Group B - Pakistan, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka

[Usy_7]

Pakistan will go through.

 

[gunner]

if razzaq and sami play vs nz then pak will win

 

[Tim]

If South Africa show up with the same side they have in Sri Lanka, minus Gibbs and Boje even, then I can't see them going through at the expense of New Zealand or Pakistan.

 

[Retox]

NZ to win this group, This is a team who may not be the best on paper but has some people who can do some special things (McCullum,Vettori,Bond)

 

[JASON]

I expect an early exit for South Africa given their general decline in form over the opast year , and I will be hoping that NZ and Pakistan can do the business for SA at the Champions Trophy.

 

[Run like Inzy]

if razzaq and sami play vs nz then pak will win

Why on earth would you want Sami to play when you have Rana, Shoaib and Asif ?!!

Pakistan and New Zealand to go through if Gibbs doesn't play. If he does I think SA will have a much better chance as with him and Smith on flat tracks they can really go after the NZ medium pace attack on flat Indian wickets

 

[RolledOver]

if razzaq and sami play vs nz then pak will win

Sami= Joke of international cricket, all praise to Pak cricket team and PCB for providing us with merry moments.

I long to see Sehwag take on Sami, the way Veeru toys with Pak superstar is a sight to watch.

 

[BhupinderSingh]

Sami= Joke of international cricket, all praise to Pak cricket team and PCB for providing us with merry moments.

Yes,but he's not a bigger joke than India's legendary fast bowlers Ajit Agarkar,Zaheer Khan & others.

 

[IndianByHeart]

I think SA will certainly going to make it, the other team can be either NZ or Pak, NZ probably has a better chance of making it especially if Inzi is leading Pak side.However if Younis leads Pak side then Pak might just edge past NZ.

Only problem would be that without Inzi Pak batting would be rather too weak, Younis though would skip the side 10 times better than sluggish Inzi

 

[James]

As much as I hate to admit it, I don't think New Zealand will go through.

South Africa are our boggy team, and Pakistan in almost home conditions will be too strong for us.

I'd love to be proven wrong!

 

[Smudge]

South Africa are our boggy team!

So they'll be keen for a damp pitch, you reckon?

 

[Raghav]

NZ Qualifies for sure

Hi Guys,

NZ Qualifies along with PAK . NZ will throunce SAF like they have beaten SAF in WC2003.Fleming will score again vs SAF.

NZ, PAK go through to next round

 

[pietersenrocks]

Sri-Lanka will be the 2nd qualifier

 

[Raghav]

Sri-Lanka will be the 2nd qualifier

Shame for SL if it doesnt qualify

 

[Perm]

I'd think that Sri Lanka would qualify but the major question is, can they qualify above the West Indies? That will decide what pool they are in if I understand correctly, so if they are the top qualifier they are in Group A and if they are the 2nd ranked qualifier they are in Group B. I think NZ will be able to progress through with wins over South Africa and the 2nd Qualifier (probably Sri Lanka) but I think Pakistan might beat them.

 

[Pratters]

Why is Hamish Marshall in the team?

Poor record over all in List A, poor record in last 20 One day internationals. Apparently it is because of a good season in England?

His record is poor there as well:

Gloucestershire 12 12 2 322 105* 32.20 1 1 9

 

[Perm]

Hamish Marshall is in the team because he is a favourite of John Bracewell's. No he is actually a reasonably handy ODI player, considering that he saves around 15-20 runs in the field. Besides a ODI average of 30 is alright for a New Zealand middle order batsman, he can usually be quite effective during the middle of an innings at keeping the scoreboard ticking over with his lightning quick running between the wickets.

 

[Pratters]

Well I wouldn't call him a good one day player at all. His List A average at 27.73 is worse. ODI's, last 20 matches have been horrendous. The current average of 30 is also largely because of almost 16% not outs. Strike rate at 70 is poor as well.

Fielding - it is important in one day cricket but surely you can't take a player who is not a good enough batsman just because of his fielding.

 

[Perm]

Gotta remember this is the New Zealand team, we don't have a huge number of talented batsmen. Like I said before, Marshall is an ok player, but he is also a favourite of John Bracewell's.

 

[Pratters]

Gotta remember this is the New Zealand team, we don't have a huge number of talented batsmen. Like I said before, Marshall is an ok player, but he is also a favourite of John Bracewell's.

Some one was dropped and maybe he could have been persisted with or some one else could still have been tried. Now would have been the right time to try I would imagine as else it could become too late.

It does seem a Bracewell thing like you mention.