cricket world cup thread

[Madone]

Basically only 6 teams can win the world cup imo, so i've bet the outsider of the 6 Pakistan E/W at 9/1, to big of a price not to back with the talent they have in there team and in conditions they are used to.

[AndrewT]

My greatest ever fail - telling anyone who would listen that Sri Lanka were massively overpriced at 66/1 to win the 1996 CWC, then not backing them myself.

[Pelham Boy]

If England can avoid Sri Lanka in the quarter final, i think we have a decent chance of reaching the semi's. Having said that, our WC campaigns are usually pretty disastrous, and we are definitely in the toughest group.

Two area's are going to be crucial in this tournament. Firstly it's crucial to get off to a flyer, run scoring is going to be easiest early on against the seamers, it's worth sacrificing 2 or 3 wickets to get up to 100 after 15 overs. I like the move to open with Pieterson, and Strauss has been positive in the last 12 months in one day cricket. The problem i can see though is Trott. His form in the one dayers in Australia has changed England's plans imo, i'm fairly sure he wouldn't have been in the first choice team pre Aus, but now he has to play and he has to bat at 3. I think he will score runs but i don't think he will get them quickly enough. Also i'm not sure he's all that good against spin. Secondly, it's going to be important that we play the spinners well in the middle overs, something we have constantly been poor at. Morgan is a massive loss here.

[TightEnd]

Slow start for Sehwag.

Immense batting line up, as we know

[Woodsey]

Bangladesh having a decent crack at chasing this massive score down.........

[Woodsey]

Bangladesh having a decent crack at chasing this massive score down.........

Hahaha, bok.......

[buzzharvey22]

bit wierd england leaving yardy out i think....

[boldie]

109  for 2...please let it happen again

[buzzharvey22]

surely the person who stole paul collingwood's razor wins the competition for practical joke of the year?

[TightEnd]

Dropping Yardy is odd

Play him all winter in the one dayers, then get to the WC where conditions need pace off the ball and craftiness and thanks but no thanks

[buzzharvey22]

looks as though theres 2 places in the team between bopara, bresnan and yardy. i think if bopara is happy to bowl a few overs (little medium pacers could be effective in subcontinant) then i would choose bopara and yardy and leave bresnan out. Cant really see what he has to offer on these pitches, if anderson cant make it swing then Bres has no chance.

[boldie]

131-2 Come on Doeschie!

[Acidmouse]

looks as though theres 2 places in the team between bopara, bresnan and yardy. i think if bopara is happy to bowl a few overs (little medium pacers could be effective in subcontinant) then i would choose bopara and yardy and leave bresnan out. Cant really see what he has to offer on these pitches, if anderson cant make it swing then Bres has no chance.

Bresnan is an ideal one day player. his game is great for the format and his stats prove he has done very well. I would defo play him. His batting average is 3 below Bopara's case closed.

[buzzharvey22]

looks as though theres 2 places in the team between bopara, bresnan and yardy. i think if bopara is happy to bowl a few overs (little medium pacers could be effective in subcontinant) then i would choose bopara and yardy and leave bresnan out. Cant really see what he has to offer on these pitches, if anderson cant make it swing then Bres has no chance.

Bresnan is an ideal one day player. his game is great for the format and his stats prove he has done very well. I would defo play him. His batting average is 3 below Bopara's case closed.

hes handy with the bat too, bowling nicely today. just think he may be  the pace to get smacked around a bit of these surfaces by a good batting line up.

[Pelham Boy]

Shambles.