Who will win the cricket?

[AstralTraveller]

OK, we're finally getting to the pointy end of the tournament. It's time for the amateur pundits to stick their necks out. From the bits I've seen here's my prediction for the quarter finals.

Pakistan v West Indies

It seems that the real Pakistan has arrived and except for a top order collapse against NZ have looked good. Alone amongst the quarter finalists, the Windies haven't defeated a quarter finalist and I expect that to continue.

India v Australia

I'm only saying that because I have to. :D I think Australia's got problems but India have some weaknesses. They can certainly post big totals but they also concede a lot of runs. They also rely a lot on the top order and seem a bit fragile later on. Australia's weaknesses are more evenly spread. Australia has the firepower to beat India but they have to get all the pieces to fall together. Up to now they've run like a five-legged goat.

New Zealand v South Africa

As much as my heart would love the Kiwis to get up my head says 'Nop'.

Sri Lanka v England

On this forum I'm sure we would all agree that Sri Lanka are a useless no-good team. :fishing: None-the-less they are preferable to the Poms. :poke: :whistle: While England have been up and down like a lift attendant Sri Lanka have been consistently pretty good. I think they have enough to get past England.

So there are my thoughts. Call me stupid - you won't be the first. Tell me where I've gone wrong. I won't believe you but tell me anyway. And remember, I take silence as agreement. :P :evil:

[supernova1965]

Suzy I have to say that Australia will win this one your team doesn't have a hope:P

[madwayne]

David

Australia to beat India? Our side is completely imbalanced and lacking a quality spin bowler. We have three pacemen that can leak runs at the drop of a hat and a batting order that once you get through Watson and Haddin you really only have Mike Hussey to prop things up. I'd take a close loss but the reality will be a belting from India. Could we even be forced to follow on???? :lol:

I agree with your other tips, but if there is to be an upset I think it will come in the NZ vs SA game. The Kiwis can score heavily and their bowling attack, assuming fitness doesn't interefere with Vettori or Mills looks well balanced and quite capable.

Now I have said that watch Australia pound India to a pulp and SA score 400 plus against the Kiwis.

Wayne

[Barrykgerdes]

There is only one sure winner. The Bookies or Betting agencies. The series is designed for gambling addicts.

Barry

[Kal]

Bookies will cash in on anything they think they can make money on Barry. The royal wedding is planned for gambling addicts.

[gbeal]

You can bet on the cricket? Crikey, I don't really even bet on the horse, well a very small flutter very occasionally.
Don't think we have the ability to win against the Yarpies, so it will be Oz in the final, not sure who against though.
Gary

[gbeal]

So David, both of us are wrong it seems.
Gary

[DeanoNZL]

I can't believe NZ made it into the semi's. :eyepop:
Considering we have lost to almost everyone in the last two seasons.

[AstralTraveller]

Was that the sound of distant choking I heard last night. :clap:

[gbeal]

Certainly you would have heard me choking on my weeties this morning, when I found we had beaten Sth Africa, heck.
Gary

[Lester]

Good luck to the Kiwis. I think they play Sri Lanka next, with nothing to loose.

[Ric]

It would be good to see New Zealand make it through.

It's going to be a tough game against Sri Lanka but not impossible.

[blindman]

3 countries in the world play this game.
Does it really matter?
Cheers

[AstralTraveller]

There were 14 countries at the tournament. It matters if you care, otherwise ignore it. :thumbsup:

[Kal]

Why do alot of sports threads on IIS seem to attract the trolls?

Really, if you have no interest in the sport, just don't click on the thread. Clicking and posting pointless crap is just poor form.

[Suzy]

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D: D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D


:party::party::party::party::party: :party::party:

I'M BAAAAACK..!



So who is going to pull an all nighter with me on Saturday for the big final???
No one in my family will be sleeping that night I can tell you. :lol:
And I betcha didn't think the Sri-Lankans would make it to the finals now did ya! :D Where's the cartwheel emoticon when you need one :question:

Let's get the beer and snacks ready .... and bring on Saturday!!
I really won't mind if it's cloudy that night Mr Rainmaker. :P

David, Les D, etc.. I am going to have to rely on you'll for strengths and weaknesses of players. As I don't passionately follow cricket like I used to, it does get frustrating when I watch a match and I don't know a whole lot about the players, unlike the days gone by when I was a madly passionate statistician and lived and breathed cricket.

[Suzy]

I'LL TRY NOT TO JINX THE MATCH THIS TIME


:face::face::scared3::face::face:

[astroron]

Sri lanka will win:)
But what about my star night:question:
I don't want rain:sadeyes:

[Suzy]

Oh I forgot to add:

Bye bye poms :hi: :P:P

Bye bye Aussies :hi::P:P

And bye bye everyone else that thought they knew how to play cricket. Oooh, just getting a tad cheeky there again aren't I. :D

[Ric]

I think it going to be a very entertaining match.

Both sides are very even when you look at their stats.

[Kal]

What a cracking final it should be, as two veteran legends of the game go head to head.

When it comes to batting, Sachin Tendulkar stands head and shoulders above the rest in 1 day match statistics. Most career runs, most centuries, most half centuries, and not by small margins. 18K+ career runs to ~13K for second place, and 18 more centuries than second place ponting with 48 overall.

On the other team stands Muttiah Muralitharan, boasting the most 1 day wickets of all time with 534.

Looking forward to it even though no aussie team is playing!

[Suzy]

I think you should cancel your party and listen to the cricket instead. :D
Yikes, I hear shouting back at me.... :question: :doh:

Many thanks Andrew for the update on the players. :)
Are you going to be staying up all night to watch the cricket?

When I was at the shops today, the Indian chap who I know fairly well said to me, "Oh I'm so tired, I need some sleep". I quickly pounced with a big grin and eyes as wide as cricket balls, "you've been watching the match!" He was so excited India won and told me quite blatantly they are going to win the World Cup. :lol: Poor guy, he looked like he hadn't slept in a week.
He must have been tired to make that crazy comment to my Sri-Lankan face. :screwy::lol:

Gosh David, I just realised, I think I have hijacked your thread :question:.
I would have started one of my own, but I saw yours here and didn't think it polite to start up another one on the same subject so I just went for it. Do you mind?

[Kal]

I will stay up until I fall asleep infront of the tv Suzy (which is what happened to me while watching the aussie matches!) :lol:

[AstralTraveller]

Susy, no worries, I've been ignoring the thread a bit anyway and your still on topic too.

I meant to give my predictions for the semis but was slack so you'll just have to believe I got 2 out of 2 right. I couldn't sleep the other night so I saw the second half of the Sri Lankan innings against the Kiwis. They looked pretty solid, though when they went from 1 down to 4 down quickly I was begining to wonder if there would be another upset. But they steadied and in the end got there comfortably.

I wish I had seen the India Pakistan match, it sounds like it was a ripper. I'm pleased that the real Pakistan turned up at the tournament and have done so well. After all the turmoil they have been through it's great to see. World cricket needs competitive matches. I'd like to see the Windies return as a real force and some of the minnows (eg Bangladesh, Ireland, Zimbabwe) move into the big league.

As for the final my heart says Sri Lanka (Aussies like the underdogs) but my head says India. I think India has just a bit more talent and they will be lifted by the home crowd. Sometimes home teams can freeze but I don't think that will happen, it will make them stronger. I reckon it will be a cracker of a match and I hope it isn't decided until the last over, maybe a number 11 needing 2 off the last ball. That wouldn't be the best for Susy's heart but the rest of us would love it!

In either case I believe this will be the first time a host (or co-host) has won the cup and if India get up, they will be the first country to win it on home soil.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, the weather forecast is for clear skies on Saturday. After the rotten weather we've had for months it would be hard not to go observing - especially as SWMBO likes astronomy much more than cricket. It would also be only the second outing for the 16" since I bought it 12 months ago! If I do go observing I will listen to it on the radio and should be back in time for the end of the match.

[Suzy]

I had a big day yesterday and when I came home around 10pm, waiting for the cricket to come on, I fell asleep! Didn't wake up till 5.00am!:mad2:
Not a happy astro girl. :shrug: My whole family was staying up for this match, aye- I let them down- and I had hoped respond on this thread (if anyone was actually still awake :rolleyes: ).
;) I would have felt worse (falling asleep) if Sri-Lanka had won. :rolleyes: :lol:

Congratulations to India! :thumbsup:

[astroron]

I stayed up till 02.00, I could see where it was going as India was scoring quite freely with very little sign that the Sri Lankan bowling was going to do too much after getting Tendulka out so called it a night.
Well done India :thumbsup:
Cheers

[Kal]

I stayed up for about half an hour after Tendulkar got out. Some great batting by the Sri Lankans in their final few overs, and they looked ontop with Malinga claiming both openers early on. I was too tired to watch any more unfortunately.

Congrats to India!