Cricket thread just for Cerbera

Pakistan, so unpredictable but so talented when it all comes together.

India have won 4 of their 5 matches in the World Cup but go out on run rate despite beating Pakistan by 8 wickets in the super 8's, but they knew the rules before the tournament started I suppose.

Australia had looked really good until losing today when they were virtually assured of going through anyway, and Sri Lanka have been very impressive.

Should be a cracking atmosphere between Sri Lanka and Pakistan on Thursday, and as always T20 is a great spectacle in Asia.

Sri Lanka through by 16 runs,last over of their innings turned the match.Can't understand why Akmal and Gul didn't go in earlier,too much to do at the end.Should be an interesting match tomorrow-prime time West indies could be very dangerous but i'd back the Aussies to get through,which overall would give some justice to the tournament-Sri Lanka and the Aussies have been the two most consistent teams throughout.

Greenskin wrote:

Sri Lanka through by 16 runs,last over of their innings turned the match.Can't understand why Akmal and Gul didn't go in earlier,too much to do at the end.Should be an interesting match tomorrow-prime time West indies could be very dangerous but i'd back the Aussies to get through,which overall would give some justice to the tournament-Sri Lanka and the Aussies have been the two most consistent teams throughout.

Absolutely. And interestingly it's been the bowling that has made the difference. Malinga at the death is virtually unplayable, or certainly isn't going to be carted around for any boundaries.

I don't think there has been a score of 200 yet in the entire tournament, where in England or in the IPL, 200 is reached fairly regularly. Chris Gayle is probably the one player who could change that tomorrow, but the West Indies will struggle badly if he doesn't score big runs.

Can't see past the Lankans.

A very mediocre tournament though.

India, SA, England just haven't turned up, Australia and the Windies are both pretty shit after 2 or 3 players on each team. Pakistan and the Lankans was clearly the stronger semi but neither are what you would call a dominant team, really.

I think the Windies may be slight favourites in the second semi final.

205-4 in their 20 overs. WALLOP!

The Windies have been amazing today. Gayle and Pollard at the end was what T20 should be.

Some biff from Bailey keeps it mildly interesting.

Mock Cuncher wrote:

Some biff from Bailey keeps it mildly interesting.

Start the car!

It good job we have the women to cheer on

Just like old times,the West Indies steamrollering all before them.Interesting to see what the pitch is like for the final,first reaction would be to say that it'll be in favour of the SL spinners but WI have Narine and Badree,it may well be counter productive to do that-hopefully a decent pitch with something for everyone will be the outcome.Whoever would have thought a few years ago that WI would be reliant on spin-Gibbs was the last great spinner they produced and that was 40 years ago.Should be a good final anyway.

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A shameless plus for a friend's picture of Gayle on my blog.

Reckon the final depends on him vs Sri Lanka's top three.

Great sketch. I'll have to catch up on your bold Mock, haven't read it for a while.

TBF I've not written anything in a while either.

West Indies win comfortably and with no contribution from Gayle.Samuels was the man,as he has been so often in recent times but WI bowled and fielded very well and the spin attack paralysed Sri Lanka.Prior to the semi's Australia and Sri Lanka had been the two best teams,WI have hammered them both and are worthy winners.Could be a team to watch in the coming years.

Funny final really. The Windies looked like rabbits caught in the headlights for about 12 overs, but it turned out to be a difficult wicket to bat on.

I was looking forward to some big hitting but it just never happened apart from Samuels superb innings which prevented the Windies from scoring around 80.

The power-obliteration of Australia was amazing, and the grit from Samuels today topped off a great tournament for them. I still think T20 is a format which can reward pretty mediocre sides who get it right on the day (see WI today, and England last time), but it's nice to see the Windies get something right for once - big credit to Otis Gibson?

KP back.

Got to be for the best chance of England success in India?

Mock Cuncher wrote:

KP back.

Got to be for the best chance of England success in India?

Ability wise yes, but will his presence cause disruption again?

I still think England are in for a good hiding in India, but he is the one player who could put them on the back foot for long periods.

Game starts tomorrow. Finn out, Bresnan in. No second spinner. Patel/KP's bit part stuff likely to get an airing or two. Very reliant on Anderson and hopeful on Swann defying his recent decline.

Mock Cuncher wrote:

Game starts tomorrow. Finn out, Bresnan in. No second spinner. Patel/KP's bit part stuff likely to get an airing or two. Very reliant on Anderson and hopeful on Swann defying his recent decline.

Cor blimey.England in lose heavily in sub continent shock.No contest really and some major problems to overcome before being anywhere near competitive in this series.Pietersen looked like a rabbit in the headlights against left arm spin and couldn't believe the shot that Bell played first innings.Bairstow probably deserves a chance in the next test but whoever comes in will find it tough-i don't think any of the games will be played on green tops and 4-0 is not an impossibility by any means.They need a coaching session from Boycs who could doubtless heet eet with a steeek of rooobarb.

Is that the next Indian spinner in your avatar, Mock?

No, it's the next English one you racist tool.



Another biffing, with a few more on the horizon things looking bleak for a number of those who I'd have classed as stalwarts recently. Trott, Broad, even Flower must be under pressure soon.

Cook is one of the best batsmen in the world now but he's being let down by the rest of the top order batsmen. Trott and Bell are woefully out of form, Patel isn't good enough and that was Compton's debut so he's nervous.

I would drop Bell, Patel and bresnan and bring it Morgan, Finn and Monty.

Broad tried having a Twitter row with Ian botham yesterday until beefy shut him up by quoting their averages. Broad then backed down saying it wasn't a dig at sir ian blah blah blah.

The Aussie skipper Michael Clarke has scored his fourth double century in tests this year, in the second test against the Sarf Africans.

He's 224 no and Australia are 482-5 at the end of day one, which was over 5.5 runs per over

Strange that the Aussies were struggling at 55-3 when Clarke came in, and Cowan scored a century, then Hussey came in and also scored a century. In the first test, Australia were 40-3 when Clarke came in. Cowan then scored a century, Hussey scored a century and Clarke was unbeaten on 200+

First test:

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Second test:

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England on top at tea, 160-5. It was 120-5 but Dhoni and Pujara are settled in now.

A couple of wickets post tea and the game is England's to lose.

Monty bowled Sachin with a jaffer!

Greenjock wrote:

The Aussie skipper Michael Clarke has scored his fourth double century in tests this year, in the second test against the Sarf Africans.

He's 224 no and Australia are 482-5 at the end of day one, which was over 5.5 runs per over

Strange that the Aussies were struggling at 55-3 when Clarke came in, and Cowan scored a century, then Hussey came in and also scored a century. In the first test, Australia were 40-3 when Clarke came in. Cowan then scored a century, Hussey scored a century and Clarke was unbeaten on 200+

First test:

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Second test:

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Bradmanesque.Another bat in top form ATM is Marlon Samuels,240 no against Bangladesh.He always did have sublime talent,seems to be making the most of it now.Just watching Broad bowl a series of medium paced pies and get tonked around the ground,could be very important if this game turns out to be a low scoring one.Time for Swann.