Icc cricket world cup 2015

[Remi Moses]

Re: Icc cricket world cup 2015

Is there any truth in the rumour Trevor Chappell will hand out the winners medals if we get through to the final?

[Sedat]

Re: Icc cricket world cup 2015

The obligatory choke call gets trotted out to often for me.

100% agree with this. Actually there is a fundamental lack of understanding of what a choke actually is, judging by the way lazy journos latch onto the word to describe the Saffer's loss last night. Truth be told, they were dead stiff to lose - the rain ruined their charge to a score of 375-400, which they would have reached going at 12-15 an over in the last 10 as they have done all tournament, and that would have proven too big a chase for NZ (or anyone for that matter in a SF). Also the wet outfield played havoc with their fielding and bowling during NZ's innings - the missed run-outs obviously hurt their chances, but these were simply skill errors due in large part to the skidding of the ball due to the wet conditions. And the dropped catch by Berhadien was not a gimmee, especially with Duminy clattering into him just as he was about to take the catch - no doubt Berhadien's call would have been drowned out by the crowd noise.

Last night was just a fabulous match where two excellent teams went toe to toe and one team ended up marginally on top. No chokes at all from either team.

This NZ run reminds me very much of Greece in Euro 2004. As with Greece, there's a feeling of destiny that increases with each game despite them not being the best team on paper in the competition - Greece had a heart-stopping win in the SF that tournament, as have NZ here. They will be very hard to beat, whoever the opponent is on Sunday.

[Greystache]

Re: Icc cricket world cup 2015

100% agree with this. Actually there is a fundamental lack of understanding of what a choke actually is, judging by the way lazy journos latch onto the word to describe the Saffer's loss last night. Truth be told, they were dead stiff to lose - the rain ruined their charge to a score of 375-400, which they would have reached going at 12-15 an over in the last 10 as they have done all tournament, and that would have proven too big a chase for NZ (or anyone for that matter in a SF). Also the wet outfield played havoc with their fielding and bowling during NZ's innings - the missed run-outs obviously hurt their chances, but these were simply skill errors due in large part to the skidding of the ball due to the wet conditions. And the dropped catch by Berhadien was not a gimmee, especially with Duminy clattering into him just as he was about to take the catch - no doubt Berhadien's call would have been drowned out by the crowd noise.

Last night was just a fabulous match where two excellent teams went toe to toe and one team ended up marginally on top. No chokes at all from either team.

This NZ run reminds me very much of Greece in Euro 2004. As with Greece, there's a feeling of destiny that increases with each game despite them not being the best team on paper in the competition - Greece had a heart-stopping win in the SF that tournament, as have NZ here. They will be very hard to beat, whoever the opponent is on Sunday.

You could say the same about the Donald/Klusenar run out being due to crowd noise, or Gibbs dropping the catch because of his excitement due to the situation, or their collapse against Australia in 2007 due to great bowling, but in the end, just like last night, SA simply cannot get the job done when the big moment arrives. They missed 3-4 chances to get a run out that would've killed momentum but either missed the stumps or fumbled the chance, and then the dropped the match winner because two fielders ran into each other.

If that match was the 2nd game in the round robin section South Africa would've taken the wickets and probably won the game.

[Greystache]

Re: Icc cricket world cup 2015

To be fair he doesn't just hit it over the boundary on the small grounds but usually a dozen rows into the crowd. I don't think he'll have too many problems clearing the fence. Getting enough chances to do it against a genuinly quick and miserly pace attack will be the problem.

Many of them he does, sure, but there's also several an innings (especially over cover and point) that just loop over the head of the fielder and go for 6 on a boundary that's barely 50m. At the MCG the fielder would have to take 10 steps in to catch it. Ian Smith et al can fap themselves about how no one else in the world is cutting 3-4 sixes an innings, that's because they're getting caught well short of the rope on a decent sized ground. We'll find out on Monday but he's going to have to play differently if he's going to hang around.

[Sedat]

Re: Icc cricket world cup 2015

You could say the same about the Donald/Klusenar run out being due to crowd noise, or Gibbs dropping the catch because of his excitement due to the situation, or their collapse against Australia in 2007 due to great bowling, but in the end, just like last night, SA simply cannot get the job done when the big moment arrives. They missed 3-4 chances to get a run out that would've killed momentum but either missed the stumps or fumbled the chance, and then the dropped the match winner because two fielders ran into each other.

If that match was the 2nd game in the round robin section South Africa would've taken the wickets and probably won the game.

In 1999, Kluesner panicked/choked by going for such a suicidal run when he still had 2 balls left to win the game after just smoking 2 boundaries in a row (Grant Elliott faced almost the same situation last night and did what Kluesner should have done as the set batsman). Also the team choked by failing to chase 207 in that match when they were 0/50 at one stage. Gibbs didn't choke, he was just a cocky fool who got hit by the karma bus for celebrating before completing the task at hand. A true choke is the Windies losing 8-37 in the 1996 SF against Australia after cruising to what should have been an easy win, or Australia failing to chase 117 in the 4th innings at the SCG test against the Saffers in 1993-4, or 185 in the 4th innings against the Windies in Adelaide in 1992-3 with the Frank Worrall trophy on the line. Or to use a golfing analogy, Greg Norman capitulating in the 4th round of the US Masters after being 6 shots ahead of Faldo.

There is a clear difference between not getting the job done (something the Saffers are notoriously good at) and choking (something they've done in the past but not last night IMO) - the two are not intrinsically linked.

[Twodogs]

Re: Icc cricket world cup 2015

Many of them he does, sure, but there's also several an innings (especially over cover and point) that just loop over the head of the fielder and go for 6 on a boundary that's barely 50m. At the MCG the fielder would have to take 10 steps in to catch it. Ian Smith et al can fap themselves about how no one else in the world is cutting 3-4 sixes an innings, that's because they're getting caught well short of the rope on a decent sized ground. We'll find out on Monday but he's going to have to play differently if he's going to hang around.

You're right. That shot where he drops his shoulders and sort of scoops the ball over over the point boundary won't cut it (pun intended) I also think the extra bounce the Australian pace bowlers have will test him out too.