Cricket World Cup group stages, May 30 - July 6

[Durhamfootman]

2 in the over for starc. All over now, I feel

[Durhamfootman]

41 run win

Aus got away with that, I think

[yuppie]

Yep i think they did.

Last 2 games have shown up their flaws.

[Durhamfootman]

just seen the Wahab 'feather'

I'm not sure Aus would have won without that review

[Arthur Crabtree]

Got to fancy India tomorrow, but if I was an India fan I'd be worried about NZ.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I like the format personally as the best teams are more likely to get through

Don't understand why there aren't two games most days though

The competition can shake things up a bit. The rankings deliver the top teams to the head of the table. It's usually the norm of cup competitions to be a little less predictable than a league. Cup competitions are usually no worse for that. Acts of giant killing are squeezed out under the weight of probability arguably for fairly cynical reasons.

Where's the unpredictability, the romance of the 45 game group stage?

Agree about the reserve day though.

[GarlicJam]

just seen the Wahab 'feather'

I'm not sure Aus would have won without that review

I'll go watch it in a sec, but I read about it earlier.

With the long wait (1 second to go), you've got to assume that the main deciding factor to go to the review was desperation, not certainty.

But, it may well be on a decision like that that the CWC will be decided. Hershell Gibbs dropped catch..?


(do the players on the ground get to see the UDRS countdown clock?)

[GarlicJam]

Got to fancy India tomorrow, but if I was an India fan I'd be worried about NZ.

So, rain aside, there will be only the one undefeated team after this. Yes, to both your comments. A kiwi win would spice things up a little - and get the usual New Zealand fan leap in hope and belief, only to be dashed when their side gets beat in the semi-final (last cup aside)

[backfootpunch]

I like the format personally as the best teams are more likely to get through

Don't understand why there aren't two games most days though

The competition can shake things up a bit. The rankings deliver the top teams to the head of the table. It's usually the norm of cup competitions to be a little less predictable than a league. Cup competitions are usually no worse for that. Acts of giant killing are squeezed out under the weight of probability arguably for fairly cynical reasons.

Where's the unpredictability, the romance of the 45 game group stage?

Agree about the reserve day though.

As the pinnacle of the one day game personally I want the best teams playing each other in the knockout stages of a world cup

[bigfluffylemon]

I like the format personally as the best teams are more likely to get through

Don't understand why there aren't two games most days though

The competition can shake things up a bit. The rankings deliver the top teams to the head of the table. It's usually the norm of cup competitions to be a little less predictable than a league. Cup competitions are usually no worse for that. Acts of giant killing are squeezed out under the weight of probability arguably for fairly cynical reasons.

Where's the unpredictability, the romance of the 45 game group stage?

Agree about the reserve day though.

I think two matches a day, and a reserve day, are just too difficult from a logistics point of view. It's probably hard enough to get grounds full midweek unless England, India or Pakistan are playing - two matches on the same day would compete with each other for attendance and for TV/radio followers (as they'd have to overlap due to the length of the games).

I agree that the 45 group stage is a bit boring though.

Anyone else worried about the West Indies tomorrow?

[Arthur Crabtree]

WI are getting some great press.

[mikesiva]

What's it like outside your window, Arthur?

Any chance of play today?

[Arthur Crabtree]

It's gloomy and it feels like there's rain around, but it hasn't rained for a few hours. It's dark, but that won't stop play. They should be able to get started I think.

It rained for about 4-5 days before that though, so gardens are saturated.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Forecast says there will be rain later. Showers though, not the epoch ending deluge we've had this week.

[yuppie]

got to think the bowlers might like these conditions if they get the chance to play