ICC Cricket World Cup Thread

[captainfog]

IMO the winners should be from either the Aussies and SA, then the next tier of potential winners is Windies, Sri Lanka, India.

The outsiders are Pakistan and New Zealand.

Pakistan are genuine hot an cold so they could easily beat a top team and then lose to Bangladesh. Curret form suggests the latter.

I will stick to my prediction of another Australia win.

Despite the home advantage I would still stay the windies are outsiders. The wickets will suit one day cricket and the big sides will score big runs and I just don't see them being able to compete.

[Colemere]

while pathan had a bad series in SA the rest did reasonably well.

Agarkar will be the key bowler for india in the west indies

Exactly.

Pathan on form is one of the best bowlers in the world and i think him winning young player of the year shows his potential.

Agarkar and Zaheer have really found there form in recent games.

And as SouthAfricaRed said Sreesanth is v good and could be one to watch at the world cup.

but then again i am biast, so only time will tell.

India pace attack is crap, there is no pace there hardly, they are all low to mid 80's and only Agarker really knows where the ball is going and that is down to his experience.

[captainfog]

Richards doubts England chances
By Andrew McKenzie
BBC Sport, Barbados



England hit back from a miserable run to stun the Aussies
West Indies legend Sir Viv Richards has played down England's chances of winning the World Cup.

Michael Vaughan's men will travel to the Caribbean next month on the back of three successive one-day international wins over world champions Australia.

Two-time World Cup winner Richards said: "Ever since they beat Australia you would think England have a chance.

"But I don't believe their one-day team is as good as they do. They might have got a tired Australia team in the end."

606: DEBATE
Whilst England have the capability of beating any team on their day, they do not show sufficient consistency to win a World Cup

BY
606: Have your say

Before their wins over the Aussies, two of which came in the finals of the tri-series, England had lost 24 of their previous 33 ODIs.

Former Windies skipper Richards, who scored 6,721 runs in 187 one-dayers at an average of 47, has been impressed by their revival and says they could shock some of the more fancied teams.

"It's going to be interesting because England have taken some knocks about their one-day team and proved a lot of people wrong and they could do it again," he continued.


No team has ever hosted a World Cup and won it - we stand a very good chance

Richards on the Windies

"Any one of eight teams could be competitive - there are eight good ones at the tournament."

Richards was part of the West Indies side that won the inaugural World Cup in 1975 and then helped them retain it four years later.

The Windies have not tasted glory in the competition since then but Richards feels they have the ability to create history.

"I have always said we have a very good chance of winning this World Cup. We have assembled a team that is good enough to compete at this level," he explained.

"There are so many things for them to motivate themselves for. No team has ever hosted a World Cup and won it so that is a great opportunity.

"Winning it as a West Indies unit is collectively good for the whole region and I believe we stand a very good chance."

Richards was talking at the opening of the new Kensington Oval ground in Barbados that will host the World Cup final on 28 April.

If I was in a facility like this I'd be wanting to perform and I hope these guys get that feeling as well

Richards on the new Kensington Oval in Barbados

He captained a side of West Indies greats including Desmond Haynes, Gordon Greenidge, Courtney Walsh, Curtley Ambrose and Joel Garner in a Twenty20 defeat by a World XI led by former England captain Alec Stewart.

"It was a wonderful occasion to be here at this magnificent ground. It's great when you have facilities like this," Richards added.

"I just hope the cricket over the next few weeks and months can match some of the facilities and I hope justice is done in terms of getting some magnificent performances.

"It would be fitting if that was the case. If I was in a facility like this I'd be wanting to perform and I hope these guys get that feeling as well."

[DeeGame]

Exactly.

Pathan on form is one of the best bowlers in the world and i think him winning young player of the year shows his potential.

Agarkar and Zaheer have really found there form in recent games.

And as SouthAfricaRed said Sreesanth is v good and could be one to watch at the world cup.

but then again i am biast, so only time will tell.

i dont think Sreesanth will be a star at the world cup as he is too agressive at times and loses his head.

Lets not get carried away india have a good as chance as any to win the world cup.

[Steve]

My tickets for England v NZ in St Lucia and the Jamaica semi final just arrived!

[Colemere]

Lucky *******

[Mumsafan]

My tickets for England v NZ in St Lucia and the Jamaica semi final just arrived!

I hate you even more now

[DeeGame]

I hate you even more now

i agree

[DeeGame]

Big-hitting Hayden breaks big toe

Matthew Hayden suffered a fractured big toe in the final one-dayer against New Zealand in Hamilton and is a doubt for the start of the World Cup.
Hayden smashed 181 not out, the best score ever by an Australian in ODIs.

But he was hit on his right boot by a yorker while helping his team to a total of 346-5 against the Kiwis.

Australian physio Alex Kountouris said: "Matthew will see a specialist in Brisbane on Wednesday when his medical management will be outlined."

At the same time, Australia hope to announce when Hayden will be able to resume playing.

The Aussies, holders of the World Cup and favourites to win this time, have been hit by poor form and injuries of late.

Pace spearhead Brett Lee (ankle) is only 50-50 for the tournament, while key all-rounder Andrew Symonds (torn bicep) is expected to miss all the group games.

Batsman Michael Clarke has hip soreness - though is not expected to miss Australia's first match on 14 March.

Australia's first game against seeded opposition comes against South Africa 10 days later.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/6377875.stm

Aussies in serious trouble with injuries mounting.

[Tee]

WTF has happened to Australia - cannot even defend 346!

Seems like the WC may be more open than I first thought.

[Jayesh87]

India pace attack is crap, there is no pace there hardly, they are all low to mid 80's and only Agarker really knows where the ball is going and that is down to his experience.

Have you had a ball coming at you at 80 m.p.h plus ?? Its nt as easy as it looks.....

[DeeGame]

Have you had a ball coming at you at 80 m.p.h plus ?? Its nt as easy as it looks.....

Shall we take turns at bowling at him & see how good he is

[Steve]

I hate you even more now

I could sell my tickets and move back to Oldham if it makes you feel better.

[Mumsafan]

I could sell my tickets and move back to Oldham if it makes you feel better.

No. Then I'd feel guilty!

[tsb]

Have you had a ball coming at you at 80 m.p.h plus ?? Its nt as easy as it looks.....

True. Pace didn't help Akhtar against Tendulkar in that over in Centurion 2003.