Just about over.
I’m trying to look at the QF’s and see what lies ahead.
RSA will top pool B and will play either NZ or Pakistan. RSA to win there.
Group A will be either Aust or Pakistan and they will probably play W.I.
Anyway, my prediction is for an RSA vs Australia final. Which is probably the kiss of death for both teams.
That was a shocking decision on Ponting. Good that the URDS worked.
Ok, just need to shoot Hussey somehow.
Got Hussey!!!
Australia 176 all out. If Pakistan lose, the entire team merits a public flogging. If Australia win, they should win the cup.
For the record, this is the first time Australia have been all out in a World Cup match since the 1999 World Cup Semi Final. And the lowest score since 1992.
!!!
bloody hell, I’m not even going to check that one AK84. That is simply too outrageous to be wrong.
Worthless bastards. I hope Ponting is given the flick and takes that pretender White with him.
And all the selectors come to think of it.
Anyway, I’m not entirely writing this game off. However, Australia does not deserve to win.
A query- if Australia loses t will finish third in Group A. RSA will top Group B.
I understood the top team from one group played the 4th team from the other group. However on Cricinfo, they were saying Australia would play RSA in the quarter finals if they lost.
Where am I going wrong?
Lee gets rid of Hafeez. Vaughan says that he thinks OZ will win. I hope he is not right.
Just got a little more interesting. Still a long way to go for Australia.
Two out in three balls. Lovely batting guys!
Pakistan tried their hardest to lose but failed.
My point is that crap batting, at this level, is more often caused by mental or physical fatigue than poor technique. Therefore, the fact that some England players have got out playing poor shots can be attributed to the fact that they have been on tour for so long.
I am prepared to believe that players in the past played as many games as their modern counterparts, but you cannot say that county championship matches are comparable with Tests and ODIs in terms on concentration and fitness levels required. Plus there is the fact that players in the past would have had maybe one overseas tour per year, playing most of their cricket somewhere they could call home. This is what makes the difference, in my opinion (and that of other contributors to this thread.
Now, I am not saying that the England team would be world-beaters had they come into this tournament more well-rested, just that their dramatic decline in performance level since the Ashes probably has a lot to do with the punishing schedule arranged by the ECB, and this should not happen again if we want to stand a chance of winning the World Cup.
Talking about crap batting, India’s performance in the last ten overs was pathetic.
Quarter Finals
Pakistan v West Indies
Sri Lanka v England
Australia v India
South Africa v New Zealand.
At least two matches which would have been worthy finals and one of who was the Final eight years ago.
An interesting set of Quarterfinals ahead. Here are my impressions:
Pakistan v West Indies : The two most hot and cold teams in the tournament for my money. Pretty much anything can happen here: a hat-trick by a bowler on the losing team - sure why not? A sub-60 ball century? Should be a lot of fun whatever happens.
Australia v India: A clash between two heavyweights just past their prime. I’m guessing Australia sneak through after India’s bowlers fail to defend a substantial target.
New Zealand v South Africa: This should be the easiest one to pick - surely South Africa are a certainty here. Even Vettori’s return won’t be enough for New Zealand.
Sri Lanka v England After a tournament of outrageous nailbiters, England meekly submit in Colombo. After all; while the English crest has three lions the lion on the Sri Lankan crest is armed with a sword.
Might be worth a punt on the four outsiders Windies, Australia, Kiwis and England.
A boxed quadie getting home would be a nice little earner.
Just?
I’m in a charitable mood today…
OK then, I’ll play
Pakistan v West Indies: The Windies, They have been almost as variable as England but I fancy some of the young lads to do the damage.
Australia v India: India, this will be a batfest and watch Tendulkar go.
New Zealand v South Africa: South Africa, solid and unspectacular is the way to go here
Sri Lanka v England: Oh yeah, I know better than to use logic to decide what the hell England are likely to do…so? I will now flip a coin for this one. Heads Sri Lanka. Tails England…and it’s tails, England it is.
If we (Proteas) beat the Black Caps (which everyone seems certain of, but you never know), the winner of which pairing do we play in the semis?