England's best chance?

[GIMH]

Although it's a trophy that people care less and less about (and this is the last one, right?) surely this tournament represents England's best ever chance of 50 over glory? Our recent home record in ODIs is pretty bloody good so despite the fact that we are quite unsettled in terms of knowing our best team, I'm actually quite confident that we can do very well in this. And I don't feel like it's my usual brand of blind optimism either.

Thoughts?

 

[BoyBrumby]

If it was a comp that consisted of a series 3 or 5 match rubbers then I'd say we were worthy favs, however we remain all too beatable in one-off matches.

If the Saffers can overcome their traditional breathing difficulties I'd say they were the team to beat, but the Windies and Pakistan are darkhorses too.

 

[Daemon]

I'm not sure why but whenever I think of England in ODIs, Dernbach instantly pops into my mind.

If he plays and England manage to win, it'll be the greatest ODI X of all time.

 

[Howe_zat]

Yeah, why not. It's not a very good chance, but that's mainly because there are loads of teams with a decent shout.

 

[Cabinet96]

I wouldn't be surprised if any of the 8 sides won it tbh. But I'd have us as one of the favourites.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Will our 260-280 totals be enough to beat teams with a batting line up, one wonders?

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Will our 260-280 totals be enough to beat teams with a batting line up, one wonders?

Well we are backing 260-280 and to win it with our strong bowling attack. Might work but I think we'll come a cropper at some stage.

 

[Cabinet96]

Will our 260-280 totals be enough to beat teams with a batting line up, one wonders?

I'd back us to get more against the sides with stronger batting line ups. At least on a pitch like todays.

 

[NasserFan207]

England have a chance, but for mine India are favourites, with Windies behind them, mostly because their players have played a ton of short form cricket recently and are probably all in form.

 

[Uppercut]

Being at home helps a lot. There won't be too many of the 300+ pitches that won't suit them. If any of their front-line bowlers breaks down they're in trouble but with all of them fit they're probably favourites against anyone.

 

[Jono]

Your best chance was in 2004 when in the final you needed 2 wickets and a bucket load of runs in hand against WI.

Couldn't get it done.

 

[Howe_zat]

Being at home helps a lot. There won't be too many of the 300+ pitches that won't suit them. If any of their front-line bowlers breaks down they're in trouble but with all of them fit they're probably favourites against anyone.

Well Swann has already broken down and they have a top-10 ranked pace bowler carrying drinks right now, so that seems a bit off

 

[luckyeddie]

Well Swann has already broken down and they have a top-10 ranked pace bowler carrying drinks right now, so that seems a bit off

If we'd have been playing a cricket team yesterday we might well have been in trouble.

 

[Furball]

It's hilarious that England's methods are being criticised when they've just lost their first home series in 4 years.

There's no chance that India 'no wins last time they toured England' are favourites.

 

[Cabinet96]

England are also the only side that's ever looked like getting 250 since Thursday, and they could have got more if more of the lower order fired. We've seen a few of the so called 'big hitting sides' today and on Friday, and frankly, they don't look that threatening.

 

[Woodster]

Yes my concern is if playing a strong batting side on a good, flat deck where we may not be able to set a big enough total or chase down a 300+ score. Of course we do have a strong bowling attack and that may mean we don't concede 300 runs too often in the competition, but should we find ourselves in that position I hope the batting order becomes a little more flexible. If we do need a big total than perhaps promote Eoin Morgan in order to give him the time to build a big one. Generally we are very reliant on KP in such circumstances to score quickly and make a substantial contribution if we're to win those games, time for another man to step up.

 

[Cabinet96]

KP has had two good innings in the last four years, and he quit the format as soon as those happened! England's best one day cricket since the last World Cup has generally not featured KP (the UAE series apart). Beat India, Australia, West Indies and drew with South Africa at home, and won in New Zealand to boot, all without him. We're about as reliant on him in one day cricket as Australia are on Ryan Harris.

 

[Daemon]

It's hilarious that England's methods are being criticised when they've just lost their first home series in 4 years.

There's no chance that India 'no wins last time they toured England' are favourites.

Already won two warm ups and the first game. Beating you lot will be a piece of cake, assuming you make it out of your group.

 

[Woodster]

KP has had two good innings in the last four years, and he quit the format as soon as those happened! England's best one day cricket since the last World Cup has generally not featured KP (the UAE series apart). Beat India, Australia, West Indies and drew with South Africa at home, and won in New Zealand to boot, all without him. We're about as reliant on him in one day cricket as Australia are on Ryan Harris.

Not sure I agree that he has had just two good innings, he's batted well and not gone on to get the three-figured scores he (and we) would have liked but he has still played some decent innings. All I was saying was that if we ever looked like chasing down a big total, then he would have to be pivotal. I'm not saying he always succeeds but that has probably been due to him being the sole batsman capable at scoring at the rate necessary to chase the totals down, thus he has to take more risks than what is advisable.

 

[greg]

IMO there may be some limited merit in the belief that England will struggle to post enough runs on really flat decks, and running into a flat deck against the wrong team at a crucial time could hamper their chances of winning the tournament. However I struggle to take some of the critics seriously, when they simultaneously nominate as "teams that could go all the way" certain teams who on occasion struggle to post 200 on non-minefields. Because let's face it, having your batting prone to collapsing like a pack of cards doesn't exactly generate much confidence in a knockout format either!