2023 ICC Cricket World Cup (50 over version)

If anything England are getting worse as the tournament progresses

Great effort by the England bowling unit to restrict India to 229-9. Then a solid start 30-0 after 3.5 overs leaving a modest 200 runs at 4.35. What followed was quality bowling, no freebies, and poor shot selection. Not playing the situation. Getting bowled out with 15 overs remaining is not acceptable. England lose by 100 runs, an equation of 100 off 15 is manageable with wickets in hand. I would love to know how this squad felt about having any success going into this, and by that, I mean, reaching the semis. I only gave them a 50/50 chance. It took years for Morgan's men to climb the mountain, and they have been sliding down the other side ever since.

And just when you things can't get worse for an England team

Looking for positives .................................................... David Willey, who is the only one capable of getting wickets and scoring runs. (and not getting out)

^^ He's the only player in the entire squad to not be given a contract.

Now a place at the Champions Trophy (should have stayed dead the first time they killed it) in jeopardy! Apparently this has come as a 'surprise, but the ICC relayed this decision in '21, and england had reps around the table!

(29-10-2023 22:51 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  ^^ He's the only player in the entire squad to not be given a contract.

^ yes this is just one more item on the list of screw - ups! Hard to fathom that contracts have gone where they hav - and have not - overall, but to release such a pivotal set of decisions at the WC is unbelievable!

Brilliant Afghanistan!! Thoroughly outplayed Sri Lanka, and cruised home! Australia, Netherlands and South Africa to come, and still an outside bet for Semis. Netherlands the most likely 2 points on offer, but They have upset the odds up to now, so who knows?? Great to see given the situation at home. They always - to be fair - showed that they were the most likely to succeed of the 'associate nations'

I wonder what influence Trott is having on this team, and the batting in particular. It was always a little chaotic, struggled to find the right tempo, often 100 mph or stagnant with no middle ground. They seem calm and composed now. Today was not a demanding chase, but they approached it in exactly the right way. Setting totals will be more of a challenge, but they can accept that scores of 270+ will keep them in most games, the 300+ totals will come as they gain more experience. This tournament has been a complete team effort, the top 6 batters all chipping in and the bowlers sharing the wickets.
I'm sure that their situation at home acts as an escape and extra motivation, how much better could they be with a stable country. The love of the game by the players and small but loyal fans is plain to see, such a pity that more can't experience their success in peaceful times.

(30-10-2023 19:51 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  I wonder what influence Trott is having on this team, and the batting in particular. It was always a little chaotic, struggled to find the right tempo, often 100 mph or stagnant with no middle ground. They seem calm and composed now. Today was not a demanding chase, but they approached it in exactly the right way. Setting totals will be more of a challenge, but they can accept that scores of 270+ will keep them in most games, the 300+ totals will come as they gain more experience. This tournament has been a complete team effort, the top 6 batters all chipping in and the bowlers sharing the wickets.
I'm sure that their situation at hone acts as an escape and extra motivation, how much better could they be with a stable country. The love of the game by the players and small but loyal fans is plain to see, such a pity that more can't experience their success in peaceful times.

How Ironic that you should reach that conclusion Booms! Yaz, and friend, had that very discussion on the wisden cricket daily podcast! They too pointed to J. Trott, and the fact that he maybe has brought the kind of slower tempo solidity he was so famed for - particularly in Tests - managing the staging posts of an innings to perfection! the board that showed the totals Aghanistan were expected to reach in each ten over slot, was almost met down to the last number! As you say, composure! Sri Lanka didn't bat very well, but Afghanistan deserve a lot of credit for their bowling and out cricket fielding tactics and execution. Maybe England need to copy and paste?? Yet again, an interesting/compelling even match on a true competitive track! Lessons all round today!

A very tame effort from Bangladesh with the bat, at no point did they manage to put any pressure back onto the Pakistan bowlers.