ICC Champions Trophy 2013

[FiF]

Fair do's to the Ockers for showing that never say die grit that has done them so well over the decades.

[johnfm]

Oh well. Good effort to firstly chase the total in 30 and then try and win it.

Rain didn't help us last week, but that is cricket. Interesting that we managed to keep SL down to 250. Some decent bowling.

Good luck to the semi-finalists.

[Busa mav]

Great match to watch, I even found myself wanting the Aussies to win , great effort .

Rather see SL on the way home than NZ! From an England point of view .

[Amirhussain]

el stovey said:

Amazing catch, pretty poor tournament for Australia though. Despite 'showing spirit' in this game, it's never going to be good enough for Australia to not qualify for the semis.

First time they haven't reached the semis since 2000.

They were unlucky that their second game was stopped because of rain, and the Kiwis were unlucky too.

[uk66fastback]

Busa mav said:

I even found myself wanting the Aussies to win !

el stovey said:

Australia didn't win a game. . . and so begins their summer of discontent.

Excellent finish to the game. Hats off to the crims for giving it a go. Was never going to happen though in 30 overs. Nuggety Aussies true to their word though and a fine effort. Agree with Allott and the others - Mathews' captaincy wasn't great ... and this one nearly got away.

[Cheib]

I don't really care about the Champions Trophy or ODI's but I do care that the Aussie's are stuggling ahead of the main event!

[Amirhussain]

I think that either England or India will lift the trophy. Sri Lanka have been finalists in 4 previous tournaments (world cup 07, T20 09, World cup 2011 and T20 2012). I just don't think that their going to be good enough to beat the Indians, who have been pretty awesome so far.

The big question is that will South Africa choke? I fking hope so!

[Cheib]

Quite muggy in London this morning....Jimmy A will be swinging it all over the place in these conditions. Shove em in while the air is still damp.

Sky saying Steyn is an injury doubt....

[hornetrider]

^^ Yep Steyn confirmed out - result

England win toss and bowl - result

[Gargamel]

Great Start, by the worlds leading fast bowler

[spikeyhead]

Finn's contributing too, huge wicket to get rid of Amla

[Cheib]

It is indeed doing plenty.....fantastic start. SA will do really well to score at 3 an over with the ball doing this. Pitch it up and encourage 'em to drive.

[FiF]

Simon Hughes piece in the Telegraph makes a good read. He makes a good point that England are roughening one side of the ball in a totally legal way. Even to the point of using a bowler who can angle the delivery in such a way to help the wear at certain overs.

He misses mentioning in more detail the meticulous nature of the attention given to the polished side. Use spit and sweat to keep the leather hydrated by all means, I'm somewhat less sure about glucose laden spit from sweet sucking. Allegedly.

Nevertheless the ability of England to swing the ball and get reverse swing is surely more down to delivery and release techniques than just ball maintenance.

Anyway choke you Saffers.

[FourWheelDrift]

Well they can't use any sun block or lip salve like others have done, there's no sun out there.

[FiF]

FourWheelDrift said:

Well they can't use any sun block or lip salve like others have done, there's no sun out there.

And there won't be for the next ten years according to Mystic Met office.

[Gargamel]

Never stopped Donald or Merv the Swerve....

Anyway Andersen has become a god in my eyes. For once Cook seems to be making the right calls.

49/3 off 13 overs.

So far so good

[FourWheelDrift]

Wooooooooooooooooo

50-5

South Africa collapsing early.

[fathomfive]

50/4

Saatchi must be in the SA dressing room.

[FourWheelDrift]

Boooooooooo

[FourWheelDrift]

63-5