The All New World Cup 2023 Thread.

[mikesiva]

Easy eight wickets win for India over Afghanistan.

[bigfluffylemon]

Good grief, I hate the round robin world cup format so much. It just drags on and on and on, and relieves just about any individual match of significant tension until we get to round 7 or so. By that point, 2 teams will be all but assured of a semis spot, 2-3 will be out, and the other 5-6 will be scrapping over 2 other semi places, and it might start to get interesting.

It seems a 'worst of both worlds' combination. A ridiculously small number of teams, yet an interminably long tournament. Why not have a bigger tournament and a group stage, just like, well, every other global tournament for every other sport? So much for a global showcase. It seems the ICC is still traumatized by the 2007 tournament, the last one to have a group stage, as India and Pakistan both managed to bow out early, meaning, horror of horrors, there wasn't an India-Pakistan game in that tournament. Can't be having that. Need to keep the big teams in the tournament as deep as possible, whether or not they deserve to be there. $$$ are all that counts.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Yes, the 2007 version was the ideal format. A group stage so everyone gets a game, and a knockout for some excitement.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Aussies and SA at it now. Big game for the Aussies after their opening defeat.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Stoinis for Green, I think.

[Arthur Crabtree]

And someone called Inglis for Carey.

Inglis, according to wiki, is a way of spelling English derived from Scotland and Northumberland. And a the name of a county in NSW named after a British major general in the early C19th.

[Arthur Crabtree]

A handy 311 for SA. Aussies must fancy this though.

Good effort from Slapsy.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Aussies not going to win from here. Second win for the South Africans.

[Durhamfootman]

Yes, the 2007 version was the ideal format. A group stage so everyone gets a game, and a knockout for some excitement.

i remember 2007 being so long that it didn't actually finish until 2010

[Durhamfootman]

And someone called Inglis for Carey.

Inglis, according to wiki, is a way of spelling English derived from Scotland and Northumberland. And a the name of a county in NSW named after a British major general in the early C19th.

is he not from British stock, old Josh Inglis?

[Durhamfootman]

a right old kicking for team Oz

[Durhamfootman]

of course, they haven't had weak team to boost their averages yet

[Arthur Crabtree]

And someone called Inglis for Carey.

Inglis, according to wiki, is a way of spelling English derived from Scotland and Northumberland. And a the name of a county in NSW named after a British major general in the early C19th.

is he not from British stock, old Josh Inglis?

From Yorkshire.

[Durhamfootman]

well, you can't get much more British than that

seems to have been a VAR error on the Stoinis dismissal, but then if you drop 5 catches perhaps it matters a little less in the overall manner of the defeat. Not quite sure why he gave the on field umpire a hard time before he walked off.... the umpire gave him not out and was over-ruled by the TV official... take it up with the match referee Marcus

[alfie]

Good grief, I hate the round robin world cup format so much. It just drags on and on and on, and relieves just about any individual match of significant tension until we get to round 7 or so. By that point, 2 teams will be all but assured of a semis spot, 2-3 will be out, and the other 5-6 will be scrapping over 2 other semi places, and it might start to get interesting.

It seems a 'worst of both worlds' combination. A ridiculously small number of teams, yet an interminably long tournament. Why not have a bigger tournament and a group stage, just like, well, every other global tournament for every other sport? So much for a global showcase. It seems the ICC is still traumatized by the 2007 tournament, the last one to have a group stage, as India and Pakistan both managed to bow out early, meaning, horror of horrors, there wasn't an India-Pakistan game in that tournament. Can't be having that. Need to keep the big teams in the tournament as deep as possible, whether or not they deserve to be there. $$$ are all that counts.

I do see your point , bfl : and I agree things can get a bit dull as the long process plays out . But at the same time it is surely the fairest way of determining the best team/teams ? The group situation can be a bit lopsided (like this year's Rugby WC !) ; and if you then go to QFs - which you probably would with a "bigger" tournament - one bad day can eliminate somewhat prematurely a team which actually "deserves" at least a semi final.

And in truth , $$$ - even if not all that counts - are very important ; and the big rivalry games certainly generate them. As to these early games lacking tension : how much tension would there be in a hypothetical set of group games in which , say , India and SA had to compete for two QF places with Denmark and Kenya ?

Think one can argue both ways on this. Probably no perfect solution - and unlike a t20 competition it is always going to drag on a bit. Hopefully we will get some close games soon which will add a bit more interest...