Group B Discussion

Edited by spin wizard - 25 March 2011 at 5:08pm

That's my point Sehwag was never so consistent until 3 years ago. Really seemed to be completely at sea under Greg Chappell's( Was never fond of Sehwag) term. Then Gary happened for India & Sehwag totally reformed as a player.
Another thing that probably works for Sehwag is he knows there's enough talent in the batting line-up to make-up in case he fails. Helps free one's mind .

Originally posted by Sledger I often think that Gayle's temperament is the problem.  There's been plenty written about his laid back persona - the archetypal West Indian , but could it be that cricket just isn't that important to him ?  Whether he gets a big hundred or a big zero he leaves the field at that snail's pace - maybe he just doesn't value his wicket enough.

I remember very similar comments being made of Sehwag not too long ago. And then Gary came along. Maybe that is what Gayle needs the right mentor to get his mind back, Clear and Free...

You always need a batsman like Gayle in your side Daisy.  Sledger though summed him up pretty nicely.  The only thing that troubles Gayle is swing and seam movement because of his concrete feet.  When that is out, bowling doesn't trouble Gayle.  I've seen Harmison in his pomp to Gayle and Gayle still battered some pull shots with ferocious power yet got carried away and was going after pitched up ones and got his stumps rooted.  Saw him start to carnage Lee in Barbados one time, then he drilled a bullet to mid off, similar like how he was out against Pakistan.  Gayle plays spin quite well and the fastest of bowlers isn't much of a bother to him either.

Edited by spin wizard - 24 March 2011 at 7:17pm

Originally posted by spin wizard I'm all for the Indian's now Daisy, those Indian batsmen are too attractive not to like!

India has the best batting line up but I'll stick with the English! They'll be my team but I don't have much confidence in them sadly because of their inconsistency.

I'm all for the Indian's now Daisy, those Indian batsmen are too attractive not to like!

What a game!! Actually it was like a no competition at all! Pak blew the WI clear out of the WC. Very good bowling performance by Afridi and his men. The west Indian batsman could not handle the spin bowling at all. I think the only two batsmen that were able to play the spin were Chanderpaul and Sarwan. everyone else were troubled.

Pakistan bowlers look out for Gayle, he was in a rampant mood against England I don't think he'll play any different tomorrow.  In the shorter format of the game, there is hardly any who is more destructive than Gayle (Sehwag is no match to Gayle in the shorter format when it comes to being destructive).  Umar Gul will have to watch those length balls, they could be sailing way into the stands.

Form hardly ever matters with Pakistan - this is the way they have always played the game. It will be a tough contest - last time Pakistan met Windies in a world cup game - they were comprehensively beaten by a weak team. Gayle's stay at the wicket could decide the fate of the match.

Chanders has to play. His experience will count in such a crucial game. It will be a 50-50 thing - no clear favorites.

Originally posted by zuhair_abbasi Sledge, Had west Indies won, they would have been playing against Australia on the neutral venue and not Sri Lanka in their back yard. West Indies would have finished second, had they won - to play Aussies who finished third in their group.

Yeah so maybe it's a good thing that they lost because they stand a better chance against Pak than Aus

Aussies need to strengthen their batting and should draft in either David Hussey or Ferguson in place of Smith - because when Ponting did not have faith in him to bowl against Pakistan - India is a class apart. Smith is a waste if he is not bowling.

May well be a dustbowl mate. India might play three spinners and that may or may not work. I clearly do not see any favorites in the tough battle that it is going to be. Something tells me it is Watson's time to score a ton.

Oh , I didn't realise they'd finish second mate!  I'd prefer Australia before Pakistan , so maybe they were trying!

So Bangladesh are out - there can't be any complaints either , they were dire in two matches.   No comments here from the Windies fans about the final match - I said if it'd been England I'd have been praying for them to lose !  Think about it , win and play Sri Lanka in their own back yard or lose and play Pakistan on neutral territory - it's a no brainer isn't it ? 
            All the games look tight , but I expect SA and India to win with the others pretty tough to call. England will have to be right on their game to beat the Lankans in Columbo - I just hope the toss doesn't settle it.  Pakistan must start favourites against the Windies , but I won't be betting on the outcome !

               So finally we reach the sharp end of the tournament - Are Australia in decline ? Can Swann trouble the likes of Jayawardene and Sangakkara ? Will Gayle marmalise Gul at the top of the innings?  Will SA choke ?    We'll know by Saturday night !


Edited by Sledger - 22 March 2011 at 6:08am