Group 1 (Afghanistan, Australia, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Ireland)

[Socerer 01]

The extra bowler who will come is at best a moderate upgrade on the likes of Ali and Stokes. But the extra all-rounder or batsman will be a significant upgrade with the bat compared to Jordan or Willey. The extra batting option helps to be even more aggressive which can win games more often than the new bowler doing it with the ball

 

[trundler]

Not playing Jordan is always better than playing Jordan though.

I see his success with CSK has converted you.

 

[anil1405]

Had to fake an injury to the weakest player in the squad to get Green in eh.

 

[Migara]

I will be happy if we could beta Afghans and Zimbos. With three of the top players gone (Chameera, Madushanka and Nissanka) it will be very difficult for us to compete. Lahiru Kumara is also very fragile and we may lose him some where down the line.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Think Zimbabwe won their group so Ireland goes here

 

[Nicky]

I saw the match preview between England & Afghanistan. They mention not playing Brook... :

1 Jos Buttler (capt & wk), 2 Alex Hales, 3 Dawid Malan, 4 Ben Stokes, 5 Liam Livingstone, 6 Moeen Ali, 7 Sam Curran, 8 Chris Woakes / David Willey, 9 Chris Jordan, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Mark Wood

I think he's one their best batters currently...

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

I saw the match preview between England & Afghanistan. They mention not playing Brook... :

1 Jos Buttler (capt & wk), 2 Alex Hales, 3 Dawid Malan, 4 Ben Stokes, 5 Liam Livingstone, 6 Moeen Ali, 7 Sam Curran, 8 Chris Woakes / David Willey, 9 Chris Jordan, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Mark Wood

I think he's one their best batters currently...

I reckon that's a pretty likely line up. Brooks has been gunning it but he's the new kid, so is the one most likely to make way when all the batters are available. Just one of those unlucky 'deserves to play, but who do you drop?' situations.

 

[Burgey]

He didn’t do so well in the BBL when he played here did he? Maybe conditions don’t suit him that much

 

[Burgey]

Had to fake an injury to the renowned Tory boot licker in the squad to get Green in eh.

It happens. Injuries are always such bad luck…

Aus in this tournament reminds me of the 92 WC. No back up keeper and the prep hasn’t been ideal with reliance on the blokes who did it before despite them not playing well. I think they will struggle tbh (not Gambhiring, genuinely reckon they’ll be cod ordinary).

 

[Starfighter]

Forecast looks typical for a Sydney match (i.e. crap).

 

[thundaboult]

Yeah nz vs aus ain't happenin.

 

[Burgey]

Not raining in the City of God atm, but quite overcast

 

[Nintendo]

It happens. Injuries are always such bad luck…

Aus in this tournament reminds me of the 92 WC. No back up keeper and the prep hasn’t been ideal with reliance on the blokes who did it before despite them not playing well. I think they will struggle tbh (not Gambhiring, genuinely reckon they’ll be cod ordinary).

Also a bit of us refusing to play the best player due to success of some people in other formats, tbh. I've harped on about smudger in the format enough on here, but ellis is another big example of this. The fact that cummins is in the team while ellis is only a backup is odd, especially given our lack of death options.

 

[straw man]

It happens. Injuries are always such bad luck…

Aus in this tournament reminds me of the 92 WC. No back up keeper and the prep hasn’t been ideal with reliance on the blokes who did it before despite them not playing well. I think they will struggle tbh (not Gambhiring, genuinely reckon they’ll be cod ordinary).

Have a hard time seeing Australia not qualifying for the semis, barring serious problems with washouts, and after that it's only two matches in front of the home crowd to the title. Only matchup they might not like is England imo, who they wouldn't meet again until the final.

 

[straw man]

NZ going with Sodhi over Bracewell - that's a shock to me. Noone is a massive Bracewell fan but he did bowl well in the home series, while Sodhi pretty much lost us the coveted Banglawash trophy final... and Bracewell can notionally bat a bit too.

 

[thundaboult]

Always a joy hearing Ian Smith

 

[duffer]

That Kayo ad is 24k gold. Still not getting it though

 

[SteveNZ]

NZ going with Sodhi over Bracewell - that's a shock to me. Noone is a massive Bracewell fan but he did bowl well in the home series, while Sodhi pretty much lost us the coveted Banglawash trophy final... and Bracewell can notionally bat a bit too.

Is a bit surprising, given Ish's struggles in the last World T20 and being flogged in that last Pakistan T20. I'd have to say, given form showed, I'd back Bracewell to bowl overs cheaper than Ish

 

[kaetor]

How is Sodhi even in the squad let alone the XI in front of Bracewell? Our selectors are such a joke

 

[TheJediBrah]

Aus are terrible at playing leg-spinners, not a mystery selection that one