2014 Cricket World Cup - Official Thread

[Gargamel]

dav123a said:

Following Gayle's innings is it just a matter of time before we see a triple hundred in a ODI ?
An easy win for SL , going to be very hard for them to replace Dilshan and Sanga when in the not too distant future they will retire.

Whilst it is of course possible it is going to need a ground with say a ridiculously short boundary and probably at altitude too.

300 balls available, so need to be an opener, and face roughly two thirds of the bowling.

Possible but remains unlikely I think

[spikeyhead]

De Villiers has been throwing the bat for the Saffers, setting the WIndies 409,

Four hundred and eight runs scored.

[speedy_thrills]

There should be a rule that AB de Villiers has to hop between the wickets in a sack. SA make other teams look so lazy between the wickets, if your fielding isn't world class they will just run you ragged. Anyway SA make 400+, let's see what Gale can do about this.

[dav123a]

Maybe AB should open ! Seriously unbelievable hitting. His 3rd 50 came off 12 balls. SA added 150 of the last 10. Poor Jason Holders last 2 overs cost 64.His first 5 overs cost 9 runs and he still went for over 100. AB now has the fastest 50\100\150.

Edited by dav123a on Friday 27th February 08:02

[Leithen]

Yorker training desperately required. Given that AB is going to dispatch every other delivery to the boundary, the risks of delivering a full toss/half volley are irrelevant...

[john2443]

speedy_thrills said:

There should be a rule that AB de Villiers has to hop between the wickets in a sack.

A sack wouldn't make much difference - 17 fours and eight sixes = 116 off 66 balls is still pretty good!

speedy_thrills said:

let's see what Gale can do about this.

QFP

[uk66fastback]

Okay, the batting is impressive (Gayle and ABdeV etc) but the bowling in each case has been shocking... There's an art to it... All down to length. Very few good exponents of it any more.

All this half track or back of a length rubbish will get carted into the stands as it almost always has been, esp with these huge bats.

If SA beat Aus in the final, and banish 1999 sf for ever, that'll do me. Anyone but Aus, please. India for me... best players overall.

[BlackLabel]

AB is a genius. Best ODI bat of all time for me. Tendulkar, Ponting,Bevan etc certainly couldn't play the types of shots he does. Didn't see Viv play live but from old video clips neither could he.

Borrowed this from twitter:

[uk66fastback]

IVA Richards played in a different era, when the rules were different - 9 on the fence etc, the equipment was very different, there was only one ball etc. The game was totally different - it was 30 years ago ... look at football in the 80s and now.

You can't compare really. But if he was playing now he would have been at least as good as AB ... his eye, footwork and just talent was up there with the VERY best. And of course he was a top Test player - is AB - what's his Test average? No idea ...

Did your YT viewings track down his fastest 100 v Eng from the 80s?

[TheExcession]

uk66fastback said:

AB... what's his Test average? No idea ...

I had to go look that up too

52.09 allegedly... not too shabby at all really

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ireLAND/content/player...

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/wi/content/records/2...

Just to add;

Interesting when you look at the ODI strike rates for someone like Chris Gayle
http://www.espncricinfo.com/westindies/content/pla...

vs AB.

Currently at 98.19 for AB, 84.82 for CG, these are huge numbers - practically a 'run a ball'. Our old friend Mr Boycott has an ODI strike rate of 53.56

Here's a link for 'best' ODI strike rates, an interesting list

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/wi/content/records/2...

I'm not generally a stats man for sports, but it is interesting to take a look through the lists once in a while.

Edit again to add:

Here's the list that just shows a few lucky hits can land you at the top of the table...

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/wi/content/records/2...

AB facing 44 balls and is 3rd in the table. The 16 sixes make him shine a bit I guess!

Edited by TheExcession on Friday 27th February 21:26

[speedy_thrills]

Australia are looking in a spot of bother here.

[uk66fastback]

speedy_thrills said:

Australia are looking in a spot of bother here.

Great to watch isn't it!

[speedy_thrills]

uk66fastback said:

Great to watch isn't it!

Pressure, pressure, pressure. Every. Single. Ball.

[RobDickinson]

Australia do you even cricket?

[zygalski]

Why have they gone off the field with NZ 79-3 off 8 overs chasing a daunting 151?
Can one of our Aussie chums explain?

[speedy_thrills]

Lunch. They time slots assume that teams will be at the crease for a certain duration but if you are bowled out you have to come back and bat before the lunch slot.

[zygalski]

NZ need 34 runs from 34 overs. 4 wickets down. Could be close!

[Baron Greenback]

7 runs needed with 3 wickets left! Don't lose this one NZ! Dam another wicket, 2 left to go!

Edit. Dam another wicket 1 wicket left and 6 runs needed!

Edited by Baron Greenback on Saturday 28th February 06:28

Edit again. Wow what an end!

Edited by Baron Greenback on Saturday 28th February 06:32

[zygalski]

Wow! Great game, brilliant result

[speedy_thrills]

How close do you like? Great game!