Any tips for this? I'd say at the moment Semis will be Aus/Eng/Ind/SA, but I'm not really sure about them. I reckon Aus does have a chance (unlike most people I've talked to) particularly with Smith returning.
Any tips for this? I'd say at the moment Semis will be Aus/Eng/Ind/SA, but I'm not really sure about them. I reckon Aus does have a chance (unlike most people I've talked to) particularly with Smith returning. Add to this the fact that in past ODIs Aus haven't been fielding their proper bowling lineup, always resting Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood. Who should Aus pick as captain? My pick is Maxwell. Who should be in the lineup? I would pick the following:I think AUS have a chance but not because of Smith, he is an good ODI player but not elite and does quite badly in difficult conditions (33 average in England/Wales, 11 average in New Zealand and overall average 32 away from home). Probably keep Finch as captian, Maxwell doesn't really have the attitude to be an international captain since the role is more that just what you do on the field.
Warner, Head, Smith, S Marsh, Maxwell(c), Finch, Wade(+), Starc, Cummins, Zampa, Richardson
I know that dropping Hazlewood and playing Finch in the middle might be a bit controversial, but this is what I think would make the best team. Some firepower up the top, stability at 3 and 4, 3 part time spin options to supplement the bowlers, firepower in the middle (though I might swap Finch for Short).
I reckon Handscomb is stiff but not sure who he'd replace, really.I thought AUS might need a 2nd choice wicket-keeper - as far as I can see there isn't another keeper or at least a part-time keeper.
Australia's WC squad was announced today.
Squad: Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa
A couple of surprisings exclusions imo (Hazlewood and Handscomb).
Any thoughts on the squad and potentially the playing XI/batting order?
Handscomb stiff, I probably would have picked him over Marsh but can see why they went with Marsh.
I would've had Hazelwood over NCN, but wouldn't have had either of them in the XI so not too fussed.
Yeah most people are quite harsh on S.Marsh. has a solid career ODI average (and a extremely good recent average over past two years)
During the past two series it was also a bit unfair on Handscomb. Whenever Australia got a good start from the top three on good batting pitches they often sent in Maxwell/Stoinis but when they were two down for not much or just average starts Handscomb had to go in. Obviously strategic but didn't give him much of an opportunity to boost those stats.
I agree, although Handscomb's stats were still pretty good in that time. Average of ~50, Strike Rate of ~100 - can't do much more than that.hmm sure about those stats? I have the average at 41 and strike rate high 90s still great for a middle order batsmen though.
Smarsh is a good ODI player and has a solid track record in English conditions, however we have quite a few players who are slow at starting their innings, so having a player like Handscomb who can get going quickly could be advantageous in maintaining the run rate during the middle overs.Yeah definitely, not expecting him to be part of playing team - he is ideally suited to playing in the top 3 positions but we already have 3 in form players there right now.
Definitely surprised by the Handscomb exclusion, I thought he would not only make the squad, but maybe should have made the XI over Smith, but there you are. I'm sort of left feeling that Australia have left themselves open to trouble by lacking a backup keeper, as well as a player who can either accumulate or attack, which Handscomb can fill also. I can see the reasoning behind the Hazlewood exclusion, but would have personally picked Behrendorff over NCN, based partially on injury issues. I expect the opening XI to be as follows:
Warner, Finch (c), Khawaja, Smith, Maxwell, Stoinis, Carey (+), Cummins, Zampa, Starc, Richardson/NCN (depending on Richardson's shoulder)
Any thoughts on Burns not getting a contract, by the way? I thought he was a likely opener for the Ashes, but maybe they've penned Warner in already. Also, any thoughts on Maxi's bowling of late... :)
hmm sure about those stats? I have the average at 41 and strike rate high 90s still great for a middle order batsmen though.Yeah sorry you're right, stats I read were average of 43.5 this year and SR of 98. Not quite aa good as I claimed, although still pretty solid.
What are people's thoughts on Carey? It's the most logical selection I guess given recent caps, but in many ways I think I'd prefer Wade.I wouldn't say i'm the biggest fan but that maybe because I haven't watched too much of him. It would be ideal that the wk is also a specialist batsmen (something you could say for wade/handscomb but not carey imo). I'd probably go wade over him too - whilst his ODI record isn't great he is currently in form domestically.
From memory you were a pretty big Smith fan. Why would you imagine Handscomb would play ahead of him? Lack of match fitness? If so, why not the case for Warner?Handscomb is the in-form player at the moment, he has had a great summer in ODIs and I think therefore he deserves this spot over someone who doesn't appear to be in the best short format form at the moment.
What are people's thoughts on Carey? It's the most logical selection I guess given recent caps, but in many ways I think I'd prefer Wade.
England are clear favourites with India and Aus behind them.I agree, England are the best team in the World Cup, plus at home they should be clear favourites, but I’m expecting a semi final choke from them.. Australia vs India or South Africa (despite losing last night) for me
So I would say right now
Tier 1: England
Tier 2: Australia/India
Tier 3: Pakistan/New Zealand/South Africa
Tier 3.5: West Indies, Sri Lanka
Tier 4: Bangladesh, Afghanistan
Hard to disagree significantly. I haven't seen Stokes' catch yet - apparently a ripper?Yeah it was unreal - one of the best I’ve seen
Hard to disagree significantly. I haven't seen Stokes' catch yet - apparently a ripper?
England are clear favourites with India and Aus behind them.
So I would say right now
Tier 1: England
Tier 2: Australia/India
Tier 3: Pakistan/New Zealand/South Africa
Tier 3.5: West Indies, Sri Lanka
Tier 4: Bangladesh, Afghanistan
I think once you get to the semi-finals it can be anyone's tournament (just two more wins...) - but England, Australia, and India have a higher chance of making the semis. If say West Indies or Pakistan actually make the semis, they can be intermittently brilliant enough that I wouldn't want to bet against them winning it...definitely out of my lower ranked teams I would say the West Indies have the biggest X-factor and if their batting unit can get into form they can beat anyone.
Showing good fight here, the Aussies. Smith particularly. We've really missed him.Really important knock from Smith.
Really important knock from Smith.
Even better from Coulter-Nile, wow!
Definitely one of the best game so far in terms of competitivrness howevet I only watched a small portion of it.
From all accounts the umpiring was horrible WI had to get 4 decisions overturned in their innings and the ball before Gayle was out was a no ball so should've been a free hit.
Yeah I heard about that. Was it meant to be a front-foot no ball? I have no idea why that's still the responsibility of field umpires. Makes no sense IMO.front-foot no ball huge step over the line so not like it was close
front-foot no ball huge step over the line so not like it was close
Yeah, crazy. Could have had a huge impact on the game.Definitely, agree it shouldn't be the on-field umpires responsibility. They could easily be checking it upstairs after every ball not sure why they haven't moved to this. Apparently a couple of years ago they even tested this in a couple of ODIs.
Again, considering the technology available, makes no sense to me that it's the responsibility of the on-field umpire. What do you think?
Definitely, agree it shouldn't be the on-field umpires responsibility. They could easily be checking it upstairs after every ball not sure why they haven't moved to this. Apparently a couple of years ago they even tested this in a couple of ODIs.
Some really close games recently. Top four still looks like it'll be New Zealand/Australia/India/England, but might not have been the case had some results gone the other way.
Some really close games recently. Top four still looks like it'll be New Zealand/Australia/India/England, but might not have been the case had some results gone the other way.Top 3 cemented imo England's spot very likely but still in doubt - which is surprising since they have been the best ODI team since the last world cup and also have the home ground advantage.
Really looking forward to tonight's game. Anybody have any thoughts at this stage?
Last thing: What do you think of SA's early exit? They've never not made the knockout stage since their return I think in 1992.Given the team they have, it should be unexpected that they aren't even competing for 4th - I would've had them finishing probably 5th-6th. However, it's pretty common for SA not to live up to their abilities under pressure and when it actually matters (Re: basically every single world cup although in the 1992 semi they got robbed.)
That Stoinis run out was probably one of the worst dismissals I've seen
Okay, yeah, England might be in a bit of trouble.
Okay, yeah, England might be in a bit of trouble.
Time to move on from Maxwell he probably gets the most opportunity from the AUS middle order. E.g. coming in at 200/2, on a flat pitch but protected down the order when it is tough You can't really afford to use a place based on "reputation" that has never been good under pressure and unable to read the game situation.
Also, NZ definitely very lucky to make the top four given they never beat the other 4 teams in the top 5 - but they will get a chance against IND now (which was washed out).
I agree Maxi has been disappointing during the World Cup. Carey has been playing the innings Maxi should have been playing. However, in the lead-up to the Cup he put in the performances he needed in India and Pakistan, making enough runs at a higher strike rate than anyone else to give Australia a good finish. In fact, in spite of poor World Cup numbers he's still averaging 34 at a strike rate of 134 for the calendar year, which isn't terrible. Australia are also relying on him to share fifth-bowler duties with Stoinis, and he was getting wickets earlier in the year, though unfortunately again not during the World Cup. Plus they like his fielding.hmm on paper maxwell had a great world cup in 2015 but if you go back and look at the situations he was under there was no pressure/easy conditions, looking at his scores over 25 in the 2015 world cup three of them came when Aus scored (342, 417, 376) and the final one was chasing 200 (coming in with 150 scored) - just looking at the summary stats can be quite deceptive
I'm hoping that he makes sure he gets two more games in the World Cup and proves himself in both. Australia needs an in-form Maxi to balance their current side. 2015 was a breakout World Cup for him, and I'd been hoping that in 2019 he could show again what he brings to the table.
And NZ are through to the final. Early wickets can come in very handy, as can an extra day to reduce the chance of a washout. Though I was just thinking that if India - NZ hadn't been washed out and NZ had lost it, they would have been eliminated...
Hopefully we have a rematch of the 2015 final in store (including the final result ;) ). Good luck to Australia against England!
Huge performance from New Zealand.
I'm going to make the almost entirely non-bold prediction that the World Cup will be won by a team whose name starts with a vowel.
I'd like it to be Australia, but still think England are slight favourites, and the last two World Cups have been won by a home team...
The boundary rule is so arbitrary - other than maybe the entertainment of the crowd there is no extra value to boundaries.
I would've much prefer the rules to award joint winners after the super over or just have another super over.