World Cup 2007 - Preview thread

[aussie_ben91]

Blessing in disguise. I'd take Haddin over White anyday. Haddin looks like a International batsman these days in domestic cricket. His a better finisher then White aswell.

I hope they try Watson batting at number 4 and someone like Clarke opening the innings & I hope they chose Tait in the starting XI aswell.

 

[genghis_khan]

Two great decisions i feel, we all knew Haddin would be in the squad once it became apparent Gilchrist would miss a few early games but still. And also Tait over Clark was good, i just don't think Clark can cut the mustard in limited overs and Tait is a genuine strike bowler who on his day can demolish the best batting lineups. I might've been inclined to choose White over Hodge for the no.5 spot because with no Symonds and now no White, the middle order has no imposing big-hitters.

 

[aussie1st]

Yea I wouldn't have minded White over Hodge for those reason mentioned. But obviously never going to happen given he didn't get the no 5 spot over Hodge.

 

[IloveGilly]

Still heaps of media attention on Clark factor even though he's not cut for ODIs. Hodge in that middle order doesn't incline any choice of big hitters but with his form we know that he will perform.

 

[aussie_ben91]

Hugely overrated is the statement that Clark was really really really unlucky not to be selected. They keep going on about his 10fer and forget that his bowling got taken to the cleaners in the List-A game by Luke Ronchi. Clark would probably struggle to make the top 10 OD bowlers in Australia at the moment.

I'd consider Hussey a big hitter when required. He outshined White's hitting in Perth when NZ almost chased us down and has made 90 odd off 50 balls acouple of times before. If you wanted to go to an extent you could throw Gilchrist down there. They might be bringing White up if Symonds isn't right anyway.

 

[Dare]

well Pakistan have announced their 15 man squad and there are 3 players that might not even be ready for the world cup. Shoaib is in London getting his knees checked out, Gul is recovering from a injury and Asif is having troubles with his elbow. And some "experts" are saying that Asif and Akhtar might fail another doping test. Also Kaneria is included, Imran Nazir and Afridi are also included. Pakistan include Iftikhar Anjum and yet they didn't even give him a chance in the ODIs against SAF.

http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/wc2007/content/current/story/280181.html

Pakistan Squad: 1 Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), 2 Younis Khan (vice-captain), 3 Mohammad Hafeez, 4 Imran Nazir, 5 Mohammad Yousuf, 6 Shoaib Malik, 7 Abdul Razzaq, 8 Shahid Afridi, 9 Kamran Akmal, 10 Shoaib Akhtar, 11 Mohammad Asif, 12 Umar Gul, 13 Danish Kaneria 14 Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, 15 Rao Iftikhar Anjum

Suprised with Kaneria being included but a good spinner might be needed as the conditions in the Caribbean are mostly spin friendly.

 

[usy]

Pakistan include Iftikhar Anjum and yet they didn't even give him a chance in the ODIs against SAF.


Suprised with Kaneria being included but a good spinner might be needed as the conditions in the Caribbean are mostly spin friendly.

Well cricinfo says he is called for the last ODI in South Africa.

And yeh I think Kaneria should be given a chance in ODI's, pritty decent with the ball, as not so good at field.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Bangladesh dropped Mashud! How could they! Not only are they without one of their most experienced players, but now youngsters Rahim has the pressure of keeping wicket and scoring runs, and there is no backup keeper!

 

[SaiSrini]

Indian Squad announced: 1 Rahul Dravid (capt), 2 Sourav Ganguly, 3 Robin Uthappa, 4 Sachin Tendulkar, 5 Virender Sehwag, 6 Yuvraj Singh, 7 Mahendra Singh Dhoni, 8 Dinesh Karthik, 9 Irfan Pathan, 10 Ajit Agarkar, 11 Harbhajan Singh, 12 Anil Kumble, 13 Zaheer Khan, 14 Sreesanth, 15 Munaf Patel.

Sehwag again. Raina dropped :/, Kaif not even given a good chance to prove his worth before the cup.
They save at least 30 runs a match each, at least add that to their batting account?
Terrible, really. And now we have Sehwag's bad starts and "hopefuls".
Everything else looks alright. My team:
Tendulkar
Ganguly
Dhoni
Dravid
Yuvi
Sehwag
Karthick
Irfan/Kumble
Bhajji
Sree
Munna

A very good team, but for one. I would have had either Kaif or Raina in (but for dont know who). In a team of slow movers, Kaif or Raina add more of that electric mix to the fielding. They can get in just based on their fielding.

This is seriously a very good team for the World Cup. All are proven performers, with some of the young guys also in the mix to provide that surprise option. This team has the potential to perform well in the World Cup. Also to their advantage, they know the conditions better than many other teams, from the experience of having toured there within the last year!

Dravid, Ganguly, Tendulkar and Kumble - almost 99% gonna be their last World Cups. This is the fifth world cup for Sachin. He badly needs a world cup win to sign off an absolutely smashing career. Hope he gets it here in 2007! who thought ganguly would be there in the world cup squad? he too needs to sign off with a world cup win... a fantastic determined character of a person!

 

[aussie1st]

Hugely overrated is the statement that Clark was really really really unlucky not to be selected. They keep going on about his 10fer and forget that his bowling got taken to the cleaners in the List-A game by Luke Ronchi. Clark would probably struggle to make the top 10 OD bowlers in Australia at the moment.

Yea I don't get why the media is saying he was unlucky. The selectors clearly saw the light in the fact they don't see him as being good enough to bowl in the ODI arena why hasn't the media? When you are going at 5 an over and you are meant to be a McGrath clone you have got problems.

 

[Adarsh]

I'm fairly satisfied with the Indian team, except for the fact that Kumble is playing. I can see why he came back into the Indian ODI team, but he didn't come in based on his performances did he? Ramesh Powar would have been a much better option. He is capable of taking wickets, while Kumble nowadays does only a containing job in the ODIs, and is a better batsman and his fielding is as good (if not better) as Kumble.

 

[IloveGilly]

It does seem like Kumble isn't as attacking as he was before but with his career near end, he may come up with something.

 

[Justcrazy]

Guys I think Bangaldesh will win the world cup becuase they're very dangerous team in the whole world.

 

[Leicester Fox]

Bangladesh won't make the super 8's being in the 2nd strongest group with India and Sri Lanka

 

[Cricketman]

Dravid, Ganguly, Tendulkar and Kumble - almost 99% gonna be their last World Cups. This is the fifth world cup for Sachin. He badly needs a world cup win to sign off an absolutely smashing career. Hope he gets it here in 2007! who thought ganguly would be there in the world cup squad? he too needs to sign off with a world cup win... a fantastic determined character of a person!

Ganguly, last year during the big conflict with Chappell, said during an interview that he is going play for 2 more cups. Hard to belive though.
But still they aren't that old. Tendulkar, I agree is tiring out after 17+ years of cricket, but when people like Jayasuria are playing at 37 why can't Dravid, Tendulkar, and Ganguly? He's still fantastic!
Kumble, last World Cup for sure. I think he may still play tests for a bit but forget about the ODI scene.

Guys I think Bangaldesh will win the world cup becuase they're very dangerous team in the whole world.

I can understand why your username is "Justcrazy".