The Ashes and Cricket World Cup Discussion Thread

the pakistani players on match fixing charges have been banned for 5yrs, 1player 10yrs (5 suspended, 2 7 yrs (2 suspended) and 3 5yrs

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/...388422.stm

Morgan is out of the 7th ODI and could miss the world cup.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-20...99657.html

7th ODI result: England fail with the bat again and Australia surge to a 6-1 series win.

on current form we will not make it out of the group.

any 1 wanna join my fantasy league for the world cup
website cricinfo
http://espncricinfo.fantasyleague.com/Index.aspx
pin 2759

England team director Andy Flower has confirmed Eoin Morgan will miss the World Cup with a broken finger.

Morgan, whose place in the side will now be taken by Essex's Ravi Bopara, suffered a serious fracture to the middle finger on his left hand

people which team do you think is gonna win the world cup

for me it india for three reason home conditions and yusuf pathan and their strong batting line up
i thought england was gonna win it but the injuries crisis will cost them and 6-1 thrashing to australia
but form does not really matter in world cups
2003 india went to the final after a poor year
2007 australia won the trophy after losing 7 games in a row prior to the world cup

Pietersen made half a point on interview over the team focus that being winning the Ashes (which we did) and doing something in the World Cup (which hopefully we will do) in the grand scheme of things the ODI series against the Aussies means not too much, form wise over a longer term of 18 months we've done well.

About Morgan it is a real pity that he will miss the World Cup. Bopara adds a bit to the squad though in terms of his bowling and he is able to clear the boundaries so hopefully the change can work alright, which I am sure it shall given the talent of Bopara.

England won the Ashes because Australia's test lineup is so poor and inexperienced. No wonder hardly any of the top order except Watson made consistent half centuries against England's experienced bowling attack. The test series was a given that England would win it, as Australia's current squad is vastly inexperienced regarding test matches. Still have to give England credit though as they were brutal, and merciless and new exactly where to bowl in the test series, and England's batting was pure class to watch

But one day is a totally different story and is not as difficult as a test match. As all players have experience in the one day system. The onus here is simply being able to rack up runs quickly and bowl the opposition out quickly. Something which England failed to do. Australia even with their experience are still a very good one day side.

However naturally as I'm an Indian hindu who was born in the UK and lives in the UK i have to support England and India..... I think India will win it though, because they have home advantage and crazy support. The fact also that India are pretty much unbeaten at home against every nation only adds to the fact that India should really win the World cup. But England do have a shot.

So Come on India and England!!!!!

Current Ultimate Cricket XI

Virender Sehwag (India) (Opener)
Chris Gayle (West Indies) (Opener)
Sachin Tendulkar (India) (Bat)
Jacques Kallis (South Africa) (Bat)
Kevin Pietersen (England) (Bat)
Johnothan Trott (England) (Bat)
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (India) (Bat) (Wicket keeper) (Captain)
Dale Steyn (South Africa) (Fast Bowler)
James Anderson (Australia) (Fast Bowler)
Zaheer Khan (India) (Fast Bowler)
Harbhajan Singh (India) (Off Spinner)

Anyone of Australia, South Africa, India, Sri Lanka or possibly England will win. If I had to pick one of them it would be India given the home advantage and the spinning opitions and THAT batting lineup they have. England will hopefully make it to the semis but obviously we will get out of the group and take it from there. Away from the five I've listed it could be possible that if Ireland beat the Netherlands and get postive results against the Windies and Bangladesh it maybe 'hello' knockout stages for them, Rod Marsh was backing them the other day to do okay again this time around.

Over my comment about the English priorities I meant it that the focus was on the Ashes and the World Cup.

My side:
Sehwag
Smith (capt)
Tendulkar
Trott
Kallis
Dhoni (wk)
Broad
Swann
Steyn
M. Morkel
Z. Khan