Final.

[dontcloseyoureyes]

I think Sanath is a case of his average not showing his impact as a player.

Plus his bowling raises his stocks a fair amount.

[JASON]

Originally Posted by marc71178

Following your reaction to the run out a few months ago, I find the advice you give out here to be amusing.

But this something a large number of posters over several threads would agree with.

[marc71178]

Originally Posted by JASON

This is hardly one tournament .....10 games over 2 months against 8 countries....

If it isn't one Torunament then what exactly is it?

[JASON]

Originally Posted by marc71178

If it isn't one Torunament then what exactly is it?

The point was made in response to an excuse that a team can have a one off poor showing... But this is a Event run over 2 months and played in a variety of conditions (c.f different pitches in different venues over 6 -7 countries ) and the opposition was not one Team but at least 8 teams in the case of SA and all teams bar West Indies were playing on neutral conditions.... so the excuse about 1 tournament and one off poor performance doesn't wear in this case ... that was the gist of that response.

[marc71178]

Originally Posted by JASON

The Truth is the best 2 Teams in ODI cricket reached the Final.

No, the truth is, the best 4 teams reached the semis, the best 2 played each other so can't both make the final.

Originally Posted by ICC

	Team 		Matches	Points 	Rating
1	Australia 	52 	6701 	129
2	South Africa 	42 	5234 	125
3	New Zealand 	45 	5103 	113
4	Sri Lanka 	52 	5799 	112
5	Pakistan 	36 	3950 	110
6	India 		50 	5320 	106
7	England 	43 	4457 	104
8	West Indies 	47 	4666 	99
9	Bangladesh 	42 	1892 	45
10	Ireland 	11 	317 	29
11	Zimbabwe 	36 	779 	22
12	Kenya 		11 	0 	0

[marc71178]

Originally Posted by JASON

I suffer from no victim complex .....for that matter I have never felt victimised...I feel sorry for others who think that I am ..

Could bring up so many posts of yours that suggest otherwise...

[marc71178]

Originally Posted by JASON

But this something a large number of posters over several threads would agree with.

I refer you to my previous comment on the runout matter...

[JBH001]

LOL! Some funny stuff going on here...

(maybe Jason and pasag should kiss and made up?)

Anyway, regarding Jaya. I do not think his average is an accurate reflection of his talent and abilities as a batsman, especially when his SR is taken into account.

However, it does, in my view, keep him out of the top echelon as an odi opening batsmen.
Even only taking into consideration his games as an opening bat, his average is around the 34 mark, iirc. Not enough, I think. I rank him as a great odi opening batsman - but not exactly in the top tier, where a higher 35+ or ideally 40+ avg would place him.

Still, love watching the man bat though . And I hope, I really hope, for one last Jaya special come the WC final on the weekend. _b

[Matt79]

FFS, any danger of talking about the final of the WC in this thread?

I think more than Mural, Malinga will be the key to Sri Lanka's chances. Him not playing against Australia in the Super 8s was, in the end, a stroke of luck for the Lankans given the difficulties players unfamiliar with him seem to have picking up his length. If he can take a couple of early wickets, then Murali will be able to come on and bowl at players under more pressure who aren't as set. If he has a good day, Lasith could keep the Aussies to a total SL can match.

I'd actually prefer Australia to bat second (unless the pitch is going to have markedly deteriorated by then). I think the thought of what the Australian line up can do scares teams batting first against them to play foolishly - witness SA last night - and they can go a long way to defeating themselves before they begin. Then Australia can pace their chase knowing they only have to get a lesser total, mitigating the effect of the worn pitch to an extent. And the ball might move more in the first hour of the morning - perfect for Bracken and McGrath. The SL bowling attack is very good with Malinga in his current form and the reliably effective Vaas and Murali - I think their batting can be effective but is the more fragile aspect of its game.

Hope its a good game - with the right result of course.

I think Gilchrist should announce his retirement from ODIs after the final - I'd like to see him continue in Tests til the end of 2008, form permitting, but I think he should give up ODIs to concentrate on maintaining that Test form.

[James]

Maharoof expected to play final

[Matt79]

Wow - Maharoof, Maharoof, Maharoof is on fire.

[Athlai]

Originally Posted by James

Maharoof expected to play final

Bout time.

[Perm]

Originally Posted by James

Maharoof expected to play final

Roofers!

[social]

Originally Posted by James

Maharoof expected to play final

3rd seamer is a really weak point for SL - Maharoof is a pretty ordinary bowler IMO

[Mahindinho]

Originally Posted by social

3rd seamer is a really weak point for SL - Maharoof is a pretty ordinary bowler IMO

Yeah, but did you _see_ what happened to Fernando the other day?!

He absolutely cracked under pressure...although the way Koertzen handled it probably didn't help. If it was a player like Murali or Vaas, no worries -- they'd sort it out next match. But Fernando's got a history of problems with his run-up...and there's absolutely no way that SL would beat the Aussies with a misfiring 3rd seamer.

So, Maharoof's the better bet. I still think we might need his batting, too.