World Cup S/F 2, Australia vs India, March 26

[braveneutral]

Nothing should negate the X Factor.

[braveneutral]

Leave out Clarke.

I'd rather they left out Maxwell!

Smith for me.

[bigfluffylemon]

I reckon they won't play Doherty.

It looked like it was going to spin in the Aus/SL game, but that wasn't a factor.

The first rule of tactics is always do what your enemy least wants you to do.

Who in the Indian line up would want the Aussies to leave out a quick for the unthreatening 'spin' of Doherty? All of them. Ergo, don't do it.

I'm a firm believer that you play your best XI players, regardless of the situation. Horses for courses picks so often go wrong. Furthermore, Doherty isn't a wicket taking threat, especially against players who play spin well, and barely turns the ball at the best of times. Containing bowlers have not been successful in this world cup and are unlikely to start to be at this stage. Why bother?

[GarlicJam]

well put, Fluffy.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Do India play spin well? They didn't play Lyon and Moeen well.

VVS on Sky, started previewing an India v NZ final on a couple of occasions! Sounded incredibly confident.

[GarlicJam]

I see your VVS and raise you a Healy.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Heals fancies an India v NZ final?

[Arthur Crabtree]

So Heals is anticipating a local derby in the final. Who does he fancy to win?

How do Stands, GJ, WaughTwins, yuppie, expats/etc feel about taking on the neighbours in the final? Any feelings of status vulnerability? Big brother anxiety. I guess NZ probably win in RU.

Should they beat India.

[bigfluffylemon]

So Heals is anticipating a local derby in the final. Who does he fancy to win?

How do Stands, GJ, WaughTwins, yuppie, expats/etc feel about taking on the neighbours in the final? Any feelings of status vulnerability? Big brother anxiety. I guess NZ probably win in RU.

Should they beat India.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves, but I think whoever wins on Thursday, NZ will have an issue having played all their games to date in NZ, much smaller grounds and different conditions. NZ haven't played a match in Australia since 2011. India and Australia have both played multiple times at the MCG since January. That and the home support (or Indian support, which will be much larger than the NZ support in the event of an India NZ match) will in my view tip the balance towards the winner of Thursday's semi taking home the trophy.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I doubt India will have much of a record at the MCG. I'll look it up. I'm not sure that india would have ground advantage there. The support could be useful. India have the big match experience. But if it's Australia v NZ at the G, I imagine that advantage might be decisive.

Though NZ are a fine side, and it only takes a good day from one of their matchwinners to turn the game.

[GarlicJam]

Heals fancies an India v NZ final?

I haven't asked him. Nor am I likely to.

[Arthur Crabtree]

As an omen, NZ have played India twice at the MCG, and won them both.

India won 10 lost ten at the ground.

NZ won 8 lost 15.

More pertinently, India have played games at the MCG in this competition.

[GarlicJam]

New Zealand regularly get very good crowd support at sporting events between Aus and them, in Australia - but mostly that would be Rugby Union, Rugby League and Netball. Plenty of ex-pats over here, and many others are prepared to travel. In Bledisloe Cup matches here, it is close on 50/50.


On the possibility of NZ winning the CWC - this is something that has long scared me, as they are likely to win the Rugby WC later this year as well. I don't know if I can handle the two together, and all of the Kiwis I know will be insufferable. So much does this worry me that I almost supported SA last night......

Apparently only once has the CWC and the RWC been won in the same year by the same nation, and that was Australia - in 1999? I would hate for the Kiwis to be able to share that boast.


Years ago, when I lived in NZ, I was at Mt Cook - an isolated village away from everywhere. I was the only Aussie out of about 300, and they loved to stir me up, especially on our sporting rivalries. Unfortunately for them, I could accurately say to them that "the four biggest sports between us are R League, R Union, Cricket and Netball, right? Not only have we thrashed you in all four this year, but Australia is World Champion in all four! This was more than 20 years ago, but I can't have this coming back to bite me.

Go Aus!!

[Arthur Crabtree]

Ah! 1999! The year of the Warne.

Thanks for the Aus/NZ stuff.

Anyway, apparently the Indians have only ever won one ODI at the SCG. And the final in the MCG is a big home banker. In a way, last night was the NZ final, on their own ground, at the end of a glorious unbeaten run, with a smattering of legendary performances. The MCG is a new start.

[GarlicJam]

As an omen, NZ have played India twice at the MCG, and won them both.

India won 10 lost ten at the ground.

NZ won 8 lost 15.

More pertinently, India have played games at the MCG in this competition.

come Sunday though, this won't matter at all, as only one of these teams will be playing.