Cricket World Cup (50 Overs)

[number11]

The trouble is with Capey going, we don't even have one part-time spinner to complement Swann. That means Yardy (or Tredwell) will be picked.

Personally I think both Ravi and Colly are better ODI bowlers than Yardy, yet Yardy is being picked as a specialist bowler.

Collingwood actually has more ODI wickets than Yardy has List A wickets and Bopara has more List A wickets, a substantially better ODI and List A average, a substantially better ODI and List A strike-rate, more ODI and List A 4 wicket hauls than Yardy. The only criteria that Yardy comes out better in, is economy-rate and at ODIs the difference is 0.23, which is 2 runs a game, a figure that Bopara, even with his patchy fielding of late, will save in the field over the lumbering Yardy.

Interesting stats. This really does seem to be a world cup where balance / 5th bowler is a key factor in the abscence of their being one outstanding team. Unfortunately England are light on both batsman who can bowl or a decent 5th bowler who can bat so will struggle unless their key performers produce something outstanding on the day of the knockouts. For that reason, Unless they come up against one of the Asian countries on a bunsen, I think Australia are currently the team most likely to win as in Watson they have the best batsman who can bowl, and Smith is also effective with both disciplines in this format.

 

[canveyshrimper]

Interesting stats. This really does seem to be a world cup where balance / 5th bowler is a key factor in the abscence of their being one outstanding team. Unfortunately England are light on both batsman who can bowl or a decent 5th bowler who can bat so will struggle unless their key performers produce something outstanding on the day of the knockouts. For that reason, Unless they come up against one of the Asian countries on a bunsen, I think Australia are currently the team most likely to win as in Watson they have the best batsman who can bowl, and Smith is also effective with both disciplines in this format.

Interesting comments about the convicts as they've replaced the injured Doug the Rug with Mr ****ing Cricket, which would indicate to me they're more than happy with their bowling and want to strengthen the batting.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Interesting stats. This really does seem to be a world cup where balance / 5th bowler is a key factor in the abscence of their being one outstanding team. Unfortunately England are light on both batsman who can bowl or a decent 5th bowler who can bat so will struggle unless their key performers produce something outstanding on the day of the knockouts. For that reason, Unless they come up against one of the Asian countries on a bunsen, I think Australia are currently the team most likely to win as in Watson they have the best batsman who can bowl, and Smith is also effective with both disciplines in this format.

I think the right balance depends on the pitch.

In a low scoring encounter you need a proper 5th bowler, as a part-timer can get smacked. However on a flat-track, your 5th best specialist bowler is still going to get smacked, so you may as well increase your batting depth as the difference between your 5th best specialist bowler and an all-rounder is going to be less than the difference it will make to your batting.

Whilst Watson gives Australia some impressive depth and I like their tactics of genuine 3 quicks, I think you are underestimating Kallis as an all-rounder. He's certainly a better than average 5th bowler.

I also think Colly and Bopara as 5th and 6th bowler would make England one of the favourites.

Had we still been able to call on the services of Capey (30), Flintoff (33) and Trescothick (35) then I think we'd have been as short as 2-1.

1. Trescothick
2. Pietersen
3. Trott
4. Bopara
5. Flintoff
6. Morgan/Collingwood
7. Prior
8. Bresnan
9. Broad
10. Swann
11. Anderson

 

[canveyshrimper]

The 5th bowler has long been a problem for England I remember as long ago as the 1979 final that our 5th bowler was a combination of Gooch, Boycott & Larkins FFS.

The best balanced side England have put out in a World Cup was that of 1992, while we couldn't call on genuine quick bowlers the likes of de Freitas, Pringle, Chris Lewis :stunned:, Illingworth or Tufnell, Sir I T Botham, plus the likes of Reeve, Hick & Gooch gave England balance. Where England lost in 1992 was in Adelaide having bowled Pakistan out for 74 the convict weather interevened and the match was abandoned. Pakistan were reprieved the one point took them into the semi and they eventually beat England in the final.

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

Lets not be sidetracked by YBs mouth watering team .. we have no Tresco, KP or Freddy now and any team on the planet will struggle to replace them (just look at the Aussies test side for a point of reference and add Gilchrist Warne and McGrath)

England are in fact a very mediocre team where the sum of the parts are much greater than the individual pieces, you can name any one of Trott Bell Ravi & Prior to open the batting with Strauss on Friday with equal chances of any of them failing or succeeding (ok so prob more chance that Prior would fail) .. Morgan rejoins the squad but what sort of nick is he in to throw straight into the starting XI anyway

FWIW i'd go with Bell to open in a line up of ..

Strauss
Bell
Trott
Collyingwood
Morgan
Bopara
Prior
Bresnan
Swann
Broad
Anderson

I'm not entirely happy with that side, but Yardy offers nothing for me at the monent and must drop out, likewise Prior is in no sort of form to bat 6 hence Morgan in cold .. 5th bowler to be divvied up between Ravi (PLEASE trust him Strauss, Colly and Trott) if we need 2 spinners then i'm stumped because if Tredwell is international class we might as well all pack up and go home)

 

[number11]

I think the right balance depends on the pitch.

Whilst Watson gives Australia some impressive depth and I like their tactics of genuine 3 quicks, I think you are underestimating Kallis as an all-rounder. He's certainly a better than average 5th bowler.

Good point about Kallis, and you are right, he is better than any of the 5th bowling options we have.

Also have to give Kallis a big heap of credit for walking, or at least taking Priors word...... classy stuff from a player who is gradually getting the recognition his extraordinary stats deserve. Though note to Jaqcues.....if you are playing Australia, don't bother asking the fielder as they will only cheat and lie.....

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Lets not be sidetracked by YBs mouth watering team .. we have no Tresco, KP or Freddy now and any team on the planet will struggle to replace them (just look at the Aussies test side for a point of reference and add Gilchrist Warne and McGrath)

England are in fact a very mediocre team where the sum of the parts are much greater than the individual pieces, you can name any one of Trott Bell Ravi & Prior to open the batting with Strauss on Friday with equal chances of any of them failing or succeeding (ok so prob more chance that Prior would fail) .. Morgan rejoins the squad but what sort of nick is he in to throw straight into the starting XI anyway

FWIW i'd go with Bell to open in a line up of ..

Strauss
Bell
Trott
Collyingwood
Morgan
Bopara
Prior
Bresnan
Swann
Broad
Anderson

I'm not entirely happy with that side, but Yardy offers nothing for me at the monent and must drop out, likewise Prior is in no sort of form to bat 6 hence Morgan in cold .. 5th bowler to be divvied up between Ravi (PLEASE trust him Strauss, Colly and Trott) if we need 2 spinners then i'm stumped because if Tredwell is international class we might as well all pack up and go home)

I'd go for this, but with Bops and Colly swapping position.

 

[The General]

Cook not an option!? (if he was to be called up, obviously!)

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Ross Taylor appears to be going mad at the moment. If you're near Sky Sports (wish I was) tune in.

A four and two sixes from this over (plus 2 wides) so far, he took Shoaib for 28 off an over earlier as well.

Loads of Fantasy Cricket Points for Kev.

Edit: Last 5 overs have gone for 90. Make that 95, as he takes 30 off the over.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

OMFG, now up to 107 off the last 5 overs.

Oram's hit the first two balls of the last over both for six.

 

[MK Shrimper]

OMFG, now up to 107 off the last 5 overs.

Oram's hit the first two balls of the last over both for six.

Some incredible results this World Cup. Amazing stuff.

 

[canveyshrimper]

After the Taylor blitz the Kiwis finish on 302/7 from their 50 overs. Any dodgy deals with bookmakers?

 

[Pubey]

Looking forward to the highlights, sounds like some insane batting!

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Ross Taylor was 69* off 108 balls, which is 3.83 runs per over.

He then went 62* off 16 balls, which is 3.88 runs per ball.

 

[MrB]

Incredible:

New Zealand: 50 runs in 11.4 overs (73 balls)
New Zealand: 100 runs in 25.2 overs (155 balls) - 82 balls
New Zealand: 150 runs in 36.3 overs (222 balls) - 67 balls
New Zealand: 200 runs in 44.6 overs (273 balls) - 51 balls
New Zealand: 250 runs in 47.6 overs (291 balls) - 18 balls
New Zealand: 300 runs in 49.5 overs (302 balls) - 11 balls

How got an impressive 4 off 29 near the start!!

 

[The General]

Big love for Ross Taylor! (and i had Gul!)

Pakistan are getting squashed here!

 

[The General]

After the bad news of KP, it now looks like Broad is off home too!

 

[number11]

After the bad news of KP, it now looks like Broad is off home too!

****! With KP I wasnt THAT bothered as I think Morgan can get more runs.....with Broad going, I think there goes Englands chances.

 

[number11]

After the Taylor blitz the Kiwis finish on 302/7 from their 50 overs. Any dodgy deals with bookmakers?

I hear Akmal dropped Taylor twice.......he drops some clangers doesn't he.....it would almost be better for his reputation if he was found guilty of match fixing as surely his keeping can't just be down to incompetence!

 

[The General]

ECB have just confirmed this news ...

No replacement named yet.