 22 Feb 2015, 6:55 am

Don't think they'll get that far. India aren't a particularly skilled team when it comes to batting in the death while setting.

by msp83 Sun 22 Feb 2015, 7:00 am

Fine innings from Shikhar Dhawan. He really has turned things around for himself. Credit to Mahendra Singh Dhoni and the management for sticking with him.
Raina coming out full of intent, and is going for everything, and he's played one shot too many and is gone just after being dropped.......

by msp83 Sun 22 Feb 2015, 7:01 am

The last 6 over melt down begins.

by msp83 Sun 22 Feb 2015, 7:03 am

India should get 320, but MSD isn't on form, and its only Jadeja and Ashwin left for the final charge. Opportunity for South Africa to restrict them to around 300 305........

by msp83 Sun 22 Feb 2015, 7:08 am

Rahane goes at the end of a superb over from Dale Steyn.

by msp83 Sun 22 Feb 2015, 7:11 am

No big overs, 6 an over is outstanding for the bowling side in these slog overs. Well done Steyn, Well done Tahir.

by msp83 Sun 22 Feb 2015, 7:14 am

Meltdown full swing. Foolish from Jadeja, a poor leave firtst ball, then he hit one straight to AB of all people and wanted a run!.

by **Pal Joey** Sun 22 Feb 2015, 7:15 am

Yeah, the fire went out after Dhawan got out. Then a few quick wickets.

MS starting to pick things up again now.

by kingraf Sun 22 Feb 2015, 7:16 am

Just when we looked like we'd grab some momentum... Parnell has proverbially snatched defeat from the jaws of victory

by msp83 Sun 22 Feb 2015, 7:21 am

SA have to have a record chase already and we aren't quite done yet.

by kingraf Sun 22 Feb 2015, 7:24 am

We've pulled it back reasonably well from 227-2 after 40. Could have held them to sub 300 had Parnell known what he was doing on the field. I'd say good effort boys, but I genuinely think the Indians have no clue on how to bat at the death when batting first.

by msp83 Sun 22 Feb 2015, 7:30 am

Fabulous finish from South Africa and Steyn. Had it not been for Parnell, India wouldn't have crossed 300 after being 260-2 in 43.
SA has a record chase, but if AB gets going, it would be nothing.......
Think India have about par score, but the covering for the bowling hasn't come, so they have to be beyond themselves for a 2nd game on the go.

by **Pal Joey** Sun 22 Feb 2015, 7:52 am

Thought they were a little above par but could have scored 20-30 more runs to really try and put some more scoreboard pressure on SA, who did very well to haul them in without one of their strike bowlers in the last 5 overs. Excellent, in fact. They will almost have their heads up considering that effort a bowler short.

SA should chase this down if they can keep wickets intact early and settle down to the chase. There are no demons in this pitch and they have an equally strong batting line up. Patience is the key... need to take the crowd out of the equation too if possible.

by Taylorman Sun 22 Feb 2015, 8:29 am

kiakahaaotearoa wrote: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.

McCullums come a long way and really has this side believing in anything and he's right out of the McCaw book of captaincy. Leads from the front, by example, doesn''t ask anything he wouldn't do himself, and has complete confidence from his side. As good as they were they won't be that good again but they have put down a marker.

No NZ side has played like this for as long as I can remember and as a team they can get better. They haven't played the likes of oz and SA recently other than the friendly but I'd suggest the last side to play those sides wasn't anything like this one.

Roll on kiwi's. Do what you've been doing. It's been a lot of fun!

by mystiroakey Sun 22 Feb 2015, 8:33 am

KO-KING wrote:'allowed ireland , Holland, Afghan, scotland, UAE etc into the mix with odi series(witha split of the finance) so they would be on the typical rotar and calender and would allways get in to world cups etc..

Do you think Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and West Indies would care about having test status anymore? And then how long would it take for india, SL and Pakistan to think why are we bothering with test cricket..'

Thats ridiculous, no one is asking give everyone test status, just Ireland and Maybe Afghans if they keep improving, why would they think Why are we bothering with this...Test Cricket is part of Cricket Culture, BD are always complaining that they dont have enough Test Cricket and by the time they get to play they have no practice or form in Test Matches, And I agree with them - BD should get more Test Matches, and Ireland should get Test Matches, it will only help them Improve. If it was the case oh 'these lessser teams get to play what the point' then why do they keep playing ODI's when it seems T20's generate more money..

So to answer would these Test keep caring for tests, ofcourse they will and in the case of BD and Zim they might even care more, cause the lack of Test Match cricket they get is a disgrace and then you have people complain that they are not improving, well if you have no Experience in it - hard to improve, Just look at BD ODI's, minus a bad 2014, they have improved leaps and bounds over the last few years - Why? Because they have been given a chance to play against top Teams, Hell they destroyed a Full NZ in 2 4 match series - Whitewashed, if they were not given that chance, they would not have improved, via the same Logic - you need consistent chances and experience to improve, Hence BD and Zim should play More test matches and Ireland should get a chance to Play Test Matches, Who does it harm, Give them a series against Zim or BD, I don't think Ireland will mind travelling for a Test Match.

Anyway Afghans Doing well here 3 - 29 (18 FOW Sanga)

No you are missing the point. What you point out know is what the ICC want, who I am backing up.. What you want is everyone to play odi cricket without it though( your statement about increasing the size of the WC)- that would kill test cricket.... Ireland and afghan have to earn test status first by setting a FC system in line with what the ICC feel is beneficial to cricket. So if we did start banning the other nations from the World Cup without it . Then test cricket keeps its place. If we keep letting everyone in without it. Why would any nation need to keep test status?

by mystiroakey Sun 22 Feb 2015, 8:46 am

India could do this, and top the group!

If england get fourth!!

Back in the WC

by msp83 Sun 22 Feb 2015, 9:07 am

AB de Villiers starting to feel bat on ball and finding gaps, India just can't let him settle, no total is big enough for him if he gets in.......

by kingraf Sun 22 Feb 2015, 9:28 am

Switch seems to have been flicked

by Nachos Jones Sun 22 Feb 2015, 9:35 am

Well that's a huge run out.

by mystiroakey Sun 22 Feb 2015, 9:37 am

But anyway Ko king I think we are all on the page. We want more test. But I feel we can't just give test to teams that haven't the set up in place. So I feel the ICC should be harder on non test nations and use the World Cup as a golden carrot.

so say. Look this is your last World Cup unless you get up to standard. Can you honestly expect certain nations being able to handle test cricket just yet?

It's a very tricky game from a skill pov and then you have the varience of length of game. Selling tickets might be easy to start with but if these games start lasting a day and a half or two the authorities start losing serious money and the fans will get even less interested.

It's a very fine balance.

Great run out 3rd wicket

by Nachos Jones Sun 22 Feb 2015, 9:39 am

A lot on Du Plessis now and to be honest, I feel he has been living a charmed life out there.

by mystiroakey Sun 22 Feb 2015, 9:52 am

Get in..

by Nachos Jones Sun 22 Feb 2015, 9:54 am

Du Plessis' fortune had to end sometime. Scored some good runs but had been also very fortuitous at times. India well on top here now.

by msp83 Sun 22 Feb 2015, 10:05 am

Miller and Duminy had rescued South Africa from an even more trickier position in the first game. They'll have to do it again to see this through.
The seamers and Jadeja have done just about alright, but Ashwin has been struggling today. India just can't afford any slip up really.

by kingraf Sun 22 Feb 2015, 10:07 am

One of these two need to go nuclear, and hope the really long tail holds together

by mystiroakey Sun 22 Feb 2015, 10:09 am

Which they are capable of Graf. But as you say you only have 6 proper batters. One more wicket and I think it's indias.

by mystiroakey Sun 22 Feb 2015, 10:09 am

Sorry. Cursed them..

Indias to lose.

by Nachos Jones Sun 22 Feb 2015, 10:10 am

Imploding Kingraf, SA are imploding.

by kingraf Sun 22 Feb 2015, 10:12 am

Massive implosion... But it happens. Really just about getting to the QF, we have the team to blow anyone away.

by Nachos Jones Sun 22 Feb 2015, 10:16 am

I am sure SA will get to the QF's. It has been a very good performance from India though. A complete performance from them so far.

by Nachos Jones Sun 22 Feb 2015, 10:24 am

Well if SA make 200 here I will be surprised now. Even though India have played well, SA have contributed to their own downfall somewhat.

by **Pal Joey** Sun 22 Feb 2015, 10:25 am

SA blowing themselves away here. Poor shots and silly suicidal run outs sums this effort up.

by Nachos Jones Sun 22 Feb 2015, 10:30 am

The Loaded Dog wrote:SA blowing themselves away here. Poor shots and silly suicidal run outs sums this effort up.

AB's run out was the catalyst, it was a great piece of fielding but to take on the second run at that stage was a massive gamble.

by kingraf Sun 22 Feb 2015, 10:31 am

We're a lot more mercurial under de Villiers than any other captain. We used to be relied on to play at maybe 80% and if you raised your game, there was really nothing we could do. At the same time though, the consistency meant we generally won, and could grind teams out.

Under AB, there's a greater variance in the quality of play, and we've put up some serious sh.itstorms (losing to the Windies having had them 70-5, some of the death bowling in Australia last year). The carrot though is we're just so much more explosive now than we've ever been. We can just come in an dismantle really good teams (like we did in New Zealand). Today was just one of those days especially Wayne Parnell, who is probably the spirit animal of this team.

the boring consistency couldn't get us over the line... here's hoping this style can. we

by msp83 Sun 22 Feb 2015, 10:32 am

Dhoni brings Raina on for some reason. Think they should stick to what has worked for them and try and finish this one off.

by Nachos Jones Sun 22 Feb 2015, 10:33 am

86,000+ spectators for a match not even involving the Aussies Shocked

You have to give credit to the Aussies, they do love their sport.

by mystiroakey Sun 22 Feb 2015, 10:36 am

Indians you mean..

They would fill that out in england as well we just don't have the ground sizes. It's the ethnic population..

But it's great that the Aussies have these size stadiums. Hats of to them.

by **Pal Joey** Sun 22 Feb 2015, 10:37 am

Lots of locals (Indian expats) in the crowd, Nachos... but yes, a fine turn out.

by Nachos Jones Sun 22 Feb 2015, 10:39 am

If there was 40,000 expat's or fans it would be a lot but I would imagine that at least half the crowd would be neutral Aussies that just love sport The Loaded Dog. Really a stunning turn out and the Aussies can be proud.

by mystiroakey Sun 22 Feb 2015, 10:42 am

No the majority are Indians mate. 80%(most local, some travelling)by the looks of things, 10% Saffas and 10% Aussie locals. But that's just a guess.

Are you watching the game?

Just look at the crowd

by **Pal Joey** Sun 22 Feb 2015, 10:45 am

There would be around 60-65,000 Indian expats there at this game. Same will happen for games with SL, Pakistan and even Bangladesh and Afghanistan... for non-Australian matches on Aussie grounds. A few fans have travelled but it is mostly expats at the games.

by kingraf Sun 22 Feb 2015, 10:46 am

Well done to the Indians. No need to go back to the drawing board for us. With how we are set up. beat downs are possible. drop Parnell for Behardien (said through gritted teeth) and hope for the best

by Nachos Jones Sun 22 Feb 2015, 10:47 am

I am watching the game mystiroakey, it does seem very Indian orientated but I have also been to the MCG for a neutral match and have seen at least half the crowd as Aussie neutrals enjoying sport. It was just my observation and was simply complimenting the Aussie support.

When I was last in Melbourne (granted that was 15 years ago) it was a predominantly Greek settlement, not Indian but times may have changed.

by msp83 Sun 22 Feb 2015, 10:48 am

At half way I said the bowlers have to produce another performance beyond their standards, and they've gone and done that pretty well. There was fine support from the fielders and some help from South Africa.

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