Anyone for cricket?

[Rogue 585]

It was a shame the Aus v SL game was washed out, but perhaps fortunate for us.

How about those South Africans, hey?

EDIT: Ooh -

MIKE HUSSEY will make a shock return to Australia's World Cup squad a month after he was ruled out of it due to injury.

Just over a week since the withdrawal of fast-bowler Doug Bollinger due to an ankle injury, Australian selectors have decided that the veteran Western Australian is the best replacement

While Australia captain Ricky Ponting twice expressed reservations about changing the balance of the squad by replacing a bowler with a batsman, Cricket Australia will also send Victorian paceman Dirk Nannes to the subcontinent as a standby player.

[titan_uranus 25,046]

Bloody South Africa. Totally ruined my night last night. England should have 0 wins and 4 losses, instead they have 2 wins and a tie. Disappointing.

Choosing Hussey is the right move, even though we have Ferguson over there already. Hussey should have been there from the start and is, IMO, an automatic selection for the next game. One of White and D. Hussey will go. I predict D. Hussey, but it's not like White's in any form. But White's the VC and he has a lot more room to improve than David Hussey. I'd rather have White in there going into the latter stages.

[45HG 1,559]

Simple.

[H_T 3,049]

I think the Aussies would be quietly annoyed at their preparation leading into the finals. With Canada & Kenya to come as well as a half baked Pakistan who looked very shaky against Canada, the Aussies won't be getting a good hit out in preparation. They would be hoping that the Paki's provide just that.

The Sri Lanka game that was washed out, was their best chance of a hit out.

Whilst the other pool, England, Sth Africa & India have had reasonably better hit outs and have been tested. Particularly with Ireland performing beyond expectations with county experienced players.

[Rogue 585]

On the other hand, I think it means we should finish top of the table, which is helpful.

[Nasher 33,617]

Ross Taylor's innings not worthy of comment from anyone?

[H_T 3,049]

Ross Taylor's innings not worthy of comment from anyone?

I saw his innings up until he reached 50, didn't see any after that. Certainly turned it on. Magnificent. Cannot believe they scored over 100 in the last 6 overs. Amazing.

[45HG 1,559]

69 from his first 110 or so, 62 off his next 16

[titan_uranus 25,046]

Ridiculous innings from NZ. 114 off the last 6 overs. Wow.

Good old Kamran Akmal again. Dropping sitters. But he did the cricket world a favour. If he'd held the catches Taylor offered him early, we wouldn't have seen him unleash at the end.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Well done Ross Taylor.

(Just need a certain "expert" to cut down Taylor's innings as not much chop because he was lucky earlier with the dropped catches!)

Fabulous knock and a great run chase.

[Rogue 585]

Well done Ross Taylor.

(Just need a certain "expert" to cut down Taylor's innings as not much chop because he was lucky earlier with the dropped catches!)

Fabulous knock and a great run chase.

It's fair to say he's lucky, that's for sure. Great last 16 balls though.

Pakistan are a worry.

By the way, NZ batted first.

PS. Let's not revive a tired old personal argument.

[H_T 3,049]

69 from his first 110 or so, 62 off his next 16

That's unheard of really. Put this down in your list of best stats 45. It's got to be top 3 material. 2.4 overs.....I'm gob smacked at that stat.

[Rogue 585]

That's unheard of really. Put this down in your list of best stats 45. It's got to be top 3 material. 2.4 overs.....I'm gob smacked at that stat.

I read this on Cricinfo:

'He gelignited [great description - Rogue] 54 runs – 466046 off Shoaib, 466246 off Razzaq – from the last two overs of pace that Pakistan bowled'

http://blogs.espncricinfo.com/zaltzman/archives/2011/03/twenty_utterly_crazy_minutes.php

I also liked this (although RR may not):

We must first pay tribute to the man who made it all possible – the Maharajah of Missed Chances, the Don Corleone of Dropped Catches, the Earl of Err, the Pharaoh of Fumble, Lance Corporal Granite Hands himself, Kamran Akmal.

[45HG 1,559]

That's unheard of really. Put this down in your list of best stats 45. It's got to be top 3 material. 2.4 overs.....I'm gob smacked at that stat.

You know I love my stats!

[45HG 1,559]

Speaking of stats, was Dilshan's effort last night statistically the best World Cup/One Day performance ever?

144 from 131 and 4-4 from 3 overs.

[45HG 1,559]

Tendulkar chalks up International century number 99. Unreal.

Shouldn't have got out though! India lost 9-29 at the end.

[titan_uranus 25,046]

9/29...that must be close to the worst loss of 9 wickets in ODI history! That's one heck of an implosion!

[H_T 3,049]

9/29...that must be close to the worst loss of 9 wickets in ODI history! That's one heck of an implosion!

ICC will no doubt launch an inquiry.

Can someone slap Mike Atherton around - I cannot stand some of his questionning comments. Questionning the Aussies because we aren't bludgeoning the Kenyan attack. Yet we're scoring over 5.5 an over and on target for 300+...Hello we are 4 wickets down Mikey.

[Sir Why You Little 37,190]

9/29...that must be close to the worst loss of 9 wickets in ODI history! That's one heck of an implosion!

HaHa The indians would have gone quiet last night!!!

[titan_uranus 25,046]

Bloody West Indies. 4 wickets in hand, about 20 runs to get, Sarwan and Russell set at the crease, and they lose. Which basically means England are through.

You could mount a totally believable and credible case to say England should be 0-6.

[H_T 3,049]

Bloody West Indies. 4 wickets in hand, about 20 runs to get, Sarwan and Russell set at the crease, and they lose. Which basically means England are through.

You could mount a totally believable and credible case to say England should be 0-6.

Did I hear it right ? They dropped *Chanderpaul for the England match ?

* Of particular significance is the initial post of this great thread from WJ asking "How do we get that Chanderpaul out ?"

[Sir Why You Little 37,190]

Australia all out for 176...Looked very ordinary.

Let's see how crappy the wicket is...if in fact the wicket is carp!

[titan_uranus 25,046]

The wicket was tough to bat on, but it had more runs in that 176. Poor batting, exacerbated by good bowling. Pakistan's bowlers have the two things we can't bat against: reverse swing and ODI-style spin. A bowling line-up of Afridi, Rehman, Razzaq, Hafeez, Gul and Riaz is strong. Nonetheless, we batted terribly, showing that we can't always rely on Michael Hussey to bail our top order out.

We're likely to get India in the quarter final, as I think they'll have no trouble beating the Windies tonight. That's going to be a heck of a game, but I can't see us winning on current form. With Ponting, White, Smith, Johnson and Tait all struggling I don't think we'll have enough firepower with either bat or ball to beat them. Having said that, if we can get some runs out of White and Ponting and if Johnson and Tait can straighten their lines up then we can only improve considerably on what we've shown so far.

Apparently that was the first time we'd been bowled out in a World Cup since 1999. It was the first time Tait's batted in a World Cup, and Lee's first loss after 16 games.

[H_T 3,049]

Brett Lee bowled very well. Unfortunately we couldn't get anywhere near 220 + which is what would have been required to defend successfully. Ponting is out of sorts, White's run out didn't help but certainly the good Pakistan turned up to play. If they play like that in the remaining games they will be a chance.

If Haddin and Watson click and make a big innings we'll still be there. Would be great to see one or both of them score centuries.

[titan_uranus 25,046]

Also, without having seen any footage, I've heard that Krejza bowled quite well. Seems like he got some bounce to go with his turn, which is good, as that will improve his wicket-taking ability immensely.