incorrect data. you are claiming that a tournament played by just over 10 countries. in which each match is only viewed by people from two countries (rest do not care at all, and there are no die hard cricket fans outside India). Just check the stadium attendance during matches.
The determination in pre finals is never as high. The only hurdle they face is Austrailia. New Zealand will be knocked out quite early despite being the home team. India can't win all their matches despite having such a strong batting line up. They are bound to falter in either the semis or the finals. I do not see any other contender to win this time. Pakistan is cunning, and they have been working only on the world cup. If i were to bet, I would put my money on Pakistan.
This time Pakistan will win it. I can feel it. They will manage to beat India in the World cup for the first time. Not the one on 14th, but the one that they will play against India in the final.
deletedalmost 10 years
I'm half-expecting another Duckworth-Lewis cockup
deletedalmost 10 years
After watching them waltz into tournament after tournament as favourites only to see them spiral out in hte most comedic of ways it's impossible to back them
Yeah, 80 changes isn't much when you think about it though to make a team for each matchday. Close to 30 matchdays. That means a little over 2 changes per day eh. I can't work out an optimal way.
Sadly, I actually think Behardien is a better bowler than McLaren. I don't think the latter could put the ball on the same spot twice in a row even if he tried.
And I don't really count bowling well to the West Indies. And iirc, they did let the WI get away towards the end of a couple matches.
I agree Duminy is very classy, I'm just saying if they do lose, I think it may come down to him underperforming and the lack of quality batting below him. Good to see Miller finding some form. Actually have him in my team atm.
deletedalmost 10 years
Yeah budgets hard but since we're allowed 80 changes in the tournament I don't think having an "ideal lineup" is the way to go but rather having players that you'd swap in / out depending on whose game is being played next.
deletedalmost 10 years
Batting lineup of Amla/De Kock/Faf/AB/Miller/Duminy (Sure he's just coming back from injury but he's a seriously classy player) is quite strong from 1-6, it's #7 spot that's problematic since Steyn/Morkel and a combination of Phillander/Abbott/Parnell/Tahir (My question mark player in their bowling lineup) is very solid, also disagree re; Death bowling being an issue as of late they've been quite good at bowling the wide yorker which is the most effective death ball.
Berhandien is woeful, I'd have included someone like McLaren in the squad over him at least there you'd get some good overs out of him.
And I managed to get my team for $100m although I don't like it. Had to stack it with English players, since half of them are cheap. James Taylor is good for $6.5m when he'll bat at 3. Don't like having Woakes in my team though and might swap him for a minnow bowler that I think will take a few wickets.
South Africa have a couple problematic areas. Their lower order could be worrying, with Duminy only just coming back from injury, and not having to do much in the WI series so could still be a little rusty, and Behardien is not good enough for international level. His bowling has been decent but batting isn't up to scratch. Unless they decide to play Duminy as a 5th bowler, but I think South Africa need 6 bowlers. And I don't think de Villiers is going to bowl himself in the World Cup.
I think their bowling in general might cost them. Their pace attack is very aggressive, and I think their death bowling might cost them, unless they can get better at restricting runs towards the end of the innings, which was their problem in the recent Australian series. Tahir is doing reasonably well atm, but his consistency will be his main issue. Phangiso is nothing spectacular either.
