The Cricket Thread

radioactivenerd · 04-03-2007, 13:38

All right i KNOW there are LOTS of people here that are from asia and australia and caribbean - theres GOTTA be a world cup thread!!!!
Starting in just over a week is WEST INDIES VS PAKISTAN
My pick? West Indies (you didnt think id ACTUALLY support pakistan did you

)

For the world cup though, i cant see my india going TOO far, unless Tendulkar has some sensational performances, and ganguly plays like he did against sri lanka in 1999 (183).
I dont want australia to win, since shane warne and steve waugh retired I'm not too fond of their team. South Africa is a team that really deserves to win it, and has deserved to win it almost every single world cup since 1992, except 1996. They just get fucked over each time.

Winners:
1. The Proteas

2. India

Top Scorers:
1) Herschelle Gibbs
2) Ricky Ponting

Top Wicket Takers:
1) Shane Bond (If NZ get far in the tourney, which they probably will)
2) Shaun Pollock

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Groups:

1) Group A:

Australia, South Africa, Scotland, Netherlands

2) Group B:

India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bermuda

3) Group C:

England, New Zealand, Kenya, Canada

4) Group D:

West Indies, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Ireland

Italian Tsar · 04-03-2007, 13:54

I've added a poll. People are very excited here, and I think India have a real good chance this time around.

Australia will miss Warne (but who wouldn't

), while South Africa may also miss a proven spinner. Pakistan is decimated by injuries (Shoib, Asif, Razzaq out) but if anything, that makes them more dangerous. Sri Lanka have a wonderful squad and in my book are one of the favourites. New Zealand are the dark horses, but do they have the wherewithal?

If its not India, then Windies all the way!!!!

GreatKalu · 04-03-2007, 14:19

Haven't watched a game in a while. I haven't been following proceedings lately either. From the infamous five to the pathetic showing as hosts, South Africa have always come short when it matters. I really hope I'm wrong when I say I don't think things will change anytime soon.

But please, an update. On paper, are the Aussies still clear favorites?

radioactivenerd · 04-03-2007, 14:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by madtherchot

Haven't watched a game in a while. I haven't been following proceedings lately either. From the infamous five to the pathetic showing as hosts, South Africa have always come short when it matters. I really hope I'm wrong when I say I don't think things will change anytime soon.

But please, an update. On paper, are the Aussies still clear favorites?

Not as clear as theyve been for the last few years. The West Indies have a good team, and Lara is playing as well as he was when he was 23. Stats go against the host of the WC though.
Aussies are still realyl good, and probably still the best team, but are beatable by a good team now (which wasnt the case at ine point). Shane Warne has retired, and the WC will be Glenn McGrath's last tournament. I doubt he would be that effective, but I said the same thing about Zidane.
South Africa have a great new young team, with a 26 y/o captain that is a better captain than Cronje if thats possible. I dont know if you heard about a game some time ago, when Aussies made 434 and Sth Africa chased it and made 438 and won. IN A ONE DAY INTL.
Theres definitely potential for all these teams to do well.. I havent seen any Sri Lankan team games, so I really cannot speak to that, but Tsar says therye good, and im sure he knows what hes talking about.
But yeah without Shane Warne and Steve Waugh, Aussies arent AS strong as they were. Not because theyre a bad team, but just because its hard to replace such influential people.

GreatKalu · 04-03-2007, 14:49

Yeah, I know Graeme Smith's fantastic when he + Gibbs are in form. If I'm not mistaken, I thought their weak point during the last WC was their bowling. Aside from Pollock, any other impressive bowlers? Also, their legendary fielding seemed to have been lost during the last WC.

I didn't know about the Aussie match. Must have been an epic chase. I remember in '99 when the lost by 1 or 2 runs against the Aussies

Also another epic.

Lara in form?! Damn ... I got to watch the WC. How's Tendulkar been playing lately?

WILL2K · 04-03-2007, 14:54

Used to follow cricket during my stay in Sri Lanka my years back. I was there celebrating for Sri Lanka when they won the World Cup in 95 >? . Later i began to suppor Aussie team . Fav. players were Mark Waugh and Steve Waugh bros , Warne the spinning legend as well as Glenn McGrath. They kicked butts back then , won the world cup in 99 .

Passion for *9* · 04-03-2007, 14:56

All I know about cricket is that there's a thing, no... two things, called wickets that are guarded by Batman.... Batsmen ? .... Whatever

Boring stuff to the German eye.

GreatKalu · 04-03-2007, 14:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Passion for *9*

All I know about cricket is that there's a thing, no... two things, called wickets that are guarded by Batman.... Batsmen ? .... Whatever

Boring stuff to the German eye.

Yes ... Batsmen as in plural

Initially, I wasn't blown away by it ... but the technique + strategy involved in the game is hugely addictive (to me at least) especially after I played it.

Passion for *9* · 04-03-2007, 15:05

^^^ If someone took it upon himself to explain the rules in really really REALLY simple terms, I might start taking an interest

Passion for *9* · 04-03-2007, 15:07

^^^ Then again... you probably want this thread to remain P4*9*-free + for all the right reasons

May the best win

Italian Tsar · 04-03-2007, 15:10

The Aussies just got swamped 0-3 by New Zealand and lost to England in the tri-series that took place a few weeks back

But then, they were missing Ponting and Gilchrist against New Zealand.

Brett Lee is out of the WC (injury), and though Symonds himself is carrying an injury and is not expected to play until the later stages of the competition, Ponting has backed him and picked him. McGrath's been a shadow of his former self lately, but I wouldn't write him off for the world.

Lara's been conserving himself for some years now, choosing which series to play and which to skip. That's something Sachin hasn't done, and though he looks in decent nick, the irreversible decline into mediocrity has started for him. Dravid is at his peak, Saurav is in terrific form and India's Chief of Selectors, Dilip Vengsarkar, has publicly announced that Virender Sehwag was included at the insistence of Dravid. I only hope we don't regret it. But I honestly don't understand the constant exclusion of Laxman from the ODI squad

Smith better than Cronje? Now, common man, you can't be serious

Cronje was tainted, but the guy was a genius. As you know, SA are not as strong as they used to be - no Rhodes, no Klusener, no Donald, no Kirsten..... The current bunch is doubtless talented, but I have this feeling that Smith is a little too brash in his decisions.

But South Africa have a decent batting order. Smith and De Villiers at the top, Kallis at no.3, Prince, Gibbs, Kemp, Boucher and Pollock to follow. And Ntini and Pollock are a great pair, though Smith seldom gives the new ball to Pollock. He prefers Steyn

Do I sound a bit full of myself? I am sorry if I do, its just that its been a while since I wrote about Cricket

radioactivenerd · 04-03-2007, 15:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Passion for *9*

^^^ Then again... you probably want this thread to remain P4*9*-free + for all the right reasons

May the best win

Hah I would actually love some P49 and some Sin Paola controversy in this thread - ill post something with a simple explanation of rules in a bit.
Not just for you, but so we can get some other non-cricket-country dwellers just a little excited.

radioactivenerd · 04-03-2007, 15:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by madtherchot

Lara in form?! Damn ... I got to watch the WC. How's Tendulkar been playing lately?

Lara has had a phenomenal return to form in the past couple of years. He made a huge splash by scoring his 375 in 1993-94, but ran into some rough years a bit after that. That record stood for 10 years, till Matthew Hayden came over and bettered it with a 380 in 2003-2004.
Lara responded in the VERY next series that he played, and took Haydens record and bettered it, almost at will, to 400 not out. Still holds the record to this day, and it seems like he wants to retire with it.

Class

Passion for *9* · 04-03-2007, 15:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by radioactivenerd

Hah I would actually love some P49 and some Sin Paola controversy in this thread - ill post something with a simple explanation of rules in a bit.
Not just for you, but so we can get some other non-cricket-country dwellers just a little excited.

Nah, I know when to bow out gracefully... LOL... at least most the time. I've READ the rules many a times but without being able to watch matches any explanation seems too theoretical to me to get a real grasp of it.

But thanks -in advance- for your efforts

GreatKalu · 04-03-2007, 16:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Passion for *9*

^^^ If someone took it upon himself to explain the rules in really really REALLY simple terms, I might start taking an interest

Don't know what you already know + I'm not sure if I'm the right person to be explaining rules. Just looked it up and
wikipedia explains the rules pretty well.

Note: Two types of competitve games. Test Matches and One Day Internationals (ODI). The WC is all about ODIs. An over is 6 legal bowls made by the bowler + received by the batsmen. Each team is given 50 overs to bat in an ODI.

I was busy typing away and never thought I was going to finish or put the important points across. So, ask where you're in doubt and we'll try and clear it up. I think its the most efficient + effective route of action.

Sure you should stick around + become the first continental European I know who knows a little more about cricket than the obvious

Passion for *9* · 04-03-2007, 16:32

^^^ I've read all that... Now try to picture yourself having read the rules of the game in football a couple of times but having never seen a football match. That's my problem... cricket is a very abstract rather than concrete concept to me... LOL...

I'm out

GreatKalu · 04-03-2007, 16:32

Thanks for the updates Arun.

ORez · 04-03-2007, 19:57

I gave up on cricket after England '99. Man did Pakistan kick ass and then lose so dramatically in the final. I still remember predicting every game till the last ball, but my luck ran out in the Final.

My mid-terms are up and I am fixing my UCL team, that speaks alot how much I'll be following it. Thanks for opening a thread here, I'll follow it up all here.

Btw, South Africa have a really good chance, or New Zealand and Windies might just pull a Porto-Monaco on the big guns.

Pakistan has a really poor chance, since the two in form bowlers are not going, thanks to their 'Borriellioness' :/ Anyways, I can only fancy the batsmen like Mohammad Yousaf, Younis Khan, Inzi-baba and Shahid Afridi pull one out of the hat.

Pakistan Zindabad.

p.s. Do post the pools here please

Sasha · 05-03-2007, 02:49

If someone could tell me who the underdog is, I'll be rooting for them.

Italian Tsar · 05-03-2007, 07:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by madtherchot

Thanks for the updates Arun.

You're welcome, mate

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orez

p.s. Do post the pools here please

Done. In the first post

Quote:

Originally Posted by MilanoMike

If someone could tell me who the underdog is, I'll be rooting for them.

That will be either the West Indies or England. Depends on which side you're in actually

View Poll Results: Who's the player of the decade?
Sachin Tendulkar	18	38.30%
Shane Warne	6	12.77%
Muthiah Muralitharan	2	4.26%
Ricky Ponting	2	4.26%
Brian Lara	6	12.77%
Anil Kumble	1	2.13%
Rahul Dravid	2	4.26%
Glenn McGrath	0	0%
Inzamam-ul-Haq	4	8.51%
Jacques Kallis	3	6.38%
Graeme Smith	0	0%
Shaun Pollock	1	2.13%
Andrew Flintoff	1	2.13%
Other	1	2.13%
Voters: 47. You may not vote on this poll

04-03-2007, 13:38	#1
radioactivenerd Gol de Pablitooooo Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London, UK Fav. Players: Maldini, Batistuta, Crespo, Aimar, Roberto Carlos, Totti, Ayala, Rui Costa, Nesta, BARAJA	2007 Cricket World Cup All right i KNOW there are LOTS of people here that are from asia and australia and caribbean - theres GOTTA be a world cup thread!!!! Starting in just over a week is WEST INDIES VS PAKISTAN My pick? West Indies (you didnt think id ACTUALLY support pakistan did you ) For the world cup though, i cant see my india going TOO far, unless Tendulkar has some sensational performances, and ganguly plays like he did against sri lanka in 1999 (183). I dont want australia to win, since shane warne and steve waugh retired I'm not too fond of their team. South Africa is a team that really deserves to win it, and has deserved to win it almost every single world cup since 1992, except 1996. They just get fucked over each time. Winners: 1. The Proteas 2. India Top Scorers: 1) Herschelle Gibbs 2) Ricky Ponting Top Wicket Takers: 1) Shane Bond (If NZ get far in the tourney, which they probably will) 2) Shaun Pollock -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Groups: 1) Group A: Australia, South Africa, Scotland, Netherlands 2) Group B: India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bermuda 3) Group C: England, New Zealand, Kenya, Canada 4) Group D: West Indies, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Ireland Save Us Last edited by Italian Tsar; 05-03-2007 at 07:48. Reason: To add the groups.

04-03-2007, 13:54	#2
Italian Tsar Face Join Date: May 2005 Location: India Fav. Players: Maldini, Joe Cole, Owen, Cannavaro, Riquelme, Iniesta	I've added a poll. People are very excited here, and I think India have a real good chance this time around. Australia will miss Warne (but who wouldn't ), while South Africa may also miss a proven spinner. Pakistan is decimated by injuries (Shoib, Asif, Razzaq out) but if anything, that makes them more dangerous. Sri Lanka have a wonderful squad and in my book are one of the favourites. New Zealand are the dark horses, but do they have the wherewithal? If its not India, then Windies all the way!!!! *KINGS ALL*

04-03-2007, 14:19	#3
GreatKalu I still believe! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Lusaka, Zambia	Haven't watched a game in a while. I haven't been following proceedings lately either. From the infamous five to the pathetic showing as hosts, South Africa have always come short when it matters. I really hope I'm wrong when I say I don't think things will change anytime soon. But please, an update. On paper, are the Aussies still clear favorites? SEVEN

04-03-2007, 14:49	#5
GreatKalu I still believe! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Lusaka, Zambia	Yeah, I know Graeme Smith's fantastic when he + Gibbs are in form. If I'm not mistaken, I thought their weak point during the last WC was their bowling. Aside from Pollock, any other impressive bowlers? Also, their legendary fielding seemed to have been lost during the last WC. I didn't know about the Aussie match. Must have been an epic chase. I remember in '99 when the lost by 1 or 2 runs against the Aussies Also another epic. Lara in form?! Damn ... I got to watch the WC. How's Tendulkar been playing lately? SEVEN

04-03-2007, 14:54	#6
WILL2K Magical Milan Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NYC , US Fav. Players: Pippo , Maldini , Kaka , Zizou . All Milan players are my fav .players..;-)	Used to follow cricket during my stay in Sri Lanka my years back. I was there celebrating for Sri Lanka when they won the World Cup in 95 >? . Later i began to suppor Aussie team . Fav. players were Mark Waugh and Steve Waugh bros , Warne the spinning legend as well as Glenn McGrath. They kicked butts back then , won the world cup in 99 . " I wasn't born Ronaldinho, but thanks to strong will I managed to touch the sky ... ". Filippo Inzaghi

04-03-2007, 14:56	#7
Passion for 9 AC Milan Icon Join Date: Jan 2003	All I know about cricket is that there's a thing, no... two things, called wickets that are guarded by Batman.... Batsmen ? .... Whatever Boring stuff to the German eye. ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ perfection ▪ ▪

04-03-2007, 15:05	#9
Passion for 9 AC Milan Icon Join Date: Jan 2003	^^^ If someone took it upon himself to explain the rules in really really REALLY simple terms, I might start taking an interest ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ perfection ▪ ▪

04-03-2007, 15:07	#10
Passion for 9 AC Milan Icon Join Date: Jan 2003	^^^ Then again... you probably want this thread to remain P49-free + for all the right reasons May the best win ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ perfection ▪ ▪

04-03-2007, 15:10	#11
Italian Tsar Face Join Date: May 2005 Location: India Fav. Players: Maldini, Joe Cole, Owen, Cannavaro, Riquelme, Iniesta	The Aussies just got swamped 0-3 by New Zealand and lost to England in the tri-series that took place a few weeks back But then, they were missing Ponting and Gilchrist against New Zealand. Brett Lee is out of the WC (injury), and though Symonds himself is carrying an injury and is not expected to play until the later stages of the competition, Ponting has backed him and picked him. McGrath's been a shadow of his former self lately, but I wouldn't write him off for the world. Lara's been conserving himself for some years now, choosing which series to play and which to skip. That's something Sachin hasn't done, and though he looks in decent nick, the irreversible decline into mediocrity has started for him. Dravid is at his peak, Saurav is in terrific form and India's Chief of Selectors, Dilip Vengsarkar, has publicly announced that Virender Sehwag was included at the insistence of Dravid. I only hope we don't regret it. But I honestly don't understand the constant exclusion of Laxman from the ODI squad Smith better than Cronje? Now, common man, you can't be serious Cronje was tainted, but the guy was a genius. As you know, SA are not as strong as they used to be - no Rhodes, no Klusener, no Donald, no Kirsten..... The current bunch is doubtless talented, but I have this feeling that Smith is a little too brash in his decisions. But South Africa have a decent batting order. Smith and De Villiers at the top, Kallis at no.3, Prince, Gibbs, Kemp, Boucher and Pollock to follow. And Ntini and Pollock are a great pair, though Smith seldom gives the new ball to Pollock. He prefers Steyn Do I sound a bit full of myself? I am sorry if I do, its just that its been a while since I wrote about Cricket *KINGS ALL*

04-03-2007, 16:32	#16
Passion for 9 AC Milan Icon Join Date: Jan 2003	^^^ I've read all that... Now try to picture yourself having read the rules of the game in football a couple of times but having never seen a football match. That's my problem... cricket is a very abstract rather than concrete concept to me... LOL... I'm out ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ perfection ▪ ▪

04-03-2007, 16:32	#17
GreatKalu I still believe! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Lusaka, Zambia	Thanks for the updates Arun. SEVEN

04-03-2007, 19:57	#18
ORez The Red & Black Army Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Karachi, Pakistan Fav. Players: Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta	I gave up on cricket after England '99. Man did Pakistan kick ass and then lose so dramatically in the final. I still remember predicting every game till the last ball, but my luck ran out in the Final. My mid-terms are up and I am fixing my UCL team, that speaks alot how much I'll be following it. Thanks for opening a thread here, I'll follow it up all here. Btw, South Africa have a really good chance, or New Zealand and Windies might just pull a Porto-Monaco on the big guns. Pakistan has a really poor chance, since the two in form bowlers are not going, thanks to their 'Borriellioness' :/ Anyways, I can only fancy the batsmen like Mohammad Yousaf, Younis Khan, Inzi-baba and Shahid Afridi pull one out of the hat. Pakistan Zindabad. p.s. Do post the pools here please We keep signing players who are hardly making an impact in their own leagues...! And sell those that do good here. We need to sign forwards from Spain, Midfielders from France and develop our own defenders. Last edited by ORez; 04-03-2007 at 20:05.

05-03-2007, 02:49	#19
Sasha The UNBANNABLE One Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Urrth Fav. Players: Azzurri e Rossoneri	If someone could tell me who the underdog is, I'll be rooting for them.