Asia Cup 2014

[SpitfiresKent]

Didn't see the game but how good was Afridi's knock anyone? What a strike rate!

 

[asprin]

So that's 2 in 2 for Afridi. Can't really remember when the last time he fired in consecutive matches. It was thrilling to watch though.

 

[harishankar]

To be honest, Bangladesh bowled a bit of rubbish towards the end bowling so many loose deliveries under pressure. Predictable bowling and a defensive mindset cost them the game. They should have gone a bit more attacking at the stage when Pakistan still needed around 9.5 runs an over with plenty to get. Once they got into the run-saving mode, it helped Pakistan's batsmen consolidate and get into the big hitting zone.

They got wickets at crucial points, but simply failed to cash in. And that dropped catch of Afridi was also a big miss.

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Didn't see the game but how good was Afridi's knock anyone? What a strike rate!

Under the context of the chase, it was great, but he was helped by spinners bowling length deliveries at just the right pace in his hitting arc. Without the ball turning, he had a free run...

 

[SiriusBlack]

edited

 

[Champagnepapi]

Kohli to score 200, just mark my words.

 

[SaiSrini]

With this humiliating defeat in subcontinental conditions, atleast now will some major heads roll in the Indian side? Hope so. The thinktank needs revamp. Even though the WC is just a year away, there is still time for us to salvage our WC prep efforts. With the current thinktank, it will be a miracle if India reach the semifinals of the WC (even a QF berth might be challenging).

Dhoni might not be the reason for all this, so maybe keep Dhoni as the captain of the side. But revamp the entire support staff, first with that of Fletcher. India's fielding and bowling have been terrible recently, so both Penney and Dawes need to get the sack.

 

[cricket_icon]

Didn't see the game but how good was Afridi's knock anyone? What a strike rate!

It was exceptional, he almost exclusively scored with 6s and changed the entire game, dropping the req rr from over 12 to under 10. Just spectacular, one of THE great ODI innings of recent years by anyone.

The last two games have bought what was once a dull tournament to life. Let's hope the final lives up to what has been done this week.

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With this humiliating defeat in subcontinental conditions, atleast now will some major heads roll in the Indian side? Hope so. The thinktank needs revamp. Even though the WC is just a year away, there is still time for us to salvage our WC prep efforts. With the current thinktank, it will be a miracle if India reach the semifinals of the WC (even a QF berth might be challenging).

Dhoni might not be the reason for all this, so maybe keep Dhoni as the captain of the side. But revamp the entire support staff, first with that of Fletcher. India's fielding and bowling have been terrible recently, so both Penney and Dawes need to get the sack.

I just don't think it's a back room problem, it's the very real issue of extremely weak bowling. Against good teams, in pressure situations and on flat pitches, if the Indian batsmen don't score 300 + they don't win because the bowling is just so...well, dire. I have rarely seen such an average bowling attack in my lineup.

 

[surendar]

Bangladesh blew it up really, all their hard works just in vain. They are really on the right ladder in climbing top though.

 

[SaiSrini]

It was exceptional, he almost exclusively scored with 6s and changed the entire game, dropping the req rr from over 12 to under 10. Just spectacular, one of THE great ODI innings of recent years by anyone.

The last two games have bought what was once a dull tournament to life. Let's hope the final lives up to what has been done this week.

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I just don't think it's a back room problem, it's the very real issue of extremely weak bowling. Against good teams, in pressure situations and on flat pitches, if the Indian batsmen don't score 300 + they don't win because the bowling is just so...well, dire. I have rarely seen such an average bowling attack in my lineup.

These guys were never bad bowlers to start with. They are just bowling bad right now, which makes me think that they are not being guided properly. Shami is a find, Kumar has been good for India in the short formats for quite sometime now, Jadeja and Ashwin have done well in ODI cricket for quite sometime. Something else is wrong!

 

[nightprowler10]

And that dropped catch of Afridi was also a big miss.

I don't think it was a huge drop tbh. Between the dropped catch and the runout, Afridi made 6 runs in 4 balls. He had slowed down anyway after the 50.

 

[IceAgeComing]

India won't radically change things until they lose to someone embarrassing, like Afghanistan, Ireland or England. Seriously, there are still people arguing that this Indian team are the best in the world; when away from home they're probably behind Australia, South Africa and possibly also Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand (I don't know much about the Sri Lankan team; probably will learn more this spring!). Like, they're probably better than the Windies are and if they played England they'd somehow collectively find a way to both lose, but because they play a bunch of tours against Bangladesh/Sri Lanka at home then it inflates the stats.

Explains why they're too scared to play Scotland this summer; despite the fact that the main touring team always seems to do it...

 

[ferg512]

Came on to bowl.

First ball, really wide outside the off stump, over Imrul Kayes' head and just held on to by Umar Akmal. No ball.

Second ball, right at Imrul's chest, pulled to mid wicket for a catch. No ball called for height. Single taken between the batsmen.

Third ball, another one at the chest - this time Anamul Haque's - pulled to mid wicket for four. Taken off the attack for the rest of the innings.

Figures: 0 overs, 0 maidens, 8 runs, 0 wickets. Economy rate - Infinity.

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Worst thing is he's a spinner.

I thought it was all a bit fishy tbh, and you can't blame people for thinking that.

 

[poojasinha]

This Asia Cup 2014 sponsored by Cycle Pure Agarbathies was fun. Till date, Sri Lanka has bagged most titles in Asia Cup series backed by Pakistan. I wouldn't be surprised if either of these teams arise victorious again. India's performance wasn't up to the mark; that's what I thought when I saw the previous matches. Waiting to see how well Afghanistan plays!

 

[asprin]

India won't radically change things until they lose to someone embarrassing, like Afghanistan, Ireland or England

Don't you think you're being a bit too harsh to include England along side Afghanistan and Ireland? I'm pretty sure England will win the series against India as they are still a very good side. Yes they had a horrible Ashes, but India's bowling is nowhere near the class of Australia's.

Also, England's bowling did trouble the Aussies on quite a few occasions only to be rescued by some solid rear guard action. That same level of bowling will definitely be potent against the Indian line up.

 

[Samuels]

This Asia Cup 2014 sponsored by Cycle Pure Agarbathies was fun.

Oh stop it you. Anyway, league matches are still on, as a formality at least, even for India.

Till date, Sri Lanka has bagged most titles in Asia Cup series backed by Pakistan. I wouldn't be surprised if either of these teams arise victorious again. India's performance wasn't up to the mark; that's what I thought when I saw the previous matches. Waiting to see how well Afghanistan plays!

Afghanistan did gave some torrid time in the middle when they last played against India but this time I think India will come all guns blazing since their reputation is at stake as they continue their poor Asia Cup record in recent times.

I would really love to see Pujara drafted in somehow for a Rayudu. I am of the opinion that Rayudu is not the same kind of batsmen he was a couple of years back and his best by date is just about over so he pretty much does not deserve to be in the team if he is not keeping wickets, something that he has not done for his domestic side, Baroda in a while now. On the other hand, Pujara is quite solid and at the same time he can hit a few boundaries to up the ante. I think he is unlucky for being labelled as the next Dravid. Yes, you have read it correct. By that I mean he is being thought to be only as a good Test match player like the case was with Dravid in his hey days but the truth is that Pujara does posses the ability to score runs quickly, albeit by scoring in fours by picking the gap than the slambang sixes style.