ICC Cricket World Cup - May/July 2019

[aditya123]

I don`t know why but I feel no pressure as an Indian fan this World Cup. I don`t really feel for this side and just want the tournament to be good, regardless of who wins. My emotional attachment to this side is at an all-time low. In fact, it does`nt even feel like a WC is a day away. In general, our side is overrated and seems out of depth. Cannot see them winning this tournament.

 

[Alexei.]

Pakistan are on a wobbly slope but they are a team capable of losing a hundred games on the trot and then winning a World Cup.

True.
Blundell scored a hundred, Wow.
Gonna miss BMac, de Villiers and Watson this year

 

[LiveLoveABD]

True.
Blundell scored a hundred, Wow.
Gonna miss BMac, de Villiers and Watson this year

Thank you for ruining my mood.

 

[SaiSrini]

I don`t know why but I feel no pressure as an Indian fan this World Cup. I don`t really feel for this side and just want the tournament to be good, regardless of who wins. My emotional attachment to this side is at an all-time low. In fact, it does`nt even feel like a WC is a day away. In general, our side is overrated and seems out of depth. Cannot see them winning this tournament.

Welcome back Adi!

I find it surprising that you feel India is out of depth. Yes I can see where you are coming from with regards to that "loss of emotional attachment" But TBH in terms of depth, we are probably almost right up there with the favorites (England). The variety we have in the bowling with every seamer and spinner worthy of featuring in the final XI and with our batting humming as good as ever, I can't see how we can be considered "out of depth".

I think this will be a fabulous World Cup. England & India are slightly ahead of the others, but they are very much beatable and while either getting eliminated will be improbable, it certainly won't be a shock. The competition between all the teams is riveting. I am most pleased to see the progress of West Indies. Cricket is much much richer with them in the mix considering the brand of cricket they play.

I think we are in for a cracker of a World Cup provided rain doesn't play spoil sport. At this juncture, I consider Sri Lanka to be the only team completely out of their depth. Pakistan are on a wobbly slope but they are a team capable of losing a hundred games on the trot and then winning a World Cup. So, their performance will depend a lot on which side of the bed they choose to wake up from.

+100

I just hope every match in the main tournament is not a flat batting beauty. If there is a good mix of pitches with most tilting towards good batting surfaces, it will be one heck of a tournament. Though ICC's decision to tone down the teams was criticized, I think it is what will lead to a fiercely contested tournament. And also as a crackling bonus, they reverted back to the '92 format of a round robin league phase where everyone plays everyone for one game. That leads to "no easy or tough pools" and nothing is left to destiny.

 

[aditya123]

Welcome back Adi!

I find it surprising that you feel India is out of depth. Yes I can see where you are coming from with regards to that "loss of emotional attachment" But TBH in terms of depth, we are probably almost right up there with the favorites (England). The variety we have in the bowling with every seamer and spinner worthy of featuring in the final XI and with our batting humming as good as ever, I can't see how we can be considered "out of depth".

Out of depth in terms of the kind of cricket that is being played these days. I really don`t see us challenging 330+ scores regularly. I`d be happy to be proven wrong but I cannot really see that happening very often.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Out of depth in terms of the kind of cricket that is being played these days. I really don`t see us challenging 330+ scores regularly. I`d be happy to be proven wrong but I cannot really see that happening very often.

I think you will start enjoying the tournament more mid way. I think it's the same with me. Personally, I really loathe 400 a side games. I think 300 par is my kind of game. I don't enjoy smack bang wallop unless it's T20. Even there, I love 170-180 games.

I think the ICC for a change has done a good job in making the wickets a little less batter friendly compared to what the ECB had prepared for the last 4 years but it's still not enough. I am still very worried about the rain. I don't want to see teams being knocked out because of it although I'm sure South Africa will try.

 

[Aalay]

In general, our side is overrated and seems out of depth. Cannot see them winning this tournament.

My Final 11:

Rohit
Dhawan
Kohli
Rahul
MSD
Jadhav
Hardik
Kuldeep
Chahal
Shami/Bhuvi
Bumrah

Our openers aren't in that good of a touch. They have been the main reason why India have done so well in last 2 ICC events in England. Hopefully they find their touch quickly and we can have those solid opening partnerships that we are so used to watching. KL Rahul has sealed that number 4 spot with the inning that he played today. Shankar has been very iffy since the day he was announced in the WC squad. If Jadhav is not fit, they can either play Jadeja or Shankar depending on the conditions. However, if Jadhav is fit, he will be in my line-up straight away. I would keep trust in the wrist-spinners. They are the ones who have been a major factor in why India's middle over bowling has improved so much since CT 2017. I will definitely start with them over Jadeja and then see how they fare in opening few matches. I am not sure who the team management will go for out of Shami and Bhuvi. Playing Shami on flat tracks can be a bit risky since he doesn't have that many variations.

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

Out of depth in terms of the kind of cricket that is being played these days. I really don`t see us challenging 330+ scores regularly. I`d be happy to be proven wrong but I cannot really see that happening very often.

Adi, brother I don't think that you need to stress out on the fact of not scoring 330+. Scoring 330+ is not important but rather dismissing the sides is more important. Even your favourite player Mr. Rahul Sharad Dravid (yeah I know India comes first to you but even he is your favourite player right ?) said bowling will play a huge role this WC and has called Indian team as one of the favourites. And I can ensure you that India would be scoring 330+ with ease in this tournament. Just let it start for once, I am sure you would feel better once the tournament starts.

A bit off-topic

How's your Podcast going ?
It's fun listening to them

 

[CerealKiller]

All the captains with Queen Elizabeth.
Kudos to Sarfraz for wearing shalwar kameez

 

[Alexei.]

Fun fact : Afghanistan is the only country among these 10 which was never ruled by the British Empire

Afghanistan became a British protectorate after they were defeated in the Second Anglo-Afghan War. The First Anglo-Afghan War (1839–1842) led to the British force taking and occupying Kabul.

 

[CerealKiller]

Afghanistan became a British protectorate after they were defeated in the Second Anglo-Afghan War. The First Anglo-Afghan War (1839–1842) led to the British force taking and occupying Kabul.

 

[Bigby Wolf]

Play Bold . RCB reference got me lol.

 

[SaiSrini]

Found this on Twitter. Even though this is photoshopped (not official or original), I just love the way this looks. Hope India's away jersey in this WC (if true) looks somewhat closer to this. I'd get more orange even on the pants.

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

Found this on Twitter. Even though this is photoshopped (not official or original), I just love the way this looks. Hope India's away jersey in this WC (if true) looks somewhat closer to this. I'd get more orange even on the pants.

I don't like the color combination. Instead they should've used navy blue with yellow and shouldn't have used those lines on the waist

 

[abhi_jacko]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_...du-plessis-sex-south-africa-world-cup-chances By Osman Samiuddin at The Oval

Faf du Plessis is sexy as hell. Try and deny it. If that's a bit too in your face, let's put this another way: he's the kind of guy some of us want to be like and the kind of guy some of us want to be with.

What kind of an intro is this for a cricket based article Someone's crushing big time