2015 Cricket World Cup

[steveaki13]

There are probably not many people who will post on this, but we were discussing it on interview thread.

So early days

G1 - New Zealand, Australia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, England, Scotland & Afghanistan

G2 - South Africa, West Indies, India, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, UAE & Ireland


We have already seen a massive shock, with Ireland continuing there run of beating test nations after Pakistan in 2007 & England in 2011. They beat West Indies the other day.

New Zealand have played 2 matches and didnt impress in the game v Scotland. They appeared to not take in that seriously.

Anyway chat away.

[steveaki13]

My Predictions for the Group stage. Top 4 go through

G1:

1. Australia
2. New Zealand
3. Sri Lanka
4. England
5. Afghanistan
6. Bangladesh
7. Scotland

Bold prediction for Group 2.
G2
1. South Africa
2. India
3. Pakistan
4. Ireland
5. West Indies
6. Zimbabwe
7. UAE

[anfield5]

My Predictions for the Group stage. Top 4 go through

G1:

1. Australia
2. New Zealand
3. Sri Lanka
4. England
5. Afghanistan
6. Bangladesh
7. Scotland

Bold prediction for Group 2.
G2
1. South Africa
2. India
3. Pakistan
4. Ireland
5. West Indies
6. Zimbabwe
7. UAE

Group 1
1. NZ
2. AUS
3. Sri Lanka
4. England
5. Banga
6. Afghanistan
7. Scotland

reasoning - NZ play Aus in NZ, in our conditions we are simply better than the Aussies. Earlier in the year Aus went to UAE to play Pakistan and were flogged. Immediately after NZ did the same trip, drew the test series and won the one dayers. i.e AUS can struggle away from home. Sri Lanka have more quality than England, even though many of Sri Lanka's players are nearing retirement plus I can see England coming unstuck against either Banga or Afghanistan (they tend to lose a game like this in every World Cup).

Group 2
1. South Africa
2. India
3. Pakistan
4. West Indies
5. Ireland
6. Zim
7. UAE

reasoning - South Africa are simply better than the rest. I would have picked Pakistan over India, until the Indians beat Pakistan a few days ago. India never travel well. Even though Ireland beat Windies, I can see the Windies knocking over Pakistan and/or India, whereas Ireland have had their cup final already. (I hope I am wrong because the Irish were awesome and the West Indies probably don't deserve to get through)
Zimbabwe are capable of causing an upset or two, while the UAE are out of their depth.

1/4 finals
NZ vs Windies (or Ireland) - NZ comfortable winners
AUS vs India - AUS easily
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan - close call as both are capable of greatness but Sri Lanka scraping through
South Africa vs England - sorry England you dont have a prayer in this one.

SEMI FINALS
NZ vs Sri Lanka - NZ. These teams have played 7 times in the past month and NZ are 5-2 in front.
AUS vs South Africa - hard call. In Aus, the Aussies are awesomely good (but Warner will have been kicked out of the cup by then and Johnson will be injured as will Clark) so South Africa will shade this one.

FINAL NZ vs South Africa. In Aus on bouncy pitches the Proteas will be odds on to win. Great team great players, man for man they are slightly better. But if McCallum, Wiliamson and one other batsman and Boult, Southee and the bowlers are on song it could go either way.


My history of predicting results is rubbish - so expect the final to be UAE vs Scotland

[steveaki13]

Great stuff Anfield

[anfield5]

Great stuff Anfield

I aim to please

[Big Ben]

I don't like crickets. I don't like most insects.

[donKey jote]

stuff Anfield

as Billy's Missus once said

[journeyman racer]

Horrific from England.

[steveaki13]

That was truly woeful and fully deserved. We are playing terribly and deserve to be trashed. Well done New Zealand who are really on a role now.

Would not be 100% sure we will beat Scotland with how low form and confidence is.

[raybak]

Might actually go to see the Windies play in Canberra on Tuesday as plenty of tickets available.