The best thing about this tournament for me
 

As I have mentioned elsewhere, I have seen little of this tournament. However, looking at the results, reports etc, it seems that we can look forwards to a very, very good super 8 in the World Cup. Every team has had at least one win thus far, and as such no teamk has dominated. I think it's a shame I have missed this tournament on the mostpart, and it seems to have been very good thus far. But it really does bode well for the World Cup, and I reckon the Super 8 might result in one of the most exciting and unpredictable WCs that we have had?

thoughts?

I've enjoyed it immensely. Particularly when you add the unpredictability and the different types of wickets that have been produced compared to the normal ones for ODIs.

CT has been a success this year IMO. :)

The crowds, while never being anywhere remotely near full, have been larger than those in England or in Sri Lanka. The restoration of parity between bat and ball has also been enjoyable and the format has most definitely been a success. As much as I hate the Champions Trophy has a principle, it does produce some interesting cricket and results.

The potential re-emergence of the Windies as a genuine world force is a huge plus for mine. Much as football needs Brazil & Rugby Union needs the All Blacks I think cricket needs the Windies. They play the sport in a different way.

yep, thats why if Australia can get out of that potential war in the super eight next year and win the world cup it will be a greater achievement IMO that the wins in 99 & 2003.

Brazil sadly is all about Nike these days, well has been since the '98 final really; the team I used to love is now a marketing machine.

More of a League man myself, don't think NZ have won a World Cup at Union so I'm not sure where you're going with that, I'm a romantic so can sort of see what you mean, supporting the men who ultimately have no balls etc but play attractively, they are the Croatia of rugby perhaps, such a little place.

As for West Indies, bollocks. I remember the days of the black washes, the Islands' juggernaut that had no sympathy for anyone; they can have another few years in the wilderness for me.

E2A: and really, a few wins in a warm up for the WC isn't really a "re-emergence of the Windies", they need to start winning Test series', plus they lost to us which is unforgivable in ODIs if you fancy yourself.

Yup, I hate to admit it but it has definatly been a success so far.

Close games, good contest between the bat and the ball, and the subcontinent flat track bullies harshly put in their place.

Can't ask for more IMO.

I've enjoyed bits of it, Tendulkar and Lara batting for example.

England, quite rightly, treat it as warm up for the WC; sweaty buffoons like Yardy and Dalwotsit won't be around by next year one would hope, they have been found wanting and leave the field in ignominy; if we want to compete we must play our Test side or near as damn it, Read is a laughable Notts idiot, what else could one expect.

It's batting practice for the Ashes really for Bell and Strauss et al, good to see Fred getting some overs in too, we were due to finish bottom and we haven't let anybody down.

Hey you, we won the first World Cup in 1987 :p

Ahhch soz, fair play then.

Shoulda won more though :D

Yeah but you're looking at it from an English cricket fan's perspective, not a cricket fan's perspective. I'm not going to judge the tournament on the fact that England are playing crap players, I'm judging it on the fact there's been good cricket. Couldn't care less about whether England are warming up for the Ashes or not.

I try not to forget that cricket is a world sport, and not just for the colonials.

:dry: Says the man who now lives in Syndey and wants to be an Australia citizen :p

For me it's been the even contest of the bat and ball, we haven't seen any scores over 300 in normal pool play if I remember correctly but once a batsman bats themselves in it becomes far easier for them than it first looked. As for NZ, we have performed well so far and if we put up a good fighting game in the semifinal then I will be very happy, if we win even better.

I always felt that Pakistan was the Brazil of cricket, if only because all of the players are reffered to only by their first names.

I much prefer ODIs where sides are chasing between 240 & 280. When tournament scores are regularly 280+ it kind of kills the contest. Given that the pitches in the Windies are likely to lead to those bigger scores I don't think much can be taken from this tournament in regards to predictions for the WC.