**Official** NatWest Challenge Thread

[NikhilN]

We've already established that the ICC rankings are rubbish, though.

Ya...if England beat australia they would be named 1st I am sure

 

[Tim]

I find it inexusable that the Indian bowlers are bowling so many no-balls & wides at such military medium pace.

I think it just comes down to a lack of discipline & its going to get even worse now that India have fallen into a mini-slump of sorts.

 

[NikhilN]

Anyone got the videoclip of gangulys run out?

 

[Craig]

Someone please post video gangs run out...I heard it was funny...but I didnt see it cause I was in school

He and Laxman ran into each other, Ganguly dropped his bat, and Andrew Flintoff hit the stumps. The run was on, but poor communication/running is what cost India there.

Come to think of it, if India didn't throw their wickets away so much and demonstrated better shot selection they could quite well have come close to winning, if not doing it themsleves.

 

[masterblaster]

Dinesh Karthik must play. Ive heard he's quite good behind the stumps and is a decent aggressive batsman to boot. Since India has lost the series, they must play Karthik atleast now.

My team for the 3rd ODI:

Sehwag
Ganguly
Laxman
Kaif
Dravid
Yuvraj
Karthik
Irfan
Kumble
Harbhajan
Nehra

Id never thought Id say that Nehra should be included in an Indian lineup, but he didn't fare that badly compared to Balaji's performance yesterday. Agarkar was simply pathetic so he really needs a wake up call. Nehra has the ability to keep it tight at the death so Pathan and Nehra should both play.

I know Kumble's had a bad game, but he's generally one of the most economical and classy bowlers in World Cricket and with a spinning duo, India will have the upper hand.
With Karthik behind the stumps, I think you have a pretty solid and balanced team there.

Seven specialist batsmen hardly work, and after the NatWest Series 2002 and the ICC Champions Trophy 2002 it has hardly worked for India.

 

[Sudeep]

At the moment, 'arguably' doesn't come into it, although 'most effective' is probably a more apt description.

Flintoff in world cricket is the man 'most likely to' - as in most likely to get you a wicket when you need it the most, that vital catch, the run-out and of course batting-wise, to rip the head off any attack and spit down the neck-hole.

I have never EVER witnessed such an improvement from an England all-rounder in a single year in the almost 40 years I have watched and studied the game. He wears the 'Botham' mantle comfortably, but with humour and grace too.

We all knew that he had massive ability - but the way he has channelled that skill over the last 12 months is the kind of thing we are more used to an Aussie or a South African doing.

That was a typo of whatever one wants to call it. I did mean to say "unarguably".

Flintoff = GOD.

 

[Langeveldt]

Hmm, this Schlimtoff fellow seems to be a bit of a blip in the system....

 

[Waughney]

Even though this is the Natwest Challenge thread, I'll talk about Australia V Pakistan today seeing as there's no thread on it.
What an innings by Symonds! 104* from 103 balls. He delivers again when Australia need him most against Pakistan.

 

[marc71178]

I have a good idea, let's all throw our wickets away and get India back in this...

It was a typical effort - start like a rocket, then collapse.

At 4 down I could see a 150 all out coming.

Thank God for Fred and Colly.

 

[marc71178]

England 148-4, Flintoff playing an un-Flintoff innings of 26* off 50 balls.

Which shows how little of Flintoff you've seen in recent times.

When he's had to battle, he's shown he can do it.

 

[marc71178]

Pieterson becomes avaliable in October...he'll probably (definitely) be picked for the Zimbabwe and SA ODI's. If he impresses in them then you might see him knocking on the door next summer for the tests.

For Tests he'll need retirements and injuries IMO.

 

[marc71178]

It would be nothing short of a miracle if India gets this. Escpecially considering the form their batsmen are in.

Looking at the Indian career averages, I was shocked how low some of them are!

 

[marc71178]

i would be surprised if its not 3-0

I'm shocked that it's 2-0 to be honest.

The best I was hoping for was a 2-1 loss.

 

[marc71178]

... in his last 17 one-dayers, since the middle of last July's NatWest Series, Flintoff averages 87.89 with the bat, and has taken 20 wickets at 19.15.

That is unbelievably good!

 

[marc71178]

its hard for me to make my case as vaughan has been winning lately, but it sure has not been due to his leadership

Oh really?!

 

[marc71178]

IND's bowling problems have been self created, they want to go with 7 batsmen with the idea that 2 part time bowlers can be just as effective as regulars in odi, but we can see what a quality bowler can do (i.e singh 14/2).

That's all well and good, but the alternative features only 6 batsmen.

 

[marc71178]

Ya...if England beat australia they would be named 1st I am sure

No they wouldn't, because Australia are so far ahead at the moment.

 

[Arjun]

There's always a saying- watch out for the stuff past their 'best before' date. Little Agarkar does his critics proud.

And Balaji should know how much that extra pace- and that extra catch taken- even that extra run saved- can change a match.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Which shows how little of Flintoff you've seen in recent times.

When he's had to battle, he's shown he can do it.

Nothing Flintoff does will ever be right, though.

 

[NikhilN]

9 posts in a row from marc...I think thats a record