World Cup 2015

[Gozu]

Now Brett Lee named as bowling coach for Ireland during the WC:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-06/b ... up/6074496

[wristwatcher]

3 horse race. In order

Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. No one else can win it.

If you go back to post number 1 on this thread you will see that was my sentiments exactly.

The kiss of death is now official mate

It does seem that way, although to me Australia doesn't feel like it is as strong a team as befits the favourites tag.
Thought this time last year England were building towards being right up there, giving blokes like Stokes, Ballance and Jordan experience in Australian conditions combined with Bell, Broad, Anderson, Root, Morgan, but their performances over the last month didn't feel like they were building or gaining momentum
Will be interesting to see how Pakistan goes, bit of an unknown quantity.

Yep agreed. England have lost all momentum. All it might take though is a win v Australia.

Pakis could knock us off in the quarters and lose a semi by 200 runs. Dangerous but not consistent enough.

Everyone I speak to thinks Australia but I am leaning towards a very dangerous looking NZ or SA. Both have world class batters and dangerous bowlers not necessarily 6 all-rounders in their team.

I hope, no I pray we win but won't be surprised if we lose in the major round. We are not invincible.

[The Dark Knight]

3 horse race. In order

Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. No one else can win it.

If you go back to post number 1 on this thread you will see that was my sentiments exactly.

The kiss of death is now official mate

It does seem that way, although to me Australia doesn't feel like it is as strong a team as befits the favourites tag.
Thought this time last year England were building towards being right up there, giving blokes like Stokes, Ballance and Jordan experience in Australian conditions combined with Bell, Broad, Anderson, Root, Morgan, but their performances over the last month didn't feel like they were building or gaining momentum
Will be interesting to see how Pakistan goes, bit of an unknown quantity.

Yep agreed. England have lost all momentum. All it might take though is a win v Australia.

Pakis could knock us off in the quarters and lose a semi by 200 runs. Dangerous but not consistent enough.

Everyone I speak to thinks Australia but I am leaning towards a very dangerous looking NZ or SA. Both have world class batters and dangerous bowlers not necessarily 6 all-rounders in their team.

I hope, no I pray we win but won't be surprised if we lose in the major round. We are not invincible.

South Africa rely too heavily on De Villers and Amla with the bat and Steyn and Morkel with the ball IMO so therefore I don't think they can win it.

And yes I agree we are not invincible but we have easily the best all round squad of Batsman, Allrounders and Fast bowlers, our possible 'weak links' aren't as weak as other teams possible 'weak links.

And with NZ they've been playing some great cricket and they're my favourite along with Australia but lets wait and see until their batsman face the might of Mitchell Johnson, they haven't faced anyone near the quality of MJ yet.

[Jim05]

I still havnt written off India, got a feeling they will come good

[Grahaml]

New Zealand are in the rung below SA and AUS in my book, along with Sri Lanka. Reckon India and England are below them and then Pakistan and WI the ones likely to be most under threat from the minnows. The biggest point of difference between Aus, SA and the others is they both can put an 11 on the field where everyone is a dangerous player with a few reliable stars. NZ and SL have some really good players but the 8th-11th picked blokes aren't much chop. India and England thinner again and Pakistan/WI are going to rely on blokes from left field having breakout tournaments to compete.

[The Dark Knight]

New Zealand are in the rung below SA and AUS in my book, along with Sri Lanka. Reckon India and England are below them and then Pakistan and WI the ones likely to be most under threat from the minnows. The biggest point of difference between Aus, SA and the others is they both can put an 11 on the field where everyone is a dangerous player with a few reliable stars. NZ and SL have some really good players but the 8th-11th picked blokes aren't much chop. India and England thinner again and Pakistan/WI are going to rely on blokes from left field having breakout tournaments to compete.

Well said Grahaml, that has been mine and my brother's thinking when discussing the top countries World Cup prospects.

[batmanbegins]

3 horse race. In order

Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. No one else can win it.

If you go back to post number 1 on this thread you will see that was my sentiments exactly.

The kiss of death is now official mate

It does seem that way, although to me Australia doesn't feel like it is as strong a team as befits the favourites tag.
Thought this time last year England were building towards being right up there, giving blokes like Stokes, Ballance and Jordan experience in Australian conditions combined with Bell, Broad, Anderson, Root, Morgan, but their performances over the last month didn't feel like they were building or gaining momentum
Will be interesting to see how Pakistan goes, bit of an unknown quantity.

as an England supporter I disagree whole heartedly, the tri series was the best one day cricket we have played in ages. We got flogged this time last year by you guys at least this time we were competitive till the final in the tri series. We got rid of cook which helped, ali is promising at the top, Taylor has looked ok but I agree jordan should play over woakes and they want ballance in the team but hes injured. Also id prefer stokes over bopara but stokes was in horrid form for the english summer. The reality is where no were near as good as Aus, Sa or Nz but we are definitely better then last year or this past english summer where we had a 1990 approach to one day cricket.

Im excited to see young milne for NZ bowls 150km and looks to be really promising to back up boult and southee plus you add vettori and there bowling attack is one of the best in these conditions. Williamson and mcullum are the key to their batting as well.

[bennymacca]

still reckon the aussies bat deeper and have better hitters than any other team and thats what should get us over the line. not too many other teams could be 4-60 and still make 280 like we did the other day against england.

[LaughingKookaburra]

Yes and Australia did that with 4 world class players on the sidelines. India are a bigger threat imo.

[hearts on fire]

Anyone know any sites to live stream the warm up game today? Unable to make it down to there today,would be ideal day for it though.

[Gozu]

Anyone know any sites to live stream the warm up game today? Unable to make it down to there today,would be ideal day for it though.

Firstrowsports have a stream of the match.

Warner tearing it up in front of a smallish crowd at AO.

Aus 1/111 (15 overs)

Warner 68 (57)

Watson 18 (15)

[hearts on fire]

Cheers mate works a treat.

Are these warm ups classed as ODIs? Should be on channel 9 or Foxtel surely, they are showing it to everyone else around world.

[heater31]

Cheers mate works a treat.

Are these warm ups classed as ODIs? Should be on channel 9 or Foxtel surely, they are showing it to everyone else around world.

Not official matches. The entire squad can bat or bowl if they choose to.

[hearts on fire]

Ahh yep fair enough mate, these are worrying signs Maxwell's form is peaking way to early before the World Cup, won't do anything for months now

[Gozu]

Aus 5/307 (43 overs)

Maxwell 92 (50)

M. Marsh 14 (21)

[locky801]

The Big show is showing today 122 off 57 balls and retires

Aust 5/345 with 5 overs to go

Starc comes in and gets a golden duck , all of a sudden 8/346

[Gozu]

Australia 371 (48.2)

Maxwell 122 (57) ret
Warner 104 (83)
Bailey 44 (66)

M. Shami 3/83 (9.2)

[locky801]

Im confused, lets just everyone, Haddin listed, now isnt on the batting list when he as same with HAzelwood, Cummins and Doherty not on the team sheet yet both are batting, guses yep its a trial

[FlyingHigh]

3 horse race. In order

Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. No one else can win it.

If you go back to post number 1 on this thread you will see that was my sentiments exactly.

The kiss of death is now official mate

It does seem that way, although to me Australia doesn't feel like it is as strong a team as befits the favourites tag.
Thought this time last year England were building towards being right up there, giving blokes like Stokes, Ballance and Jordan experience in Australian conditions combined with Bell, Broad, Anderson, Root, Morgan, but their performances over the last month didn't feel like they were building or gaining momentum
Will be interesting to see how Pakistan goes, bit of an unknown quantity.

as an England supporter I disagree whole heartedly, the tri series was the best one day cricket we have played in ages. We got flogged this time last year by you guys at least this time we were competitive till the final in the tri series. We got rid of cook which helped, ali is promising at the top, Taylor has looked ok but I agree jordan should play over woakes and they want ballance in the team but hes injured. Also id prefer stokes over bopara but stokes was in horrid form for the english summer. The reality is where no were near as good as Aus, Sa or Nz but we are definitely better then last year or this past english summer where we had a 1990 approach to one day cricket.

Im excited to see young milne for NZ bowls 150km and looks to be really promising to back up boult and southee plus you add vettori and there bowling attack is one of the best in these conditions. Williamson and mcullum are the key to their batting as well.

Sorry batman, but I just don't see it. Balance is a big loss through injury, and I take your point about Stokes' form, but while Taylor looked okay, I don't think he will score consistently fast enough on Australian wickets, although may be more of an asset in NZ if the wickets are greener. Probably the biggest positive for England was the form of FInn.
I thought last year, despite the 4-1 scoreline, England actually played pretty well (should have won in Brisbane, probably in Adelaide and made a pretty competitive 270 in another game) and looked better than the last few weeks.

[whufc]

NZ batting first after losing the toss

14 degrees and game started under drizzle