Who do you have pegged for your 4 semi finalists?

[stephen]

It just wouldn't be a cricket world cup if the kiwis didn't get a semi finals berth.

 

[BeeGee]

India, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

India v Aus final.

England will lose the opener to SA and then wilt under the pressure of expectation.

 

[James90]

England, India, Australia and NZ.

Sri Lanka to finish bottom.

 

[Burgey]

Can see NZ really causing problems if there’s a bit I the conditions. Got the bowlers to do it and Williamson arguably the best batsman technically equipped to handle late movement

 

[GoodAreasShane]

Agreed. Not to mention now much of a beast Ross Taylor has been in ODI cricket over the last couple of years

 

[trundler]

I would really love to see West Indies get to the semis. World cricket needs a strong West Indies.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

England, India, NZ and Crime

 

[straw man]

NZ would love it if the pitches were more 260-280 than 330-350 this tournament - both the bowling (better at taking wickets than containing) and the batting (lots of cake, questionable icing). Have a weird schedule playing the three weakest-looking teams (SL, Bang, Afg) in the first three matches - good to ease into the tournament but cannot afford to drop a single one of those, and Bangladesh did beat NZ last tournament in England.

 

[Moss]

NZ would love it if the pitches were more 260-280 than 330-350 this tournament - both the bowling (better at taking wickets than containing) and the batting (lots of cake, questionable icing). Have a weird schedule playing the three weakest-looking teams (SL, Bang, Afg) in the first three matches - good to ease into the tournament but cannot afford to drop a single one of those, and Bangladesh did beat NZ last tournament in England.

The game against Afghanistan is at Taunton which conditions-wise I understand is about as close to the subcontinent as it gets? Williamson and co. will need to be on their toes for that game.

 

[Moss]

England, India, Australia as the top 3 (though personally I would be happy if any team aside from these 3 wins the tournament). I'm picking Pakistan to edge out NZ and South Africa for the fourth spot.

 

[straw man]

The game against Afghanistan is at Taunton which conditions-wise I understand is about as close to the subcontinent as it gets? Williamson and co. will need to be on their toes for that game.

Could be - have to admit I don't know much about Afghanistan apart from a couple of bowlers. Was under the general impression that their batting might let them down, though could still bowl a team out cheaply and upset them that way.

 

[CricAddict]

I have a feeling that India will huff and puff it's way as the No 4 team for the semis and it won't be easy going for them.

 

[SteveNZ]

Not many of us said the West Indies...but they should be there with a sniff. Only issue will be their spinners are pretty rank. But holy cow if Holder, Russell and Braithwaite get a go at 280 odd with 10-12 overs to go, look out.

 

[mr_mister]

280 off 10-12 overs is a task beyond even them

 

[SteveNZ]

Good stuff.

 

[marc71178]

Realistically a side is going to need 6 wins out of 9 games to qualify. I just can't see Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka or Afghanistan get that many.

I could see something like (assuming all games played out):

England - 8
India - 7
Australia / New Zealand / South Africa - 6
Pakistan - 4
West Indies / Bangladesh - 3
Sri Lanka / Afghanistan - 1

 

[weldone]

Probably England, Australia, India and SA but all teams have some chance of reaching semis bar SL and Afg.

 

[vcs]

Realistically a side is going to need 6 wins out of 9 games to qualify. I just can't see Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka or Afghanistan get that many.

I could see something like (assuming all games played out):

England - 8
India - 7
Australia / New Zealand / South Africa - 6
Pakistan - 4
West Indies / Bangladesh - 3
Sri Lanka / Afghanistan - 1

I don't think India will win 7/9 games. 6 at best.

 

[cnerd123]

People overrating India here IMO. The batting is Top 3 or bust, the bowling is overly reliant on Bumrah. Two wrist-spinners are not proven in English conditions - just 4 ODIs for 2 wickets combined between them, albeit at an economy of 4.6. You would back them to get over on SL, Afgh, BD and Pak, but they could very easily lose against rest of the sides in this competition.

West Indies are the dark horse for this WC IMO. They're a different outfit with Gayle and Dre Russ back, and overall their strategy of playing ODI cricket like one elongated T20 fits in perfectly for these conditions. They bat deep as well, and have some excellent fielders in the mix. Could go all the way IMO. Just depends if they maintain consistency - they dropped games to BD before this, but were miss Dre Drus during that.

Australia have peaked at the right time, and England should canter into the Semis. NZ and SA are flawed, but still a level above the rest of the comp, and I think they'll be in the running for a spot throughout (despite SA's poor start).

So I reckon the final 4 will be:

Eng
Aus
WI
India / NZ / SA

Obviously I'll be rooting for BD to get that fourth spot - and wins over Ireland and WI in the leadup to this are promising - but they probably lack the firepower to actually win enough games. Can't see them getting in past Eng, Aus or India, and WI with Russel are a different beast. Will be tough.

 

[h_hurricane]

SA does not look like they are up for it. I would bet on below 4 teams.

Eng
Aus
Ind
WI

NZ have a good chance to make it instead of Ind or WI.