2023 ICC Cricket World Cup (50 over version)

(20-10-2023 13:26 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  An opening stand of 259 between Warner (163) and Marsh (121) laid the foundations for a 367-9 total. What Pakistan do possess is great death bowling and fought back well to prevent the Aussies reaching 400 which was achievable given the start. Given the score Afridi finished with tidy figures of 5-54.
Pakistan elected to field, so fancy a chase on a good wicket with small boundaries.

This type of track does nothing for the sport!! The ICC are responsible for overseeing pitch prep for this tournament. So used now though, overseeing 'accountants/money tree conditions (like domestic boards/clubs) that proper contest conditions, they have forgotten - or disregarded - that cricket is/once was, a sporting contest! If Batsmen don't help by getting themselves out - yes Pakistan missed an early sitter - it is training for them. It is also boring as hell!! I long for the days to return where batsmen go to the pitch to start their innings, and realise they will have to 'work' just as hard as bowlers, for any return!

Relatively straight forward for the Aussies! Any team - particularly under lights - would most likely struggle to chase down a target close to the 400 hundred mark having chased leather for so long. The fact they got just over 300, decent effort!! Still don't think scores of this magnitude should be achieved without 'busting a gut' A seam bowler should find seam, a spin bowler?? - (guess what!!) Swing is more conditions lead, although the best skills can still find it every so often regardless.

England won the toss and elected to bowl, with Stokes, Willey and Atkinson replacing Livingstone, Sam Curran and Woakes. For South Africa, Markram will captain the side, with Bavuma out due to illness, his place goes to Reeza Hendricks.

^ Abject from England, as the Proteas tonk them! I am one who believes that this squad (maybe not the best available??) really did not give a toss whether they competed in this world cup, and gave the best defence of the trophy they possibly could! If you don't play the format (and not just in a few lead up games) for months on end (ODIs don't cut it I think) and instead (with the blessing of those who are now trying to have England fans believe they are 'frustrated/upset' including the Media BBC/SKY who sacrificed the 50 overs tournament for showcasing the 100) go off and fill your boots and coffers with a format that is not played anywhere else in the world, and you help to Downgrade the domestic 50 overs comp (no offence to those that did participate in it) in what is the WC format, that would have given that much needed practice, what exactly is expected to come of that??

I well worn point I know, but 3 defeats from 4 and they are STILL IN the biggest cup competition of them all??

^^ Not sure how this squad could've prepared any better, there's is only a downgraded domestic 50 over comp, which clashes with the 100, hardly the players fault. This is all down to the top brass. I believe that they saw a future where the ODI's would be gone, in favour of the T20I, and now even the Test format is at risk.
I never viewed this as a title defense. 2019 was a culmination of Morgan's vision, built around a tight knit squad, with the final piece of the jigsaw, Archer added at the last minute. The planning has been nonexistent, 2 years focus on T20I and then hoping that the bulk of the 2019 players would deliver again. They have been searching for their best XI but haven't looked a cohesive unit at any point.
Tactical and selection errors have cost them. They have an obsession that they are still the best chasing side, when the stats suggest they are one of the worst.
I would say that the Sky media, and Nasser in particular have used the benefit of hindsight, Woakes and Curren out of form, Stokes has to play, yet 3 changes are too many. Atkinson was better with ball and bat in his only game than Woakes and Curran managed in 3. Willey gets cramp, yet he traces the problem back to the fact of him getting 5 overs instead of 4 in his opening spell.
England will be lucky to win another match from the remaining 5 on this form.
The coach, selector and captain pick a side with the longest tail yet still insist on chasing, ironically numbers 9 and 10 top score, which only underlines the out of form batting lineup.
They were clutching at straws today hoping that Stokes could find some magic despite not being fully fit.
Now they are faced with flying in a spare bowler as Topley looks to have broken a finger, he's been our main wicket taker, with only Rashid to help out.

Today the 2 best teams play, can India and New Zealand provide that much needed close finish.

A 4 wicket win for India getting home with 12 balls to spare. An accomplished century by Mitchell and 75 from Ravindra set the innings up leading into the last 10 but 5-54 from Shami helped restrict them to 273.
Rohit (45) got his side off to a quick start and Kohli holed out for 95 as he tried to win the game and bring up his ton. Jadeja (39 no) finished it in style with a boundary.

(21-10-2023 19:37 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  ^^ Not sure how this squad could've prepared any better, there's is only a downgraded domestic 50 over comp, which clashes with the 100, hardly the players fault. This is all down to the top brass. I believe that they saw a future where the ODI's would be gone, in favour of the T20I, and now even the Test format is at risk.
I never viewed this as a title defense. 2019 was a culmination of Morgan's vision, built around a tight knit squad, with the final piece of the jigsaw, Archer added at the last minute. The planning has been nonexistent, 2 years focus on T20I and then hoping that the bulk of the 2019 players would deliver again. They have been searching for their best XI but haven't looked a cohesive unit at any point.
Tactical and selection errors have cost them. They have an obsession that they are still the best chasing side, when the stats suggest they are one of the worst.
I would say that the Sky media, and Nasser in particular have used the benefit of hindsight, Woakes and Curren out of form, Stokes has to play, yet 3 changes are too many. Atkinson was better with ball and bat in his only game than Woakes and Curran managed in 3. Willey gets cramp, yet he traces the problem back to the fact of him getting 5 overs instead of 4 in his opening spell.
England will be lucky to win another match from the remaining 5 on this form.
The coach, selector and captain pick a side with the longest tail yet still insist on chasing, ironically numbers 9 and 10 top score, which only underlines the out of form batting lineup.
They were clutching at straws today hoping that Stokes could find some magic despite not being fully fit.
Now they are faced with flying in a spare bowler as Topley looks to have broken a finger, he's been our main wicket taker, with only Rashid to help out.

I largely agree, but the WC players were quite happy to pick the 100 over the 50 over comp - it was even said if I recall correctly, that it will be 'alright on the night' even with no adequate practice! Yes absolutely, the ECB have no credibility and I said that - the media SKY/BBC also can not (and Sky's relatively low key response - hard questions to Mott etc?? reflected this) now show concern either!

Everything else you say, I mostly agree! One caveat though in all honesty - to enter a World Cup as defending champions and not see it as a defense?? Don't enter then!

I think I said somewhere else, that I just do not see J Buttler as captain material. Even when appointed, i struggled to come up with a set of credentials he had/has, as a leader?? I just couldn't see it! Asking Stokes to come out of retirement, then face a lay off for injury, and still perform (still not fit I reckon) is just so wrong headed!

(22-10-2023 11:54 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  Today the 2 best teams play, can India and New Zealand provide that much needed close finish.

Largely down to the best pitch/venue of the lot, the answer was yes! I have never understood how out - and - out batting has been labelled as good, great or excellent tracks. Todays track WAS a good track! Apart from the sand based outfield which can lead to injury issues sliding on it, it was not the carpet the others have been, good thing as well! What did we get as a result?? the best contest so far!

I was interested in the 'comms armchair generals' pontificating about NZ and their 'willingness' to 'take' it to India with the bat. Doullie (after he had finished contradicting himself on match conditions - i.e pitch) was saying that despite scoring 130, Mitchell's tempo was all wrong, and he cost NZ maybe 30 or 40 runs, which apparently would have made all the difference?? Looking at the outcome, that is easy to say, but it takes no account of the relatively difficult batting conditions, and India bowling somewhere close to their best. It also overlooks the more obvious point that had Mitchell - with wickets falling around him (Ravindra apart) - done as suggested and gone earlier, Ind would - all things being equal - just have crossed the winning post even sooner. I sometimes wonder whether the term expert is suited to some people!

Brydon Carse is the replacement for the injured Topley.