Charismatic

So it'll be the West Indies in the quarter finals.

My view:
The West Indies are very strong if they get going with the bat (big boys with big bats!) but fielding has looked lazy to date and New Zealand would look to have the edge in bowling. It's a likely win for New Zealand but anyone who was watching the other night may note McCullum was dismissed very early (could he slow up and put a few safe runs in before going for a blast?) and Ross Taylors run rate needs improvement. Should be a New Zealand win with some tidy cricket and the bowlers (with Milne back in the attack) take out the big hitters before they get going.

SA v.s. Sri Lanka might be the closest matched teams though obviously ideally, as favourites, Australia chokes before we play them again .

msi geek

SA are the world's greatest Chokers

ICC Champions Trophy How South Africa earned their tag as cricket's great chokers | Metro News

The above article needs to also include:

1. QF loss to WI in 1996 after winning ALL matches convincingly in the group stage
2. SF loss to Australia in 2007

They have, strangely, choked 6 (not 4) times !!!

Since their reintroduction to world cricket in 1991, they have NOT won a single match in the Knockout phase during the last 6 World Cups

They may be a decent ODI side - regardless of their ranking - confronted with a DO or DIE situation, they simply collapse.

When AB D leads his boys out on the field on Wednesday afternoon, their choking instinct will suffocate them.

What's more - the Sydney pitch is known to be spin friendly.

So, the first Semi Final in Auckland will be a SL V NZ affair.

Now, in recent times, NZ has beaten SL. However, NZ has never advanced beyond the semi final stage of a world cup - their past teams have been 1000 times better than the current one - they simply lack the Big Match temperament

Eden Park is hardly a cricket ground with insane short boundaries - who can forget Inzy's knock against the black caps during the 1992 WC SF match?

Who will it be this time - Sanga or ...?

On paper, Australia may be the favourites (Top Dogs). However, Pakistan has always been the Surprise Package - esp. their bowlers (masters of reverse swing).

What's more - the QF match is on a Friday - so watch out Australia (could be humbled in their own backyard) !!!

So, who will play SL play in the final at MCG - Australia or Pakistan?

Charismatic

It's interesting to me that players who look good now (Sangakkara, Vettori etc.) intend to retire from ODI cricket, how long could a cricket player go on for? They may not be as good in four years but you'd have to bet some of them would still be very competent players with a good chance of playing again.

As long as De Villiers bats well I'd be backing SA to win.

msi geek

De Villers is as bad a captain as he is a good batsman

Worst Selections:

De Kock has been miserable - he (AB) could have kept wickets himself. What do you expect from De Kock - he will play an earth shattering innings

Duminy has been another failure - yet they left out Farhaan Behardien who is a good all-rounder and played well in the last match.


In short, SA is ready for their Knockout WC Defeat for the 7th successive time.

Charismatic

Too easy for SA really, applied pressure and watched Sri Lanka crumble. They are better than that.

India and Bangladesh tomorrow.

chocolate cake

Well SA break their run of knock out defeats after a surprising England like performance from Sri Lanka today.

So that leaves 7 teams left, all hoping to join England in leaving this year's world cup with a victory.

Charismatic

Liking Bangladesh here! If you had told them this morning they could be 99-2 @ 25 overs and taken Kholi I think they'd have taken that . Just good basic cricket, although you have to expect India will win with it's depth of talent.

Charismatic

Bangladesh look out of Fizz now.

Lets see if Pakistan can upset Australia.

Charismatic

Guptil!

Charismatic

Right so SA next, I think it's a real coin toss .

Kiwi batting, Guptil was just fantastic but you can't always lean on one batsman. Taylor still looks lost and Williamson/McCullum where not that convincing.

Bowling report: Good.

Baz036

But overall I feel it was excellent. Still a team, still work as a unit and will be better after this result than before.

And don't forget Vettori's stunning catch after clearly showing he will put his wicket on the line for a team mate - that is the spirit that appears to run through this team and will influence games.

Charismatic

My feeling is the ICC may need to look at the number of runs being scored in the long term. I think the optimal area is probably 3-4 an over average. Just slight changes to the ball or the distance between wickets should be enough.

It's silly when the score is regularly 300+, too much control with batsmen and high scores tend to widen the divergence in games making turnarounds very difficult.

LauraNotts

I don't think the number of runs is a problem as such, it's more what there is in the pitch and making sure its a fair contest. After all it's not too long ago we were saying 250 was a big score and would require some luck when chasing - now most teams would manage that pretty easily.

chocolate cake

Too many runs? Mmmm, this was the same pitch (though they're drop in wickets) that the full England team barely managed half of Guptil's alone.

I'd agree though, the fielding restrictions and some short boundaries can make for some ridiculous scores.

20/20 has made a difference too, before for teams chasing when the target got more than run a ball with 10/15 overs to play were up against it, now it's seems to be barely an issue.

There does need to be more balance for sure, these days teams are regularly scoring well in excess of 100 for the last 10 overs.

Charismatic

Milne is out but with injury but, wisely I think, they've went to Matt Henry rather than McClenaghan or Mills.