Four teams for the semi-finals!

[marc71178]

Good point.

The quote being at the bottom of the post instead of the top has caused some of our less intelligent members (ie Rik ) to make mistakes of that nature.

 

[Rik]

Good point.

The quote being at the bottom of the post instead of the top has caused some of our less intelligent members (ie Rik ) to make mistakes of that nature.

No, it's those who made that mistake but haven't since. Also just give up with the intelligence thing, it's petty and untrue. I thought being 24 and going to Oxford might have taught you something about maturity...

 

[vandemataram]

if Cairns & Harris are out thru injury then the Kiwi commentators don't know about it, as both feature in their predicitions today for the NZ WC 15 man squads, & I heard no talk of injuries!!!!

and considering that the commentary team consists of the likes of Smith, Crowe, Coney etc I would have thought they would be in the know so to speak!!!!

And i thought the chairman of NZ cricket board would know better about Cairns injury.I read the nes on Hindustan times, which quoted Hadlee's word.If the news was misleading than what can i say but normally the paper is reliable. Here the report.

Cairns could play just in his capacity as batsman: Hadlee
Press Trust of India
Auckland, December 26

The continuous poor run of New Zealand's top batsmen could see the return of all-rounder Chris Cairns as a specialist batsman in New Zealand's team for the World Cup.
Sir Richard Hadlee, chairman of selection committee, hinted at Cairns' inclusion solely as a batsman in case his knee was not able to undertake the bowling load in near future.

"His track record in recent years as a batsman is outstanding both at Test and one-day level," said Hadlee.

"But we would have to know within the next 10 days before we finalise the side if he was thinking that way for the World Cup," said Hadlee.

Cairns is recuperating from his latest knee surgery last week but hopes to recover to play some of the remaining six one-day matches against India.

He will resume running next week but will have to prove his fitness for Canterbury in the State Shield one-day competition before he can be considered for New Zealand.

Hadlee said the selectors had an open mind on the issue whether now or in the future.

 

[Neil Pickup]

And I think that this story might have been news in New Zealand had there been much substance behind it?

 

[marc71178]

Agreed. That looks like rubbish to me - I can't see they'd take him as a batsman - it's a bit of a snub to the batsmen in the team at the moment isn't it?

I still think he'll go as an all-rounder, but we'll soon see!

 

[Orin]

West Indies
Australia
Sri Lanka
South Africa

 

[vandemataram]

And I think that this story might have been news in New Zealand had there been much substance behind it?

Again i can't say as to whether the news was true or not, Hindustan times is normally very realible though.Cairns had undergone keyhole surgery and it does take times to recover from it.Cairns now appears to be fit to play cricket again and most likely to be in the WC squad but he himself isn't sure as to if he's able to bowl much.

 

[warrioryohannan]

Many teams are going to take half fit players into their squad. Aus have picked Warne, who is not completely fit. Pakistan is going to pick Akhter who too is unfit(?) NZ is going to include Cairns, even though he is just going to start practicing and will be bowling very little atleast in the beginning!

 

[anzac]

Ahhhh - thanx for posting the article.......

The article makes sense & is quite credible, as Cairns played as a batsmen both on the ODI on the SA tour when he was originally injured, and also in Kenya when NZ won the ICC Trophy.

However, the article says that Cairns 'could' be selected as a batsman only, which is a hell of a lot different to saying that he will not be there at all because of injury!!!!!

It pays to keep it accurate incase you get found out later!!!!

 

[Rik]

Many teams are going to take half fit players into their squad. Aus have picked Warne, who is not completely fit. Pakistan is going to pick Akhter who too is unfit(?) NZ is going to include Cairns, even though he is just going to start practicing and will be bowling very little atleast in the beginning!

And unsurprisingly England has picked 3 Unfit Players...

 

[masterblaster]

I dont think ANY of the Asian teams will go to the semi finals. New Zealand will go a long way I think, with Cairns, Adams and Harris Back along with Bond and Oram.

Watch out for the West Indies, they are very talented and should go a fair way as well. Australia are the favorites.

 

[masterblaster]

One can say that India would not make it even to the semis after watching the present oneday series, but i think Indian batsmen would improve and will perform much better in the WC. I still think India can have a chance in the cup, but for that the batsmen would have to start scoring runs!

I agree with you there.

 

[marc71178]

One can say that India would not make it even to the semis after watching the present oneday series, but i think Indian batsmen would improve and will perform much better in the WC. I still think India can have a chance in the cup, but for that the batsmen would have to start scoring runs!

And the bowlers need to start taking wickets, and the fielders need to sharpen up.

Still, there's still 6 weeks or so!

 

[Neil Pickup]

And unsurprisingly England has picked 3 Unfit Players...

Yeah.. but they can be replaced if they aren't fit come February...

 

[anzac]

anyone know what the current odds are on the teams in light of the current tours???????

 

[QuickFire]

Stop wondering about India now!
You never know what India will do at the WC...

 

[Ringua]

anyone know what the current odds are on the teams in light of the current tours???????

Only 2 teams stands a chance if we go by current performance, one is Australia and the other is SA!

The others,
India is having an extremely poor series in NZ
SL seems to be totally out of sorts.
Pak is pathetic.
England has a weak oneday team and had an awful tour of Aus.
WI did relatively well in India but their bowling is weak and can atmost reach the super six.
NZ is doing impressively, though i feel that their batting is weak, but they are the team to watch out for in WC.
Zimb are good for nothing!

But things will change by the time WC will start, Australia though will remain the hot favorites, but some other team might bring in some surprise!

 

[Neil Pickup]

Latest Odds from Bet365.com

(These are "E/W 1/2 1-2" - Marc can translate that, I think it means that if they finish 2nd on an each-way bet you get half the payout)

Australia 13/8
South Africa 5/2
India 13/2
Pakistan 7/1
Sri Lanka 12/1
England 14/1
New Zealand 14/1
West Indies 20/1
Zimbabwe 100/1
Bangladesh 250/1
Holland 500/1
Kenya 500/1
Namibia 500/1
Canada 1000/1

I like the look of NZ and WI on those odds, and I wouldn't touch Ind, Pak or SL at those prices.

 

[Rik]

[B England has a weak oneday team and had an awful tour of Aus.
[/B]

Yes and just happened to trash previous WC Winners Sri Lanka in the process...

 

[Ringua]

Yes and just happened to trash previous WC Winners Sri Lanka in the process...

And the previous WC winner are going great guns, aren't they? Also the WC winning Lankan team of '96 is ditto similar to the present one! :rolleyes: