*Official* Group B Discussion - South Africa, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, England

[Naumaan]

OK GUYS PREDICTION TIME
who's going to win Tomorrow, South Africa or Srilanka
my pick would be South Africa with ease

 

[Athlai]

OK GUYS PREDICTION TIME
who's going to win Tomorrow, South Africa or Srilanka
my pick would be South Africa with ease

Dunno about with ease. Sri Lanka when they run hot do very well.
Yet I'll go with South Africa as well.

 

[G.I.Joe]

Interesting question.

The nearest in Tests for any player with 10'000 runs is Steve Waugh with 92 wickets.
The nearest in Tests for any player with 250 wickets is Kapil Dev with 5248 runs and then Botham with 5200.

Sanath Jayasuriya has 13343 runs in ODIs and 319 wickets.
The nearest after that in ODIs with 10'000 runs is Tendulkar with 154 wickets then Ganguly with 100.
Afridi has the most runs out of all players with 250+ wickets after Kallis and Jayasuriya in ODIs with 5715

But he puts everyone to sleep!

 

[Raghav]

I think if we drop anyone down the order it should be Ryder. McCullum would be best at 7 or opening and we need a 6 more than we need a 7.

Elliott at 3 is interesting, has he ever played there in List A cricket?

I have been telling that NZ batting order at the moment has lot of hitters at the begininng; which we cant afford with this middle order. I know that Elliot is not a specialist No.3 but the at the moment, he is only one who can bat for some time sensibly at the top. He can protect Ross Taylor and the middle order against the new ball...

I cant understand why Ryder should be dropped down the order. He is the only batsman who can make use of the powerplays. McCullum for me may hits 2-3 boundaries and finally plays an ugly shot too early to get out. So, I think McCullum should come down the order and plays where he was doing well previously.

 

[Raghav]

OK GUYS PREDICTION TIME
who's going to win Tomorrow, South Africa or Srilanka
my pick would be South Africa with ease

Sri Lanka

 

[baardslichten]

Interesting question.

The nearest in Tests for any player with 10'000 runs is Steve Waugh with 92 wickets.
The nearest in Tests for any player with 250 wickets is Kapil Dev with 5248 runs and then Botham with 5200.

Sanath Jayasuriya has 13343 runs in ODIs and 319 wickets.
The nearest after that in ODIs with 10'000 runs is Tendulkar with 154 wickets then Ganguly with 100.
Afridi has the most runs out of all players with 250+ wickets after Kallis and Jayasuriya in ODIs with 5715

Thanks for the info. Seems like Kallis is alone in achieving 10 000 runs and 250 wickets in both formats ( 3 wickets away) and no other player is close. Must say, Jayasuriya has a very impressive ODI record !
Kallis might put some people to sleep but when you wake up, you'll realize that he has this incredible all-rounder's record that's not gonna be beaten anytime soon!

Should be a great match today with four very good spinners included in the teams. I think the team that plays the spinners the best and keeps the run-rate up during the middle overs has the best chance.
This tournament is so short and almost every game becomes a must win. With the exception of WI, every team has a very realistic change of taking the trophy. Still, home conditions and current form put SA in the lead.

 

[Raghav]

Thanks for the info. Seems like Kallis is alone in achieving 10 000 runs and 250 wickets in both formats ( 3 wickets away) and no other player is close. Must say, Jayasuriya has a very impressive ODI record !
Kallis might put some people to sleep but when you wake up, you'll realize that he has this incredible all-rounder's record that's not gonna be beaten anytime soon!

Should be a great match today with four very good spinners included in the teams. I think the team that plays the spinners the best and keeps the run-rate up during the middle overs has the best chance.
This tournament is so short and almost every game becomes a must win. With the exception of WI, every team has a very realistic change of taking the trophy. Still, home conditions and current form put SA in the lead.

You cant take WI out of the equation as well...Do you know that WI are the only team to go to the Finals of Mini World Cup thrice..... Surprises are common in a short format games

 

[baardslichten]

You cant take WI out of the equation as well...Do you know that WI are the only team to go to the Finals of Mini World Cup thrice..... Surprises are common in a short format games

I didn't know that and I would love to see them perform for a change, since they're a very exciting team to watch. But on current form and team selection ( don't they have like a second string team because of players' boycott or something?) , I can't see them progressing to the semi's..

 

[Raghav]

I didn't know that and I would love to see them perform for a change, since they're a very exciting team to watch. But on current form and team selection ( don't they have like a second string team because of players' boycott or something?) , I can't see them progressing to the semi's..

Yes you are right. We may see an upcoming star for WI cricket in this series... Long Live West Indies Cricket

 

[andyc]

You cant take WI out of the equation as well...Do you know that WI are the only team to go to the Finals of Mini World Cup thrice..... Surprises are common in a short format games

Well yeah, but their current team is absolutely nowhere near their first string side, so I'd happily argue that any team history at the event is pretty much completely irrelevant.

 

[Raghav]

Well yeah, but their current team is absolutely nowhere near their first string side, so I'd happily argue that any team history at the event is pretty much completely irrelevant.

yeah completely agree with you....

But, If you have a strong talented unit with a strong will to perform and excel, they can be really dangerous...

At the moment, no one sure how these guys really perform....

In 1997, no one gave England a chance to win a Quadrangular event http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/series/61016.html; But the surprising unit won it with strong team performace

I am not saying WI will do it here.. Just want to say that we cant underestimate the second string side any time. They have nothing to lose here...They come with a passion to excel

 

[straw man]

South Africa win the toss and bowl. Crucial match this one as the winner will very likely get through to the semis, while the loser will have a much harder time. Will be interesting to see how the pitch plays.

SA favourites obviously, but I see they're talking themselves up like a team that hasn't won a tournament for a long time. "It's destiny" etc etc. Bad signs for them IMO.

 

[Stapel]

Not regarding WI fielding their 2nd XI, I think no team has ever more than 75% chance to beat any other team in an ODI. Really, the teams are quite close! SA are favourites, but anything can happen.

 

[Prince EWS]

Tipping Sri Lanka for an upset here after seeing the pitch, especially with Smith deciding to bowl first.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Have to say I did have a little chuckle to myself when Ravi said to Fat Gray "You in particular have lost a lot of weight" after the toss.

Obviously meant it as a compliment but the implication was obviously that Smith was a wee bit chunky previously.

 

[Athlai]

Jayasuriya gooooone

 

[GIMH]

Steyn strikes early I see

 

[BoyBrumby]

Pretty darn plumb it was too.

Nice to see Gunner get a gig on the world stage; always rated him as an ump & hope he doesn't make a liar of me now I've so clearly set him up for a Barry Crocker.

 

[Burgey]

Have to say Parnell has been cod ordinary.

If he keeps this up he could be SA's Mitchell Johnson..

 

[Briony]

Parnell is promising but to date has only been effective when there's been swing about. For all his erratic play I think that Albertus's brother was unlucky not to be selected in the squad, at least ahead of Ntini.