# 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. Australia/New Zealand **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 8, 2015, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-icc-cricket-world-cup-australia-new-zealand/712105 "2015-02-08T08:20:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-icc-cricket-world-cup-australia-new-zealand/712105/202 "2015-02-28T04:46:57Z")
Yeah, Taylor’s not looked that flash this World Cup. Nice to see Martin Crowe honoured, although I get the feeling the poor guy hasn’t got that much more left in him. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-icc-cricket-world-cup-australia-new-zealand/712105/203 "2015-02-28T05:52:14Z")
118 for 4. Looks like they’ve steadied it. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-icc-cricket-world-cup-australia-new-zealand/712105/204 "2015-02-28T06:31:09Z")
146 for 9? What just happened?! ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-icc-cricket-world-cup-australia-new-zealand/712105/205 "2015-02-28T06:32:08Z")
Fucking hell. This is cricket!!! Kiwis by one wicket. ---
**Author:** ![truthSeeker2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7cd45c/32.png) [@truthSeeker2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthSeeker2)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-icc-cricket-world-cup-australia-new-zealand/712105/206 "2015-02-28T06:35:42Z")
WHat a game! Kane williamson is one of the best batsmen in the world ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-icc-cricket-world-cup-australia-new-zealand/712105/207 "2015-02-28T06:37:26Z")
Dear God, that was not easy watching. All credit to Mitchell Stark, he just about tore their throats out. Well, everyone said it would be a close game… ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-icc-cricket-world-cup-australia-new-zealand/712105/208 "2015-02-28T06:41:25Z")
… and Boult is just barely hanging on against Stark trying to get Kane Williamson on strike, and then Williamson steps up and closes it out with a stroke. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-icc-cricket-world-cup-australia-new-zealand/712105/209 "2015-02-28T06:43:39Z")
It was a debacle really. Australia had no right to get that close. There were a hell of a lot of poor shot selections, poor bowling and poor captaincy. However, a few things did come out of the game. I don’t really rate the Australian team- they are no where near the strength of past winning sides. I always believed they were false favourites (with out bookies). NZ are probably favourites now but their strength is bowling and the batting seems a bit fragile if you get rid of McCullum and Williamson. You don’t bowl short to McCullum on those small grounds. Starc bowled well, as did Boult. Johnson lived up to my my opinion of him. As did Marsh. Positive for Australia- they hadn’t had a game for two weeks and took it close in NZ. Negative for Australia- they batted like shit. Positive for NZ. They destroyed Australia. They are unbeaten. Negative. McCullum- how bad is the blow to his arm? Just trying to get my mind around all the teams there have been so many rather strange results that no one team seems to dominate. A few teams rely on one or two players, whereas a team like India may come good. ---
**Author:** ![blueslipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@blueslipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blueslipper)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-icc-cricket-world-cup-australia-new-zealand/712105/210 "2015-02-28T06:57:12Z")
> [@blueslipper](#): > > The talk here in Melbourne is that Aus will make 400 with the short boundaries and then NZ will only get 285-300. I do not know what world those people live in. I have watched a lot of games at Eden Park. Just because it has some short boundaries does not make it a batsmans paradise. > I predict a match total of 450 runs between the two teams. Looks like I got it very wrong. I was over by 150 runs! I hope someone gets a comment from one of those commentators predicting the score of 400 though. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-icc-cricket-world-cup-australia-new-zealand/712105/211 "2015-02-28T07:05:01Z")
Sometimes I think the commentators know less than I do. Honestly, the “experts” are no more often correct in their prediction than an unbiased fan. (And I will be the first to admit I never expected either team to struggle to get to the scores they made). ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-icc-cricket-world-cup-australia-new-zealand/712105/212 "2015-02-28T07:08:38Z")
An epic game with just over 300 runs scored. Williamson is amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-icc-cricket-world-cup-australia-new-zealand/712105/213 "2015-02-28T09:27:54Z")
> [@truthSeeker2](#): > > WHat a game! Kane williamson is one of the best batsmen in the world Well, he is a very good batsman, but an average of 45 in Tests these days don’t suggest he is elite (yet). He may very well get there though. In a very arguable discussion I would think Virat Kohli is as good as anyone (even though his average is much the same). Certainly though, I wish he had got a duck today 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![truthSeeker2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7cd45c/32.png) [@truthSeeker2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthSeeker2)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-icc-cricket-world-cup-australia-new-zealand/712105/214 "2015-02-28T09:44:46Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > Well, he is a very good batsman, but an average of 45 in Tests these days don’t suggest he is elite (yet). He may very well get there though. > > In a very arguable discussion I would think Virat Kohli is as good as anyone (even though his average is much the same). > > Certainly though, I wish he had got a duck today 🙂 I was talking from temperament point of view. I like his temperament and technique. average is ever increasing from last 3 years, he is averaging ~50 > **[Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com](https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/277906.html?class=1%3Bspanmax2=30%2BJan%2B2015%3Bspanmin2=04%2BJan%2B2012%3Bspanval2=span%3Btemplate=results%3Btype=batting%3Bview=innings)** and from last 2 years, avg. is 56+. Kane is not yet near ABDV who is the best atm. But one of the best. Kohli is \> ABDV in ODIs. I know many people will contest this. But Kohli’s knocks while chasing make him better imo. In tests, De Villiers much better but kohli has started to perform in tests too but here, he is comfortably behind AB. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-icc-cricket-world-cup-australia-new-zealand/712105/215 "2015-02-28T10:05:33Z")
He is quite young and he has the potential to be very good. However, his stats against opposition away from home are not great. He averages 39 which is only a pass- and in England , Australia and RSA they are poor. However, he has not played many matches there either. However, he has been a very good player in a team that is not seen as a powerhouse (and that is not to denigrate NZ). A future captain I would think. ---
**Author:** ![truthSeeker2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7cd45c/32.png) [@truthSeeker2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthSeeker2)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-icc-cricket-world-cup-australia-new-zealand/712105/216 "2015-02-28T10:10:10Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > He is quite young and he has the potential to be very good. However, his stats against opposition away from home are not great. He averages 39 which is only a pass- and in England , Australia and RSA they are poor. However, he has not played many matches there either. > > However, he has been a very good player in a team that is not seen as a powerhouse (and that is not to denigrate NZ). A future captain I would think. agree. away stats aren’t that great as yet from the limited no. of matches. And future captain for sure. ---
**Author:** ![merrick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58956e/32.png) [@merrick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/merrick)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-icc-cricket-world-cup-australia-new-zealand/712105/217 "2015-02-28T12:42:57Z")
Sheesh. This ain’t your grandma’s World Cup, that’s for sure. NZ, set a mighty 152 to win, got 42 of them in sixes. In a game dominated by fast bowling, McCullum still found time (well, he didn’t need _much_ time) to score 50 off 24 and Mitchell Johnson went for 68 off 6 overs. But that’s the way this NZ team plays. Come in needing 20 off 30 overs? Biff your second ball for six, and if you get out slogging, well, it scores the same as if you defended for half an hour and then got a good ball. This is the 20/20 generation, where the dot ball is a sin even if you’re five or six down. I like the way we’re all talking about Williamson even though it was Boult and Starc’s game. Bowlers can’t get no respect. Pop quiz - was Starc’s 6-28 the best ever World Cup bowling in a losing cause? ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-icc-cricket-world-cup-australia-new-zealand/712105/218 "2015-02-28T20:17:26Z")
Shane Bond got 6 for not very many against Australia a few cups ago. New Zealand failed to chase down the target of 208. Sorry on my phone so can’t link to it. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-icc-cricket-world-cup-australia-new-zealand/712105/219 "2015-02-28T21:59:12Z")
> [@merrick](#): > > I like the way we’re all talking about Williamson even though it was Boult and Starc’s game. Bowlers can’t get no respect. Pop quiz - was Starc’s 6-28 the best ever World Cup bowling in a losing cause? I think it was the way he instantly carved his way into Eden Park folklore: guy will never have to buy his own drinks again. Have to give credit to McCullum’s captaincy, too: he plays his team like it’s Plants vs. Zombies. Boult not taking wickets? Pull him off early and let Vettori - who for me was the hero of that game - throttle 'em slowly, then when they’re impatient put Boult in again and let him pick them off. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-icc-cricket-world-cup-australia-new-zealand/712105/220 "2015-02-28T22:12:38Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > I think it was the way he instantly carved his way into Eden Park folklore: guy will never have to buy his own drinks again. Have to give credit to McCullum’s captaincy, too: he plays his team like it’s Plants vs. Zombies. Boult not taking wickets? Pull him off early and let Vettori - who for me was the hero of that game - throttle 'em slowly, then when they’re impatient put Boult in again and let him pick them off. No doubt McCullum is a very fine captain but did you watch a different game? Boult didn’t come off early, he bowled 5 overs straight. Vettori had already bowled 3 overs by the time Boult finished his first spell. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2015, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-icc-cricket-world-cup-australia-new-zealand/712105/221 "2015-02-28T22:18:12Z")
I should add that if Australia don’t win the World Cup I will be happy for the Kiwis to win just for the perfect ending for Daniel Vettori’s career. He is the one New Zealander that every Aussie cricket supporter I know would happily have allowed to play for us if we could. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-icc-cricket-world-cup-australia-new-zealand/712105.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2015-icc-cricket-world-cup-australia-new-zealand/712105.md?page=12)