Group C - Australia, Sri Lanka, West Indies

[social]

Originally Posted by Smith

Would be a poor excuse. And nothing that Ponting & Men did in the last 2 weeks suggested that they were in England for an early acclimatisation than participating in the T20. As four-or-six observed, Australia did consider this tournament seriously and did give their best, but the ones who gave were not the best really.

Whilst there was definitely an argument to be made in 2007, saying Oz didnt care about this tournament is nothing more than a poor attempt at an excuse for losing and doesnt give credit where it's due - to WI and SL

Fact is that Oz picked the wrong team and were'nt good enough - END OF STORY

[Son Of Coco]

Originally Posted by Smith

Would be a poor excuse. And nothing that Ponting & Men did in the last 2 weeks suggested that they were in England for an early acclimatisation than participating in the T20. As four-or-six observed, Australia did consider this tournament seriously and did give their best, but the ones who gave were not the best really.

That's true, but you have to wonder what their real purpose was when Ponting made the comments he did. If CA and the selectors were serious about this they would have sent the best Twenty20 team over. I don't know how they have been training in the lead up, so wouldn't know whether they've been using it as a chance at early acclimatisation or a serious build-up for the 20/20 WC.

[Son Of Coco]

Originally Posted by social

Whilst there was definitely an argument to be made in 2007, saying Oz didnt care about this tournament is nothing more than a poor attempt at an excuse for losing and doesnt give credit where it's due - to WI and SL

Fact is that Oz picked the wrong team and were'nt good enough - END OF STORY

They were also beaten by two better teams. They took a strange approach to it though, not so much the players as the selectors.

[Smith]

Originally Posted by social

Whilst there was definitely an argument to be made in 2007, saying Oz didnt care about this tournament is nothing more than a poor attempt at an excuse for losing and doesnt give credit where it's due - to WI and SL

Fact is that Oz picked the wrong team and were'nt good enough - END OF STORY

I don't think there is any disagreement between you and me on that, perhaps quoted the wrong post?

[Smith]

Originally Posted by Son Of Coco

That's true, but you have to wonder what their real purpose was when Ponting made the comments he did. If CA and the selectors were serious about this they would have sent the best Twenty20 team over. I don't know how they have been training in the lead up, so wouldn't know whether they've been using it as a chance at early acclimatisation or a serious build-up for the 20/20 WC.

CA simply did not have a clue which was their best team. They sent in a team which they thought was Australia's best T20 team.

[Redbacks]

Originally Posted by Smith

I'd say ODIs have become boring and irrelevant and should be scrapped asap. This would solve the problems of player burnout while giving test cricket the window it needs.

If you can't beat them, invent another game...?

[social]

Originally Posted by Smith

I don't think there is any disagreement between you and me on that, perhaps quoted the wrong post?

Sorry mate, was actually agreeing with you but didnt communicate it well enough

[Son Of Coco]

Originally Posted by Redbacks

If you can't beat them, invent another game...?

[brackenNY]

Originally Posted by Redbacks

If you can't beat them, invent another game...?

I don't think the main reason why people like Twenty20 is that Australia is no good at it. That's just an added bonus.

[Smith]

Originally Posted by Redbacks

If you can't beat them, invent another game...?

Australia at this rate will have to. They have hardly won ODI series of late against quality opposition. And not as if they are invincibles anymore.

BTW stumbled upon this poor excuse for an article in cricinfo.com. While they have revamped the looks of the site, publishing of articles like this shows the editorial board needs to get a revamp as well. Pathetic really. Had someone posted this here, would have been shunted off labelled a troll.

http://www.cricinfo.com/wt20page2/co...ry/408110.html

Edit - Saw it was in the Cricinfo tabloid trash they call Page 2. Still....

[Smith]

Originally Posted by social

Sorry mate, was actually agreeing with you but didnt communicate it well enough

Cheers.

[shivfan]

Originally Posted by zabajk

This.

I just fear they will overdo Twenty20 like they did ODIs and make them lose their luster.

To be fair, hardly any 20/20 internationals are being played....

For example, when England tour the Caribbean, they played five ODIs and just one 20/20. Every time a 20/20 is played in the Caribbean, it's sold out. And yet only one is played a year....

The only place where there is overkill is in the Indian and English domestic scene, which, quite frankly, is of little interest to fans outside of those countries.

[brackenNY]

Originally Posted by shivfan

To be fair, hardly any 20/20 internationals are being played....

For example, when England tour the Caribbean, they played five ODIs and just one 20/20. Every time a 20/20 is played in the Caribbean, it's sold out. And yet only one is played a year....

The only place where there is overkill is in the Indian and English domestic scene, which, quite frankly, is of little interest to fans outside of those countries.

One Twenty20 WC every non-ODI WC year is excessive, IMO.

[Redbacks]

Originally Posted by Smith

Australia at this rate will have to. They have hardly won ODI series of late against quality opposition. And not as if they are invincibles anymore.

Or you can work on the fundamentals and try to improve your game. Accept defeat to better teams and work to close the gap. Or play two-up

[pasag]

Really enjoyed last night in a perverse sort of way. Spent the entire day at work on two hours sleep which was horrible, but don't regret it. Was good to see Australia pay and Ponting's bemusement made it even better.

That said, aside from the bowlers, I thought Ponting was far and away the best batsmen for Aus last night. Started off a bit shaky, but he had the right idea in accelerating and I think he would have done well if not for missing that ball to Mendis.

The difference between the two sides last night was in a ridiculous shot by Dilshan where he pretty much ducked and scooped the ball over his head (maybe I was dreaming, lol), very innovative and impressive. Yet to see anything like that from an Aussie since Watto vs NZ at the ODI WC.