ICC World Cup Group Game 23: England v Kenya @ Gros Islet (Sat/Sun)

[Russian]

http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/6052/cwcnh4.gif
http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/330/engxb8.gif vs http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/6584/kenyy8.gif
Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia
12:30am AEDT Sunday March 25

Simple equation here – winner goes to Guyana to meet the hosts for their first super eight points, loser goes home. England are favourites and rightly so, but Kenya are not without a chance of advancing to their second super stage in succession, and sending the Poms home after the group stage for the third World Cup in a row.

The English top order made some runs against Canada, but it was only some hitting from the middle and lower order that made up for their poor strike rates to keep them in contention for the next stage. Andrew Flintoff will return here, but Bopara was good against Canada and it may be Dalrymple who has to make way. Alternatively Strauss or Lewis could come in for one of the all rounders, now not as important with the return of Pietersen as an extra bowling option for Michael Vaughan.

Collins Obuya is claiming to be ready to return to the bowling crease, and against a team notoriously poor at playing leg spin this may be his opportunity to take his side into the super eights, as he did in South Africa. The other three spinners in the side – Kamande, Varaiya and Tikolo were nowhere near as effective against the Kiwis as they had been against Canada, managing only 1/146 from 22 overs after taking 5/78 in 29 against the minnows. The pacemen were similarly ineffective against the Kiwis, with Onyango copping the most punishment after replacing Odhiambo. The remaining bowling options are Tony Suji and Rajesh Bhudia, who they may use should they decide to go with one less spinner and/or change the third quick again, however an unchanged side is the most likely option.

England XV: Ed Joyce, *Michael Vaughan, Ian Bell, Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Ravi Bopara, Jamie Dalrymple, Paul Nixon, Liam Plunkett, Sajid Mahmood, Jon Lewis, James Anderson, Monty Panesar

Kenya XV: +Maurice Ouma, David Obuya, Ravi Shah, *Steve Tikolo, Tanmay Mishra, Collins Obuya, Thomas Odoyo, Jimmy Kamande, Nehemiah Odhiambo, Tony Suji, Malhar Patel, Rajesh Bhudia (international debut), Lameck Onyango, Peter Ongondo, Hiren Varaiya

Umpires: Rudi Koertzen (South Africa), Peter Parker (Australia), Billy Doctrove (3rd, Dominican Republic)

Weather:
Chance of showers, 28 degrees

Coverage:
http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/7499/fs1af0.gif – live from 12:15am AEDT
and Cricinfo (http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/247479.html)’s ball by ball text commentary

Session Times:
First innings: 12:30-4:00am
Second innings: 4:45-8:15am

Betting:
England - $1.07
Kenya - $7.50
England Most Runs
Pietersen - $3.75
Vaughan - $4.50
Joyce - $4.50
Bell - $4.50
Strauss - $7
Collingwood - $7
Flintoff - $8
Bopara - $13
Dalrymple - $21
Nixon - $34
Plunkett - $81
Mahmood - $81
Lewis - $101
Anderson - $251
Panesar - $251
Kenya Most Runs
Tikolo - $4
Shah - $5
D Obuya - $5.50
Mishra - $5.50
Ouma - $6
Odoyo - $8
Patel - $9
C Obuya - $11
Suji - $13
Odhiambo - $21
Kamande - $26
Bhudia - $51
Varaiya - $67
Onyango - $67
Ongondo - $81
http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/2811/tabln1.gif

[Grimwood]

The malaise surrounding the England team at the moment is quite something. I didn't ever think the CB series victory would lead on to a world cup victory but I'd at least hoped that it would let us hit the ground running when we landed in the West Indies.

For example, Ed Joyce's batting may not yet have been proven against true international attacks but after his excellent form for Ireland against the minnows you'd at least have expected him to lash out against Canada. Instead he looks half the player who takes the field for Middlesex. Sure he wasn't totally convincing in Australia but he at least looked like he was making some progess.

Then there's Jimmy Anderson, he may have his critics but before he flew home from Australia last month he was in top form, bowling 140kph+ with late swing and troubling most batsmen, now he's struggling with his lengths and toiling to get into the 130s.

Save us Ravi Bo! You're our only hope!

[ShearMagic9]

$7 for Collingwood is good value

[Mr P@H]

Is Jimmy's broken fingers affecting him? If so is it worth bringing in Saj? I know he goes round the park but he does bowl with very good pace which the Kenyans are not used to facing and has the ability to produce a jaffa once in every 80 balls or so.

[eddiesmith]

Is Jimmy's broken fingers affecting him? If so is it worth bringing in Saj? I know he goes round the park but he does bowl with very good pace which the Kenyans are not used to facing and has the ability to produce a jaffa once in every 80 balls or so.
Yes but he only gets a maximum 60 and usually taken off after 30 ;) :p

I dont think we need any Aussies to post with their predictions, we know what they think

[Betfair Punter]

if you had ask me this in the middle of january, i would have said kenya easily. i still reckon at $9.20 kenya is the value bet here as you never know which kenya will turn up.

[Betfair Punter]

i meant you never know which england side will turn up

[ShearMagic9]

i meant you never know which england side will turn up

Did you know you can edit your posts?

[Betfair Punter]

Ok am over yesterdays dissapointment http://site.forum.betfair.com/jive3/betex/images/emoticons/happy.gif

Todays games much easier to call http://site.forum.betfair.com/jive3/betex/images/emoticons/happy.gif

Aussies will muller the saffers bowling that has avoided meeting up with a side that bats all the way down..... i know i been wrong about india and pak... but my nap that saffers wont make semis still applies http://site.forum.betfair.com/jive3/betex/images/emoticons/happy.gif ....... aussies to score over 300 if they bat first...... or chase up anything the saffers post..... saffers pace bowling really is that bad...... take the 1.70 on aussies... its an AMAZING price http://site.forum.betfair.com/jive3/betex/images/emoticons/happy.gif

England should beat kenya...but it wont be an easy win...if they do win.

Take the 9.4 on kenya http://site.forum.betfair.com/jive3/betex/images/emoticons/shocked.gif ........ this will be a VERY VERY close game..... could go either way going into latter stages..... i am looking forward to levveling off the 9.4 at sub evens http://site.forum.betfair.com/jive3/betex/images/emoticons/shocked.gif

Good luck all.

[Romeo]

Start delayed due to rain.

[eddiesmith]

More wonderful work by the West Indies :rolleyes:

[Betfair Punter]

If England's game is shortened does that help Kenya?


Surely if england lose overs that must help kenya. England $1.10 not for me.

[Grimwood]

I thought this were bein' played in t'Windies not at 'Eadinly.

[eddiesmith]

I thought this were bein' played in t'Windies not at 'Eadinly.
If this was at 'Eadingly then chances are there might have actually been a super sopper available instead of requiring buckets :rolleyes:

[Mr P@H]

If this was at 'Eadingly then chances are there might have actually been a super sopper available instead of requiring buckets :rolleyes:

Very true... however it is tipping it down atm...

[Romeo]

Game reduced to 46 overs.

[Mr P@H]

Game reduced to 46 overs.

That's if they get on at 3pm GMT...

[Wolfpac]

Is it still raining? The way its going there might be 2 matches on tomorrow.

[Mr P@H]

1530 GMT today they reckon the game will start not, 43-45 overs a side.

[eddiesmith]

Is it still raining? The way its going there might be 2 matches on tomorrow.
I think it has stopped raining and did a while ago but they have to clean up the ground with buckets and towels :rolleyes:

[Romeo]

Looks like it will be a 43 over match.

[usalion]

Looks like it will be a 43 over match.

It will- the drunken Flintoff is back in the team, as is Mahmood- for Plunkett and Dalrymple

[Grimwood]

Mahmood

I presume we'll hear something along the lines of.. "We felt Sajid looked good in the nets". Followed by the opening of a brand new pie and pasty shop in St Lucia.

[Mr P@H]

You're being a little harsh, he can go for some runs but he has pace and one feels this is what England lacked against Canada to finish them off, Kenyans will not be used to ninety mile an hour bowlers so hopefully it comes off for us.

[eddiesmith]

Jackass Jamie DROPPED!!!!!!!!!!!!! There is a GOD! :D

[mcphee_is_a_gun]

why was Plunkett dropped?

[Romeo]

Kenya elect to bat first.

[eddiesmith]

Great bowling by Jimmy Anderson

[RoosterLad]

fire up Kenya

[Mr P@H]

We actually bowled a team out, makes a change, got that 5th wicket before they add a 100 partnership.

[likka]

Poms are home in a canter.

3/155 chasing 177.

[ShearMagic9]

Must admit I was worried about this game.

Good to win, but it will be very very hard for us to progress from here.

[Mr P@H]

For the English fans, i believe this is our schedule for 8's.

March
Friday 30th, Ireland, Guyana

April
Wed 4th, Sri Lanka, Antigua

Sun 8th, Australia, Antigua

Wed 11th, Bangladesh/India, Barbados

Tue 17th, South Africa, Barbados

Sat 21st, West Indies, Barbados

[ShearMagic9]

I cant see us progressing to be honest.

You would think we'd have to win AT LEAST 4 of those 6 and maybe even 5 of those 6.

[Mr P@H]

We've got to beat Ireland, SL and Bangladesh/India to stand a chance first of all, then we go to Barbados with the big game against the Windies with a massive crowd behind them and i don't think we have a chance.

[mcphee_is_a_gun]

****en bout time Pieterson did something, he was looking at being axed by me.

[ShearMagic9]

****en bout time Pieterson did something, he was looking at being axed by me.

He got 60 in the first game :rolleyes:

[mcphee_is_a_gun]

He got 60 in the first game :rolleyes:

So he did, but you need more to stay in my dreamteam esspecially when your a pom :p :D ;)

[RoosterLad]

S/R was weak

[ShearMagic9]

HAHAHAHA gotta find something to criticise him for.

If he had have played a stupid shot and got out you would have a go too, he cant win when it comes to you.

We were chasing a total, he made sure that we got there. What more can you ask for? (rhetorical question)

[eddiesmith]

Cant even say a good win by England without it being deleted?

On the positives it was good to see our next captain play another superb all round game :thumbsu: Bring on the Irish! :D