Group B - Afghanistan, Australia, England, South Africa

[Aidan11]

Given the way we've played in India, I don't think we'll be troubling the trophy engravers.

 

[Molehill]

Given the way we've played in India, I don't think we'll be troubling the trophy engravers.

It's already looking like the trophy engravers will need to head to Dubai to do their work, and I doubt they'll be using more than 5 letters.

 

[Silly Point 2.0]

Given the way we've played in India, I don't think we'll be troubling the trophy engravers.

Or the people that update the tables at this rate

 

[Qlder]

Wow, Starc also out of CT, so 5 withdrawn players (Cummins, Hazlewood, Starc, Marsh and Stoinis).

New squad: Smith (c), Abbott, Carey, Dwarshuis, Ellis, Fraser-McGurk, Hardie, Head, Inglis, Johnson, Labuschagne, Maxwell, T.Sangha, M.Short, Zampa.

Connolly is a travelling reserve

 

[Starfighter]

That's a terribly weak bowling attack

 

[Qlder]

Yep, can't see many sides being worried about Johnson, Abbott, Dwarshuis or Sangha.

To add to that we also have Short, Fraser-McGurk and Hardie in the top 6 who all average <20 in ODI's

 

[Molehill]

I'm starting to think that England might have half a chance of making the semi finals.

 

[Qlder]

Yep, can't see many sides being worried about Johnson, Abbott, Dwarshuis or Sangha.

To add to that we also have Short, Fraser-McGurk and Hardie in the top 6 who all average <20 in ODI's

And so it becomes, this Aussie CT team getting flogged by Sri Lanka right now

 

[Molehill]

So today:

S Africa have been unable to defend 350 and miss out on the Final in a 3 team tournament.
England thrashed by India to lose the series 3-0.
Australia beaten by a team that didn't even qualify for the tournament....

Strong group this one, Afghans must be fancying their chances.

 

[Starfighter]

Yep, can't see many sides being worried about Johnson, Abbott, Dwarshuis or Sangha.

To add to that we also have Short, Fraser-McGurk and Hardie in the top 6 who all average <20 in ODI's

Head will come back in. If Inglis is fit and the selectors have any sense at all (debatable) he should fit in too. And Maxwell will come back in. I think Hardie will be okay.

Starc opting out is rather annoying with the other injuries, but they haven't helped themselves by picking Abbott. I don't understand their obsession with him.

 

[honestbharani]

I don't understand their obsession with him.

Its the 'stache.

 

[SkyBlue]

So many Ausrralian players ruled out. Looks like Australia aren't arsed about this one. IPL money more important and it's understandable tbh

IPL money and preparation for Ashes is probably more important than a mickey mouse trophy which they've won multiple times.

 

[Daemon]

Afghanistan don’t have the batting else but they’re still in a great position to get through to the knockouts. Will probably be SA and England though. Aus look like one of the worst sides in the tournament.

 

[honestbharani]

These games are gonna be a bit of a lottery with the pitches and the dew. Its silly to write anyone off in such a short tournament. Each of the 8 sides have as good a chance of crashing out without winning a game as they do of winning the whole thing unbeaten.

 

[Spark]

If Aus so much as get out of the group stage it will be very unexpected/funny/mildly embarrassing for whoever gets knocked out instead. This is likely going to be a properly bad Aus team that rocks up to this.

 

[social]

Some very odd selections & omissions

JFM - proving that he can’t be consistent with his approach and not a guaranteed selection for his state

Konstas - other players gained international experience via ODIs (e.g. Martyn) so why not him?

Dwarshuis - don’t need another left armer and particularly one with limited potential

Abbott - looked finished 12 months ago, has done nothing since but been elevated to test squad & picked here

Bartlett - CA contract & performing well but overlooked

 

[Molehill]

These games are gonna be a bit of a lottery with the pitches and the dew. Its silly to write anyone off in such a short tournament. Each of the 8 sides have as good a chance of crashing out without winning a game as they do of winning the whole thing unbeaten.

Except India. I just don't really see who beats them, they have all bases covered on these pitches.

If Aus so much as get out of the group stage it will be very unexpected/funny/mildly embarrassing for whoever gets knocked out instead. This is likely going to be a properly bad Aus team that rocks up to this.

Have you been watching this England Team in India? It could be that England aren't actually that bad, they've just been made to look like it by a decent outfit. But I think it's more likely they're a team in transition and this will be the last hurrah for a few. They have the ability to implode against anyone.

I wonder if the likes of Starc and Hazlewood ever play an ODI again?

 

[Silly Point 2.0]

SA and Aus seemed to be playing with weaker sides than I expected in their recent series, so if that's the same in the tournament there might be some hope for us yet

 

[trundler]

SA will improve once Rassie, Markram, Miller, Jansen and Rabada come back. They had half the team missing in the tri-series. Australia are ****ed though. Whole first choice pace attack is gone and they have 2 established batsmen in Head and Smith.

 

[Starfighter]

SA will improve once Rassie, Markram, Miller, Jansen and Rabada come back. They had half the team missing in the tri-series. Australia are ****ed though. Whole first choice pace attack is gone and they have 2 established batsmen in Head and Smith.

And not only that, but the replacement players are not the best that could have been chosen.

We usually make it work at major tournaments, but this time it'd take a bad effort from the others to let us out of the group stage.