Group A - India, England, Australia, West Indies

[James]

Originally Posted by steds

Come again? With the Ashes coming up I'd take a couple of First Class games over some meaningless ODI tournament every time. The 5 month break doesn't come into it, you ****ing dolt.

Steds, that's not the sort of behaviour someone from within the CW Team should be directing towards a CW visitor, regardless of what they have to say.

You should know better...

[aussie]

Originally Posted by GeraintIsMyHero

First Class Cricket is arguably better preparation for the biggest test series for the Aussies in about 18 years than some ODIs that they just won't care about

Thats the thing Australia do care about the CT, its the only major tournament they have not one & surely they will want to win it. Plus as i just mentioned it wont be more than 2 FC matches then the training camp before the 1st test & that surely isn't enough cricket coming off a very lenghty break. Cricketers don't normally get 5 months off & it has an effect & i'm 100% sure Australia will take their best side to the CT.

[GIMH]

Originally Posted by aussie

Thats the thing Australia do care about the CT, its the only major tournament they have not one & surely they will want to win it. Plus as i just mentioned it wont be more than 2 FC matches then the training camp before the 1st test & that surely isn't enough cricket coming off a very lenghty break. Cricketers don't normally get 5 months off & it has an effect & i'm 100% sure Australia will take their best side to the CT.

The CT is not normally 6 months before the WC. I doubt Aussies will play the same side in both tournaments and their best side will play the WC...

[aussie]

Originally Posted by GeraintIsMyHero

The CT is not normally 6 months before the WC. I doubt Aussies will play the same side in both tournaments and their best side will play the WC...

well one reason for that could be between the CT & the VB series Australia will be looking to get their best combination for the WC.But the majority of the players that will start in the caribbean are already settled though.

[honestbharani]

Why is the CT so valueless? It is a still a tournament played by the top sides in the world and the winner would have had to play some good cricket... Plus, it is a nice tune up to the WC as well.

[AussieDominance]

If it wasnt so close to the ashes I would be willing to accept having a development team sent to bring on the next generation

[pietersenrocks]

Originally Posted by GeraintIsMyHero

With England's recent ODi form, we should have no problems against minnows like India and Australia, especially if Solankia, Kabir Ali, Gareth Batty, Ian Blackwell, Liam Plunkett and all our other superstars remain in their current rich veins of form. England to go all the way.


[disclaimer - by all the way, I mean it in a strictly idotic sense, and I am indeed, an idiot]

Yes,England will win but Plunkett is a good bowler

[pietersenrocks]

Originally Posted by aussie

well one reason for that could be between the CT & the VB series Australia will be looking to get their best combination for the WC.But the majority of the players that will start in the caribbean are already settled though.

VB will be more fun than CT

[pietersenrocks]

WEst-Indies will be the 1st qualifier

[GIMH]

Originally Posted by pietersenrocks

Yes,England will win but Plunkett is a good bowler

Sarcasm: undetected

[Pedro Delgado]

Clarke misses out.

[grecian]

Originally Posted by Pedro Delgado

Clarke misses out.

Deliberate mis-spelling for comic-effect, pedders?

[Pedro Delgado]

Heh heh, nah I'm just an idiot.

[Nishant]

this should be a good series; i dont understand why everyone is saying that it is worthless! Its just a tournement with all ur favourite teams taking part; who cares if its really important or not; after all i, as a cricket fan would rather see my team play more games rather than hope that they dont play so that nothing happens to the players!

[Great Birtannia]

The selectors have narrowed down the WC pace bowlers to five - Lee, McGrath, Bracken, Johnson and Clark with the final three jostling for position. I think with Johnson as back up and by the sounds of it only likely to play if our third pool game against India is a dead rubber I would not bother calling up another quick. The next in line would be Gillespie and Tait and I don't think we gain much by having either in India. I don't know if they make us pick a 'like for like' replacement for Clark, but if they do not, I would be calling up Hayden. Katich was terrible in Malaysia and I am having premonitions of Katich facing Harbahjan, 10-6-8-1. Hayden played a couple of sound knocks in the DLF cup and of course has an exceptional record in India and with that opening position up for grabs at the WC it would make sense to give him another shot at it as the Champions Trophy squad was finalised before the series in Malaysia.