Favourites from here

[KiwiRoo]

Why have Australia gone to NZ in both world cups? Surely if they want to maximise audience it makes sense to play the game at MCG.

Most of the Audience is watching on the TV so does attendance numbers matter so much ?. besides as co host you think we'd be allowed a few big games

 

[RohitSharma]

India vs Bangladesh = #bleedblue Team India
Chokers vs SL = Srilanka
Aus vs paK = Pakistan
West Indies vs NZ = Kiwis

Team India vs Pakistan = India
Kiwis vs Srilanka = Srilanka

Srilnka vs India = India (World Champions again)

 

[fishardansin]

India vs Bangladesh = #bleedblue Team India
Chokers vs SL = Srilanka
Aus vs paK = Pakistan
West Indies vs NZ = Kiwis

Team India vs Pakistan = India
Kiwis vs Srilanka = Srilanka

Srilnka vs India = India (World Champions again)

Australia will beat Pakistan and India.

 

[RohitSharma]

Australia will beat Pakistan and India.

We have the mental edge over Aussies, we kicked them out last semis, will be fresh in the minds of Clarke, Johnson, Haddin, Watson etc.

 

[HTPunter]

That's ridiculous! NZ haven't been shown any favouritism at all. India , Australia and England are the ICC darlings in a general sense (as shown by the recent talk of the "big 3", and by fixturing - NZ don't get large series against the big 3 as often as those 3 do against each other!) but the subcontinent are favorites when it comes to World Cup hosting rights

The group stage match was played in NZ because the final and 3x quarters (v only 1 quarter in NZ) are in Australia! Australia also scored the 2 biggest neutral blockbuster$ (Pak v India, SA v India). I'm sure NZ would happily have traded some let alone all of this (especially the guarantee of hosting the final!) for the group stage match. It's been a long time since NZ played at the MCG, but that's where the final is going to be.

Unlike Aus, NZ have never hosted a world cup final , and at this rate , never will. NZ aren't even co-hosting the upcoming T20 20/20 word cup.

That was basically my point...

Not having to play outside your own home country at the World Cup isn't just a stand-alone deal...

 

[fishardansin]

We have the mental edge over Aussies, we kicked them out last semis, will be fresh in the minds of Clarke, Johnson, Haddin, Watson etc.

Didn't win a game on a three month tour. That's grasping at straws.

The only mental edge India has against Australia is that they do rise to the occasion against them. The cricket they played against Australia this summer was better than what they dished up to England. However, I expect at least 2 of Warner, Finch, Maxwell, Haddin or Faulkner to get hold of India. Starc is obviously bowling very well and I feel the only thing that is holding Johnson back is silly plans. If he gets it a bit fuller and stops acting like he's bowling to an aging English and South African attack he'll be much better. I'm sure that many Aussie cricket legends like Warne will get to Johnson or Clarke between now and the finals and sort that out.

India can beat Australia but will rightly go in as massive underdogs in Australia right now.

 

[footyfan1978]

Australia will beat Pakistan and India.

Maybe Pakistan and Bangladesh

 

[franjon]

That depends what Pakistan side turn up. They are like the West Indies Unpredictabe. It could be a great game or a walk in the park for the Aussies

They are a fair bit more talented than the West Indies.

 

[franjon]

I reckon the Saffers will knock the Kiwis out. South Africa to win it.

South Africa have no chance. If it wasn't for Abraham, they wouldn't even be in the finals.

 

[1990crow]

South Africa have no chance. If it wasn't for Abraham, they wouldn't even be in the finals.

I think SA will win also.. bowling is great for NZ but I think SA batsmen are better
If Steyn, Morkel, Philander fire it will be tough for them

 

[bombersfan4000]

They are a fair bit more talented than the West Indies.

I wouldn't go that far the WI would have the most talented sode of the world cup. But soft in the head

 

[The_Reaper]

We have the mental edge over Aussies, we kicked them out last semis, will be fresh in the minds of Clarke, Johnson, Haddin, Watson etc.

What are you on about?

Pakistan knocked us out in the QFs last world cup

 

[Shiv]

What are you on about?

Pakistan knocked us out in the QFs last world cup

2011 world cup:

• 1st Quarter-Final: Pakistan v West Indies - Mar 23 Pakistan won by 10 wickets (with 175 balls remaining
• 2nd Quarter-Final: India v Australia - Mar 24 India won by 5 wickets (with 14 balls remaining)

Australia were defeated by pakistan in the group stage matches.

 

[Shiv]

IMO, Australia's bowling attack should be too strong for pakistan. IF m.irfaan is unavailable then i reckon the pakis should select yasir shah to replace him. His legspin could trouble the aussies and would take some pressure off afiridi. it should be a cracker of a game, mitchell johnson could grab a few i reckon!

 

[Moonwatcher]

2011 world cup:

• 1st Quarter-Final: Pakistan v West Indies - Mar 23 Pakistan won by 10 wickets (with 175 balls remaining
• 2nd Quarter-Final: India v Australia - Mar 24 India won by 5 wickets (with 14 balls remaining)

Australia were defeated by pakistan in the group stage matches.

Pontings century looks good on paper in that match but he was so out of form he wasn't willing to risk raising the run rate at the end of the innings. 260 was never going to be enough against India.

 

[little graham]

We have the mental edge over Aussies, we kicked them out last semis, will be fresh in the minds of Clarke, Johnson, Haddin, Watson etc.

Didn't you lose every game this summer against us?

Did you forget that we've won 3 out of the last 4 world cups, so we know what we're doing.

 

[western royboy]

We have the mental edge over Aussies, we kicked them out last semis, will be fresh in the minds of Clarke, Johnson, Haddin, Watson etc.

Bullshit - at upr best we have panels on the rest and sadly your boys know it.

 

[DT_fanatic]

Bullshit - at upr best we have panels on the rest and sadly your boys know it.

And that's bullshit as well.

 

[DT_fanatic]

Didn't you lose every game this summer against us?

Did you forget that we've won 3 out of the last 4 world cups, so we know what we're doing.

Nope.

 

[little graham]

Nope.

How many?

 

[DT_fanatic]

How many?

I know where you're going with this. Fact is, we didn't lose every game as you'd claimed.

 

[The_Reaper]

little graham - the Boxing Day and New Years tests were draws.

 

[little graham]

I know where you're going with this. Fact is, we didn't lose every game as you'd claimed.

Why won't you answer the question?

 

[little graham]

little graham - the Boxing Day and New Years tests were draws.

I should of been clearer in my post, I thought we won all the ODI's, wasn't sure about 1. That turns out was NR.

A damning stat concerning India apparently having the wood over us.

 

[RohitSharma]

I should of been clearer in my post, I thought we won all the ODI's, wasn't sure about 1. That turns out was NR.

A damning stat concerning India apparently having the wood over us.

We handled Aussie fast bowlers quite well, also we face Starc and Johnson in the test series so it was a good practice for our boys to pile on the runs. Expect a high scoring match, whatever Australia puts on board we will chase it down and if we bat first it's over for Aussies.