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Who's gonna win?
- Thread starter NikhilN
- Start date
I don't know if this has been brought up anywhere but..............
my pick for the teams to watch will be those that show they can bat 1st and get a result..............the current overwhelming trend has been for the teams batting 2nd to have a big advantage................
NZL broke the trend when they won the Tri-Series final v WIN - the only time it was done in the series.............
AUS have the credentials to do so...............
but there must be BIIIG question marks next to just about everyone else on current form - including ENG unless they manage to do it in the current NatWest series v IND........
my pick for the teams to watch will be those that show they can bat 1st and get a result..............the current overwhelming trend has been for the teams batting 2nd to have a big advantage................
NZL broke the trend when they won the Tri-Series final v WIN - the only time it was done in the series.............
AUS have the credentials to do so...............
but there must be BIIIG question marks next to just about everyone else on current form - including ENG unless they manage to do it in the current NatWest series v IND........
so far as the actual teams go...........
A - IMO AUS are vulnerable esp to NZL in the early stages of any comp - this one will be no different & perhaps even more so given injuries etc - so NZL slight favs perhaps but still concerns re the potential fragility of Styris, Macca, Cairns, Oram, McCullum, Vettori, Tuffey etc.........still no stickability below #3 IMO...........
B - a lottery - should be RSA but a Test & ODI series whitewash does not bode well even if it was in SRL..............whereas WIN made the final of the NatWest series & are acclimatised to ENG pitches..............so WIN???????????
C - another lottery - will depend on PAK consistency & whether the IND batting lineup can get on top of the PAK attack..........on current performance v ENG I'd say not..............so PAK slightly ahead.......
D - only clear result for me is ENG to go thru' as SRL without Murali is not the same threat - esp in ENG conditions..........
Semis.........
NZL v ENG - recent form favours NZL, but a Home crowd & confidence can do wonders..........the 'x' factor will be NZL batsmen being able to survive the Harmison overs with enough wickets left to mount a score....
WIN v PAK - potentially the batting can cancel each other out, PAK bowling is stronger on paper & I'd favour them to go thru' - particularly if Razzaq gets going with the bat..........
Final.........
favs for me would be the winner of the NZL / ENG semi, as I can not see PAK putting together enough consistant performances to win the Tourney even if it is shorter than most...........
Dark Horses for me would be IND & RSA, but again IMO IND rely too heavily on being able to mount a large score & use the high RRR to aid their bowling attack.......in ENG I do not think they will be able to post big enough targets to use this against the better batting lineups...........
A - IMO AUS are vulnerable esp to NZL in the early stages of any comp - this one will be no different & perhaps even more so given injuries etc - so NZL slight favs perhaps but still concerns re the potential fragility of Styris, Macca, Cairns, Oram, McCullum, Vettori, Tuffey etc.........still no stickability below #3 IMO...........
B - a lottery - should be RSA but a Test & ODI series whitewash does not bode well even if it was in SRL..............whereas WIN made the final of the NatWest series & are acclimatised to ENG pitches..............so WIN???????????
C - another lottery - will depend on PAK consistency & whether the IND batting lineup can get on top of the PAK attack..........on current performance v ENG I'd say not..............so PAK slightly ahead.......
D - only clear result for me is ENG to go thru' as SRL without Murali is not the same threat - esp in ENG conditions..........
Semis.........
NZL v ENG - recent form favours NZL, but a Home crowd & confidence can do wonders..........the 'x' factor will be NZL batsmen being able to survive the Harmison overs with enough wickets left to mount a score....
WIN v PAK - potentially the batting can cancel each other out, PAK bowling is stronger on paper & I'd favour them to go thru' - particularly if Razzaq gets going with the bat..........
Final.........
favs for me would be the winner of the NZL / ENG semi, as I can not see PAK putting together enough consistant performances to win the Tourney even if it is shorter than most...........
Dark Horses for me would be IND & RSA, but again IMO IND rely too heavily on being able to mount a large score & use the high RRR to aid their bowling attack.......in ENG I do not think they will be able to post big enough targets to use this against the better batting lineups...........