Group C - Australia, Sri Lanka, West Indies

[scorpiogal]

As for WI being a 'very good limited overs nation', is this the same WI that just lost series home and away to a pretty ordinary England team?

The Windies can be a good test/odi/T/20 side on their day and can compete with any side.

It just so happened that Australia met them on one of those good days just like England met Holland on one of their 'good' days.

 

[Trumpers_Ghost]

Perish would be fine by me. Already too much time is spent on this ridiculous form of the game.

Funny thing, I didn't know until the last couple of pages that there had already been a T20 world cup. I either missed it the first time around or it was so unmemorable I'd forgotten about it. Who won it? Either way T20 is more meaningless than ODIs, and ODIs outside the world cup are pretty much meaningless these days.



Actually Rugby really isn't big at all in Australia. It's the third code behind AFL and League, and will soon be overtaken by soccer.

Noone in Aus has even talked about the T20 WC really. I have several mates who are cricket fans, but noone is really interested. It's our football season and we've just had one of the biggest games of the season (State of Origin 1), there's swine flu and scandals everywhere and the cricket isn't anywhere near the back pages.

I wouldn't be surprised if at the next T20 wc we don't really make the effort either.

Um, soccer or football as some like to call it, is far far bigger than rugby already and has been for a long time. On every indicator too; number of participant (I think by a factor of 5 or so), by TV ratings, by income generated. While the difference between the two is massive in the "non-rugby states", even in the "rugby states" soccer is bigger.

cheers

 

[popepouri]

I think this early exit is a testament to the decline of the Australian ODI team and also their inability to adapt to this new format. When I look at every time in the tournament, with the exception of one or two Twenty20 specialists, everyone brought their ODI squad. It makes sense because a team comprised of mostly Twenty20 players lack international experience. It's on the owness of the players who play ODI cricket for their country to adapt. Even Kallis has started doing so.

I think Australia have bigger issues not seen on the surface, whether it be complacency, animosity or poor management. I'm not too sure but this isn't the first time this year that they've been disappointed by their performance.

 

[aussie]

It not as if West Indies had better preparation. They also had a Test and ODI series that effected their ability to play large parts of the IPL. Three of their players missed the IPL to be fit/prepared for the England tour. Gayle, Bravo and Edwards played as much of the IPL as some of the Aussie players.

Its not just missing IPL 09. Other than the T20WC 07, the general atmosphere amongst Australia T20 internationals has basically been exhibiton, or due to county player burnout/injury the big players have just rested.

WI on the other hand, are just naturally suited to T20 cricket. They are just "see ball, hit ball". The awful technical deficiences of their batsmen are easily masked in this format.

 

[aussie]

Australia at this rate will have to. They have hardly won ODI series of late against quality opposition. And not as if they are invincibles anymore.

BTW stumbled upon this poor excuse for an article in cricinfo.com. While they have revamped the looks of the site, publishing of articles like this shows the editorial board needs to get a revamp as well. Pathetic really. Had someone posted this here, would have been shunted off labelled a troll.

Cricinfo.com - Why Australia lost, and the perils of being a commentator

Edit - Saw it was in the Cricinfo tabloid trash they call Page 2. Still....

Thats simply due to the fact that since beating WI 5-0. The ODI side has been hit by alot of injuries. Once all are fit Australia still has the best ODI side, with India very close.

 

[Uppercut]

Thats simply due to the fact that since beating WI 5-0. The ODI side has been hit by alot of injuries. Once all are fit Australia still has the best ODI side, with India very close.

Who's not fit?

EDIT: Had a look, you're talking arse I'm afraid. The only player from the side that won the last ODI in the West Indies who isn't currently fit is Shaun Marsh.

 

[aussie]

Who's not fit?

EDIT: Had a look, you're talking arse I'm afraid. The only player from the side that won the last ODI in the West Indies who isn't currently fit is Shaun Marsh.

What?. Look at the injury woes/players needing rest, AUS had in the home ODI summer & tour to SA/UAE. The likes of Lee, Watson, Symonds, Ponting, Johnson. Thus as the new players came in, they didn't settle 100% which lead to poor ODI performaces.

 

[Smith]

Thats simply due to the fact that since beating WI 5-0. The ODI side has been hit by alot of injuries. Once all are fit Australia still has the best ODI side, with India very close.

That excuse is available for all teams right? Not just the Aussies. Anyway as of now, SA is clearly No.1 in ODIs, followed by India and then Australia.

 

[Smith]

What?. Look at the injury woes/players needing rest, AUS had in the home ODI summer & tour to SA/UAE. The likes of Lee, Watson, Symonds, Ponting, Johnson. Thus as the new players came in, they didn't settle 100% which lead to poor ODI performaces.

If they don't have the bench strength to replace a few injured guys, then they in my books are not simply no.1.

Besides if you are talking about how Ponting, Johnson etc need rest, the entire Indian contingent has played double the cricket that these guys have in the last 2 months.

 

[Athlai]

Bull SA are overrated in ODI, best Test team sure but not ODI. They lack the bowling.

 

[Smith]

Bull SA are overrated in ODI, best Test team sure but not ODI. They lack the bowling.

Except for the debacle in England, they have hardly put a feet wrong in the last few years as an ODI team. Definitely deserve the mantle of No.1 in ODIs. India is of course giving a valiant challenge.

Their ODI bowling is inexperienced rather than being total crap. I am sure Steyn who has underperformed so far in ODIs will come to the party sooner than later. Ntini is of course past it, but Parnell, Tsotsobe etc are good prospects. Morkel is iffy but still a force to reckon with. And overall, their batting is so good that it can erase a few deficits of it's own bowling.

 

[jondavluc]

Bull SA are overrated in ODI, best Test team sure but not ODI. They lack the bowling.

Thats bull if you ask me their bowlers are above India in every way as far as I'm concerned.Really the only thing India might beat them in is batting which personally is a toss up.(India's looks better to me at the moment but their is a concern if their big hitters don't fire they will find it hard to scrap out a winning total).

 

[Smith]

Thats bull if you ask me their bowlers are above India in every way as far as I'm concerned.Really the only thing India might beat them in is batting which personally is a toss up.(India's looks better to me at the moment but their is a concern if their big hitters don't fire they will find it hard to scrap out a winning total).

India's pacers maybe a notch below SA but their spinners, Harby and Ojha more than make up for it imo.

 

[Uppercut]

India's pacers maybe a notch below SA but their spinners, Harby and Ojha more than make up for it imo.

Hmm. South Africa have some excellent one-day spinners too now, don't forget.

 

[jondavluc]

India's pacers maybe a notch below SA but their spinners, Harby and Ojha more than make up for it imo.

Forgot about Ohja (I was thinking of patel and kumar who I have never rated). Not above by much I guess but still I wouldn't call south africa struggling with ball they I think have one of the most well rounded squads around as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Smith]

Hmm. South Africa have some excellent one-day spinners too now, don't forget.

In the league of Harbhajan and Ojha really?

 

[Smith]

not above by much I guess but still I wouldn't call south africa struggling with ball they I think have one of the most well rounded squads around as far as I'm concerned.

Sure, that is precisely why they are deserving No.1 in ODIs. What is there to laugh about?

 

[jondavluc]

Sure, that is precisely why they are deserving No.1 in ODIs. What is there to laugh about?

Ooops I have edited my post It should make a little more sense.

 

[Athlai]

Sharma
Zeek
RP/Pathan/Sreesanth/Patel < weak link
Ojha
Harby

is better than the South African attack,

 

[Athlai]

Except for the debacle in England, they have hardly put a feet wrong in the last few years as an ODI team. Definitely deserve the mantle of No.1 in ODIs. India is of course giving a valiant challenge.

Their ODI bowling is inexperienced rather than being total crap. I am sure Steyn who has underperformed so far in ODIs will come to the party sooner than later. Ntini is of course past it, but Parnell, Tsotsobe etc are good prospects. Morkel is iffy but still a force to reckon with. And overall, their batting is so good that it can erase a few deficits of it's own bowling.

Steyn is a good striker but almost always going to be expensive.
Parnell is world class.
Kallis past it
Morkel and co. are dire.
Botha is alright but India's are better.

They were the best when Pollock was still there now they are just a bit behind India. India's batting is too good and at home they would be heavy favorites while away it'd be 50/50