World Cup Predictions

[The Baconator]

World Cup Winners: SA
"Big 8" side to perform most poorly: India
Player with most runs: Jacques Kallis
Player with best strike-rate: Dhoni
Player with biggest score of tournament: Jayasuriya - Berserk against a minnow
Bowler with most wickets: Ntini
Bowler with best economy rate: Pollock
Bowler with best performance of tournament: Murali - 7/8-fer v England in Super 8
Tournament's emerging player: Ross Taylor,
Most disappointing player: Ricky Ponting
Surprise package (Team): New Zealand - Close semi loss or final for mine
Biggest disappointment: Poor bowing out for McGrath

[oz_fan]

World Cup Winners: Australia
"Big 8" side to perform most poorly: Pakistan
Player with most runs: Ricky Ponting
Player with best strike-rate: Sanath Jayasuriya
Player with biggest score of tournament: Chris Gayle
Bowler with most wickets: Shane Bond
Bowler with best economy rate: Shaun Pollock
Bowler with best performance of tournament: Makhaya Ntini
Tournament's emerging player: Ross Taylor
Most disappointing player: Mohammed Yousef
Surprise package: West Indies
Biggest disappointment: Pakistan

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

The stage is set for the biggest South Africa choke to date. Australia are suffering blow after blow to what once seemed unbreakable confidence, and South Africa are in incredible form. Pollock is back on top of his game, Ntini is the best seamer in the world, Kallis is bowling well again. The top order batting has found form and Mark Boucher and Ashwell Prince are in the form of their lives.

So many doors seemed to have opened for South Africa to finally win the Cup. And I don't expect they will. It would go against everything I've come to expect of South Africa.

[Richard]

Expectations are made to change, TBH.

Until very recently, they hadn't even won a non-ad-hoc series against them.

[Zinzan]

Originally Posted by Mr Mxyzptlk

The stage is set for the biggest South Africa choke to date. Australia are suffering blow after blow to what once seemed unbreakable confidence, and South Africa are in incredible form. Pollock is back on top of his game, Ntini is the best seamer in the world, Kallis is bowling well again. The top order batting has found form and Mark Boucher and Ashwell Prince are in the form of their lives.

So many doors seemed to have opened for South Africa to finally win the Cup. And I don't expect they will. It would go against everything I've come to expect of South Africa.

I don't necessarily think that just because they have choked before that they will again. Having said that I do think if a less likely team like England, NZ or West Indies made the final against them they (the latter teams) wouldn't feel the pressure quite so much. Obviously being relaxed makes a huge difference in cricket

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Originally Posted by Richard

Expectations are made to change, TBH.

Fair enough that Tino Best's Test career will sort itself out then.

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Originally Posted by zinzan12

I don't necessarily think that just because they have choked before that they will again. Having said that I do think if a less likely team like England, NZ or West Indies made the final against them they (the latter teams) wouldn't feel the pressure quite so much. Obviously being relaxed makes a huge difference in cricket

Just a few months ago the West Indies thrashed South Africa in a semifinal of a major tournament - the Champions Trophy. Whether or not they choked, they were outplayed thoroughly by one of the "less likely" teams.

[Richard]

Originally Posted by Mr Mxyzptlk

Fair enough that Tino Best's Test career will sort itself out then.

Tino has just another 3 or 4 years... at best.

South Africa have as long as they have a team playing international cricket... and your lifetime, obviously...

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Originally Posted by Richard

Tino has just another 3 or 4 years... at best.

Such is your expectation.

[Zinzan]

Originally Posted by Mr Mxyzptlk

Just a few months ago the West Indies thrashed South Africa in a semifinal of a major tournament - the Champions Trophy. Whether or not they choked, they were outplayed thoroughly by one of the "less likely" teams.

Thats true, but S.A would have been much more suited to the seaming track that NZ and Aust played the other semi on in the CT. But who knows what the wickets will do. Actually now i'm thinking about it, SA may really struggle if there are a few slow decks with their bowling lineup and lack of good slow bowlers.

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Originally Posted by zinzan12

Thats true, but S.A would have been much more suited to the seaming track that NZ and Aust played the other semi on in the CT. But who knows what the wickets will do. Actually now i'm thinking about it, SA may really struggle if there are a few slow decks with their bowling lineup and lack of good slow bowlers.

Given the form of Jerome Taylor, and what Ian Bradshaw and Dwayne Bravo can do with some assistance, I'm not entirely sure the result would have been too much different. The West Indies entered the game brimming with confidence and in form. Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul were in peak form, with practically everyone having notched a good score in the tournament by then.

Regardless, the World Cup will, in all likelihood, be played on slow and flat pitches. The seaming track would more than likely be a non-issue.

[Zinzan]

Originally Posted by Mr Mxyzptlk

Given the form of Jerome Taylor, and what Ian Bradshaw and Dwayne Bravo can do with some assistance, I'm not entirely sure the result would have been too much different. The West Indies entered the game brimming with confidence and in form. Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul were in peak form, with practically everyone having notched a good score in the tournament by then.

Regardless, the World Cup will, in all likelihood, be played on slow and flat pitches. The seaming track would more than likely be a non-issue.

Well, if they are slow and flat, I believe SL are the best value for money and SA the worst given they are 2nd favourites according to the bookies.

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

I'd back chasing teams at this World Cup. I don't expect Sri Lanka to do well batting first. I don't mind being proven wrong though.

EDIT: I realize the Sri Lanka comment seems a bit random, but I mean "as compared to some of the other teams".

[Zinzan]

Originally Posted by Mr Mxyzptlk

I'd back chasing teams at this World Cup. I don't expect Sri Lanka to do well batting first. I don't mind being proven wrong though.

EDIT: I realize the Sri Lanka comment seems a bit random, but I mean "as compared to some of the other teams".

Yep, that old philosophy of win the toss and bat or think about and still bat doesn't really apply these days

[Tim]

South Africa have really been talking themselves up, I think they're setting themselves up big time for a horror finish yet again.

World Cup Winners: Australia
"Big 8" side to perform most poorly: Pakistan
Player with most runs: Ricky Ponting
Player with best strike-rate: Jacob Oram
Player with biggest score of tournament: Ponting
Bowler with most wickets: Murali
Bowler with best economy rate: Vettori
Bowler with best performance of tournament: Murali
Tournament's emerging player: Ross Taylor
Most disappointing player: Glenn McGrath
Surprise package: New Zealand
Biggest disappointment: South Africa