***Official*** ICC World Cup Qualifiers 2018

[Beamer]

The way they’re going at the next WC the Windies won’t even qualify for the qualifying tournament.

The ODI side is laughably bad. We jsut had to bowl UAE out for 80 to scrape a tight win! There is no strategy for improving, we're playing ODI's like everyone did in the early 2000s whilst everyone else gets 280 minimum every innings. None of the batsmen can rotate the strike. The death bowling is awful. We've got a specialist medium paced hack in Kesrick Williams in the side. Holder is a woeful tactician. It is seriously ugly.

If Gayle, Lewis, Hope and Samuels don't score we're screwed, even against associates. There's only so long they can use the lack of big names excuse. Only Narine and Russell would make a difference. They need to put together some sort of strategy to improve our strike rotation or I don't see us qualifying for any major ODI tournament soon.

 

[MagicPoopShovel]

Thanks mate! Yeah still here - but that "may" be changing soon.

Germany is a great story - so much potential there. The only issue is being able to control the craze that is cricket amongst Germany's newest communities! A genuine candidate for exceptional funding form ICC - and deeper partnerships with German government around support (facilities / funding / leagues etc). Look up "German Cricket TV" on Facebook. Run by a successful Aussie trader who lives there now - over a million followers and growing! THey will be bigger than Oman no question in my view, with clear parallels to Afghanistan's success, considering the majority of the community!

What kind of communities are taking up cricket in Germany? Is there a strong grassroots movement there? Are there many Germans actually taking to it or is still more of an expat driven thing still?

One thing about the Germans is that given how systematic they can be with how they structure those lower levels , if the interest is there then I am sure they could potentially do the same as they have done with football in organising the lower levels really well.

Hope that is the case. It would be great to see another EU side become as prominent as AFG have over the last couple of years.

 

[TimCutler]

What kind of communities are taking up cricket in Germany? Is there a strong grassroots movement there? Are there many Germans actually taking to it or is still more of an expat driven thing still?

One thing about the Germans is that given how systematic they can be with how they structure those lower levels , if the interest is there then I am sure they could potentially do the same as they have done with football in organising the lower levels really well.

Hope that is the case. It would be great to see another EU side become as prominent as AFG have over the last couple of years.

The majority of the (new) cricketing community that is driving all this growth is the influx of refugees being welcomed from Afghanistan (mainly) and Pakistan - have a look at these figures: Statistics - Germany | Asylum Information Database

The DCB has been doing its best to keep up with this and I believe may have received additional (progress) payment to assist in managing this stupendous growth (not to mention there's another cricket association not recognised by the ICC; the DCU doing similar work).

The majority format being played is tapeball - and with the lack of access to proper facilities this is probably best as the sport does not need a bad news story about a cricket ball hitting some passer-by!

Biggest challenge I see is organising the paid / volunteers to manage the development, help new clubs / leagues grow - but with not enough facilities, this is tough. Hopefully the gov step up to provide proper (hard ball) facilities - we could have another member rapidly rising up through the ranks if this is managed correctly!

If no facilities - (or as well) I would harness the tape ball phenomenon as much as possible and try to bring all these disparate comps together through a specially designed app - drive engagement - get numbers - commercialise (think all the companies who would love to get into this market - sim cards, affordable smart phones, power banks, money transfer services) and go from there - I can see re purposed football stadiums full, watching Bundesliga Tapeball national finals!

 

[Starfighter]

The ODI side is laughably bad. We jsut had to bowl UAE out for 80 to scrape a tight win! There is no strategy for improving, we're playing ODI's like everyone did in the early 2000s whilst everyone else gets 280 minimum every innings. None of the batsmen can rotate the strike. The death bowling is awful. We've got a specialist medium paced hack in Kesrick Williams in the side. Holder is a woeful tactician. It is seriously ugly.

If Gayle, Lewis, Hope and Samuels don't score we're screwed, even against associates. There's only so long they can use the lack of big names excuse. Only Narine and Russell would make a difference. They need to put together some sort of strategy to improve our strike rotation or I don't see us qualifying for any major ODI tournament soon.

A better variety of domestic pitches would go a long way to helping the Windies too. The slow, low wickets the Lions were just cleaned up on are so bad for developing cricketers in general.

Holder seems too often to be doing the Darren Sammy specialist captain role.

 

[weldone]

Will all the matches have ODI status?

 

[Daemon]

Not all I believe, only the games played between the teams that already have permanent ODI status (WI, Afg, Ire, Zim) and temporary ODI status (Scotland, UAE, HK, PNG). Games involving the remaining teams (Netherlands and Nepal) probably don't get ODI status.

Bit weird because Netherlands won the WCL Championship so they'll get ODI status almost immediately after the WCL Qualifiers end I think. Not 100% sure how this all works.

 

[TimCutler]

Will all the matches have ODI status?

No. Netherlands (despite already being qualified for the ODI League) and Nepal do not have ODI status and rather than making all matches in this ‘upgraded’ global tournament ODIs, any matches including either of these teams will be List A - even against FMs.

 

[TimCutler]

Not all I believe, only the games played between the teams that already have permanent ODI status (WI, Afg, Ire, Zim) and temporary ODI status (Scotland, UAE, HK, PNG). Games involving the remaining teams (Netherlands and Nepal) probably don't get ODI status.

Bit weird because Netherlands won the WCL Championship so they'll get ODI status almost immediately after the WCL Qualifiers end I think. Not 100% sure how this all works.

For some reason this reply only emerged after I wrote mine. Yeah, you’re not the only one who doesn’t get it. Netherlands have already qualified for the ODI league - they choiodve got status as soon as that was confirmed..... anyway, it’s not going to matter if it rains for the next fortnight!!

 

[Starfighter]

I have a slight feeling that Nepal won't be qualifying. Conceding 380 to Zimbabwe is no mean feat.

 

[Daemon]

Mujeeb is such a gun. Best part is his action looks pretty clean even if unorthodox, which is very rare in offies these days.

 

[SeamUp]

Scotland in this vs Afghanistan.

 

[SeamUp]

Actually if they don't win this they will be disappointed.

 

[CricAddict]

Actually if they don't win this they will be disappointed.

Rashid being taken to the cleaners. Captaincy weighing?

 

[Daemon]

Wait why the hell is he captain

 

[weldone]

It sounds like a top top knock from Calum Macleod. He single-handedly destroyed Rashid and company in this match.

@Daemon: It's because Stanikzai is injured. But yes I think a senior guy like Nabi could have been given captaincy.

 

[SeamUp]

Rashid being taken to the cleaners. Captaincy weighing?

Wait why the hell is he captain

Just plain stupid isn't it.

 

[CricAddict]

Just plain stupid isn't it.

Yes. And this is going to be a huge upset.

 

[Camo999]

Good all-round performance there. Payback for that cliffhanger in the 2015 WC.

Whereas in the past, we've been competitive but not getting over the line, it's nice that we're now getting some wins over good teams. Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan in the last year alone even though we barely play any matches. A joke that our (or anyone else's) ODI status is at risk having made this tournament.

 

[srbhkshk]

Good all-round performance there. Payback for that cliffhanger in the 2015 WC.

Whereas in the past, we've been competitive but not getting over the line, it's nice that we're now getting some wins over good teams. Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan in the last year alone even though we barely play any matches. A joke that our (or anyone else's) ODI status is at risk having made this tournament.

The very fact that a total of 10 or so nations have permanent odi status is itself a joke, increase it to 25 and force the bigger nations to play at least a couple of matches here and there...

 

[SeamUp]

Good all-round performance there. Payback for that cliffhanger in the 2015 WC.

Whereas in the past, we've been competitive but not getting over the line, it's nice that we're now getting some wins over good teams. Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan in the last year alone even though we barely play any matches. A joke that our (or anyone else's) ODI status is at risk having made this tournament.

Really impressive by Scotland.

Well done mate.