WC Semi-Finals

We will win by plenty, trumpet.

 How dire were South Africa ?  Smith's mouth pressuries the entire side - all that talk of "brave cricket" is pure drivel .  There are basics in one day cricket which the South Africans simply disregarded. Respect the new , swinging ball and play the situation in front of you.
      A score of 250 would have been competitive (although unlikely to have been enough with such a one dimensional attack) , but they had grand aspirations of blowing Australia away - just how stupid was that?

      Smith , Kallis , Prince , Pollock and Hall gifted their wickets and proved what Steve Waugh said all those years ago - South Africa are chokers.

     They can't live on that 438 game forever (remember how they bowled in that match?) and finally realise that they are boys trying to beat a team of men.

      Australia played as we knew they would , so why didn't their opposition have aviable gameplan - the answer is rather simple , brainless cricketers with no bottle.

        Sri Lanka are up against it. Australia love big matches and will be aching to get out there for the final - they know they're good , they also know their limitations and play within themselves. That is confidence and I just cannot see them losing.

        For all our sakes (even you Aussies!) let's hope they get a game on Saturday and we have something to take from this weary affair. 
        To all Aussies , hearty congratulations , you have a team to be rightly proud of. To a man , they've all performed ('cept maybe Watson!) and played with intelligence and verve - simply put , they are far , far too good for anything that they've come up against in the last 7 weeks or so.

      So Sri Lanka , prove me wrong and make the best team on the planet really have to prove it on Saturday.


Edited by Sledger - 26 April 2007 at 6:43am

You would think he might have learned by now, he was embaressed here a few years ago by trying to talk it up, and he has kept going, all the talk in the world won't help if you don't believe it yourself. And well said sledger, I would like to see all these aussie bashers focus on their country improving, rather than hoping for a bad day from aust and trying to just get lucky. People focused on us losing a few a aging players without realising the other countries stars are aging as well and most are getting close to the end, wich is why our depth will keep us close to the top for a long long time.

 143 the cricket culture in Australia is the key to the national team's success. It strikes me that nobody slips the net - if you have talent and the drive , you'll get every encouragement to succeed. 
    Attitude is vital too and Australians have it in spades. I see no problem with someone spouting off if they do the business. Some call that arrogance , I call it confidence.
     Ponting and company expect to lift that Trophy on Saturday. They won't treat Sri Lanka lightly , but they're a unit that backs one another completely and they know if only 6 or 7 do the business in the final , that will be enough.

    The bar has been lifted yet again and it's up to the rest to work even harder if they want success at the highest level.

The politics and selections policies do hurt SA, but it's no excuse for such a poor performance. All that talk about being calm and relaxed before the game was tripe. The top order were like chickens in a tornado.

Originally posted by Sledger   they've all performed ('cept maybe Watson!)

whats wrong with wats? he scored  65 in the last game and one wicket.

Watson is barely adequate and sticks out like a sore thumb , being surrounded by such talent.

yes, flintoff would be in his rightful spot at 9

he would probably take lee's spot, I forgot to take warney out of the equasion, so that might get him to 8.

About Watson, he lacks movement off the wicket and that's why he is useless! I don't know why he don't go and learn to bowl outswingers and inswingers 'cause he does get a good seam position.

Yeah, true too. I don't know what happen to the lad, he played well in the Super series if that's what it was called.

I thought the guys would have murdered the **** out of the Aussies but when I watched, the guys were horrible except Sangakkara and Vettori in the ODI's. Freddie bowled well in the tests but all the batters except Sehwag failed.

Edited by spin wizard - 26 April 2007 at 2:50pm

How about we lay off Watson a bit? He has been ruined by injuries pretty much his whole career. Yeah his bowling hasn't been great but his batting and hitting has been more than impressive and has surprised, even amazed me in this WC. Keep in mind that he is not batting in a role that really suits his game, he has made very handy runs in just about every game he has played at a strike rate somewhere around 180 runs per 100 balls. I'd consider that 'adequate' to say the least. I also remember him throwing down the timber with one stump to aim at from the boundary against SAF when Australia were in quite a bit of trouble with the ball.


Edited by Sim Dog - 26 April 2007 at 3:43pm

You're right he shouldn't be picked ahead of Hodge. As a Victorian the treatment of Hodge infuriates me but it's just the way it is. It is not Watson's fault if there are better credentialed players not picked. He has batted as well as he possibly could have and it is tough to find your rhythm with the ball when you are injured all the time. He's been far more effective than i thought he would be.


Edited by Sim Dog - 27 April 2007 at 7:28am

Originally posted by Sim Dog You're right he shouldn't be picked ahead of Hodge. As a Victorian the treatment of Hodge infuriates me but it's just the way it is. It is not Watson's fault if there are better credentialed players not picked. He has batted as well as he possibly could have and it is tough to find your rhythm with the ball when you are injured all the time. He's been far more effective than i thought he would be.