2023 ICC Cricket World Cup (October/November) - India

[Bevab]

Could be an option. I did feel like Moeen in the team yesterday would have made sense with all their spinners. He generally performs how he's expected to. Bat him at 8 and he usually plays like a number 8. Played really well when he went up to three in the Ashes. Livingstone or Moeen at 4, with a bit more time but less pressure if things go wrong feels somewhat safer. Stokes at 5 or 6 allows others to bat around him, he can bat with the tail well and manage a chase. Buttler in the floating role coming in with 25-30 overs left works feels like you get the most from him.

The fact these are issues still up for debate three games into the tournament is why it feels like a shit show.

The lack of ODIs played by the main XI recently does come into effect here. I remember that you said other than Brook there wouldn’t have been anyone else who would have played in the RODC anyways but if the latter was still a relevant thing I feel like you could have got a player or two who had a breakout season capable of replacing Mo or one of Curran/Woakes. Best case scenario would have been finding someone capable of batting in the top six and bowling close to eight overs to replicate what Stokes once offered.

As of now it’s like once they won the WC on home soil that they specifically targeted (at the expense of even test cricket), the switch was turned off and the focus instead became “alright let’s get at least one T20 WC with this core group and start fixing our test side steadily”. I’m not sure if the long-term plan here is “ODIs will die as a format eventually so why bother”.

 

[Bevab]

I've a soft spot for Mo but even I feel he is not best suited for ODIs now (maybe earlier he was good but appears like he is past his "sell by" date). T20 is his strength where he can blast from the word go and is also a handy spinner who often ends up a picking a wicket or two as batsmen tend to go after him.
Tests are also okay but he no longer plays the format so what can you do?

Yeah I’m not fully sold on Mo at four either despite suggesting it as he isn’t going to stay for long at the crease but if he can play a role similar to McBrine for Ireland but as a slightly more aggressive version of a pinch blocker then I feel Buttler and Livo can make up for it at the end. The big question of course is if Mo can occupy the crease for long enough.

 

[Bevab]

I don’t understand why they’ve selected Karunaratne (the opener one) if they’re persisting with Perera. Unless Avishka is injured or in horrid form he feels like a better backup to have if not more versatile.

Pat going with the same XI… feels like he doesn’t have any other choice? They really should have selected some spinner in place of one of the pace all-rounders in the final fifteen.

 

[Pinch hitter]

Decent start from Sri Lanka... 10 overs 51 without losing wicket... 300+ possible in this ground... I feeling we might see first time in a WC history, Australia face hat-trick lose...

 

[Bevab]

Just saw the review they took in that first over.

Hits the bat and missed everything.

Glorious.

 

[Bevab]

Starc’s a coward for not mankading.

 

[icyman]

Can't believe I have to use 'Australia' and 'pathetic performance' in the same line here. I dont mind them losing, what I mind is the Aussies not giving a fight.

 

[asprin]

Starc’s a coward for not mankading.

He has always been against it, hasn't he?

 

[CerealKiller]

I hope they pick up some more wins against bigger teams who can't avoid playing them - like India, Australia and Pakistan all decided to do so in the Super League.

Pakistan played them in August

 

[Bevab]

He has always been against it, hasn't he?

If he is then he shouldn’t be doing these silly mind games in the first place.

 

[CerealKiller]

 

[wasteyouryouth]

I've a soft spot for Mo but even I feel he is not best suited for ODIs now (maybe earlier he was good but appears like he is past his "sell by" date). T20 is his strength where he can blast from the word go and is also a handy spinner who often ends up a picking a wicket or two as batsmen tend to go after him.
Tests are also okay but he no longer plays the format so what can you do?

Mo is the most #PakistanGonnaPakistan player I can think of (not saying that because of his heritage). If he's brilliant, rubbish or average it's the most Moeen thing you can expect. My feeling is, at seven, is he going to be a downgrade on Curran? Based on recent performances, no. Now, bringing him in against a big hitting South African middle order of right handers feels like a risk but Maxwell did well against them.

The lack of ODIs played by the main XI recently does come into effect here. I remember that you said other than Brook there wouldn’t have been anyone else who would have played in the RODC anyways but if the latter was still a relevant thing I feel like you could have got a player or two who had a breakout season capable of replacing Mo or one of Curran/Woakes. Best case scenario would have been finding someone capable of batting in the top six and bowling close to eight overs to replicate what Stokes once offered.

As of now it’s like once they won the WC on home soil that they specifically targeted (at the expense of even test cricket), the switch was turned off and the focus instead became “alright let’s get at least one T20 WC with this core group and start fixing our test side steadily”. I’m not sure if the long-term plan here is “ODIs will die as a format eventually so why bother”.

Will Jacks is probably the one player who I might have found a place for. He's an opener but I wouldn't have had a problem with him at seven.

There's Liam Dawson too, of course, but it feels like England have made their mind up about him long ago. I just checked and I can't believe he's only played six ODIs since his debut in 2016. He was good enough for the 2019 squad and played three matches since in that ridiculous series in Australia last year. Really feels like they should given him more chances. Moeen has played 32 matches since 2019, averaged 22 and 47 (not the right way round either). Surely Dawson could have played at least half those matches instead.

Pakistan played them in August

I meant in the Super League.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

Sri Lanka already have par score against Australia. Anything more is just toying with them at this moment.

 

[Bevab]

Cummins has suddenly found his rhythm out of nowhere.

 

[T.J.Hooker II]

Nice to see struggling ODI minnows Australia fighting back a bit against a major team.