2009 ICC Champions Trophy

[Creag]

The Sri Lankans looked superb in all departments. We looked under cooked and in desperate need of game time.

I was worried the lack of game time leading up to the tournament might catch up with us. There is just no way a solitary game against a West Indian club side would be enough.

I hope it doesn't come back to bite us

 

[Creag]

It was over when AB went. I would not say this is a choke as such, we just bowled poorly and left to much for batsmen and gibbs missing upfront was a big loss. Also smothers knowledge of the pitch was poor.

Why would he choose to bowl on a great track knowing it would slow down?

Never got to see the boys bowling but from the bits I heard on radio, it did not sound too good.

 

[Smooth Criminal]

Look at it this way - hopefully this time we peak at the right time

 

[Creag]

http://www.cricinfo.com/iccct2009/engine/current/match/415273.html

10.55: Alright folks it's official. Play has been called off. Sri Lanka win by 55 runs.

South Africa cannot blame the toss for this. They simply lost to a far superior team. They were also exposed by Mendis, a bowler they haven't seen too much of. His dismissal of Smith was the turning point. Let's not forget Angelo Mathews, who seems to feature in every other dismissal. The Sri Lankan batting looks very healthy, an improvement from last year when they lost 4-1 to India at home. The big difference between then and now is the form of Jayawardene.

They may have lost the Compaq Cup, but their performance today will send out warning signs to the rest.

South Africa have some work to do. But you can expect them to bounce back.

Worst!

 

[Creag]

Look at it this way - hopefully this time we peak at the right time

+1 can only hope so.

 

[killadoob]

Never got to see the boys bowling but from the bits I heard on radio, it did not sound too good.

Bowling was the worst i have seen for a long time, fielding was poor, batting was poor. Basically in every department we failed today.

Well i think the toss was a problem, should have batted first on a great track. Smithers likes to bat second at a later time in the year not when the pitch has no grass from what i heard, so if the commentators know this why does smithers not know it?

I am not saying the poor displayed was not the reason but we should have gone in and batted on an absolutely beautiful track.

 

[Blue]

lol I rate the Duckworth lewis method was pretty kind to us. A 55 run loss doesn't sound as bad as our performance truly was

 

[Smooth Criminal]

lol I rate the Duckworth lewis method was pretty kind to us. A 55 run loss doesn't sound as bad as our performance truly was

Suppose so - although it gives SL a run rate of 6.8, it also means ours is 5.4. If we'd been bowled out soon, which looked like happening, then it would be our score divided by 50 overs.

 

[Creag]

SA have to pick themselves up smartly against NZ (they had quite a nice win over India).

 

[peace]

Look at it this way - hopefully this time we peak at the right time

+1

 

[BLIXEMPIE]

So wait. SA still has a chance?

 

[stefan9]

Bowling was the worst i have seen for a long time, fielding was poor, batting was poor. Basically in every department we failed today.

Well i think the toss was a problem, should have batted first on a great track. Smithers likes to bat second at a later time in the year not when the pitch has no grass from what i heard, so if the commentators know this why does smithers not know it?

I am not saying the poor displayed was not the reason but we should have gone in and batted on an absolutely beautiful track.

Smith likes to bat second at centurion as do 90% of the captains. Had we bowled and fielded properly and not collapsed vs mendis nobody would be criticizing the decision.

 

[killadoob]

Smith likes to bat second at centurion as do 90% of the captains. Had we bowled and fielded properly and not collapsed vs mendis nobody would be criticizing the decision.

He likes batting second further into the year when there is a bit of grass, when the pitch is dry and flat it will get slower as the game progresses so the first massive mistake made by us was not batting first, the other mistakes were to follow.

Honestly an international cricket captain should be able to see the pitch has no grass and will get slower, meaning you should do only one thing and that is bat. So in all our captain started the very poor day for us then the bowlers, fielders and batsmen continued the trend

Blix of course we still have a chance, we need to beat nz and england, NZ worries me though.

 

[Fiekus]

I really think the 'chokers' comments are unfair...it's the 1st game guys. At least we won't go unbeaten until the semi final when our 1st loss also puts us out. This way they know they have lots of work to do.
The toss is up for debate but hey, it was MENDIS which caused the *****. Batting first, do you guys honestly think we would have played him better? In fact...... if only we played him at all it would have been something but the guy was unplayable. When JP walked in, lefthander, and after seeing what he did to Smith, I actually said "1st ball duck!" and lo and behold. Now I think our boys have learnt something and they will be better prepared.

Lastly, guys, we can't count the game against that WI team as preparation. When last were we in a 'match' situation, with the pressure of chasing, or restricting, etc.

Our boys will bounce back!

 

[Creag]

So wait. SA still has a chance?

Of course. We just win the remaining two games. Not a tall order but they made heavy weather of this one. Pity!

He likes batting second further into the year when there is a bit of grass, when the pitch is dry and flat it will get slower as the game progresses so the first massive mistake made by us was not batting first, the other mistakes were to follow.

Honestly an international cricket captain should be able to see the pitch has no grass and will get slower, meaning you should do only one thing and that is bat. So in all our captain started the very poor day for us then the bowlers, fielders and batsmen continued the trend

Blix of course we still have a chance, we need to beat nz and england, NZ worries me though.

killadoob for coach! Why do all these decisions seem logical to us but not to Smithers?

 

[Creag]

So it's West Indies versus Pakistan at 14h30 today. A few questions:

1.) will the captain winning the toss be foolish enough to bowl first?
2.) can West Indies bat past 25 overs or score more than 180?
3.) will Shahid refrain being a total arrogant chop?

Why they allowed the WI into this tournament beats me. Surely Ireland or Bangladesh would have been more likely to put up a better resistance?

 

[Veroland]

killadoob for coach! Why do all these decisions seem logical to us but not to Smithers?

It's always easier if you sit on the side

 

[killadoob]

Well i am just repeating what the commentators said and quite frankly if they know the pitch is dry and will slow down the question must be asked as to why smith just does what he always does instead of looking at the pitch and deciding? Surely you make your decision based on the pitch and not what you always do.

Dry pitch no grass, fast outfield and the pitch will get slower surely must mean if you win the toss you bat? you only bowl first if the pitch has some grass on it.

 

[AirWolf]

Disappointing game, but you have to give credit where credit is due - Dilshan and Mendis played brilliantly. Medis is like freaking magician - no two consecutive deliveries are the same and our guys were completely flummoxed.

I really think the 'chokers' comments are unfair...it's the 1st game guys. At least we won't go unbeaten until the semi final when our 1st loss also puts us out. This way they know they have lots of work to do.
The toss is up for debate but hey, it was MENDIS which caused the *****. Batting first, do you guys honestly think we would have played him better? In fact...... if only we played him at all it would have been something but the guy was unplayable. When JP walked in, lefthander, and after seeing what he did to Smith, I actually said "1st ball duck!" and lo and behold. Now I think our boys have learnt something and they will be better prepared.

Lastly, guys, we can't count the game against that WI team as preparation. When last were we in a 'match' situation, with the pressure of chasing, or restricting, etc.

Our boys will bounce back!

How? Who is going to bowl like Mendis in the nets?:erm:

 

[Ou grote]

Our lower order got a bat at least, lack of time in the middle for them caused us problems in the past.

Reckon we can win this still.