Agree. Get the same feeling regarding Pietersen in recent times, especially looking at some of his dismissals. Though whether he's actually in form is pretty debatable.Strauss pisses away good form better than most batsmen in world cricket though, in short and long formats. He's a lot better now than he used to be though.
I say that as someone who doesn't see him as much as others though.
Thinking that myself, only thing it could be is Prior's a better fielder.
What, you want Morgan ruled out? Or am I reading it wrong.
No but going by England logic that's what will happen.
It hasn't been 4 years, he had a good 2008, but he's been poor in 2009 and 2010. When you look at the amount of games he's played in this poor period, just 8 in 2009, 9 in 2010, where as in 2005 - 21 ,2006 - 16, 2007 - 25, 2008 - 21, there's a big difference in the amount of games he's strung together in the last couple of years. To me, he just seems to have forgotten how to construct a one day innings, there have been signs that he has been in good form, like in the first ODi where he hit a good 78 and the other day he hit a 40 odd, he seems to be hitting and timing the ball very well, but has found ways to get out. IMO it would take just one big one day score, for him to settle back down and that would take the pressure off him. I wouldn't be surprised if he comes to life in the WC and makes some good scores.
One off game isn't really going to make much difference though is it? Might've been the thought of limiting chances of Prior getting injured (random broken finger now would've been inevitable the way this series has gone)
Not saying that they aren't a good team and they'll be vary hard to beat in the WC,but before this series they'd lost straight series' to Sri Lanka, England and India, so I wouldn't have them as the team to beat, that has to be India for me.
Australia's record in the last 3 WC's is just incredible. I don't think any other team in world cricket can boast about such dominance in cricket, certainly in the last couple of decades. I agree that Srilanka and England did beat them in odi's. But It wasn't as if they were completely dominated. And the series in India just had one match with others being abandoned due to rain. So its not like they were really worse in odi cricket. Remember they won the series against a strong Indian team in India, 4-2 with a second string team in 2009. Not saying that has any effect now. Its an open WC and i would still have Australia as one of the favourites and yes because of their ability to step up in the big tournaments, the team to beat.
That surely has to be borne in mind but it must also be considered that no matter what the Aussies will fight it out. If there is one quality that they usually have, it is that they will fight it out to the last ball. Some reflection of that i see in the current indian team too which makes them so good.
Close, against NZ in the next match after the Pakistan lose.
Just saying, they aren't as good as they were in those years and yes they have been awsome in WC over the years and have a great WC pedigree, but I'd have India as my team to beat. There are quite a few teams, who, if their players find some great form and the team get on a roll, can potentially win.
