Who do you have pegged for your 4 semi finalists?

[trundler]

If India lose to England and both India and England lose the rest of their matches, both could be knocked out.

 

[aussie tragic]

If India lose to England and both India and England lose the rest of their matches, both could be knocked out.

So basically you're saying that the undefeated India is to lose their last 4 matches lol

 

[srbhkshk]

So with their good run rates and position - India / Australia and NZ are through in all probability.

WI / SA and Afghanistan are out.

For the last spot (What I personally think of their chances of winning.) -

England has to play India(50%) and New Zealand (60%).

Pakistan has to play BD (55%) and Afg(90%)

BD has to play Pak (45%) and India(20%)

SL has to play SA (50%) , WI (50%) and India (10%)

At this stage, I almost reckon Pakistan are the favorites to grab the fourth spot. Would love to see a virtual quarter final between BD and Pak.

 

[vcs]

Yes, I think Pakistan are favourites. England messed up bad losing to Sri Lanka, couldn't afford that defeat. Not only do they have to beat India and NZ back-to-back, they will be under immense pressure the whole time while those teams can just play freely. Don't see them winning both games.

 

[ankitj]

https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/mens/team-rankings/odi

India are number 1. Do we have to play rest of the tournament? Give them the cup IMO.

 

[Days of Grace]

Saw in the Guardian that Bairstow’s had a moan at the media and the pitches. The meltdown has gone up a notch.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jun/27/people-waiting-england-fail-world-cup-johnny-bairstow-pietersen-vaughan?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

 

[Daemon]

Fair comments tbf. You’d hope the pitches you play on to prepare for the WC somewhat resemble those in the WC.

 

[Days of Grace]

Still funny, though. Done in by their own groundsmen and now the media are turning on them.

 

[Jezroy]

You’d hope the pitches you play on to prepare for the WC somewhat resemble those in the WC.

That has been pretty confusing. All the talk about 350 being par has just not really been true. Two theories - the weather hampered preparations, and the other that I heard on radio commentary was that the pitches are being prepared differently due to ICC instruction vs previously being ECB instruction.

Is that second one even a thing? Or is (can't remember) commentator talking out their ass?

 

[Daemon]

I’ll laugh if/when they exit the cup, but I still feel they’ll make a comeback.

 

[Burgey]

It's got a lot more to do with the fact every side is putting out its best available attack rather than some hacks they dredge up while they're saving their front liners for upcoming test series. That and the pressure of tournament play instead of bilateral slog fests.

 

[Daemon]

That has been pretty confusing. All the talk about 350 being par has just not really been true. Two theories - the weather hampered preparations, and the other that I heard on radio commentary was that the pitches are being prepared differently due to ICC instruction vs previously being ECB instruction.

Is that second one even a thing? Or is (can't remember) commentator talking out their ass?

It’s also partially a world cup thing imo. Teams chasing struggle big time under pressure, so there’s no need to take huge risks to completely bat them out of the game. The traditional approach seems to yield better results.

The three best teams in this WC have all been getting off to slow starts. India is 2nd from the bottom in terms of scoring rates in the first PP. Australia and NZ are not far off either.

 

[aussie tragic]

So who would you rather knocked out of top 4, India or England?

India
- Eng win last 2 (Ind, NZ), while SL win last 3 (SA, WI and Ind) and Ind also lose to BD (with NZ same 11 pts but better NRR)

England
- Eng lose last 2 (Ind, NZ); or
- Eng lose 1 (v Ind, NZ) and either Pak (v AFG, BD) or BD (v Pak, Ind) win their last 2

 

[Burgey]

If the top four stays the same, will India and Australia start to look to finish second so they face NZ rather than England? The hosts are hapless water buffaloes, but they have a deeper and more dangerous batting line up if they fluke an on day.

 

[aussie tragic]

If the top four stays the same, will India and Australia start to look to finish second so they face NZ rather than England? The hosts are hapless water buffaloes, but they have a deeper and more dangerous batting line up if they fluke an on day.

If Eng win their last 2 matches they will likely finish 3rd with NZ 4th (assuming Aus beat NZ), so I'm sure Australia and India would be aiming to finish first to play NZ (or Pak, BD or SL)

 

[ankitj]

It's very likely going by the forms that India and Australia will not face each other in semi. One of them will top the table, other will be 2nd or 3rd.

 

[Victor Ian]

But for India to finish first means they beat England so England does not get 3rd. Seems like India don't get to mess with fate.

 

[aussie tragic]

But India don't have to beat England to finish first, Australia just have to drop a game vs NZ or SA

 

[Burgey]

If Eng win their last 2 matches they will likely finish 3rd with NZ 4th (assuming Aus beat NZ), so I'm sure Australia and India would be aiming to finish first to play NZ (or Pak, BD or SL)

Would rather play England than Pakistan. If Pakistan make it they'll be riding an enormous wave of belief/ destiny. Wouldn't worry so much if it was the other two possibilities tbh.

 

[ankitj]

Pakistan has lifted their performance a few times. If they make it they would definitely be deserving of it.