ICC Cricket World Cup - May/July 2019

[NILAYSHAH60]

I think it does. Because when you are claiming yourself to be a dominant side then you don't go out there to play mind games with opposition. You have to be 100% in what you do. Keeping Kuldeep out just for the sake that England doesn't pick him doesn't sound logical to me. The reason why England faltered to Kuldeep Yadav at Trent Bridge was that they were looking to hit every ball out of the park just for the sake of scoring 350+ and that cost them but at Lord's and Headingly England realised the fact that you can't always swing the bat as strike rotation is equally important and that is why Kuldeep was played in a better way by them. It was nothing to do with them picking Kuldeep or not. And in that series we neither had Bhuvi, nor Bumrah, nor Shami. We had run-machine legend Mr.Umesh Yadav to let off the pressure of England along with an inexperienced Siddharth Kaul so pressure was already released when these 2 bowled so that is why they did not feel the heat while facing Kuldeep Yadav. I am banking on it Kuldeep Yadav will play both matches(if we are to face England in knockouts) and he would still trouble them !!!

Just take a note of this post of mine when it actually happens

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Just wanted to make a point on Andre Russell. We all know he is not 100% and playing with some discomfort in his knees. I know West Indies wanted him to play in this WC because of the impact player he is and the great form he was in coming into the tournament. However for future, If I am in charge of WICB, I am telling him to go and get 100% fit. Until you don't achieve that 100% fitness level or even 90%, you are not playing anywhere. Not for WI, not for Jamaica and certainly not for any T20 leagues around the world. If you have to compensate him for that, do it. I know the WICB is not that strong financially but at least compensate him with something that both party can agree on just because he is a world class player when he is on the ground. Russel himself also needs to realize that if he wants prolong his career, he has to take a step back when he is injured. I know that playing in these T20 leagues is his livelihood since he hasn't played for WI a lot in the past few years but he has to work on his fitness. I remember him playing with an injury throughout this IPL as well. Not only he was playing with a knee injury but he also had some discomfort in his wrist as well. So even though money being offered to him is very tempting for any individual in his position, he has to put his body first in these kinds of situations where he seriously needs help with his body. So far what I have seen in this WC is him breaking down after bowling 2 overs in a row. Same thing happened today and I know he has come back now but it just doesn't help especially when you are so important to your team.

I'm not a fan of the chest out WI cricketers and never will be but I'll bite and defend AR here.

First of all, Russell cannot be told by the Windies board where he can or cannot play. Most of these T20 superstars are freelancers and the reason why so much of WI cricket has been in turmoil is because the board has tried to tell it's cricketers what to do without being able to financially support them. Forget compensating them for the money they would lose if they had to skip a league, they can't even pay their players for their central contracts. It's just a bad situation for any board and a worrying one for world cricket.

Secondly, I think some cricketers are just injury prone. My mind is immediately reminded of Watson from Australia, Mortaza from Bangladesh, Akhtar from Pakistan etc. etc. West Indies are not in a position like the big three where a gun cricketer can immediately be replaced by a like for like bloke. Any country by the way would struggle to find a Russell because of the insanity he can raise with the bat.

Third, Russell was out for a year and was injured before and after that. He's just cut out like that. A lot of players play with injuries through their careers.

I think the problem is that WI have gone in with a poor attack this game. I keep saying repeatedly that playing just 5 bowlers is a massive gamble in limited overs now. Sides inevitably pick on someone and that ends up being a headache for the captain. You have to have 6 blokes who can bowl 10 overs. Russell should have been treated as a 4-5 overs bowler for shock value and made to bat at 6.

P.S- Russell also has a bit of "prima donna drama queen" about him. His behaviour right through the IPL was proof of this, but he's a marquee player and a maverick so you have to put up with the tantrums.

 

[abhi_jacko]

I am all for giving some leeway to prima donnas and difficult characters who compensate with their talent. But the case of Dr. Dre Russ is getting really ridiculous. He has just walked out onto the field LIMPING.

I have immense respect for players who fight for their team despite severe injuries to try and save or win a game. Be it Greame Smith or Anil Kumble or Watson etc. But if you are going to break down every bloody game then that's not heroic but plain stupid. No one is indispensable and no one should be bigger than the team. Ideally. And its not like he has set the stage on fire here at the world cup. Infact his irresponsible performances with the bat have only triggered collapses for his team from winning positions

 

[SaiSrini]

For the sake of the tournament, 2 among Pakistan-Bangladesh-West Indies-South Africa should give a serious shot for the knockouts. Right now, the table is just separating away with India/England/Australia/New Zealand in prime contention for the semis.

Bangladesh look very good here to win this. Hope they are one of those sides who can challenge hard for a semis spot.

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

Now that the Pakistan fever is done and dusted, forget about England, I am scared playing against an in form Bangladesh as right now. Shakib Al Hasan THE BEST ALL ROUNDER after KALLIS. No questions about that, if people think it other wise should take a look down at themselves.

 

[aditya123]

For the sake of the tournament, 2 among Pakistan-Bangladesh-West Indies-South Africa should give a serious shot for the knockouts. Right now, the table is just separating away with India/England/Australia/New Zealand in prime contention for the semis.

Bangladesh look very good here to win this. Hope they are one of those sides who can challenge hard for a semis spot.

NZ are not really through. They have all their tough games left to play. I can very easily see them losing to NZ and Australia. Still a lot of work left for them to do for them.

 

[SaiSrini]

I think it does. Because when you are claiming yourself to be a dominant side then you don't go out there to play mind games with opposition. You have to be 100% in what you do. Keeping Kuldeep out just for the sake that England doesn't pick him doesn't sound logical to me. The reason why England faltered to Kuldeep Yadav at Trent Bridge was that they were looking to hit every ball out of the park just for the sake of scoring 350+ and that cost them but at Lord's and Headingly England realised the fact that you can't always swing the bat as strike rotation is equally important and that is why Kuldeep was played in a better way by them. It was nothing to do with them picking Kuldeep or not. And in that series we neither had Bhuvi, nor Bumrah, nor Shami. We had run-machine legend Mr.Umesh Yadav to let off the pressure of England along with an inexperienced Siddharth Kaul so pressure was already released when these 2 bowled so that is why they did not feel the heat while facing Kuldeep Yadav. I am banking on it Kuldeep Yadav will play both matches(if we are to face England in knockouts) and he would still trouble them !!!

It is not a 'mind game'. It is called 'picking your side based on the strengths/weakness of opposition'. It is actually part of being a top/dominant side because they pick combinations based on conditions and opposition. Just like how we pick off spinner if there are too many left handers in the opposition or a left arm spinner if there are mostly right handers in the opposition.

We are still not sure about the status of Bhuvi for the England league game. And Shami hasn't yet started his World Cup and is half his best when the pitch/conditions are great for batting. And Vijay Shankar/Hardik Pandya can be that run leaking machines when conditions don't aid them. That's why my view point is that Kuldeep can be kept away from England and not let them have a chance of playing him in a league match when his impact can be greater in a knockout.

I am not going to pin this post so that I can come back to it and say "I said so". At the end of the day, I want India to beat England and move forward towards the title.

NZ are not really through. They have all their tough games left to play. I can very easily see them losing to NZ and Australia. Still a lot of work left for them to do for them.

You meant 'England and Australia'?

 

[WubbaLubbaDubDub]

Required run rate under 5 and this is how you chase a total if you are any other team except India. Bring on your A game very early on, put pressure and dont just defend. If Bangladesh loose this match, they really should think hard how close they were in 2 occasions. Going to repeat it again SHAKIB AL HASAN IS THE BEST ALL ROUNDER IN CURRENT LOT.

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

I am not going to pin this post so that I can come back to it and say "I said so". At the end of the day, I want India to beat England and move forward towards the title.

There are few people who are unnecessary critical towards me. That is why I asked so. So that they can find an excuse to prove me wrong. This post is actually what I expected from you. That is why you are respected over here. Just would want to see others follow this sort of thing in future. It's still their wish though. And my previous posts weren't aimed with an intention to criticize your point. I just had my opinion to it

 

[Master Khan]

3 sixes in a row by Litton Das, I thought I was going to see six sixes .
this is how you chase a big total, so far it's looking great for Bangladesh.
Shakib have become a different player now, I heard he had trained so hard for this world cup, well done to him.

 

[Bevab]

3 sixes in a row by Litton Das, I thought I was going to see six sixes .
this is how you chase a big total, so far it's looking great for Bangladesh.
Shakib have become a different player now, I heard he had trained so hard for this world cup, well done to him.

• The older Bangladeshi side would have had him going for six sixes instead of showing zero attempt to even try for it after the wide yorker. Shakib’s muted 100 celebration was another sign of maturity too. Just shows clinical and mature this side has become over the years. Mortaza’s biggest legacy to Bangladeshi cricket might be the way he’s kept his team so calm and composed under most circumstances. Wouldn’t be surprised if he follows in the footsteps of Imran Khan and becomes the PM of his country.

• Shakib finally seems to have realized that handling more responsibilities means you only improve as a player and I’m glad to see him reap the rewards. Playing him at 3 has to be a masterstroke and to be playing at nearly a strike rate approaching 100 in every game is outstanding stuff from Shakib.

• If Mahmudullah isn’t going to bowl due to his finger injury, he should be batting higher up the order IMO. He’s another player who can bat really well and is being wasted down the order as an emergency firefighter in cases of collapses when he could do so much more. It’s tough to dislodge Liton Das after his spectacular performance today but this is something that the Tigers must definitely try in the future.
• Tamim seems to be back in good touch too, was unfortunate today with his runout. Iqbal on form is a crucial factor that could be decisive versus one of the bigger teams.
• Sarkar really frustrates me. He looks so good with his shots and aggressive strokeplay in the powerplay, but gets out just before he makes a significant contribution to the team. Hoping that he learns from Iqbal who himself was a stylish opener early in his career who failed to be consistent.

 

[Master Khan]

Bangladesh made 322 look easy to chase, even if West Indies scored 400 Bangladesh would have chase it down.

 

[Aalay]

I'm not a fan of the chest out WI cricketers and never will be but I'll bite and defend AR here.

First of all, Russell cannot be told by the Windies board where he can or cannot play. Most of these T20 superstars are freelancers and the reason why so much of WI cricket has been in turmoil is because the board has tried to tell it's cricketers what to do without being able to financially support them. Forget compensating them for the money they would lose if they had to skip a league, they can't even pay their players for their central contracts. It's just a bad situation for any board and a worrying one for world cricket.

I am not saying they should impose the decision on Russell. However, they can certainly tell him based on what we are seeing right now that he has to do something about his body because he won't be able to survive for long if he keeps on playing with injuries like this. I think they can certainly can suggest him what to do as long as he is committed to play for WI. WICB is under new president now and he certainly have got more trust form players than the previous president. So I don't think there is anything wrong in telling him about this as long as it's done in a manner in which Russell clearly gets the message that they are doing this to prolong his career and not to deny him to play anywhere apart from WI.

I can understand the part about injury prone players but right now it just seems like WI are going with only 10 players because they just don't know if Russell will make it through the game or not without breaking down. That is just embarrassing.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

I am not saying they should impose the decision on Russell. However, they can certainly tell him based on what we are seeing right now that he has to do something about his body because he won't be able to survive for long if he keeps on playing with injuries like this. I think they can certainly can suggest him what to do as long as he is committed to play for WI. WICB is under new president now and he certainly have got more trust form players than the previous president. So I don't think there is anything wrong in telling him about this as long as it's done in a manner in which Russell clearly gets the message that they are doing this to prolong his career and not to deny him to play anywhere apart from WI.

I can understand the part about injury prone players but right now it just seems like WI are going with only 10 players because they just don't know if Russell will make it through the game or not without breaking down. That is just embarrassing.

You are not getting it. The WICB is not the BCCI. Let's say the board tells him that and without being cynical I know Russell will probably say "Fine, pay me what the leagues pay me and you have a deal." The WICB can't do that for reasons we all know.

Russell doesn't play test match cricket and we see him in maroon and gold whenever an ICC tournament surfaces. I think this should not be frowned upon and should actually be a template for WI cricket. Who gives a damn about these pathetic bilateral series anyway?

I actually think that West Indies have finally hit the sweet spot with their cricketers. The absolute huge superstars come back for ICC events and in the meantime they develop more talent in bilateral series. The test squad has a few from the current WC squad but no one is a hit in the T20 leagues and I think WI are a decent to good test side now as well.

It's easy to say that the board should do this and that but the buck stops at "How much can you pay me?" and it's meaningless to have any debate or argument without this criteria. More than West Indies, I think a country that really need reforms are SA. If you just pause and look at the blokes that are playing these leagues or Kolpak contracts, I assure you half the squad that has gone to the World Cup would be nowhere near the international side in a meaningless bilateral series, let alone a World Cup.

 

[Velocity]

For the sake of the tournament, 2 among Pakistan-Bangladesh-West Indies-South Africa should give a serious shot for the knockouts. Right now, the table is just separating away with India/England/Australia/New Zealand in prime contention for the semis.

Bangladesh look very good here to win this. Hope they are one of those sides who can challenge hard for a semis spot.

That table separation will definitely change as now New Zealand will have to face the likes of Australia and England that are teams not easy to beat. Who knows, even SA or WI could spring a surprise against the Kiwis. NZ are in a good position but they will have to win the majority of their few matches to be in contention of the top 4.

Currently, Bangladesh is in red hit form. They're probably the most likely to challenge that top 4 spot from that list of four teams vying for one spot. WI has pretty low chances of making it IMO, something has happened to them after that close game against the Aussies and they got shot down in their last two games. Pakistan always has a slight chance due to their unpredictability factor. This will likely come down to how Bangladesh/Pakistan fare against the rest of their opponents and whether or not one of the top 4 suddenly lose steam towards the back end of the tournament.