ICC Trophy Coming Soon!

[Neil Pickup]

I would like to remind y'all that Ireland did beat Surrey in the C&G Trophy last summer, and blitzed a pre-rebellion Zimbabwe side in the summer of 2003. They're far from no-hopers, especially with home advantage and I expect them to qualify.

From the two groups, I'd back Ireland and the USA to take the places from Group A (is it just me or are the two groups seriously uneven?) with Scotland and any from three of Namibia, Holland or Canada (so long as they have Davison) leading the way in Group B. Expect the final playoff to be between whichever Nam/Hol/Can doesn't make it directly, with the UAE outside bets.

 

[Hoggy31]

Will Dougie Brown be playing for Scotland?

 

[Neil Pickup]

Will Dougie Brown be playing for Scotland?

I'd hope so, but I guess it will be down to whether Warwickshire will allow him to.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

I would like to remind y'all that Ireland did beat Surrey in the C&G Trophy last summer, and blitzed a pre-rebellion Zimbabwe side in the summer of 2003. They're far from no-hopers, especially with home advantage and I expect them to qualify.

Yup. The ones who will really struggle is Denmark. Their only good player is Søren Vestergaard, and he's pushing 40 soon (plus young Frederik Klokker, but he seems to be more talent than head, and Amjad Khan, but Kent won't let him go).

 

[Hoggy31]

Croatia lose to Norway, that's how bad they are

(and Norway lost to Italy, that's why we're not in...grunt...

Just saw that Norway won ECC Trophy in 2003, pretty impressive and they beat Croatia by 143 runs

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Just saw that Norway won ECC Trophy in 2003, pretty impressive and they beat Croatia by 143 runs

Yeah. Norway were the only unbeaten side in Europe for a while - played 16 games without defeat from the start-up - until we got hammered by Italy.

It's getting a bit of coverage though, in newspapers and on the occasional TV report (not about results, obviously, just the way the game is going) - I'm crossing my fingers, but most people just seem to think of it as "the weird game all the Pakistanis play"

 

[Hoggy31]

Any domestic comps. or turf pitches in Norway?

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Two turf pitches, I think, and a domestic league with 15 teams - all based in Oslo. The second pitch is absolute tripe, no drainage whatsoever and the outfield is completely soggy...the first one isn't too bad, but shared with footballers most of the time.

 

[Kweek]

I'm surprised not to see Hong Kong in there, especially as they played two proper ODIs in the Asian Cup.
QUOTE]

I think they are part of the WCQS. They did play in the asian cup, i completely forgot about that.
Personally i've got a soft spot for Namibia. I cheered them all the way as the pushed England. I was loving Jan Berry Burgers Innings and remember feeling gutted when he got out, realising that might be the end of it.
Who do you reckon the players to look out for are?
Personally:
John Davison (Canada).
JB Burger (Namibia)
KJ Van Noortwijk (Holland)
GM Hamilton (Scotland)

I think Van noortwijk is a very underrated player. his ODI Batting average is in the 40's.
Hamilton is great too. His 1999 world cup was excellent and he's now back with the Scots after playing 1 test fot England (made a pair).

oke time for an update mate...KJ van noortwijk isnt playing for the dutch team anymore, and tbh he totally lost his touch with the bat.
the guy to look after in that tourny got to be Daan van Bunge, problem is...it clashes with his MCC fixtures so mcc and dutch board need to get around the table and talk, i really hope he plays for us !

 

[Hoggy31]

Two turf pitches, I think, and a domestic league with 15 teams - all based in Oslo. The second pitch is absolute tripe, no drainage whatsoever and the outfield is completely soggy...the first one isn't too bad, but shared with footballers most of the time.

What's the standard of cricket like?

 

[Magrat Garlick]

What's the standard of cricket like?

I'm not the best judge Impossible to get scorecards and it's hard to get to watch matches, cos you never know if they're on. Definitely amateur cricket, though, and not very good coaches either...

 

[BoyBrumby]

Yup. The ones who will really struggle is Denmark. Their only good player is Søren Vestergaard, and he's pushing 40 soon (plus young Frederik Klokker, but he seems to be more talent than head, and Amjad Khan, but Kent won't let him go).

I'm certain he was the answer to a question in a pub quiz once; didn't he appear as a sub fielder in a test when he was on Lord's groundstaff?

 

[Magrat Garlick]

I'm certain he was the answer to a question in a pub quiz once; didn't he appear as a sub fielder in a test when he was on Lord's groundstaff?

That's right - during one of the WI tests this summer, if I remember rightly.

 

[marc71178]

Group A
Bermuda, Denmark, Ireland, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United States.

Group B
Canada, Holland, Namibia, Oman, Scotland, WCQS winner.

Does anyone have any comments on who you think will make it or who you'd like to make it?

All I can say is that those groups are more than a little imbalanced!

 

[marc71178]

Will Ole Mortensen be turning out?

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Will Ole Mortensen be turning out?

He'd be better than some of the dross they have now!

 

[wadey4]

oke time for an update mate...KJ van noortwijk isnt playing for the dutch team anymore, and tbh he totally lost his touch with the bat.
the guy to look after in that tourny got to be Daan van Bunge, problem is...it clashes with his MCC fixtures so mcc and dutch board need to get around the table and talk, i really hope he plays for us !

So Van Noortwijk has retired or he just can't get back in the team. If its the former then thats a shame, in form he's a good bat.
Van Bunge did have a pretty good world cup for you guys. He made that 60 odd against India and nearly carried his bat (i think), it was a good knock. Is Tim De Leede still playing? he's also another very good player.

Adding to that list:

John Blain - Scotland - decent bowler for Yorkshire, good talent, only 25-26 years old. Took 7 for 50-odd against Canada in the ICC 3-day final. There's a batsman called Cedric English (who's born on the Cape, SA and nevertheless plays for Scotland) too who's good.

Ah Yes of course, John Blain i completely forgot about him. He also had a great WC'99 taking 10 wickets @ about 20 if i remember correctly.

Will Ole Mortensen be turning out?

He played for Derbyshire from 83-94
Ole was/is a great bolwer who's stats speak for themselves:
First-Class: 434wkts @ 23.88, Stk Rt 2.60
One-Day: 219 @ 25.56, Stk Rt 3.38

Unfortuntaly hes 47 but yeah, you never know.

For his complete stats go here: http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/11/11172/11172.html

PS. Also check JB Burger and some of his games for namibia in the SA domestic comp. He's scored some incredibly quick runs.

 

[Steulen]

The groups are very uneven.

Ireland also beat WI last year, they will definitely come through.

I think Canada has weakened considerably, and it's to be seen whether Davison will make the trip.

My bets would be for Ireland and UAE to qualify for the semis from group A, and Scotland and the Netherlands from group B. The WCQ play-off for the fifth ticket should be between Namibia and whoever gets third in group A, with Namibia the clear winners.

BTW, the Dutch also have a great wicketkeeper in Jeroen Smits. Too bad he can't hold a bat, but he was in the BBC's WC2003 all-star team. Van Bunge must play, otherwise we might struggle

 

[chaminda_00]

I think that the ICC Trophy is in July so unless Davo is playing League Cricket in England or got a 1st Class Contact he should play. I also think the ICC should put restrictions on clubs or countys that don't release playing for this tornment or InterContenial matches, like they do in football. Don't release your player they banned for 2 matches, makes sence to me.

For the quailfers i think in Group A u have Ireland and UAE and third probably USA but Uganga got some brillant players and will give those three a run for their money. In Group B Scotland and Canada or namibia. I think who ever comes third in Group B will win quailfying final, with Scotland taken out the trophy.

 

[Steulen]

I think that the ICC Trophy is in July so unless Davo is playing League Cricket in England or got a 1st Class Contact he should play. I also think the ICC should put restrictions on clubs or countys that don't release playing for this tornment or InterContenial matches, like they do in football. Don't release your player they banned for 2 matches, makes sence to me.

For the quailfers i think in Group A u have Ireland and UAE and third probably USA but Uganga got some brillant players and will give those three a run for their money. In Group B Scotland and Canada or namibia. I think who ever comes third in Group B will win quailfying final, with Scotland taken out the trophy.

Without becoming overly patriotic, I don't think you can dismiss the Dutch that easily.