Okay, so who's gonna win?

[howardj]

Final Four:
Australia
South Africa
India
New Zealand

Winner:
South Africa - with everyone available, they've got a terrific mix of ODI players.

 

[Craig]

It doesn't matter only South Africa will find a way to lose a game when they have the game won (or should it be tied?).

 

[Craig]

McMillan is a decent ODI player as far as I'm concerned, and I somehow doubt Fulton, How or anyone of that ilk is as good.

Fair go mate he is averaging 47 in his first ten ODI's so far he has played and has a List A average of 34 which is a lot more then McMillan is doing at the moment.

 

[andyc]

Winner:
South Africa - with everyone available, they've got a terrific mix of ODI players.

http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/rsavaus/engine/match/238200.html?view=frameset;wrappertype=frameset




I'm going to look really stupid if we lose this though.

 

[marc71178]

It doesn't matter only South Africa will find a way to lose a game when they have the game won (or should it be tied?).

I doubt they'll have that chance today somehow!

 

[andyc]

http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/rsavaus/engine/match/238200.html?view=frameset;wrappertype=frameset




I'm going to look really stupid if we lose this though.

I daresay it's pretty safe.

 

[ash chaulk]

http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/rsavaus/engine/match/238200.html?view=frameset;wrappertype=frameset




I'm going to look really stupid if we lose this though.

hmmm

 

[steds]

I daresay it's pretty safe.

 

[Richard]

I doubt they'll have that chance today somehow!

Well...
I certainly think there's now a great chance this game could break Australia's dominance in ODIs.

 

[Richard]

Fair go mate he is averaging 47 in his first ten ODI's so far he has played and has a List A average of 34 which is a lot more then McMillan is doing at the moment.

People've had good starts to their careers plenty.
What's his List-A average minus ODIs? I thought he made his debut with a pretty moderate domestic average.
Equally, McMillan hasn't done much recently, but really... he's not done much quite a few times.
I'll probably never despair of him, though - I never did with Kaluwitharana.

 

[andyc]

..........
Bugger

 

[aussie]

well after today's crazyness by stupid australia, i've had rethink & even though they still might be favourites (with a full-strength XI) its going to be really though for them to win this time for a few reasons:

- firstly Australia top 7 is supeb no doubt, but without McGrath in the bowling attack Australia bowling attack is not as good since they have NO capable death bowlers it seems & other batting line-ups pretty comparable with Australia i.e South Africa, Pakistan, India & West Indies could really destroy them on those small grounds & flat pitches which most likely won't have much swing with the new ball.

- secondly how the tournament is structured Australia will have to face more of the top teams in the latter half of the competiton & will have to beat them in order to win which wont be easy at all, ut if they do it will be much better than 99 or 2003.

FINAL FOUR:

Australia
South Africa
Pakistan
West Indies/India

Winners: Australia once they have McGrath back which will make a huge difference.

 

[andyc]

They lost one game, Aussie, doesn't mean they'll lose the World Cup.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Yeah. There's no doubt Australia are coming back to the field, but they still have the best team around.

Actually, the emergence of Bracken as a reliable ODI bowler means that in McGrath, Lee, Bracken and Hogg Australia still have a very strong ODI bowling lineup at full strength, and the batting certainly can't be questioned. I wouldn't read too much into the last game... Australia were well beaten, but when you score 400+ you can hardly say it was a terrible performance.

 

[Blaze]

Hopefully they have a couple of injuries and struggle.

 

[SJS]

India will prevail.

YESSS they will

My wife will be in the kitchen keeping up the supply of hot snacls while I will be sitting with my beer watching Dhoni, Sachin and Sehwag sending every bowler to the cleaners.

DHO DAALO INDIA !!!​

 

[Richard]

Yeah. There's no doubt Australia are coming back to the field, but they still have the best team around.

Actually, the emergence of Bracken as a reliable ODI bowler means that in McGrath, Lee, Bracken and Hogg Australia still have a very strong ODI bowling lineup at full strength, and the batting certainly can't be questioned. I wouldn't read too much into the last game... Australia were well beaten, but when you score 400+ you can hardly say it was a terrible performance.

I quite agree - it was a freak game and in reality will mean little to teams other than South Africa.
But seriously - Hogg part of a strong bowling attack?

 

[andyc]

I quite agree - it was a freak game and in reality will mean little to teams other than South Africa.
But seriously - Hogg part of a strong bowling attack?

...Yes, yes he is.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

I quite agree - it was a freak game and in reality will mean little to teams other than South Africa.
But seriously - Hogg part of a strong bowling attack?

Not been paying attention? Averaged 24 with the ball across 2004 and 2005. Nothing wrong with his economy rate or his fielding or batting either.

 

[Nate]

In my eyes, a full strength team is:

Gilchrist
Jaques
Ponting
Hussey
Symonds
Clarke
Hogg
Warne
Lee
Bracken
McGrath

...man that`d be so awesome to watch.