Premature postulation? How embarrassing for you
Quite a lot depends on which Pakistan decides to turn up. If I had to pick one, I'd go with Australia. It's a World Cup match plus Pakistan's recent record against them is very ordinary.so in group A quite a bit boils down to Aus Pak match. So who is gonna win that one?
This is the key I think.Quite a lot depends on which Pakistan decides to turn up..
It's the opposite in Pakistan's case : they are far better at setting a total than chasing one. Looks like both teams will get what they want on Saturday.Our bowling's a worry in terms of consistency - probably Pakistan would look to target that.
Mind you I definitely would chase against us. We're far better chasers than defenders.
I don't think so. Waqar really wants to win this match. The last time Aus were beaten in a WC match was in 1999 by Pakistan. In 2003 we had Aus in a spot of bother before Andrew Symonds blasted us away. If there is one team I would back to beat Aus, it is Pakistan. But Pak need to get up on the right side of the bed.If this was a knockout game or a game that Pakistan needed to win to qualify for the QF,i have favored them.But since Pakistan have qualified for the QF,i think they might pull their foot off the pedal for this match.
Australia to prevail.Pakistan ending up on 4th place,thus meeting South Africa in the QF and avoiding India.Expect the 'should Pakistan deliberately under perform against Australia to avoid meeting India in the next round' topic to be discussed heavily in the next few days.
true. Although I think Ricky Ponting might bat first knowing just how terrible Pakistan are in chasing a total.It's the opposite in Pakistan's case : they are far better at setting a total than chasing one. Looks like both teams will get what they want on Saturday.
true. Although I think Ricky Ponting might bat first knowing just how terrible Pakistan are in chasing a total.
Unless the pitch looks like a seamer's paradise, I'm pretty sure Ponting would bat first. I doubt his decision would have anything to do with the opposition's strengths or weaknesses. Batting first is the most positive, aggressive choice and I think that's what Ponting will be looking for.Ponting would be the last captain on the planet to put the opponent's weakness over his own team's strength though.
I don't know about that. I think playing to one's strength is a positive attitude. Like SL in the 96 WC always liked to chase. I thought they were quite positive about it.Unless the pitch looks like a seamer's paradise, I'm pretty sure Ponting would bat first. I doubt his decision would have anything to do with the opposition's strengths or weaknesses. Batting first is the most positive, aggressive choice and I think that's what Ponting will be looking for.
except they did get thrashed 6-1 in the recent series, I know it was a different setting and conditions etc but still would be a psychological edge for the AussiesDepending on the result of tonights match, looking quite like one of the QFs could be Australia v England. That could be a ripper - would expect England to really challenge Australia, who have more in common with SA and India than they do with Ireland or Bangladesh.
England will face SL if SL beat NZ. England have 7 points WI 6Depending on the result of tonights match, looking quite like one of the QFs could be Australia v England. That could be a ripper - would expect England to really challenge Australia, who have more in common with SA and India than they do with Ireland or Bangladesh.
We beat Australia 3-2 in England 6 months ago, so it's swings and roundabouts.except they did get thrashed 6-1 in the recent series, I know it was a different setting and conditions etc but still would be a psychological edge for the Aussies
Not really. Having lost the Ashes and lost to them in the t20 format, Im fairly certain England will go into that game with plenty of confidence. I know it is a different format, but mentally England know that they can beat them and that is all that matters. The 6-1 result was rather meaningless because it was largely a pointless series with many of the players either injured or mentally drained after a very long tour.except they did get thrashed 6-1 in the recent series, I know it was a different setting and conditions etc but still would be a psychological edge for the Aussies