-
Welcome to the Cricket Web forums, one of the biggest forums in the world dedicated to cricket.
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join the Cricket Web community today!
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.
Who do you have pegged for your 4 semi finalists?
- Thread starter mr_mister
- Start date
Burgey
Request Your Custom Title Now!
Can't see it this time tbh, but understand the nervousness given the occasion. I think this is probably India's best WC side/ squad in my time taking an interest in them. Certainly for a WC outside the SC. Loss of Dhawan is a blow, obviously (though suck ****, frankly after he mocked Watson hobbling off with an injury in an ODI a few years back - Karma is a bitch, eh), but they have good depth in the pace bowling department and their spinners do an effective job. Pandya in the allrounder slot makes a big difference too given his hitting prowess.
I know the 2011 side will always be rated very highly, and fair enough too, but this team has a lot more going for it when playing away from home than any Indian WC side before it. I expect them to blow SL away in this game.
I know the 2011 side will always be rated very highly, and fair enough too, but this team has a lot more going for it when playing away from home than any Indian WC side before it. I expect them to blow SL away in this game.
vcs
Request Your Custom Title Now!
Yeah I think this is at least as good as the 2011 side irrespective of whether they bring home the trophy. That team had better batting and a far better middle order (though Raina had to be drafted in midway through because Pathan turned out to be a hack), mainly because Dhoni was still in his prime and Yuvi was great as well. They played a somewhat attritional brand of cricket, which is what Dhoni excels at in limited overs - choking the run-rate with spinners in the middle overs. In those conditions, it was good enough.
As you say, this team is better outside the subcontinent - better pace bowling depth, a No. 1 pace bowler in Bumrah (which is a luxury India have never had in their history!), and wicket-taking spinners in the middle overs. Decent bench strength as well, though short of options on middle order batsmen and finishers. Over the last couple of years, they've won ODI series in SA, Australia and NZ which is quite a good achievement. Also won the Asia Cup.
As you say, this team is better outside the subcontinent - better pace bowling depth, a No. 1 pace bowler in Bumrah (which is a luxury India have never had in their history!), and wicket-taking spinners in the middle overs. Decent bench strength as well, though short of options on middle order batsmen and finishers. Over the last couple of years, they've won ODI series in SA, Australia and NZ which is quite a good achievement. Also won the Asia Cup.
quincywagstaff
International Debutant
Been surprised at the poor standard of many of the team's here. To use one example, the fielding of Pakistan & Bangladesh against Oz was terrible; I'm not talking about making difficult saves but failing to do the basics time and again.
I guess one offshoot of that is that presuming the top 4 stay the same, don't think anyone else can complain about not making the semis on a quality of so.
I guess one offshoot of that is that presuming the top 4 stay the same, don't think anyone else can complain about not making the semis on a quality of so.
stephen
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
All teams except England, India and Bangladesh appear to be poorer this time around than in previous iterations.
This is by far the worst SA side I've ever seen.
This is the worst Sri Lanka side since 1992.
This West Indian side has been woeful despite appearing better on paper than past iterations.
New Zealand are probably fielding their second best ODI side ever, but their best was at the last cup.
Australia have downgraded batting and bowling since the last cup.
Afghanistan are still minnows and despite all the hype are worse than I thought they'd be.
Pakistan have more stable (but not exactly good) batting but their bowling is the weakest I've seen Pakistan, Amir aside.
It's hard to shake the feeling that the teams lining up for this cup are on average the worst ones since the 80s.
This is by far the worst SA side I've ever seen.
This is the worst Sri Lanka side since 1992.
This West Indian side has been woeful despite appearing better on paper than past iterations.
New Zealand are probably fielding their second best ODI side ever, but their best was at the last cup.
Australia have downgraded batting and bowling since the last cup.
Afghanistan are still minnows and despite all the hype are worse than I thought they'd be.
Pakistan have more stable (but not exactly good) batting but their bowling is the weakest I've seen Pakistan, Amir aside.
It's hard to shake the feeling that the teams lining up for this cup are on average the worst ones since the 80s.
Borges
International Regular
England, India, Bangladesh, West Indies are all clearly stronger in this edition of the cup.
New Zealand and Pakistan are about the same strength as what they were the last time.
Australia are weaker mainly because they are not playing at home.
South Africa and Sri Lanka are the only two teams which are perceptibly weaker.
New Zealand and Pakistan are about the same strength as what they were the last time.
Australia are weaker mainly because they are not playing at home.
South Africa and Sri Lanka are the only two teams which are perceptibly weaker.
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
New Zealand are definitely slightly weaker IMO. They don't suck - they're still contenders - but between losing their home ground advantage, downgrading McCullum to Munro and trading 2015 Boult/Southee for 2019 Boult/Southee they've definitely fallen a little bit.
CricAddict
Cricketer Of The Year
2019 Guptill/Kane/Taylor are better than their 2015 version right? Or am I underrating their 2015? In that case, it balances Boult-Southee loss significantly on the flat England pitches.
Flem274*
123/5
trading baz for munro is definitely a massive downgrade, and elliott was obviously a quality cricketer. i was hoping latham would be a massive upgrade on luke 'did a thing literally once' ronchi but not yet.
bowling wise our resources are wayyyyy thinner than 2015, where any combination of boult/southee/milne/henry/mills/mcclenaghan would have cruised into the semis. now trent boult is our only star power and he's not bowling well, and santner is no vettori. thankfully ferguson/santa have continued to be solid and henry is re-finding some form.
bowling wise our resources are wayyyyy thinner than 2015, where any combination of boult/southee/milne/henry/mills/mcclenaghan would have cruised into the semis. now trent boult is our only star power and he's not bowling well, and santner is no vettori. thankfully ferguson/santa have continued to be solid and henry is re-finding some form.
Last edited:
Adders
Cricketer Of The Year
Yep, no doubt this is your typical England One Day side putting in their typical WC performances.
Burgey
Request Your Custom Title Now!
They’ll gas up. It’s guaranteed. The way they play is anathema to what’s needed to win WC ko matches
cnerd123
likes this
vcs
Request Your Custom Title Now!
People overdoing the "England have yet to play India, Australia and NZ" thing. They go in as at least 60-40 favourites against Australia and NZ and marginal favourites against India (with injuries and all, let's say 55-45). So chances of them losing all three are 0.4*0.4*0.45 = 7.2%.
