World Cup semis & final, July 9-14

[alfie]

Semi finals might be pretty good games ...hopefully the toss won't be too influential. Presume the pitches reserved for these matches are a fair chance to be of good quality so it may not necessarily be all over at the start. Actually the last round of matches went against that "bat first" trend with India rolling home easily and Australia getting very close to catching SA : perhaps we should not assume chasing is impossible at this WC any more than the pre-tournament wisdom was that bowling first was generally the way to go

Also I understand there may be some weather about this week ?

India big favourites tonight but if Boult were to knock over Rohit and Kohli early on we could see a real battle...

[GarlicJam]

what day is the India/Australia final?

Fair enough that India are odds on (he says, knowing only vaguely what that term means) favourites to beat NZ, but Australia has only history that is making them favourites.

England have been the number 1 team in ODI's for some time, Aus have been crap. England have beaten Aus in something like 11 out of the last 13 matches played. Aus have all sorts of injury/replacement issues. England are at home, at a ground they very rarely lose at, and Aus even rarer-ly win at.

Good thing Aus have confident fans, and England have doomsayers.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I'm guessing India v England final.

Did I mention Starc was a huge threat?

Forecast in Manchester today is dark, cold and cloudy but there shouldn't be much rain, if any. Birmingham on Thursday, colder but brighter with showers in the afternoon. So there will, at least, be results. But, there are reserve days anyway.

[GarlicJam]

So somebody thought it a good idea to have the Cricket World Cup final, Men's Wimbledon final and the British Grand Prix all on the same day

Where it was very kind and considerate of the NRL in Aus to schedule the final and deciding State of Origin match tomorrow night, nicely in between the two semi-finals. Hats off to them.

[yuppie]

I think Australia have a chance if England bring back Vince.

Englands problems will be the number of RHB they have against Australia left arm quicks.

In saying that though England must be favorites and have a much better chance of beating India in the final then Australia do.

Considering where Australian ODI cricket was just a few months ago, a semi final appearance is probably a good return for this team. I think they went into this WC as the 6th ranked team.

[GarlicJam]

Missing the stumps, but was umpire's call for pitch in line - I assume that India loses their referral?

[backfootpunch]

Bad start for new Zealand

India win feels inevitable after just 3 overs

[mikesiva]

Hardik struggling. Who's the sixth bowler for India?

I would have picked Sodhi for Old Trafford.

Jadeja bowled Nicholls through the gate for 28!

[backfootpunch]

Hardik struggling. Who's the sixth bowler for India?

I would have picked Sodhi for Old Trafford.

Jadeja bowled Nicholls through the gate for 28!

Kohli might have to bowl 6 overs or maybe rohit who bowls filthy off spinners from memory

Big turn from jadeja to beat Williamson does look like sodhi should've played

[Arthur Crabtree]

India haven't been bowling a sixth bowler (that I've noticed). Shankar and Jadhav barely got a bowl when selected.

Does Kohli still bowl?

[Arthur Crabtree]

He's not bowled in an ODI for two years.

Selection is risky if India have an injury.

[Arthur Crabtree]

250 might be on. But NZ can't defend that.

[backfootpunch]

Have to say this has been a pathetic effort from new Zealand

At no point has there been any intent

[Arthur Crabtree]

Not confident in their batting. No belief that their top order can make a good start.

[Durhamfootman]

So somebody thought it a good idea to have the Cricket World Cup final, Men's Wimbledon final and the British Grand Prix all on the same day

Where it was very kind and considerate of the NRL in Aus to schedule the final and deciding State of Origin match tomorrow night, nicely in between the two semi-finals. Hats off to them.

that's the second time recently where I've been credited with saying something that I don't think I said. I'm not sure why.... I think it's a quotey button thing

or it may be that I have undiagnosed altzheimers