The Cricket World Cup

[308gt4]

mikeyt said:

Interesting that Tom Moody, who knows all the Aussies inside out obviously, is SL coach, I wonder what he's got in up his sleeve?

doesn't matter, well done the lads, SA was the only team I was worried about but I think MikeyT hit the nail on the head, 'arrogance' from Herr Schmidt ... but good on him, what else was he suppose to say 'oh we know they're too good for us ' ??!!

..and Murali is a chucker , changing the rules to save his arse is like them changing the speed signs from 60 to 100 ...... hmmm maybe there is some good in all this

[zaktoo]

hsvgtscoupe said:

this will be over before I even get to the pub!!

unbefcukinleivable

GO THE ROAD TRAIN

sorry Zak, I know it's early but...

ch...ch...cho..
CHOKERS!

, do we ever deserve that... Jeez an all-round embarassment. The under 13 blind boy's team could have done better. Each and every one, bar Boucher, absolutely gifted their wicket. Gibbs should have walked, at least there may have been a shred of dignity left. At least I have my Battrick team Sheesh. Big bunch of s.

[hsvgtscoupe]

great decisive win by the lads - smith talked the talk but couldn't walk the walk (except the long slow one back to the hut). Punter simply out captained him & the SA side had a narrow vision objective, failed to adjust and paid dearly. Aussies lose Gilly 1st uppa & then it's slow & steady but still at a pace that would beat most sides.

That's the first hurdle (a lower than expected one) now it's time to take home the gold. This team are as good a side as you will see in ODI and there are three reasons, 1)they play as a true team 2)they are truly proud to play for thier country 3)they are focused & hungry with a clear vision of what they want to acheive. Well done Punter & the lads - long may it continue. Many call it arrogance - we call it success.

zak said:

comiserations mate - I'm sure it hurts but as you admit, your boys have only themselves to blame. well played to a deserving finals side and one I'm sure will enjoy some much closer tussles with us in the future

after we hiccupped for a few games in Feb all the poms said:

ahh.. suffer you arrogant cons.. the bubble has burst - yr over the hill, all the players are retiring, you'll never make the cut in the WC (read the posts if u dont beleive me) suffer ya convict losers

Fourth WC final in a row..
you could only dream that any soap dodgin team in any sport could ever be that good for so long!
GO THE MIGHTY AUSSIES - I'M PROUD TO BE A SUPPORTER OF SUCH AN AWESOME TEAM
bring on Sat - good luck to both teams - they both deserve to be there

[zaktoo]

hsvgtscoupe said:

and stuff

Good one

Of course I'll have to support Sri Lanka in the finals - 3 in a row just doesn't sit right with me :P

PS Do you have a battrick team mate?

[hsvgtscoupe]

zaktoo said:

PS Do you have a battrick team mate?

Sorry.. lost on a dumb con.. WTF is that?
Only word with 7 or more letters we understand is "winning" and "Strayla" of course! (both usually in the same sentence)

[mikeyt]

hsvgtscoupe said:

after we hiccupped for a few games in Feb all the poms said:

ahh.. suffer you arrogant cons.. the bubble has burst - yr over the hill, all the players are retiring, you'll never make the cut in the WC (read the posts if u dont beleive me) suffer ya convict losers

Not all the Poms - if you remember back I said they've got a production line and nothing will change.

They are the best one day team I've ever seen - by a long way.

Will still be cheering the SL's on Sat though. Remember 1996? Strayla were favourites then from memory. And if Stuart Law hadn't dropped da Silva on the boundary they may well have won that one too.

SL won by 7 wkts and the Aussies dropped five catches! Let's hope for a repeat.

Edited by mikeyt on Wednesday 25th April 23:49

[308gt4]

mikeyt said:

And if Stuart Law hadn't dropped da Silva on the boundary they may well have won that one too.

wasn't unrep or your good self nominating Stuart Law as a possible coach replacement ?

There was mention on the news this morning that 7 of the WC teams coaches were Australian .... better get the pads on HSV you may be asked to coach next

Did you notice the way the Aussies walked off the pitch after winning ?

No whooping around grinning like gargoyles, just 'getting ready for the next abattoir shift' look about them.

Didn't get to see all the action, did AS and MC look like they were batting ok ?

[hsvgtscoupe]

308gt4 said:

Didn't get to see all the action, did AS and MC look like they were batting ok ?

MC was excellent - lynchpin 50 with deft touch. Symo didn't really have a chance to open right up - played a few of his usual brutals but certainly looked untested by the SA lineup. I mentioned before the SA weakness was the bowling side - sure nobody expected the big batting collapse but when the SA bowler speed stats were put up, it was really obvious that all were so similar; within 5 or so kph. They need to look at some variety in the line up IMO if they are to take it up a notch.

[johnfm]

Go Australia - you little ripper!!

Saturday will be a really close contest - a lot hinges on how we cope with Malinga and Vaas. If Malinga has his compass on, Gilly and Hayden will need to build an innings. I think if we get through the first 20 overs unscathed, Murali will have limited powers on that wicket. Hope we bat first and post 320 or so - good target but not too big for a good chase by SL.

Roll on Saturday!

[MikeyT]

308gt4 said:

mikeyt said:

And if Stuart Law hadn't dropped da Silva on the boundary they may well have won that one too.

wasn't unrep or your good self nominating Stuart Law as a possible coach replacement ?

Sounds like he has the perfect grounding for an Eng coach ...

I think the Aussies *should* win obviously - on form, on paper etc. But you never know!

Experience of being in these big match situations will help of course, Aus having been there many times. There's a few match-ups I'm looking forward to, Malinga vs Hayden, Murali vs Punter, Clarke and Simmo. Jayasuriya vs McGrath - two old foes clashing for the last time.

There's so much to look forward to regarding personal duels withing the game that the whole thing is set up brilliantly ...

Can SL do it? They are capable but they have to take every chance, score every run they can, not do anything stupid, have an adapable game plan and BELIEVE.

Aus to win toss, bat and Malinga to send Hayden and Ponting back within six overs for next to nothing would be my dream start ...

Don't mind who wins really but don't want SL 40-5 as that would be game over. Would like an exciting game though as befits a WC final - both semis were dull to the neutral although there was some superb cricket played - none by SA though.

I think the SL's play the game with a bit more of a smile on their face which is why I'll be supporting them - although you can't help but admire the Big Yellow Machine.

[suthol]

A very nice report of Grum Smid's after match press conference to be found here.

www.thebladder.com.au/content/news/displayContent.asp?CID=3867&EID=399

[MikeyT]

England make a fresh start ...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/crick



Same old, same old ...

A real chance for the new guy to stamp his authority by naming some fresh faces ... and he has failed miserably in my book. I half expected to see Chris Adams back in there. I wonder of G Hick is fit?

What a wasted opportunity.

[ewenm]

I don't see the problem with that squad. How the match teams and batting orders are picked will be the key.

They may not have performed in the Carribean but the more experienced members of the squad are still our top players.

[MikeyT]

I know, the basics of a good team are there, it's the Saj's and the Jon Lewis's I'm not sure about ... and Dalrymple ... and Onions ...

Don't see what they've done to either force their way in or stay in there.

[MikeyT]

Right, hsv, 308, john-fm, suthol etc ... read this and weep!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/crick

It COULD happen again!


Edit: That's a great pic of Punter - I forgot he had a goatee in those days ...

Edited by MikeyT on Friday 27th April 13:03

[hsvgtscoupe]

MikeyT said:

Right, hsv, 308, john-fm, suthol etc ... read this and weep! http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/crick

It COULD happen again!
Edit: That's a great pic of Punter - I forgot he had a goatee in those days ...

Edited by MikeyT on Friday 27th April 13:03

Sure could happen.. but would not be the big suprise it was back then - to their credit, SL have never looked back since 96 and they are an awesome side. Lets hope it's a cracker - of course I'll be devestated for the lads if they lose but it only takes one bad day at the office and being the standout team of the comp will mean SFA. I'm proud of what they have done this WC smashing everyone in the comp. Lets hope the big game doesnt get to them & they take home the cup - nobody can deny they deserve it.

[MikeyT]

hsvgtscoupe said:

nobody can deny they deserve it.

Pains me to agree but I have to hsv.

[Cooky]

The way I see it it all depends on Jayasuria, if he's in the mood and fancies his chances ANYTHING is possible. That guy is capable of taking any bowling apart, and then some
If he fires, the the Oz have a BIG problem, if he doesn't it's a piece of piss.
Yes SL have other very capable players in Kumar and Mikhaela but without the old man at the top they seem to be misguided at times, If he clicks it will get messy and the others will shine too. If they do get to post a decent total it will take a great effort from Punter and his boys to chase it down with Slinger, Vass, Fernando, Jaya AND Murali all up for the challenge.

Looking forward to a great game just hope it will live up to expectations and not be a rout.... Oh Lanky lanky !... shit wrong side

[johnfm]

I'll have to sky+ it - I am playing cricket tomorrow from 1 pm!

[MikeyT]

Cooky said:

The way I see it it all depends on Jayasuria, if he's in the mood and fancies his chances ANYTHING is possible. That guy is capable of taking any bowling apart, and then some
If he fires, the the Oz have a BIG problem, if he doesn't it's a piece of piss.
Yes SL have other very capable players in Kumar and Mikhaela but without the old man at the top they seem to be misguided at times, If he clicks it will get messy and the others will shine too. If they do get to post a decent total it will take a great effort from Punter and his boys to chase it down with Slinger, Vass, Fernando, Jaya AND Murali all up for the challenge.

Looking forward to a great game just hope it will live up to expectations and not be a rout.... Oh Lanky lanky !... shit wrong side

And he's due a score - he was run out in the final in '96 for not very many so probably feels he's owed some this time.

SL's best chances are to bat I think - like South Africa's were. Hopefully they won't make a pig's ear of it like the Proteas did and will set a good score. 300 would be nice.

What's the highest Aus have chased in this comp?

Edit: 248 against England is their biggest chase. Yes, 300 would be a pressure situation ... forced to go for it from the off, two quick wkts for Malinga, Hayden b malinga 2 and Ponting lbw b malinga, 5 ... 78-4 suddenly wanting 7 an over ...

Dreaming again...

Edited by MikeyT on Friday 27th April 17:16