2011 Cricket World Cup

[Botany Bay]

And the best part? When asked about his knock, O'Brien said something like : "Yeah, nobody's ever going to beat that innings!" Good on him

England look like they've seriously just had enough cricket. If they can bite the bullet and get rid of poor old Collywobbles and drop that Yardy, they may still be able to get out of their group, but boy, Broad and Anderson need to start delivering. Their batting still looks dangerous.

As I type this, it seems Canada have put themselves in a great position to knock over Pakistan, but before that, the South Africans made mincemeat out of the Netherlands, and yesterday Kenya were crushed yet again, this time by Sri Lanka.

So, on balance, I'm still for a minnow cull for the next cup. Hilarious to watch England almost lose to Holland, and then get done by the Irish, but sitting through two weeks of stale, one sided cricket played in front of empty seats to get two upsets? Not worth it.

One minnow to join the test playing nations sounds about right to me, with everyone playing each other once in a shortened tournament.

Word is though, next time, they're going to guarantee the top 8 "established" TPN's a spot, and make Zim and Ban fight it out with the minnows for spots in a ten team cup. Apparently these spots will be awarded based on performance over the next three years.

This is a good idea - it will help lend some legitimacy to the pointless 5 match series that seem to follow the tests these days, but why not make ALL teams qualify based on performance? That would really spice up ODI cricket between cups.

 

[donners22]

Geez, Canada really pushed Pakistan - only 46 runs between them in the end (albeit in a low-scoring game).

Five wickets to Afridi. I can't believe he's only 31; he seems to have been around forever!

 

[Botany Bay]

It's incredible - I remember watching him at the SCG when I was barely out of high school, and he was 16 I think.

There have been rumours his age has been fudged, and he is older than advertised, making his longevity even more impressive.

Who knows, he could play three more cups? That would take him to seven all up

Another night, another borefest...Kiwis are romping in a ten wicket win over the Zimbos, and Bangladesh are 5 for nothing batting first against the Windies.

Horrible scheduling - at least give us one decent match on a Friday night.

 

[Orac Zen]

I can see both sides of the minnow thing. On the one hand, no one really grows, changes, develops if they're not challenged by something better. On the other, being flogged can be pretty deflating. However, I can't see any good reason at all to throw out the minnows while Bangladesh and Zimbabwe are allowed to remain. Of course, Zimbabwe shouldn't be allowed anywhere near any international sporting competition of any description whatsoever, IMO, but that's another subject.

I agree with BB that everyone should have to qualify. At the outside, a football-style idea, where the hosts and the previous champions qualify, should be introduced. That would retain the possibility of a minnow or two qualifying and give a bit more meaning to the event.

 

[Botany Bay]

Finally Australia's World Cup seriously gets underway with a massive test against Sri Lanka.

I was watching Malinga bowling the other night - he is bowling absolute missiles. Yorkers that swing so late that you can't get your bat on them.

We're also playing on a ground where Murali has hundreds of ODI wickets.

Sri Lankans see us as the arch enemy.

This is a very, very dangerous game I reckon.

Apparently we've won 31 straight World Cup matches - unbelieveable.

I think the streak is in danger tonight.

 

[donners22]

I suppose the streak is technically over, thanks to rain. At least Mike Hussey is on his way. Our next game is against Kenya on Sunday, which should not be a problem. They are a shadow of the side they once were.

Great performance from New Zealand to slaughter Pakistan last night, especially with Vettori not required with bat or ball.

 

[Botany Bay]

Taylor's innings was incredible - arguably as good as Strauss' against India.

Unfortunately, he was dropped twice by Kamran Akmal, who is either the worst wicketkeeper in international cricket or a cheat. Either way I think Pakistan cricket needs him to make a swift exit.

The last hour of that Kiwi innings was brutal. Almost as enjoyable as watching the Saffers fall apart chasing bugger all against England last weekend. I still like RSA for the title, but England may have exposed their achilles heel - no Boucher. He would have got them home the other night.

Very happy to see Hussey join the Squad. Common sense appears at the selection table at last. Opponents dread him, and we look a better unit having him there.

 

[donners22]

Perhaps Kamran is just incompetent, but I'd have doubts over the Pakistan selectors if they keep him in.


Don't think you could get a more dominant display than Dilshan's last night - 144 with the bat and 4/4 with the ball...

 

[Botany Bay]

England have been bowled out by Bangladesh. 225 might be tough to defend, especially under pressure. Looks interesting.

Too tired to stay up...damn.

 

[donners22]

Should have stayed up - another upset loss for England.

 

[Botany Bay]

Damn! I had a feeling the upset was on!

Staying up tonight for RSA v IND.

India should have made 400 after the start Shewag and Tendulkar gave them, but ended up being bowled out for 296.

South Africa looking in reasonable shape chasing so far.

 

[Orac Zen]

I was following the first part of India's innings online (thank you, Guardian); it kinda boggles the mind that they could stuff up so badly from where they were after 20-odd overs. Still, even the best batting lineups can have their off days, and Steyn is by far the best bowler on the planet, IMO.

Minnow time for us later. Here's hoping we don't screw it up.

 

[donners22]

India collapsed against England as well. Bowling is their weakness, but that could also be a concern.

Fairly mediocre effort against Kenya so far...

 

[Botany Bay]

...and an indifferent bowling effort tonight against Canada.

All it would have taken is for Davison to hang around and we'd have been chasing 300 plus.

Not very impressed with the quicks to be honest.

Edit : Tait has just hit one of the Canadians with a beamer that landed right on the worst spot imaginable. Glass eyes are weeping watching that...ouch.

 

[donners22]

Had to laugh at Ponting's tantrum when Smith bashed into him while they went for a catch.

The problems with Australia - inconsistent pace bowling, weak spin bowling and poor form of White and Ponting - could be real issues when we face a decent side.

 

[Orac Zen]

At least Ponting owns up when he screws up (which is far more than one can say for some cricketers of recent vintage, from Australia and elsewhere), but that was pretty damned childish. If Smith had flattened him he might have had a case for that sort of overreaction; as it was, he just looked stupid. Again.

It didn't seem like a particularly impressive performance. We'll probably need to do much better against Pakistan, although that of course depends on which version of Pakistan shows up - the world-beating version or the lose-to-anyone one. Regardless, I doubt any of the sides left in the event will find us particularly intimidating based on our efforts to date.

 

[Botany Bay]

He knows full well we're on the plane home if we can't figure out a way to get on top of the opposition openers.

Why can't he shoulder some of the blame though? He has never been a tactician, but just copy what is working for all the other teams and bowl Krejza early on.

Yeah, he was ugly again, and it would have done the baby faced Smith's confidence no good.

Smith needs a long bat desperately, and his bowling hasn't troubled anyone. Must be tempting to give Hastings a run against Pakistan and see how he goes.

Watching WI v England tonight, and the West Indians have got a terrific looking leggie called Bishoo. (Godbless).

His bowling is nothing to sneeze at.

No, he looks good, seriously. And England look like they might want to start packing their bags.

 

[trekkiebaggio]

I thought we were dead and buried there. Well played Tredwell!

Somehow we've managed to cling on, hopefully results go our way over the next couple of days so that we do actually get to the Quarters. And then what, another Australia v England meeting? I wouldn't be surprised if things worked out that way.

 

[Orac Zen]

One of the many things I like about cricket is the sheer volume of bizarre minutiae it generates. I was just reading the over-by-over descriptions for the NZ-Sri Lanka game at the Guardian's website and it mentioned that in the Ireland-Holland match (go, Ireland), Holland's last four wickets fell in four balls - all to run-outs. Gotta love a sport than can produce something so weird.

 

[Botany Bay]

I thought we were dead and buried there. Well played Tredwell!

Somehow we've managed to cling on, hopefully results go our way over the next couple of days so that we do actually get to the Quarters. And then what, another Australia v England meeting? I wouldn't be surprised if things worked out that way.

I thought you guys were on the plane for sure!

England looks a better team without the useless Yardy or Collingwood. Swann is just all class. I would trade any of our bowlers for him.

Please, no Eng vs. Aus match. Ashes humiliation plus a World Cup elimination is a bit much for me to take in one season

One of the many things I like about cricket is the sheer volume of bizarre minutiae it generates. I was just reading the over-by-over descriptions for the NZ-Sri Lanka game at the Guardian's website and it mentioned that in the Ireland-Holland match (go, Ireland), Holland's last four wickets fell in four balls - all to run-outs. Gotta love a sport than can produce something so weird.

Now THAT is incredible.

I've been watching the NZ/SL match, and there was an extraordinary third umpire decision - possibly the worst of all time.

Nathan McCullum took a full stretch caught and bowled off Jayawardene, in his fingertips, but indisputably a fair catch. Jayawardene decided he wanted it referred, and replays confirmed the clear take, yet the third umpire, unbelievably, gave him not out.

The Kiwis were rightfully furious. A bewildering failure of the umpiring system. Of course Jayawrdene went on to post a decent score, and along with a rampant Sangakkara, they've set the Kiwis a challenging total.

It would be sweet justice, however, if the Kiwis posted the winning score tonight off the blade of McCullum.