Cricket world cup discussion thread

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With the Cricket World up 37 days away. I thought i would start a thread to discuss the potential winners, squad announcment, match dates etc.

There are 14 teams, 49 matches, 3 host countries, who will be crowned champions?

Group A:
Australia
New Zealand
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Zimbabwe
Canada
Kenya

Group B:
Bangladesh
India
England
South Africa
West Indies
Ireland
Netherlands

The top 4 from each pool advance to the quarterfinal. ( there is no super sixes)

Here's the fixture list: http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-2011?template=wcfixtures
grounds being used: http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-2011?template=ground

The following is the final 15 for each country: ( will update as more are confirmed)

Netherlands: http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-2011/content/squad/494869.html
Sri Lanka: http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-2011/content/squad/495852.html
Zimbabwe: http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-2011/content/squad/496452.html
India:http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-2011/content/squad/497114.html
Australia:http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-2011/content/squad/497221.html
South Africa:http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-2011/content/squad/497352.html
Pakistan:http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-2011/content/squad/497288.html
Will South Africa final rid themselves of the chockers tag?
Will Australia return to their best and win?
Is India going to walk this?
Will there be any surprise packages?
Will England continue their fine run of form?
Are there any weaknesses in the chosen squads?
who would you like to win the WC?
Will this world cup be a better affair than the dismal West Indian World Cup?
Who do you think will be the star performer?
Will a new cricketing genius announce himself to the world's stage?

Discuss it all here :)
SABC TV SCHEDULE
 
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[Quattro];5377577 said:
Are the groups always the same?
Click to expand...

Not that I am aware off. They surely do a draw with seeding etc.
 
My SA squad would be:
Smith
Amla
Kallis
De Villers
Duminy
Miller
Ingram
Parnel
Botha
Steyn
Morkel
Tahir
Lopsy
Van Wyk
A Morkel
 
i think england might walk away with the title seeing as though they are gaining some serious confidence going into the tournament...
 
tom110584 said:
i think england might walk away with the title seeing as though they are gaining some serious confidence going into the tournament...
Click to expand...

i doubt it, they are playing a weak aus side and conditions will be very different on the sub continent
 
Wow, interesting format!! Quarters are going to be tough.

Based on current form....

Likely qualifiers from Group A:
1.) Sri Lanka
2.) OZ
3.) New Zealand
4.) Pakistan

Likely qualifiers from group B.
1.) England
2.) SA
3.) India
4.) West Indies

So quarters:
Sri Lanka vs West Indies (Sri Lanka to win)
England vs Pakistan (England to win)
OZ vs India (OZ to win)
SA vs New Zealand (SA to win)

Semi's: ?? Not sure of the format here..
SA vs England (SA to win)
OZ vs Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka to win)

Final:
SA vs Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka to win)...
 
[Quattro];5378347 said:
Again.
You dont know your cricket...
There is no such thing as a weak Aussie cricket team.
Click to expand...

i didn't say they can't win it.
 
wallsend said:
i doubt it, they are playing a weak aus side and conditions will be very different on the sub continent
Click to expand...

sandmanm34 said:
Wow, interesting format!! Quarters are going to be tough.

Based on current form....

Likely qualifiers from Group A:
1.) Sri Lanka
2.) OZ
3.) New Zealand
4.) Pakistan

Likely qualifiers from group B.
1.) England
2.) SA
3.) India
4.) West Indies

So quarters:
Sri Lanka vs West Indies (Sri Lanka to win)
England vs Pakistan (England to win)
OZ vs India (OZ to win)
SA vs New Zealand (SA to win)

Semi's: ?? Not sure of the format here..
SA vs England (SA to win)
OZ vs Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka to win)

Final:
SA vs Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka to win)...
Click to expand...

SL to win? I didnt see that coming.
Bangladesh and WI might also stir the pot a little. The proteas normally play well in the group stages. I think they will have to very hard this time around.

I think a sub continent team will take it this year. Will be very surprised if another team wins.
 
[Quattro];5378347 said:
Again.
You dont know your cricket...
There is no such thing as a weak Aussie cricket team.
Click to expand...

Yes there is go at look the current team.

How come you changed your nick jk8? So many people changing nicks it is hard to track who is who these days.
 
I think our boys are gonna battle playing on those pitches.

How much do you guys think will the SA selectors be messing around with combinations in the current series to try and get the best WC team?
 
wallsend said:
i doubt it, they are playing a weak aus side and conditions will be very different on the sub continent
Click to expand...

killadoob said:
Yes there is go at look the current team.

How come you changed your nick jk8? So many people changing nicks it is hard to track who is who these days.
Click to expand...

They still a strong team, they got beat by a stronger English team.
They just a little demotivated...

Im not this JK8 people keep referring to...
 
jouda said:
I think our boys are gonna battle playing on those pitches.

How much do you guys think will the SA selectors be messing around with combinations in the current series to try and get the best WC team?
Click to expand...

I think the likes of tahir,faf,peterson,miller and ingram will be given a chance to claim a starting spot.

As I see it the squad for the wc is already picked, it will be these 14 and kallis barring any injuries. The question marks will be whether we play 2 spinners in the subcontinent and which one of miller,ingram and faf play in the final 11.

As to who will win it india and sri lanka start as favorites for me. They are very well balanced for those conditions. SA and England just after them but all the others really have a chance.

With the format of the tournament you only really have to play at the top of your game for 3 games. The group stages any of the top sides should sleep walk then you only need to win 3 games in a row to be wc champs.
 
Those pitches in India can be so dead sometimes that I can't make predictions, on paper SA has a good shot - once again! However I would favour Sri Lanka, England is probably the most overrated team.
 
This is going to be an awesome tournament ... hopefully we will get to watch some brilliant cricket ...
 
Australia's 15-man World Cup squad must be named by Wednesday, but after years of planning the selectors face a string of last-minute decisions. The injured Ricky Ponting is expected back in time for the tournament as he aims for his fourth win in a row, but this time he will have to do it with a team missing its usual batch of superstars. Here are some of the questions facing the selectors.


Brett Lee is fit and ready for a second World Cup © Getty Images
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Related Links
News : Australia leave World Cup plans to last minute
Preview : World Cup places up for grabs
Players/Officials: Michael Clarke | Xavier Doherty | Brad Haddin | Nathan Hauritz | Brett Lee | Tim Paine | Ricky Ponting | Shaun Tait
Series/Tournaments: ICC Cricket World Cup | England tour of Australia
Teams: Australia
Can Brett Lee and Shaun Tait fit into the same squad?
Brett Lee and Shaun Tait are almost unchallenged as fast men when they are at full fitness. The major problem for Australia is it doesn't happen very often, setting up a risk-or-reward gamble. If they are on-song at 150kph, they will terrorise batsmen in most games and be expensive in others, but wickets are virtually guaranteed. If Australia take only one of the pair the other could be on standby as a like-for-like replacement in case of breakdown. Lee, 34, is now the front-runner after impressing at the MCG on Sunday after Tait pulled out with a back strain.

Neither plays first-class cricket any longer, so this tournament is their international peak - and also a warm-up for the IPL. Lee's return from injury - he had elbow surgery at the start of last year - could provide the side with a link to its all-conquering past, and help him overcome the disappointment of missing the 2007 event with damaged ankle ligaments. His international career started just after the 1999 triumph and he was the second-leading wicket-taker in South Africa four years later.

How many spinners do Australia need?
Australia have always had slow-bowling problems when heading to the subcontinent, even when Shane Warne was around. How many do they need this time, and will any of those selected be able to make any impact? The offspinner Nathan Hauritz didn't play in the opening ODI but is with the squad for the current one-day series against England and has been promised some games. That wouldn't have occurred if he hadn't been marked for a part at the World Cup.

Xavier Doherty, the left-arm orthodox from Tasmania, was on trial at the MCG in his third ODI and went wicket-less. Steven Smith has a big future and his legbreaks will be required over the next couple of months, but he is not yet good enough to be a specialist with either bat or ball. And then there are the real part-timers. David Hussey, who must make a mark as a batsman first, collected two victims with his offspin in Melbourne when he was preferred in the early stages to Doherty; Michael Clarke can dart in some handy left-armers when his back allows; and at some point Cameron White might be asked if he still remembers how to roll his arm over. Even the selectors and coaching staff really don't know the best combination in this key department.

Are Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke worth their leadership roles?
Of course they are. Both Ponting and Clarke have had poor Test summers but they will be crucial ingredients if Australia are to have a successful campaign. Ponting is out with a broken little finger but expects to be back to lead the team in a tournament in which he has never lost a game as captain. He has been a part of the past three previous world-beating outfits and brings authority and aggression, even if his best days are behind him. However, whatever happens, he should seriously consider stepping down at the end of the competition and let the next generation emerge. Clarke is a vital piece in the middle order and is desperate to find some form and fluency to return to the top of his game after a rare, extended slump.

Does Brad Haddin need an understudy?
Tim Paine was appointed Australia's vice-captain for the T20s against England and Brad Haddin was dropped. Paine, 26, is being groomed for future leadership roles while Haddin was Clarke's deputy for the SCG Test. It's a strange time for Australia's incumbent wicketkeeper, who usually gets to choose his engagements. Haddin, 33, is the more attacking batsman and will start at the top of the order, but his glovework is less assured. He was sloppy in the opening ODI, with three missed stumpings, and may struggle over two months in challenging conditions. There is no way he will be around for the next World Cup, so it would be sensible to send Paine for the experience, and to give Haddin a rest against Canada and Kenya.

Who is going to miss out?
David Hussey and Tait sit right on the edge of selection, while a host of other players in the 30-man preliminary outfit are now no chance of making this week's unit. It always seems crazy that Brad Hodge misses out despite his regular domestic heroics, while Ryan Harris, Mitchell Starc and James Pattinson have been injured. Dan Christian, John Hastings and Callum Ferguson, who broke his nose when he missed a short ball last week, should come into consideration if there are any injuries to the preferred 15.

Possible squad Shane Watson, Brad Haddin (wk), Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Cameron White, Michael Hussey, Steven Smith, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Brett Lee, Xavier Doherty, Peter Siddle, Shaun Tait, Doug Bollinger.
Click to expand...
http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-2011/content/current/story/497081.html
 
Much has been spoken about tahir,and his wicket-taking ability, he has unfortunately not proven himself at international level. Sub-continent teams are fed a diet of spin bowling from a young age, I just wonder if he really is going to provide the X-factor SA has been lacking to win a world cup. That said if he does prove to be a positive influence in our team and helps bring back the trophy, I guess he can be adopted as one of our own :)
 
sandmanm34 said:
Final:
SA vs Sri Lanka (Sri Lanka to win)...
Click to expand...

So you're going with SL as winners. One of my preferred teams they are. But why SL? I would have thought they would perhaps be a losing semi-finalist?

Also, SA as a finalist? Interesting. Has [-]JK8[/-] :erm: sorry :o [Quattro] seen this predicition.
 
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