The Cricket Thread.

[Roger Allott]

Only 1 match to go. Thus far we know that Saffies will be playing the Unzudds in the QFs, but the other 3 matches depend on the result of India vs Windies.

If India beat Windies:
India v Australia
England v Sri Lanka
Windies v Paksters

In Windies beat India:
Windies v Australia
India v Sri Lanka
England v Paksters

If it's a tie or no result:
India v Australia
Windies v Sri Lanka
England v Paksters

So, we play either Lankans in Sri Lanka or Pakistan in India. I think I prefer the latter option, as we seem to be Paksters' bogey team.

India have a bloody tough QF regardless of tomorrow's result.

[jaguar69er]

AHHHHH, the business end of the tournament, or the 'beginning' of the tournament for some!!!!

India have definatly got it tougher than most regardless of the result. India Vs Aus will be epic, i can predict already!!! It's down to the nitty gritty!!!

I don't like cricket.....I love it!!!!

[victor meldrew]

I have not been impressed by Australia and India's bowlers have been well under par. However I believe the end of the tournament, is just around the corner for our Aussie friends, as India have enough in the tank to see them off.

It all goes pear shaped if the Windies beat India though.

[Roger Allott]

Originally Posted by victor meldrew

It all goes pear shaped if the Windies beat India though.

Bearing in mind that the winner of this match plays Australia in the QF, I think both of them would be quite happy to lose. But particularly Windies, who get the much easier task of Pakistan instead.

Windies displayed their intentions when they omitted Gayle, Roach and, again, Chanderpaul, although it would seem that Ravi Rampaul wasn't invited to the relevant team briefing.

[Roger Allott]

Right, all the prelims are over and we've got pretty much exactly what everyone knew we'd get a month ago.

The 8 teams in the quarter-finals, ranked by their net run rate (NRR) during the group phase:

+2.582 Sri Lanka
+2.026 South Africa
+1.135 New Zealand
+1.123 Australia
+1.066 West Indies
+0.900 India
+0.758 Pakistan
+0.072 England

What we can see from this is that England have been utterly hopeless and will obviously be on their way home straight after their clash with Sri Lanka.

[Roger Allott]

Or, putting it from another perspective, what if this tournament went to a Super-8 stage at this point, like has been the case in previous competitions?

Well, this would be the Super-8 table as things stand right now, with all teams having played 3 matches:

5 England
4 Pakistan
4 South Africa
3 India
3 Australia
3 Sri Lanka
2 New Zealand
0 West Indies

What we can see from this is that England have been outstanding and will obviously go on to lift the trophy in a couple of weeks time.

[Sharkhunter]

Love the two posts Roger that create an interesting picture. In truth England should have lost to the West Indies - they should be home already. I can't see them beating Sri Lanka in Colombo, I think they'll crumble against the spinners for not much.

Of course, India v Australia is going to be the real thriller - India should take it but over the years we should have learned not to ever underestimate the Aussies.
South Africa have way too much firepower for NZ in all areas of their game. This is the one I wanted.
West Indies' wins have so far only come against the Banglas and the two weakest associate teams - unless the likes of Pollard and Gayle (if fully fit) find their touch they won't have enough to beat Pakistan.

That will leave us with:

Sri Lanka v South Africa
India v Pakistan

The first of these could be a classic - SA will have the better side on paper, but my fear is that the batting could really be exposed by Murali, Mendis and the surprise packet Dilshan in Colombo. That said we do have Imran Tahir and the understated left-arm spin of Robin Peterson who has been marvellous so far.

India v Pakistan - well, nothing else can be said about that one. India have the armoury, but Pakistan always up a gear in this fixture. It could all come down to one man from either side to swing it: Yuvraj Singh or Shahid Afridi.

My predicted final: South Africa v India, with the Proteas repeating their group stage win.

[haftus]

Pakistan Vs West Indies - In my opinion Pakistan will win
India vs Australia - can't say
New Zealand vs South Africa - I know that South Africa chances are strong but in world cup south africa has a bad record agains kiwis , can't say again.
Sri Lanka vs England -- This is going to be a great one again , England Spirits are really high as well , But according to me if England wants to win this match , they must win the toss and bat first for sure coz chasing against Sri Lankan Bowling is really difficult if Sri Lankans score even 250. Same goes vice versa If England scores good they can create problems for Sri Lanka too .


Thank God ICC got rid of Super Sixes and all the good teams stayed this time

[Sharkhunter]

Originally Posted by haftus

Thank God ICC got rid of Super Sixes and all the good teams stayed this time

Well, yep.

I think the super sixes idea when it was first created in 1999 was OK - it was a solution to get four teams out of six using the fairest method. When things went tits up was in 2007 where we had the super eights - which was completely unnecessary as eight very easily divides into four with four quarter-finals.

It was at the super eights stage were the 2007 tournament was really exposed as a money-making scam - along with the fact that all of the tickets were massively overpriced. This time around, apart from the ovresubscribed India home games, ticket prices have been more than reasonable.

[rotobott]

Just read this

Boycott later told us about his experiences in Delhi a couple of days earlier when he was part of the BBC team at the South Africa v West Indies match.

Firstly, he was dropped at the wrong ground by mistake and had to flag down a vehicle to get to the correct location - but then the fun really started. Boycott always brings freshly made sandwiches with him and on that day had a salmon sandwich in his bag. For some reason, the soldier at the gate decided that sandwiches were not allowed and confiscated his lunch.

Geoffrey was having none of this and refused to budge until "a general" was called to sort it out. "I want someone with an arm full of stripes and badges," he apparently said. Eventually an ICC official arrived and Boycott's lunch was saved!