Super Eight

[Matt79]

Quite annoyed with Sri Lanka for resting Murali and Vaas. If they needed the rest, the Ireland game would have made more sense. Its just poor cricket and poor psychology IMO. And its robbing the fans of a decent game of cricket.

All teams rest players, and rotate players. And it isn't really a problem so long as you still win. However, when your best bowler to date in the tournament is forced to miss, and you're playing the #1 team and your likely opponent should you reach the finals, resting the other two-thirds of your world class line up is daft. And when you get thumped you deserve to be roundly criticised for it.

The only way they could justify it is if they were actually concerned that Murali and Vaas would have risked breaking down either in last night's match or in their next match, if they weren't given the lay-off. The SL camp were making a few muted noises about Murali having a sore groin muscle, but that was about it - so it was a bad call for mine.

 

[Perm]

The game tonight has all the makings of a classic, I'm getting quite excited about it really. Looking forward to seeing Nel and Ntini charging in at Pietersen, he'll be looking to keep his good record against South Africa going.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Anyways have KP or Smith said anything new about each other, or are they saving their best for today's game.


England really should play Plunkett today if they are serious about winning today.

I'd be amazed if the Bangladesh game didn't seal England's fate of having Mahmood in the ODI side til Fletcher resigns/gets the boot.

Panesar should only be an occasional selection as well. He might be OK against SA, but against most other sides I'd sooner have another seamer.

 

[pup11]

England would need a lot more than just Pietersen doing well today, because none of KP's odi centuries have been in winning causes for England so that shows it that a collective effort from England is required for them to win today.

 

[Perm]

Panesar should only be an occasional selection as well. He might be OK against SA, but against most other sides I'd sooner have another seamer.

Agreed, he hasn't shown much to suggest he'll be a good ODI bowler. Needs to learn a bit more in domestic cricket in the limited overs game before he can become a permanent selection.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Agreed, he hasn't shown much to suggest he'll be a good ODI bowler. Needs to learn a bit more in domestic cricket in the limited overs game before he can become a permanent selection.

My opinion is he could become a worthwhile ODI bowler (although I can't think of any ODI spinner who contributes so little with his batting/fielding so he needs to really work on those) but at the moment he just doesn't vary his pace enough and so his bowling is predictable. I don't ever see him contributing much in Test cricket and he'd be no more than an occasional selection there.

 

[simmy]

Agreed, he hasn't shown much to suggest he'll be a good ODI bowler. Needs to learn a bit more in domestic cricket in the limited overs game before he can become a permanent selection.

Just needs to bowl to more attacking fields and flight the ball. Basically bowl like he does in test matches.

If he does this then I think he has a lot to offer.

 

[marc71178]

Typical nitpicking post. One player was rested for a game against Ireland. The only change for the entire World Cup. Your one line posts are pretty irritating at times especially when taking things out of context.

And how exactly is that different to SL resting players for one game?

 

[Perm]

My opinion is he could become a worthwhile ODI bowler (although I can't think of any ODI spinner who contributes so little with his batting/fielding so he needs to really work on those) but at the moment he just doesn't vary his pace enough and so his bowling is predictable. I don't ever see him contributing much in Test cricket and he'd be no more than an occasional selection there.

This whole thing about Monty's fielding and batting is ridiculous, he has played a couple of good innings in Test matches against Sri Lanka and Australia yet people still say he can't bat to save himself. His fielding isn't that flash and he'll never be a great athlete, but he chases the ball hard and has a pretty good arm. All you can ask from a bowler IMO, he's not a liability in the fact he'll drop heaps of catches but he'll never be able to pull off a stunner than some bowlers may be able to.

 

[pasag]

And how exactly is that different to SL resting players for one game?

****, you're annoying. Pretty sure I've explained that point in my discussion with Tharmi, but that'd probably require you actually reading posts as opposed to seeing sentences you don't agree with and taking them out of context.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Btw, does anyone know how much NZ have to beat Australia by to take the top spot?

Its nigh on impossible mate.

Say Aussie score 300 off 50.

Then NZ will have to chase it down well withing 30 odd overs. Not gonna happen

 

[marc71178]

****, you're annoying. Pretty sure I've explained that point in my discussion with Tharmi, but that'd probably require you actually reading posts as opposed to seeing sentences you don't agree with and taking them out of context.

Well sorry for reading things in order - I should clearly read things in random places

I don't care what you say about it being different because at the end of the day, both teams rotated their squads during the World Cup.

 

[GGG]

I have a feeling that NZ too might rest Vettori and Bond for the game against the Aussies.

Not likely, Fleming isn't that stupid, he plays to win every game.

 

[Scaly piscine]

This whole thing about Monty's fielding and batting is ridiculous, he has played a couple of good innings in Test matches against Sri Lanka and Australia yet people still say he can't bat to save himself. His fielding isn't that flash and he'll never be a great athlete, but he chases the ball hard and has a pretty good arm. All you can ask from a bowler IMO, he's not a liability in the fact he'll drop heaps of catches but he'll never be able to pull off a stunner than some bowlers may be able to.

You're missing the point, he still contributes less with the bat and in the field overall than most spinners. Danish Kaneria is probably worse, Murali/Kumble/Turbinator/MacGill are in the same ballpark, Vettori, Jeetan Patel, Giles, Peterson, Hogg, Warne, Rafique, Razzaq contribute more.

The players that are equal or worse either don't play regularly, are under threat or are Murali.

 

[GGG]

Who are the neutrals going for in this game? My money is on SAF, but would like to see England win.

 

[pasag]

Going for England.

 

[Raghav]

Good toss to win for Vaughan. Eng will bat first. Love it! Atleast I am hoping that Vaughan will finally scores a century.

 

[Raghav]

Langeveldt In. Good thing

 

[simmy]

Man... I would rather England chased this. The new ball on a fresh track would move for Anderson and take off for Flintoff and Mahmood.

 

[Raghav]

Ntini Out. Rightly done to bring Langbeldt in. Also Kemp in.