Best bet, dark horse and weak link

Arjun · 30-08-2004, 06:41 AM

Here's what you would get, if you picked the best bet, dark horse and weak link of each team.

AUSTRALIA:
Best bet: Everyone, especially Gilchrist
Dark horse: Brett Lee, Williams, Bracken, Lehmann
Weak Link: Brad Hogg

ENGLAND:
Best bet: Flintoff, Trescothick, Gough
Dark horse: Vaughan, Anderson, Harmison
Weak link: Giles, wicketkeeper and especially Anthony

INDIA:
Best bet: Sachin, Laxman, Dravid, Kumble
Dark horse: Pathan, Rohan, Harbhajan
Weak link: The rest of the pace attack, Ganguly and Dravid behind the stumps.

NEW ZEALAND:
Best bet: Astle, Cairns, Vettori
Dark horse: Oram, Styris, Butler
Weak link: McCullum (don't drop this one!), McMillan and especially Mills

PAKISTAN:
Best bets: Inzamam, Shoaib, Sami, Youhana, Razzaq
Dark horse: Younis Khan
Weak link: Inzamam (between wickets), the inexperienced batsmen

SOUTH AFRICA:
Best bets: Smith, Gibbs, Kallis, Pollock, Ntini
Dark horse: Rudolph
Weak link: The spinners and some other pacers

SRI LANKA:
Best bet: Sanath, Marvan, Murali, Vaas
Dark horse: Zoysa, Dilhara
Weak link: Dilshan

WEST INDIES:
Best bet: Lara, Gayle
Dark horse: Chanderpaul, Edwards, Lawson
Weak link: Collins, Carlton (with the bat)

What do you think?

Mr Mxyzptlk · 30-08-2004, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arjun

Dark horse: Chanderpaul, Edwards, Lawson
Weak link: Collins, Carlton (with the bat)

Hmmm.... Edwards and Lawson aren't in the squad, so they'd definitely be dark horses.
Collins and Baugh aren't in the squad, so I guess there are no weak links.

Tim · 30-08-2004, 03:03 PM

I cannot believe you've missed out Fleming as a best bet when he's been our best ODI player over the last 6 months.

Hamish Marshall would be more of a darkhorse than Oram I think.

Nnanden · 31-08-2004, 12:32 AM

well bracken and williams arent in the squad so no worries there... sorry to do this again, but dont you think bracken should AT LEAST be in the squad as a reserve paceman? maybe???? whats he done wrong...

i think he just got 3/39 off 9 for gloucs... good luck to him.

GO THE WINDIES!!

nookie_lk · 31-08-2004, 02:17 AM

best bet for sir lanka - <include> sangakkara <remove> murali since hes not playing.
and why the hell did u put Dilshan as the weak link ??? i think it should be gunawardena or someone...

age_master · 31-08-2004, 05:34 AM

i wouldn't call brett lee or darren lehamnn dark horses, they are a couple of the best performers in the ODI's for Austrtalia in recent times.

i would call williams a weak link, not that hes gonna play any games cause hes behind virtual;ly everyone else

Arjun · 02-09-2004, 05:55 AM

Quote:

I cannot believe you've missed out Fleming as a best bet when he's been our best ODI player over the last 6 months.

Hamish Marshall would be more of a darkhorse than Oram I think.

Good points. A pity Astle has not lived up to expectations since the 222. In fact, Fleming is a better bet than Astle on present form.

Quote:

sorry to do this again, but dont you think bracken should AT LEAST be in the squad as a reserve paceman? maybe???? whats he done wrong...

He's better than most pace spearheads.

Quote:

best bet for sir lanka - <include> sangakkara <remove> murali since hes not playing.
and why the hell did u put Dilshan as the weak link ??? i think it should be gunawardena or someone...

Fine Sangakkara as a batsman- his keeping is still suspect.

Dilshan does not score too many runs to threaten the opposition. Yes, Gunawardene as well. Did nothing special, just slogged hard, ran little and dropped a few. Absolutely no technique.

Arjun · 02-09-2004, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Hmmm.... Edwards and Lawson aren't in the squad, so they'd definitely be dark horses.
Collins and Baugh aren't in the squad, so I guess there are no weak links.

No Edwards, Lawson or Best, who in this team can bowl fast? [EDIT- Lawson's name was announced, at least in the CricketWeb thread]

Well, there's always the fielding to give the opposition a chance...

delkap · 02-09-2004, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arjun

Best bet: Sachin, Laxman, Dravid, Kumble
Dark horse: Pathan, Rohan, Harbhajan
Weak link: The rest of the pace attack, Ganguly and Dravid behind the stumps.

I dont think Ganguly will be a weak link at all.. although Laxman might well be that.. Kumble is not best bet for sure.. And I'll put Balaji as dark horse instead of Rohan (no pun intended

)

Mr Mxyzptlk · 02-09-2004, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arjun

No Edwards, Lawson or Best, who in this team can bowl fast? [EDIT- Lawson's name was announced, at least in the CricketWeb thread]

Well, there's always the fielding to give the opposition a chance...

Lawson was in the squad, but was withdrawn due to injury. The quickest bowler in the side is Dillon, but pace isn't everything.

Arjun · 03-09-2004, 02:57 AM

Quote:

The quickest bowler in the side is Dillon, but pace isn't everything.

Not Dillon's pace. If pace is the team's main bowling strength, it is something important.

Tim · 03-09-2004, 04:12 AM

Astle had a good series in India last year..but he's never had the chance to play consistently due to the arthritis in his left(?) knee.
NZ will need him to get us off to a good start against Aus...Fleming will very much enjoy batting with him if he does fire.

Mr Mxyzptlk · 03-09-2004, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arjun

Not Dillon's pace. If pace is the team's main bowling strength, it is something important.

Pace is not the West Indies' main bowling strength in ODI. Seam bowling is. That's why men like Bradshaw and Bravo have become regulars. They mix it up, bowl line and length and don't over-exert themselves. Also Dillon bowls around 82-85 mph which is still fast-medium.

Nnanden · 03-09-2004, 05:40 AM

bradshaw has impressed me a lot... i wonder why he didnt get a go at tests when the windies bowling was a minus?

Mr Mxyzptlk · 03-09-2004, 05:09 PM

He wasn't in the squad. The West Indies appear to be wanting to specialize their ODI and Test teams to prevent injury to the seamers if nothing else. I agree that he would have been a useful replacement for an injured Pedro Collins (since the first ball of the series) as he would have been a steady bowler and a decent lower order batsman.

I like the look of him in the ODI team. He's a bit of a Cameron Cuffy in that he doesn't always take wickets, but he'll almost never go for a lot of runs. WI needs that kind of steady and consistent influence in the team, especially with players such as Best, Edwards and Rampaul firing it about.

30-08-2004, 06:41 AM	#1 (permalink)
Arjun Cricketer Of The Year Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 7,837	Best bet, dark horse and weak link Here's what you would get, if you picked the best bet, dark horse and weak link of each team. AUSTRALIA: Best bet: Everyone, especially Gilchrist Dark horse: Brett Lee, Williams, Bracken, Lehmann Weak Link: Brad Hogg ENGLAND: Best bet: Flintoff, Trescothick, Gough Dark horse: Vaughan, Anderson, Harmison Weak link: Giles, wicketkeeper and especially Anthony INDIA: Best bet: Sachin, Laxman, Dravid, Kumble Dark horse: Pathan, Rohan, Harbhajan Weak link: The rest of the pace attack, Ganguly and Dravid behind the stumps. NEW ZEALAND: Best bet: Astle, Cairns, Vettori Dark horse: Oram, Styris, Butler Weak link: McCullum (don't drop this one!), McMillan and especially Mills PAKISTAN: Best bets: Inzamam, Shoaib, Sami, Youhana, Razzaq Dark horse: Younis Khan Weak link: Inzamam (between wickets), the inexperienced batsmen SOUTH AFRICA: Best bets: Smith, Gibbs, Kallis, Pollock, Ntini Dark horse: Rudolph Weak link: The spinners and some other pacers SRI LANKA: Best bet: Sanath, Marvan, Murali, Vaas Dark horse: Zoysa, Dilhara Weak link: Dilshan WEST INDIES: Best bet: Lara, Gayle Dark horse: Chanderpaul, Edwards, Lawson Weak link: Collins, Carlton (with the bat) What do you think? __________________ "Talent is nothing without opportunity" "You're not remembered for aiming at the target, but hitting it" Twenty20 used to be boring. Sponsored...by...nothing!!!

31-08-2004, 12:32 AM	#4 (permalink)
Nnanden You'll Never Walk Alone Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: New South Wales Posts: 26,188	well bracken and williams arent in the squad so no worries there... sorry to do this again, but dont you think bracken should AT LEAST be in the squad as a reserve paceman? maybe???? whats he done wrong... i think he just got 3/39 off 9 for gloucs... good luck to him. GO THE WINDIES!! __________________ Jesus saves proudly supporting Liverpool FC

31-08-2004, 02:17 AM	#5 (permalink)
nookie_lk First Class Debutant Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Colombo (RoCks) Posts: 869	best bet for sir lanka - <include> sangakkara <remove> murali since hes not playing. and why the hell did u put Dilshan as the weak link ??? i think it should be gunawardena or someone... __________________ - This is Your Life...Are You Who You Want to Be -

31-08-2004, 05:34 AM	#6 (permalink)
age_master Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 15,777	i wouldn't call brett lee or darren lehamnn dark horses, they are a couple of the best performers in the ODI's for Austrtalia in recent times. i would call williams a weak link, not that hes gonna play any games cause hes behind virtual;ly everyone else __________________ Member of CW Green Kerry O'Keefe - Worlds funniest Commentator

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30-08-2004, 03:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tim Cricketer Of The Year Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Auckland Posts: 7,888	I cannot believe you've missed out Fleming as a best bet when he's been our best ODI player over the last 6 months. Hamish Marshall would be more of a darkhorse than Oram I think.

03-09-2004, 04:12 AM	#12 (permalink)
Tim Cricketer Of The Year Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Auckland Posts: 7,888	Astle had a good series in India last year..but he's never had the chance to play consistently due to the arthritis in his left(?) knee. NZ will need him to get us off to a good start against Aus...Fleming will very much enjoy batting with him if he does fire.

03-09-2004, 05:40 AM	#14 (permalink)
Nnanden You'll Never Walk Alone Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: New South Wales Posts: 26,188	bradshaw has impressed me a lot... i wonder why he didnt get a go at tests when the windies bowling was a minus?

03-09-2004, 05:09 PM	#15 (permalink)
Mr Mxyzptlk Request Your Custom Title Now! Join Date: May 2002 Location: Trinidad and Tobago (Trinidad) Posts: 36,795	He wasn't in the squad. The West Indies appear to be wanting to specialize their ODI and Test teams to prevent injury to the seamers if nothing else. I agree that he would have been a useful replacement for an injured Pedro Collins (since the first ball of the series) as he would have been a steady bowler and a decent lower order batsman. I like the look of him in the ODI team. He's a bit of a Cameron Cuffy in that he doesn't always take wickets, but he'll almost never go for a lot of runs. WI needs that kind of steady and consistent influence in the team, especially with players such as Best, Edwards and Rampaul firing it about.

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