Discussion Cricket Discussion

[Goodie's Guns]

I still think this is the team to beat...

Hashim Amla - c Joyce b McBrine - 159 (128), 16 4s, 4 6s
Quinton de Kock+ - c +Wilson b Mooney - 1 (4)
Faf du Plessis - b K O'Brien - 109 (109), 10 4s, 1 6s
AB de Villiers* - c N O'Brien b McBrine - 24 (9), 1 4s, 2 6s
David Miller - not out - 46 (23), 4 4s, 2 6s
Rilee Rossouw - not out - 61 (30), 6 4s, 3 6s


Not to even mention the bowling attack, particularly when Philander is back from injury.

 

[_Slip_]

Is the WC still going (sarcasm) it is so long and drawn out that it feels like a footy pre-season.

Just like the AFL we know there are only 3 real contenders to win it.

I'm tipping the Boks if they don't choke this cup

 

[Philzsay]

Yep its still on!

Tonight South Africa made 411 and Ireland made 210 chasing. Thats the second game this tournament that South Africa has reached 400.

 

[Zoku Pops]

Yep its still on!

Tonight South Africa made 411 and Ireland made 210 chasing. Thats the second game this tournament that South Africa has reached 400.

In consecutive matches. Quite extroadinary.

 

[Zoku Pops]

Watson should have been dropped for Clarke. Bailey should have retained his spot - he played exactly as he should have against England. Smith will have periods of no runs, his technique is very suspect imo.

Good on the Kiwis - shows if you get Warner and Finch out for not much you are well on your way to beating the Aussies, they are very fragile.

Hopefully it's the wake up call everyone needed. For far too long the media and the public have overestimated the quality of our team. Our batting, just like in tests, is very hit and miss and we've just been lucky for the past 2 years that at least one player has hit in most games.

Bailey should be in the team. When Clarke came back we had a chance to strengthen our batting line up and drop either Watson or Marsh but instead, because we overestimate the batting ability of our all rounders, we dropped Bailey, our best batsman for the last 2 years (albeit with some poor form of late) who has the ability to either knuckle down and save an innings or explode at the end (He is as good a finisher as Faulkner).

Tonight we will smash Afghanistan and all will be good in the world but I can't see this current 11 going the distance.

 

[PC]

Yep, couldn't agree with you more on that one ZP

From here - http://thenewdaily.com.au/sport/2015/03/03/can-george-bailey-play-part-bevan-waugh/

Since Bailey’s breakthrough maiden international hundred just over two years ago, on seven occasions he has arrived at the crease with Australia three down with less than 70 on the board, and with plenty to do. In those innings, he has personally averaged 65 (reaching 50 or more four times), driving Australia to average scores of 253 after those modest beginnings.

 

[Zoku Pops]

Yep, couldn't agree with you more on that one ZP

From here - http://thenewdaily.com.au/sport/2015/03/03/can-george-bailey-play-part-bevan-waugh/

Since Bailey’s breakthrough maiden international hundred just over two years ago, on seven occasions he has arrived at the crease with Australia three down with less than 70 on the board, and with plenty to do. In those innings, he has personally averaged 65 (reaching 50 or more four times), driving Australia to average scores of 253 after those modest beginnings.

And its articles like this that just make me angry. He not only should play but he deserves to play. Outstanding record and he seems like an outstanding bloke as well.

 

[Nk29]

Is the WC still going (sarcasm) it is so long and drawn out that it feels like a footy pre-season.

Just like the AFL we know there are only 3 real contenders to win it.

I'm tipping the Boks if they don't choke this cup

There's 5. Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India and Sri Lanka all in with a shot.

 

[OzRulesFootball]

There's 5. Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India and Sri Lanka all in with a shot.

Mathematically India and Sri Lanka may well be in it but in reality I think neither is a realistic chance..

 

[Goodie's Guns]

There's 5. Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India and Sri Lanka all in with a shot.

Mathematically India and Sri Lanka may well be in it but in reality I think neither is a realistic chance..

Yep agreed Oz.

I think South Africa are the team to beat, particularly if Philander comes back from injury. Australia will be up there, the washout against Bangladesh was really unfortunate, nearly a loss for us that no result. Still should be well placed to have a tilt at it, and the power of NZ should not be underestimated. Vettori backs up the quicks extremely well. And they are blasting attacks everywhere at the moment with the batting side of things.

 

[OzRulesFootball]

Yep agreed Oz.

I think South Africa are the team to beat, particularly if Philander comes back from injury. Australia will be up there, the washout against Bangladesh was really unfortunate, nearly a loss for us that no result. Still should be well placed to have a tilt at it, and the power of NZ should not be underestimated. Vettori backs up the quicks extremely well. And they are blasting attacks everywhere at the moment with the batting side of things.

I do not think South Africa are the team to beat, if you thought that you should have tipped them in the poll...lol
I actually think all of Australia, South Africa and New Zealand should feel equally confident in themselves to back winning it but only one can win it so exciting that there are three realistic chances. I do not feel super confident if Hazelwood is our 3rd paceman. I know he is ok but ok may just not cut it in a big semi-final or final. I can just see him bowling in same accurate slot against AB de Villiers in a semi-final and getting same treatment Windies Holder copped. It is a concern as I don't think he takes enough wicket taking balls to make up for getting slogged in an important match and costing us. Hopefully he proves my concerns should not be so high.
Anyway, we should have enough weapons to back ourselves against anyone but it will be tough World Cup to win. Pity Pattinson is not playing as would have loved him the 3rd pace spot if Cummings needed replacing in squad. Cummings I think probably miss today and with a bit of luck, back on weekend.

 

[Goodie's Guns]

I do not think South Africa are the team to beat, if you thought that you should have tipped them in the poll...lol
I actually think all of Australia, South Africa and New Zealand should feel equally confident in themselves to back winning it but only one can win it so exciting that there are three realistic chances. I do not feel super confident if Hazelwood is our 3rd paceman. I know he is ok but ok may just not cut it in a big semi-final or final. I can just see him bowling in same accurate slot against AB de Villiers in a semi-final and getting same treatment Windies Holder copped. It is a concern as I don't think he takes enough wicket taking balls to make up for getting slogged in an important match and costing us. Hopefully he proves my concerns should not be so high.
Anyway, we should have enough weapons to back ourselves against anyone but it will be tough World Cup to win. Pity Pattinson is not playing as would have loved him the 3rd pace spot if Cummings needed replacing in squad. Cummings I think probably miss today and with a bit of luck, back on weekend.

At the time of answering the poll I thought Australia were the team that would win, now I'm not so sure.
And in saying that SA are the team to beat, doesn't mean I am ruling Australia out from winning it.

 

[OzRulesFootball]

New Zealand actually are the team to beat...lol

 

[Zoku Pops]

New Zealand actually are the team to beat...lol

I've got tickets to the final and I would love to sit there and watch Australia beat the Kiwis. I went to Auckland to watch the game last weekend and it was probably the most hostile sporting crowd I have ever been a part of. New Zealand fans wanted to win badly and they weren't overly gracious in victory. But I guess you can't really blame them, it was a great win and they don't get many over their neighbours.

I agree that its a 3 horse race between South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. On paper, South Africa win by a mile but crickets a funny game.

 

[Grant]

I'd say Australia 50%, South Africa 35%, NZ 10%, Others 5%. I know India beat South Africa impressively at the MCG but I can't see them doing it again.

 

[Grant]

The balance of Australia's team today looks awful if Faulkner in for Cummins is the only change like reported. Only 2 specialist bowlers and 4 all rounders is ridiculous. Faulkner at 8, Haddin at 9, Johnson at 10 and Starc at 11 is great batting depth but you need to have a strong group of bowlers. Much better to go with three quality 10 over bowlers and get 20 overs from the other three main options.

 

[Zoku Pops]

The balance of Australia's team today looks awful if Faulkner in for Cummins is the only change like reported. Only 2 specialist bowlers and 4 all rounders is ridiculous. Faulkner at 8, Haddin at 9, Johnson at 10 and Starc at 11 is great batting depth but you need to have a strong group of bowlers. Much better to go with three quality 10 over bowlers and get 20 overs from the other three main options.

Can't touch the precious all-rounders. But I completely agree, it's stupid to field a side like that. Could you imagine only having 2 specialist bowlers against a good team like South Africa? The team we played during the tri-series was the best and most balanced with three specialist quicks and Faulkner as the 4th bowler. My only change to that successful line up going into the World Cup would have been Watson for Clarke.

It will work today as we are only playing Afghanistan but whats the point apart from giving Watson, Maxwell and Marsh a chance to make a score against a weak team?

 

[Goodie's Guns]

There's 5. Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India and Sri Lanka all in with a shot.

Clarke coming back was a great chance to get rid of Watson. Bat Smith at 3, Clarke at 4 and it looks a lot better in my mind.

 

[vin.gill]

Seems to be a lot of one-eyed Aussie supporters here who have an inflated opinion of the team and are discounting the rest

I'd put Aussies/SAF/NZ at 25% each, India 15%, SL 5%, Miracle Effort from another team 5%

Aussies - Yet to get firing, home ground advantage helps but potential QF against SAF looms if they drop another match
SAF - Firing on almost all cylinders... will only lose if they have a mental breakdown (again)
NZ - Benefit of playing at home up until the Final (if they make it). Batsman need to step it up
IND - Much-maligned bowlers have stepped it up... and people forget they are reigning World Cup champs and ICC Champions Trophy champs. On their day... Kohli+Dohni+Sharma+Raina are unstoppable
SL - Don't have the bowlers... overly reliant on the top 4 batsman

Pakistan have quietly found some form...

 

[Goodie's Guns]

Seems to be a lot of one-eyed Aussie supporters here who have an inflated opinion of the team and are discounting the rest

I'd put Aussies/SAF/NZ at 25% each, India 15%, SL 5%, Miracle Effort from another team 5%

Aussies - Yet to get firing, home ground advantage helps but potential QF against SAF looms if they drop another match
SAF - Firing on almost all cylinders... will only lose if they have a mental breakdown (again)
NZ - Benefit of playing at home up until the Final (if they make it). Batsman need to step it up
IND - Much-maligned bowlers have stepped it up... and people forget they are reigning World Cup champs and ICC Champions Trophy champs
SL - Don't have the bowlers... overly reliant on the top 4 batsman

Pakistan have quietly found some form...

I tend to agree with you there Vin, I still think Australia will be a big show at this WC and probably should win it. But I'm still very wary of a firing South African team, and a NZ side that on its day (which recently has been fairly often) can beat anyone comfortably.