Yes it is. He is the only player in the history of 50 over international cricket to do this, overtaking Ross Taylor who hit 3 in a row 14 months agoQuote:
Originally Posted by steveaki13
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Yes it is. He is the only player in the history of 50 over international cricket to do this, overtaking Ross Taylor who hit 3 in a row 14 months agoQuote:
Originally Posted by steveaki13
Amazing record. If he makes it 5 it will be amazing against a better team.
It will, but remember he did make 104 against Australia as part of his run.
v NZL 39 from (38 balls) sr = 102.63
v Afghanistan 7 (13) = 53.84
v Bangladesh 105 (76) = 138.16
v England 117 (86) = 136.05
v Australia 104 (107) = 97.20
v Scotland 124 (95) = 130.53
TOTAL 496 runs from (415 balls) = strike rate of 119.52 = ASTONISHING!!!
Plus he now has the record number of dismissals in World Cup history with 57
Of course, but a high pressure QF will be the 5th if it happens.
Would love to see it.
As for England, wow a big shake up needed.
How often though do England bottle things in World Cups (and not just cricket world cups)? I wonder if it has anything to do with the stooooooooooooooopid amounts they are paid to play games. Make the players earn their pay and maybe they would have more than they are currently showing.
As an Aussie. I'm confident in saying it's got nothing to do with how much they pay players, but more to do with an overall poor culture regarding sport. When they put their mind to it, they can become a leading or dominant team in any competition.
Their problem is, is that they care more about themselves, their city, town or regions 's success more than the whole country's. They care more about the local football team winning the next derby more than the country winning the World Cup (in any sport).
To back up my point up from the first paragraph. In anticipation of the London Olympics, they wanted to succeed, they were overwhelming with success (even after a slow start). After being beaten up by Australia for yonks in cricket, they applied themselves after 02/03 Ashes, then they beat up the dominant Australian team. When winning the Ashes in England wasn't good enough, then crunched Australia in Australia.
There is no doubt in my mind. If the football team got their act together, they could win Euro2016. This selfish/unpatriotic view may be the reason why Britain has an outstanding history in F1/motorsport. Rather than being attached to the country, it's more about an individual or organisation (race team) that's not tied to a region.
I agree, my point about money was kinda saying similar things. Sadly many (usually) English players are too wrapped up in themselves and don't have the 'die for the cause' attitude that most Aussie and NZ sportsmen/women have. The same criticism can be leveled at the Indian cricket team. Most of the time they are appalling on tours. NZ always thrash them over here, so do Aus , Eng and most other hosts. They only play well at home.... or once every four years at the world cup. Their perfomances over the last month show just how damn good the Indians are. When England can be bothered they can have the same levels of performance.
Quarter Finals
1. Sri Lanka vs South Africa
pre tournament South Africa would have been a shoe in in this match, but they havn't looked that good against quality opposition (quality sub-continent opposition as both India and Pakistan have hammered them). Sri Lanka have stepped up and are playing well, but they do depend on Sangakkara. If South Africa play to their best they should still win.
2. Bangladesh vs India
Bangaldesh have shown that they can compete with the elite teams, but India will be just too good for them to cause an upset. (hope I'm wrong because I love the way Banga have been playing)
3. Australia vs Pakistan
In Australia the Aussies will be hard to beat. But Pakistan have looked awesome at times, and easily disposed of South Africa. My head tells me that Aussie will win, but it might not be as strait forward as many are thinking.
4. New Zealand v West Indies
Should be the most predictable of all of the matches. NZ are playing well and last time the Windies played them in NZ it was quite embarrassing for them. Having said that if Chris Gayle fires and can get some support from 2 other batsmen, they do have the ability to win the match.
It didn't occur to me til it was mentioned on radio. But the winner of tomorrow's game will mean a first time WC finalist. So for that reason alone, I'm excited about the final.
But I'm excited anyway, because I still have no idea who will be playing in the final, let alone winning it. There's a certain destiny for Australia. But then, there's a certain destiny for NZ as well! It's just their history isn't as big as Australia's. India have been here all summer and have not beaten Australia once. So the probability of beating Australia for the first time on Thursday is high, rendering the previous results insignificant. SA, so many WC heartbreaks. I think it'll be all the more sweeter for the Saffas to knock off Australia in Australia for their first win.
You can see all scenarios playing out
Quarter finals went pretty much to script, but good luck predicting the results of the semi's.
New Zealand have beaten South Africa twice in warm up matches before the World Cup, but there was no pressure on so this doesn't mean much. So far in the tournament NZ have done all that has been asked and won every time out, where as SA. have buckled in two games when fast bowling attacks have hit them.
NZ are without their express bowler Adam Milne (out for the rest of the cup) so their fast attack is blunted somewhat.
PREDICTION: Will be won by the team who makes the fewest mistakes. Both are more than able to win the cup. As a NZer I will have to pick NZ, but if South Africa win (which is more than possible) good luck to them and I will be backing them in the final.
Australia vs India. Aus have dominated India in Australia in a recent series, so they will start as clear front runners. As with the first semi though both can win. India unbeaten and untroubled, Aus with one narrow loss to NZ in pool play, both in good form, both with world class players.
PREDICTION: Too close to call, but at home AUS possibly have a slight edge.
That was a tremendous game! NZ had the game for most of their innings. But SA clawed their way back to be "leading" in the last couple of overs. An all-time great game of cricket. Aus/Ind are going to have to pull something every deep to equal that contest.
Oh My God! What a game of cricket. Absolutely over the moon with NZ, one of the biggest wins in any sport the country has ever had.
Condolences to South Africa, no one deserved to lose that match and as a NZ supporter we know how it feels to miss out on the final (we have lost semi's 6 times :()
Strangely most of NZ want to play Aus in the final now, even though India would be an easier match, so all eyes to the secong semi tomorrow.
India won't be an easier match.
It absolutely will be easier - not for an instant saying it will be easy, but easier for several very good reasons.Quote:
Originally Posted by journeyman racer
1. Home town support - if AUS get through there will be 90,000 avid Aussie supporters behind them and NZ will be in very hostile territory, if India get through many in the crowd will be supporting NZ.
2. Home condition advantage. Aus in Aus is a far tougher prospect then anyone else in Aus, simply because neither team is used to the conditions.
3. The ANZAC rivalry thing means there is always an extra dimension when Aus and NZ go head to head.
4. No disrespect meant to India, but man for man Aus (especially their bowlers) are slightly better than India (as I already said India are very very very good).
NZ should win it all. Haven't watched a ball of this cup, won't watch either but ever since I have watched cricket for a long time before giving it up, I have always liked the Kiwis.
There'll be more Indians at the SCG tomorrow than Australians. Having been to two games at the MCG involving India, I can tell you the crowd is intense. There won't wont' be any Indians hoping NZ beat them in the final. Whereas there'll be a pocket of Aussies that'll prefer to see NZ beat some of these nuffies that represent Australia. Like me for instance.Quote:
Originally Posted by anfield5
^I personally know plenty of people who are actually travelling or have already been there just for the games....and not just Indians living in Australia but people living as far away as doh India, California and the UK! Its's insane. I could have been one of those if I was still watching cricket or as passionate about the game as I was 10-15 years ago.
So that's that then. Australia New Zealand final. We've seen in other sports. The team the won the previous matchup in the completion, loses the final. It will be interesting to see how the game plays out on a bigger ground. It's going to be a tough challenge for both teams.
Discussion in another thread brought me here as it caught attention.:D
So it is going to be anfield5 vs journeyman racer final.:D Enjoy the neighbour-battle!
I don't like the Australian team, and would prefer to see NZ get up. anfield5 offends me more by being a Liverpool supporter.
Looking at history, I just realized New Zealand has never won the Cup though I have got the impression they have always been a competitive team with a strong tradition. Meanwhile Australia is the most successful team ever.
So perhaps from that angle it would be good if NZL won for once.:)
NZ vs Aus and NZ to win.
^jens they have always been competitive but being such a small nation with a small talent pool has often been an obstacle. (of course that never stopped Holland being good at football :s )
Incidentally Holland has never won the football World Cup either even though as you say, they have always been very competitive. Then again Uruguay with even a smaller talent pool (3-4 Million inhabitants) has two football World Cups...Quote:
Originally Posted by Storm
Anyway, as you say, the amount of people and talent pool certainly limits some things. So all things considered newzealanders are doing great.:)
SO when I tell you I am not just a Liverpool supporter, but a born and bred scouser, I might tip you over the edge completely :)Quote:
Originally Posted by journeyman racer
NZ have never even been to a final. Beaten in the semis 6 times until this weekQuote:
Originally Posted by jens
FINAL.
Aus v NZ.
Difficult to predict. As a Kiwi obviously every fibre of my being wants to see a NZ victory. Hugely difficult task though. For the first time in this cup NZ will be the underdogs. Playing Aus in Aus was always going to be the biggest threat.
The two best teams are in the final, both can easily win (not win easily). For NZ if McCallum gets a decent start and Guptil, Williamson and Taylor add the backbone, the likes of Anderson and Elliot can take NZ to 300-350. For the first time in a long while NZ have the batting power to recover from a bad start and bat all the way to 11 (Trent Boult is no mug with the bat). Aussie has some great bowling options and are capaable of doing some serious damage, although arguably the best opening bowling pair were South Avfricas, and look what NZ did to Steyn!
NZ has the best bowling attack unit it has possibly ever had with Boult and Southee, backed up by the pace of Henry (sad loss not havong the impressive Adam Milne available). Backed up by the old man (Vettori) and the aggression of Anderson. This is balanced out by a damn good Aus batting line up. FIinch played very well against India. Warner is a total arse-head, but still a tremendous talent. Smith is hitting top form and can win a game on his own. Clarke is due, Maxwell is erm..... enigmatic and can produce miracles, and the rest of the line up are on their day can be world beaters.
PREDICTION
Aus to start odd on. But as with the NZ/S.A. semi, the winner will be the team who makes the least number of mistakes under pressure. NZ to win..... just in an absolute cracker of a match.
*If NZ fall short and Aus win because they are slightly better NZ will be proud. If the result goes the other way, I am not sure how the Aus public will react. For this reason I think (just my opinion) Nz have less to lose and less pressure on than the Aussies, whether or not this will make a difference?
Nah, you're alright.Quote:
Originally Posted by anfield5
- Being a scouser doesn't necessarily mean Liverpool supporter. There are some that support Everton as well.
- I don't know why my post was deleted. But you quoting me keeps my quote on the page.
- Two of your 3 likes so far are my posts.
So you're pretty good actually.
Yes I remembered after I posted that Holland have failed to win a WC too but they have won Euro and always been at the cutting edge of the sport... For cricket to call it's cup a world cup is a stretch so I would say it is on par to a continental cup like the Euro. Most of the teams playing cricket have a lot in common but aren't geographically close.Quote:
Originally Posted by jens
Also NZ has to put up with cricket not really being the #1 sport in the country while Holland has no such problem :)
It's better for cricket if NZ wins.
GO NZ!
Sadly the Final appears to be an absolute rout really. New Zealand have crumbled at the final hurdle. However Australia deserve it.
What an anti-climax, I saw the score and it reminds me of the '99 final when Pakistan were similarly dismantled by Australia.
Not fair to say NZ crumbled. Aus were just quite awesome today. NZ be proud, first time in a final, well done.Quote:
Originally Posted by steveaki13
As to the match sadly NZ had their worst performance of the cup, while Aus had their best, in that scenario there would only be one outcome, and you can't really argue that the better team on the day won the match.
Mitch Starc's first over was undoubtedly the best over of bowling in the entire cup and set the tone for the game.
You are right. Australia were awesome.
I wrote that while a bit annoyed as I was supporting NZ. :) They had a great tournament though. Brilliant team.
I hope they get the reception they deserve later today when they arrive home, knowing NZ their reception will be almost as good as if they had won. As it should be.
Oh shot, not even ow. The Kiwis did heaps mean, Chur bro.
I would write what my thoughts on here. But then I'd be repeating the same stuff I'v stated elsewhere. I'm Brian Lara on Big Cricket.
http://www.bigcricket.com/community/....184594/page-9
Not sure if this is the right place..but Richie Benaud is no more :(
The voice of cricket when I was growing up, one of my favourites...understated and classy
Sad news.
A true great of Cricket. Made the game a better sport to watch on TV all over the globe I imagine.