*Official* Semis and Final Thread

[krkode]

Did you know that the final on sunday will be Ganguly's 100th match as the Indian captain :wow:

[warrioryohannan]

And if Ganguly scores a ton and India wins the game and with it the championship , then it would be a match which Ganguly and the Indians will never forget!

[aussie_beater]

Don't worry about forgetting if India wins...even if no one scores a ton or takes four-five wickets.

[yohanna]

Well I'll be backing India to win the cup, hopefully the will beat the great Aussie team in the final.

[Gotchya]

Symonds, Harvey, Brett Lee, Andy Bichel, Brad Hogg, also have never ever played in a World Cup Final.

Well, Symonds and Lee and Bichel, forget about them. They wont be as prresurised as the Indians I pointed out. But Pressure doesn't indicate failure, how they cope with it is what matters.

[krkode]

Tendulkar is the kind of great player who has never played in a final. I'm glad he now has his chance. In fact, I think (and know) he's good enough to have another go in 2007...he's not really that old. :P

Another great who I feel deserved a go at the World cup atleast once in his career but unfortunately, hasn't and may not ever get the chance is Lara

[Eclipse]

It will be the bigest moment in the lives of many cricketers on Sunday.

I dont really no what to expect to be honest because as good as Australia is they have yet to play anywere nere there best in this tournement I know Hayden, Ponting, Gilchrist would all have liked to and expected to have made more runs in this world cup but having said that they wont care if they make a 100 in the final and ultimatly win the world cup.

What interests me is the fact Australia still have the best batting statistics of all the teams in this world cup as far as runs per-over runs per wicket and avrage runs scored yet I think most people would agree that they have not been batting at there best.

My gut tells me Ponting will make a big score and set Australia up for victory but I also have a feeling India are going to fight like hell to reach the total set and that there are going to be some very tense and vital match situations and prehaps some big decisions to be given or not given by the umpire.

[marc71178]

Odds as supplied by Eurobet:

To win:
Australia 4-11
India 15-8

Top Australian Runs:
Hayden, Gilchrist 3-1
Ponting 7-2
Martyn 6-1
Lehmann, Bevan 13-2
Symonds 7-1
Maher 9-1
Hogg, Harvey 33-1
Bichel 40-1
Lee 50-1
Hauritz, Bracken 80-1
McGrath 150-1

Top Indian Runs:
Tendulkar 7-4
Ganguly, Sehwag 4-1
Dravid 5-1
Kaif 8-1
Yuvraj 9-1
Mongia, Bangar 14-1
Patel, AA 40-1
Harb 50-1
Kumble 66-1
Zaheer 80-1
Srinath 100-1
Nehra 150-1


Looking at those, I think India to win is overpriced, and I might have a look at a modest Kaif/Ponting double.

[krkode]

I'm also pretty surprised the cricketweb poll has 76-24 standing that India will win :wow:

Then again, I'm an idealist more than I am a realist, and I too think India can win :P

[Neil Pickup]

Polls show nothing, apart from the number of times a button was clicked.

[krkode]

Originally posted by Neil Pickup
Polls show nothing, apart from the number of times a button was clicked.

Well, it also shows the number of times a certain radio button was bubbled in. I was just pointing out the fact that an unusual percentage of people thought India would win, but then we know how many Indians come here :P

I myself voted 3 times from 3 different computers!

MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[vandemataram]

Well guys this is going to be a wonderful world cup final , between two best teams in the world in INDIA and Australia.I think India has peaked at the right moment and they are going to be hard to beat .All India needs to do is to keep their nerves, which ever team panics will get the boot.

India will hopefully win tomorrow and will become Champions after 20 years.I'll change my avatar in comming days with a pic of Ganguly holding the cup if India wins the cup!

[Ringua]

Originally posted by krkode
Tendulkar is the kind of great player who has never played in a final. I'm glad he now has his chance. In fact, I think (and know) he's good enough to have another go in 2007...he's not really that old. :P

He's just 30 and by '07 willbe 34 so he will definately play in '07 WC but that will be his last WC as i don't think Tendulkar will continue to play till the age of 38!

But will Tendulkar be as effective as a batter as he is today at the age of 34 years??

[masterblaster]

Only time will tell Ringua, im sure he will be still superb when 34. God Bless Sachin Tendulkar

[Anil]

Not the most auspicious start for Zaheer and India. 15 runs in the first over. Just hope this isn't a sign of things to come.