**Official** NatWest Challenge Thread

[Raj123]

Winner of Group A (Aus or NZ) v Winner of Group C (Eng or S.L presumably) is shaping up to be a really really good match.

umm....different series

 

[lord_of_darkness]

tims just doing a prediction on the icc trophy

wow , just checked the score 275/4 from outta nowhere.. nice one collingwood and flintoff.!

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Flintoff out. You say playing for the team rather than individual score is the way to go but i wish he had just taken an easy 1 off that to get to 100.

 

[luckyeddie]

Another great, mature knock by the 'world's most valuable cricketer'.

 

[luckyeddie]

i hate that monkey called ajit agarkar. why is he always in reckoning for the team? They throw him out...yuo start thinking they're growing a brain and they bring him back again. His ass should be launched to the moon!

How's about he's one of the few Indian players who can actually field (not a bad attribute in a ODI)?

 

[Spetsnatz]

Laxmi balaji has been woeful -- not that Agarkar and Pathan have been all that much better. For someone so experienced, Agarkar continues to turn in some very mediocre performances.

The only bright light for India was a good spell from Harbhajan -- he has looked quite sharp since his return from injury.

Flintoff was absolutely phenomenal !! England should win this match now.

 

[luckyeddie]

My word, where on Earth would India have been without Killer Harbhajan? 2-14 off 10 and the rest were absolutely panned around the park.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

well we should have got nearly 350 if we hadnt of lost those 4 quick wickets...so if we could have made that India will be able to chase 300odd if they keep wickets fairly easily i reckon..its important we get wickets early.

 

[Swervy]

Well it looks as though Giles will be key for England here, this pitch was a big turner.

Englands bowlers are so much better than India's pace bowlers..it will take a big effort for India to catch this(there is plenty of bounce out there), but its not out of the question

 

[masterblaster]

Really what's new here?

Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Javagal Srinath going for 353 against Australia
Irfan Pathan, Lakshmipathy Balaji and Ajit Agarkar going for 307 against England.

We're starting to become accustomed to mediocrity when it comes to fast bowling.

Harbhajan really stopped me from throwing something at my television set. His spell really made my day (not that it was a good day).

Well done to Harbhajan.

Bring in anybody else who can bowl stump to stump.

 

[Spetsnatz]

Really what's new here?

Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Javagal Srinath going for 353 against Australia
Irfan Pathan, Lakshmipathy Balaji and Ajit Agarkar going for 307 against England.

We're starting to become accustomed to mediocrity when it comes to fast bowling.

Harbhajan really stopped me from throwing something at my television set. His spell really made my day (not that it was a good day).

Well done to Harbhajan.

Bring in anybody else who can bowl stump to stump.

Personally, I'd keep Pathan -- the lad's young and to me he's got a lot more promise than the trio of Nehra, Agarkar and Balaji put together.
But you definitely need some replacements -- where's Zaheer and Salvi ?
The latter in particular struck me as being a pretty accurate bowler.

 

[masterblaster]

Zaheer, last time I checked is 'injury-fit'. So he's fit to play, but its highly likely he'll break down.

Salvi has been struggling with his fitness too and has been currently discarded from India's plans. I think he's playing or on the fringe of playing for India A.

Not too sure who Salvi's playing for, but he is struggling with fitness apparently.

 

[Swervy]

i would personally stick with AA

Balaji is still very young and so I would say will improve, but he does look terribly out of his depth at this level

Pathan looks better coz he is a lefty and so seems to tuck the batsmen up, but he is inconsistant,and early on , couldnt control the swing,(nor could Balaji)...somewhat similar to the bowling of Zaheer etc in the World Cup final.

It was the best Harbhajan bowling I have ever seen though...but England did a great job of getting through that spell. The big problem was that Ganguly was forced to bring him on too early because of the crap pace bowling

 

[Spetsnatz]

It would be nothing short of a miracle if India gets this. Escpecially considering the form their batsmen are in.

 

[steds]

...And may all you Collingwood doubters be cast into the sea!

 

[Magrat Garlick]

...And may all you Collingwood doubters be cast into the sea!

Agreed...I had a right laugh when the Independent classed him along with McGrath, Clarke and someone else as "not up to it" this summer...

 

[luckyeddie]

Agreed...I had a right laugh when the Independent classed him along with McGrath, Clarke and someone else as "not up to it" this summer...

Knowing how on the ball the Indescribablyboring are, that'd be Harmison

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Oi, watch where you're running, Sourav!

I think India are glad this isn't a tri-series with bonus points...

 

[steds]

That runout-what a farce...this is a totally different game to when Harbhajan was bowling

 

[pakster]

How much do India need to get the bonus point? ....oh wait, sachin isnt playing...

Sehwag falls just 200 shy of his double century...

Prediction - India 210 ao,