Cricket

[Falcon1200]

Has there ever been a competition like this, where the winners of the previous event become the absolute worst next time around?

Management and captain have to change after this shambles, there is no way they should stay. Arguably England's best player in the last two games (not a high bar, admittedly) was David Willey, the sole member of the squad not to be offered a central contract; And how daft was doing that, not to mention demeaning to the player, midway through the competition?

And finally, when a player says he is retiring, from the game altogether or just one format, that should be it; No coming back, ever. Ben Stokes, for all his earlier and wonderful heroics, has done nothing to justify being selected again.

 

[Whistler40145]

Has there ever been a competition like this, where the winners of the previous event become the absolute worst next time around?

Management and captain have to change after this shambles, there is no way they should stay. Arguably England's best player in the last two games (not a high bar, admittedly) was David Willey, the sole member of the squad not to be offered a central contract; And how daft was doing that, not to mention demeaning to the player, midway through the competition?

And finally, when a player says he is retiring, from the game altogether or just one format, that should be it; No coming back, ever. Ben Stokes, for all his earlier and wonderful heroics, has done nothing to justify being selected again.

Should Moeen Ali retire completely from International Cricket as he's had little effect?

 

[75A]

Even the Australians must be feeling pity.

Don't be silly blue,
Just discovered that only the top 8 of this World Cup qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy

 

[Busaholic]

Should Moeen Ali retire completely from International Cricket as he's had little effect?

That would be the diplomatic way, given he'll never be chosen again, but he won't be the only one.

 

[Harvester]

At present it’s not quite mathematically certain England will go out! However with relevant mid-week fixtures before England v Australia next weekend, we will avoid the indignation of being dumped out by the Aussies.

 

[Busaholic]

At present it’s not quite mathematically certain England will go out! However with relevant mid-week fixtures before England v Australia next weekend, we will avoid the indignation of being dumped out by the Aussies.

If England win all three remaining matches and both Australia and New Zealand lose all three of theirs, plus England score a couple of 400 plus scores or hit targets within about twenty overs, then they might go through. Anyone suggesting that should lay off the magic mushrooms imo.

 

[JD2168]

Another dreadful performance from England in a tournament of poor performances. In the next England match they play Australia.

 

[Harvester]

Just discovered that only the top 8 of this World Cup qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy

So England will probably need to win two of their final three matches against Australia, Netherlands and Pakistan to finish eighth! The way they are playing only the Netherlands fixture looks winnable.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

It would need a two-tier system, with a cricket World Club one-up, one-down promotion and relegation system to make those in charge of the England coaching and team management think very deeply in the situation that the England team currently find themselves. Correct me if I am mistaken, but I was sure that I heard some years ago that England and two other nation sides would be exempt from relegation should such a two-tier competition take place. which would protect England from the ignominy of losing to teams such as Bhutan and to Nepal.

 

[ian1944]

It would be nice to be wrong, but I'm envisaging one of these outcomes against Australia: 400 then 120 in 34 overs, or 120 in 34 overs then 126 for 2 in 20. On the subject of two tiers, a few years ago I watched England lose to Scotland in Edinburgh, I think a 50 over match but it may have been fewer. Bairstow's century was the only notable innings for the visitors.

 

[75A]

So England will probably need to win two of their final three matches against Australia, Netherlands and Pakistan to finish eighth! The way they are playing only the Netherlands fixture looks winnable.

Just read that it's the top 7 + the hosts who are Pakistan, so might alter things.

Afghanistan have just thumped Sri Lanka by 7 wickets!
Sri Lanka were 241 all out
Afghanistan 242-3 with 29 balls left

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Just read that it's the top 7 + the hosts who are Pakistan, so might alter things.

Afghanistan have just thumped Sri Lanka by 7 wickets!
Sri Lanka were 241 all out
Afghanistan 242-3 with 29 balls left

Faooqi for Afghanistant had an excellant bowling return of 10 - 1 -34 - 4

 

[Busaholic]

Bangladesh's latest defeat means they are now out of the tournament, and replace England at the bottom of the table by dint of having lost one more match than them.

Interesting in comparing the two teams coached by ex-Warwickshire players. Bangladesh under Allan Donald have only won their initial encounter with Afghanistan, whereas the latter under Jonathan Trott have far exceeded expectations. They may well rue that loss to Bangladesh which could have stymied their chances of going further.

 

[SteveM70]

Just read that it's the top 7 + the hosts who are Pakistan, so might alter things

Highly unlikely that India would travel to Pakistan, so there may be an extra space

 

[75A]

Highly unlikely that India would travel to Pakistan, so there may be an extra space

I think they might as World Champions.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

South Africa 357-4 (50 overs)
van der Dussen ... 133 with 5 x 6 and 9 x 4
de Koch ... 114 with 3 x 6 and 10 x 4

New Zealand 167 all out (35.3 overs)
Maharaj ... 9 - 0 - 46 - 4
Jansen ... 8 - 1 - 31 -3

South Africa win by a wide margin of 190 runs with more than 14 overs to spare.

 

[DelW]

Sri Lanka are trying to challenge England's attempts at taking the title of worst performance of the tournament - currently 14 for 6 chasing 358, having previously been 3 (runs) for 4 (wickets).

Angelo Matthews is still there, so some sort of recovery might still be possible, but he's running out of partners. Extras (5) are second-highest scorer after Matthews.

PS: the 14 have come off 10 overs.

 

[Peterthegreat]

Sri Lanka are trying to challenge England's attempts at taking the title of worst performance of the tournament - currently 14 for 6 chasing 358, having previously been 3 (runs) for 4 (wickets).

Angelo Matthews is still there, so some sort of recovery might still be possible, but he's running out of partners. Extras (5) are second-highest scorer after Matthews.

PS: the 14 have come off 10 overs.

All out for 55! India win by 302 runs.

 

[ian1944]

The list of the top 50 batters to date by average includes just four from England: Willey, Malan, Atkinson and Brook in that order, Willey is number 30. The bowling list again has just four, two of whom are in the batting list. Topley is best at number 15, Rashid fourth best at number 40.

 

[Busaholic]

The list of the top 50 batters to date by average includes just four from England: Willey, Malan, Atkinson and Brook in that order, Willey is number 30. The bowling list again has just four, two of whom are in the batting list. Topley is best at number 15, Rashid fourth best at number 40.

Willey on account of his not outs and Atkinson with one innings. Willey's are probably fuelled by pure anger at his treatment.

 

[Falcon1200]

All out for 55!

And yet Sri Lanka managed to beat England!

 

[Busaholic]

And yet Sri Lanka managed to beat England!

I'm going to stick my neck out here and say I think England might just beat Australia on Saturday. The latter will be without Maxwell and Marsh and I'm assuming Carse will be making his debut at Woakes's expense. Brook must also return, with Stokes dropped. I think Buttler should try opening with Bairstow as in T20s in order to get the innings kickstarted - the latter has always been a slow starter, while most of Malan's successful innings have come at no. 3.

The key to it all is getting Warner and Head out early.

I've baked a humble pie in readiness.


P.S. Mooen Ali should be reminded that he's there primarily as a bowler and should expect to get both a ten over spell and wickets.

 

[75A]

I'm going to stick my neck out here and say I think England might just beat Australia on Saturday. The latter will be without Maxwell and Marsh and I'm assuming Carse will be making his debut at Woakes's expense. Brook must also return, with Stokes dropped. I think Buttler should try opening with Bairstow as in T20s in order to get the innings kickstarted - the latter has always been a slow starter, while most of Malan's successful innings have come at no. 3.

The key to it all is getting Warner and Head out early.

I've baked a humble pie in readiness.

But then there's Smith & Labuschange neither of whom like the Poms.

 

[Busaholic]

But then there's Smith & Labuschange neither of whom like the Poms.

Yes. but neither have been prolific this series. Labuschange was a last minute choice, nor being considered a limited overs player until recently. The runs he has made were at a poor rate of scoring.

By the way, I don't believe Labuschange dislikes the English, although he may prefer the Welsh!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Netherlands 179 all out (46.3 overs)

Afghanistan 181-3 (31.3 overs)

Afghanistan win by 7 wickets with more than 18 overs to spare. Afghanistan now in 5th position.

 

[Harvester]

New Zealand 254-2 of 35 overs, heading for a large total against Pakistan! England will be out mathematically if New Zealand win whatever the results of other games, as Australia and Afghanistan play each other next week.

 

[Pakenhamtrain]

Even if Australia lose tonight we will still laugh at how awful England have been.

On the flip side I don't know how Smith and Labs get an ODI gig. They're not ODI players. They're test match batsmen and play like it.

 

[75A]

Even if Australia lose tonight we will still laugh at how awful England have been.

On the flip side I don't know how Smith and Labs get an ODI gig. They're not ODI players. They're test match batsmen and play like it.

I agree, but Smithy got 44 today & Marnus 71 which could well be more than England get!
They're chasing 287 to win.

 

[Peterthegreat]

Bairstow out first ball!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Bairstow out first ball!

In the words of a certain programme...."a starter for ten"

Let us all sing "Ten English Wickets" to the tune of "Ten Green Bottles".