World Cup Q/F 3 - Australia v Pakistan - March 20th

[rich1uk]

before the tournament start I fancied a final 4 of india, aus, NZ and SA

wonder what the odds on that would have been before it started

[Arthur Crabtree]

That'd be the most popular choice for last four, I think. Though India have got there with more elan and comfort than I imagined. I guess most would have picked the second placed team to top the group and vice versa.

[rich1uk]

That'd be the most popular choice for last four, I think. Though India have got there with more elan and comfort than I imagined. I guess most would have picked the second placed team to top the group and vice versa.

yeah I know but I still think you would have got decent odds for it happening with all the possible permutations there were

obviously I am pre-empting Aus and NZ winning

[shankycricket]

Come on

[dan08]

Misbah to score a hundred.

[bigfluffylemon]

Interesting that we all castigate the likes of Bell and Cook for their one day strike rate and conversion rate, but Misbah has never scored an ODI century in almost exactly the same number of games as Bell, and has a strike rate of 73 compared to Bell and Cook having 77-78. Ok, Misbah has a higher average, but has scored about the same number of runs as Bell - the average is a result of Misbah batting down the order and therefore having more not outs.

Yet while we all dispute whether Bell and Cook should be in the team, no-one seems to be opposed to Misbah being in Pakistan's team. Why is that? Or have I missed something.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Misbah is their link with sanity.

[rich1uk]

Interesting that we all castigate the likes of Bell and Cook for their one day strike rate and conversion rate, but Misbah has never scored an ODI century in almost exactly the same number of games as Bell, and has a strike rate of 73 compared to Bell and Cook having 77-78. Ok, Misbah has a higher average, but has scored about the same number of runs as Bell - the average is a result of Misbah batting down the order and therefore having more not outs.

Yet while we all dispute whether Bell and Cook should be in the team, no-one seems to be opposed to Misbah being in Pakistan's team. Why is that? Or have I missed something.

probably because none of us really care too much who plays for Pakistan or know much about their alternative options

and misbah has at least provided some stability in an otherwise pretty inconsistent team

[dan08]

Interesting that we all castigate the likes of Bell and Cook for their one day strike rate and conversion rate, but Misbah has never scored an ODI century in almost exactly the same number of games as Bell, and has a strike rate of 73 compared to Bell and Cook having 77-78. Ok, Misbah has a higher average, but has scored about the same number of runs as Bell - the average is a result of Misbah batting down the order and therefore having more not outs.

Yet while we all dispute whether Bell and Cook should be in the team, no-one seems to be opposed to Misbah being in Pakistan's team. Why is that? Or have I missed something.

He's still the best batsman they have as Pakistan have a very weak batting line up.

Misbah usually comes in at 20/2 so he can't afford to take risks. If he goes early then they're usually bowled out inside 40 overs.

[Arthur Crabtree]

And he gets a lot of abuse from Pakistan fans for being in the team.

[rich1uk]

just realised its still 5 hours til this starts

[from_the_stands]

Looking forward to this. Plenty to play for. The weather forecast is for no rain. Australia to bat first and make 35o plus. Pakistan to fall in a head and be bowled out for less than 200.

[bigfluffylemon]

Looking forward to this. Plenty to play for. The weather forecast is for no rain. Australia to bat first and make 35o plus. Pakistan to fall in a head and be bowled out for less than 200.

The pitch is reported to be greener than your typical Adelaide wicket, so there will be something for the quicks on both sides. Could be a low scorer if that's correct. In any event you'd expect Australia's much deeper batting to prevail.

[bigfluffylemon]

Interesting that we all castigate the likes of Bell and Cook for their one day strike rate and conversion rate, but Misbah has never scored an ODI century in almost exactly the same number of games as Bell, and has a strike rate of 73 compared to Bell and Cook having 77-78. Ok, Misbah has a higher average, but has scored about the same number of runs as Bell - the average is a result of Misbah batting down the order and therefore having more not outs.

Yet while we all dispute whether Bell and Cook should be in the team, no-one seems to be opposed to Misbah being in Pakistan's team. Why is that? Or have I missed something.

He's still the best batsman they have as Pakistan have a very weak batting line up.

Misbah usually comes in at 20/2 so he can't afford to take risks. If he goes early then they're usually bowled out inside 40 overs.

Point taken, but if you come in that early in the innings and don't take risks, you should be scoring hundreds.

[bigfluffylemon]

Pakistan to bat. Not sure if that's the right call with their batting.