Cricket World Cup 2003---> Pool A

Entertainment Cricket and Other Sports
1

**Hello ppl , the Worldcup is due to start in less then 100 hours and we all are pretty geared up for that, huh? ļ.. (I know I m pretty excited.) This thread is dedicated only to live and other discussions regarding this group games other then Pakistani matches (there will be separate threads for Pakistani games as moderator saab said)

Well, as things stand, England and Australia will not go to Zimbabwe so Zimbabwe will get free points and this will make this already a tougher group a ¡¥Group of Death¡¦ Coz it will be left to four better teams then Zimbabwe to fight out for other two top places.

Teams in Group A

Australia
England
Pakistan
India
Zimbabwe
Namibia
Netherlands




Mon 10	Zimbabwe	v	Namibia	Harare Sports Club, Harare
Tues 11	Australia	v	Pakistan	Wanderers,Johanesburg
Wed 12	India	v	Holland	Boland Park, Paarl
Thu 13	Zimbabwe	v	England	Harare Sports Club, Harare
Sat 15	Australia	v	India	SuperSport Park, Centurion
Sun 16	England	v	Holland	Buffalo Park, East London
Sun 16	Pakistan	v	Namibia	Diamond Oval, Kimberley
Wed 19	England	v	Namibia	St. Georges , Port Elizabeth
Wed 19	Zimbabwe	v	India	Harare Sports Club, Harare
Thu 20	Australia	v	Holland	Potchefstroom
Sat 22	England	v	Pakistan	Newlands, Cape Town
Sun 23	India	v	Namibia	Oval, Pietermaritzburg
Mon 24	Zimbabwe	v	Australia	Queen¡'s Ground, Bulawayo
Tues 25	Pakistan	v	Holland	Boland Park, Paarl
Wed 26	England	v	India	Kingsmead, Durban
Thu 27	Australia	v	Namibia	Potchefstroom
Fri 28	Zimbabwe	v	Holland	Queen¡'s Ground, Bulawayo
Sat 01	Pakistan	v	India	SuperSport Park, Centurion
Sun 02	Australia	v	England	St. George¡¦s,Port Elizabeth
Mon 03	Namibia	v	Holland	Goodyear , Bloemfontein
Tues 04	Zimbabwe	v	Pakistan	Queen¡'s Ground, Bulawayo

P.S Kindly do Not make this thread one to show your India-Pakistan rivalry discussion skills and keep it objective.
**

2

**Australia

Squad.
Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist (vice-captain), Michael Bevan, Andy Bichel, Jason Gillespie, Ian Harvey, Matthew Hayden, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Darren Lehmann,Jimmy Maher, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath, Andy Symonds, Shane Warne, Ian Harvey –

Strengths

This Australian side is an unbelievably consistent team, oozing both in confidence and flair. Their biggest strength is their psychological hold against all other cricketing playing nations because of their enviable success streak in Test Match Arena. A side that could leave their last worldcup winning captain , Steve Waugh is surely a confident side. Their top 3 batsmen (Gilchrist, Hayden and Ponting) no doubt are their backbone and their recent successes are built on consistent contributions from these three. Their pace bowling department is of the highest caliber with McGrath, Gillespie and Brett Lee. Variations are there in Shane Warne and Brad Hogg. Their fielding is top notch and we rarely see lapses in field from them

Weaknesses

Well its hard to find weakness in this outfit but lack of a proven all-rounder is notable and that could prove to be a telling one. Though they have bits and part players in Symonds, Harvey and Brad Hogg But none of these players guarantee a place on one ability alone. Also Australia tend to be too aggressive sometimes and that has backfired on certain occasions. They are struggling with injuries and suspension to key players like Bevan, Lehmann, McGrath and Gillespie.

Recent Form

They are on winning streaks mostly. Like to keep the winning habit intact but there are a few blips in last year notably against Pakistan and Sri lanka. So they are for sure beatable but every team can never be sure of winning unless won completely. Hot after winning recently concluded VB series

Bottom Line

The most likely winners of this mega event, it iis ‘The team to beat’ in CWC 2003
**

3

**England

Squad
*Nasser Hussain,James Anderson, In Blackwell ,Andrew Caddick,Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Ashley Giles,Stephen Harmison ,Matthew Hoggard, Ronnie Irani, Nick Knight,+Alec Stewart,Marcus Trescothick
Michael Vaughan,Craig White

Strengths

Last year, this England team discovered Micheal Vaughan as a true world class opener but his test success is yet to be materialized in shorter version of the game. Their main strength is their batting and they realy on the likes of Knight, Tresco and Vaughan to give them solid scores consistently. Quality all-rounders like Flintoff and White give them depth in both Batting and Bowling.

Weaknesses

Their main worry is how to finish off the games against quality sides. In recently concluded VB series they got Australia under control in two three matches but couldn’t finish them off. This has to be taken care of if they are to win Big games against Quality teams. Their bowling dept. lacks quality and experience after inures to key bowlers like Gough, Simon Jones. Though Flintoff and White are declared fit but its not clear yet f White is match-fit or not.

Recent Form

After beaten excitingly in Natwest Series last year the side has often buckled under pressure in crunch games like VB finals. Though they won consistently against Sri Lanka in VB series but Sri Lankans tigers were without their sharp tooth Murali.

Bottom Line

A highly competitive outfit can do well if they don’t fall short of finishing line as they do too often. **

4

**Pakistan

Squad

Saeed Anwar,Taufeeq Umar,Saleem Elahi,Younis Khan ,Yousuf Youhana
Inzamam-ul-Haq,Shahid Afridi,Abdur Razzaq,Azhar Mahmood,Wasim Akram,Rashid Latif, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami, Saqlain Mushtaq.

Strengths

Labelled as ‘The unpredicatables’ probably the most explosive under-achiever team participating in this cup. They promise so much but deliver so little to utter dismay of their fans. Their biggest strength is their Lethal and probably the most varied bowling attack, full of match winners like Wasim, Shoaib , Waqar and Saqlain well backed up by capable all-rounders like Razzaq, Afridi and Azhar. On their day, they can beat any team convincingly. In batting department, they have proven names like Youhana, Inzi and the return of Saeed has only boosted the brittle batting line-up.

Weaknesses

Pakistani team has always been an enigma to its followers and cricketing world. Their biggest weakness is themselves, they have some six to seven former captains that can always lead to difference of opinions and eventually rifts. Their batting line up is Brittle to say the least. One day they will score 300 plus and the other day, struggle to make even 120. They are often labeled as poor chasers. Imp Players like Saeed, Azhar Razzaq are struggling for match fitness.

Recent Form

During a purple patch from late 2001 tp June 2002, they won everything that came their way including the might Australians on their home soil. But since then they have lost three successive One day tourneys, one ODI and two test series, barring clean sweep against depleted Zimbabwe team, Though Pakistan was undoubtedly constantly depleted through injuries and ‘rests’ during this period.

Bottom Line

If this team can unite under Waqar and perform to their potential, you don’t have to look anywhere else for one of the semi finalist. (Ehsan bhai, can I put a flag in here?, hehehe)** … Yep its Confirmed , I CAN :jhanda: :jhanda:

5

**India

Squad

Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag ,Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble Harbhajan Singh, Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Dinesh Mongia, Parthiv Patel, Sanjay Bangar, Ajit Agarkar, Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif

Strengths

Often touted as the best oneday batting lineup in the world today, this team has lots of Big names like Tendulkar, Ganguly, Sehwag etc….. They can open almost with anyone out of Sehwag, Tendulkar, Ganguly, Mongia. Yuvraj and Mohd. Kaif provide exuberance of youth and enthusiasm to this line up. Emergence of Zaheer Khan as a match winner bowler has bolstered their weak bowling line up. They rely on their batting to chase any scores (even above 300) and posts huge scores while batting first and then defend it out with containment strategies..

Weaknesses

Lack of quality all-rounder is their concern, They have experimented quite a lot like Australia in this deparment. Their bowling, though has big names like Kumble, Harbhajan and Srinath, mainly struggles in overseas conditions. Their insistence of Using Dravid as a specialist Keeper may prove to be costly in crunch matches.

Recent Form

Wining the exciting Natwest Series, reaching the finals of IC trophy, this team was on a roll but slightly went down in WI home series and then their from took a complete U turn against New Zealanders and now their confidence is badly shaken. Though it would be too naïve to writem them off yet.

Bottom Line

A definite Super Six Metarial, But can they go beyond that?? Time will tell. **

6

will fsinish on other teams later :)

7

Lazy!

8

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by UMAIR316: *
Lazy!
[/QUOTE]

:D lazy nahi, light bohut tung ker rahi hai aur waisay bhi buss zara saa he reh gaya hai

9

**Zimbabwe

Squad

*Heath Streak ,Andy Blignaut, Dion Ebrahim, Sean Ervine, Andy Flower ,Grant Flower, Travis Friend, Douglas T. Hondo ,Douglas Marillier
Brian Murphy,Henry Olonga, +Tatenda Taibu , Mark Vermeulen, Guy Whittall, Craig Wishart

Strengths

Well thier biggest strength would be hme crowd, plus possible walking points. Thier hopes would lie with the guile of Andy Flower Mr. Consistent. Plus they have a good enough all round sie to surprise many like they did in WC 99. They are an extremely efficent fielding outfit.

Weaknesses

Thier weaness mostly lies with inexeprience in teh squad and lack of quality in thier batting. Not enough credientails to win a major tourney like this.

Recent Form

After being mauled by Pakistan , thier star players Streak and Blignaut returened to boost the side and they reegrouped to beat Kenya. They havent had enogh cricketing oppurtunties offlate coz of political reasons.

Bottom Line

If they qualify for the Super Sixes, they will need only one good day to play in the WC semi finals fo the first tiem and that wil be a shocking result for a much-depressed nation. Thier cricketers will be out there to please this unfortunate polictically targetted nation.**

10

**Namibia

Squad

*DB Kotze, AJ Burger, LJ Burger, SF Burger, M Karg, Keulder, BL Kotze
JL Louw, BG Murgatroyd, G Snyman, SJ Swanepoel , BO van Rooi, M van Schoor, RJ van Vuuren, R Walters

Strength

Reported that they have good fast bowlers in thier ranks. It wil be intersting how they perform at the biggest stage f thier lives

Weaknesses

Newbie in the cricketing Arena

Recent Form

After performing well in ICC qualifying trophy they are in SA since a while and doing well in leadup matches.

Bottom Line

It will be intersting to see if they can make headlines in sport pages by causing upsets or will just be a mneal for other teams to improve thier RUn Rates etc. **

11

**NetherLands

Squad

*RP Lefebvre ,LP van Troost, DLS van Bunge, JJ Esmeijer, VD Grandia ,JF Kloppenburg, TBM de Leede, HJC Mol, RG Nijman ,KJJ van Noortwijk, Adeel Raja, E Schiferli ,+RH Scholte, J Smits ,NA Statham, B Zuiderent

Strengths

N/A

Weaknesses

same as Namibians :D, lack of enough exposure at the highest level to hone thier skills.

Recent Form

Particpiated in ICC champions trophy last september and were mauled both by Pakistani and Lankans.

Bottom Line

Watch out for highly anticpated clash between Namibia and Netherland on 3rd march 2003 :biggrin:**

12

Very Good analysis Saby :k: Thank You. Lets hope that it is a good and entertaining tournament and we all can enjoy next couple of weeks. I also hope that Australia and england change their minds about playing in Zimbabwe.

13

I think this group should be re-named The Group of Death. It's the toughest preliminary qualifying group I can remember.

14

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Mr Xtreme: *
I think this group should be re-named The Group of Death. It's the toughest preliminary qualifying group I can remember.
[/QUOTE]

Its not only tough but if England and Australia boycott Zimbabwe, they will almost certainly qualify, leaving Australia, England, Pakistan and India fighting for the other two places. Lets assume Australia also qualifies, then the other three will be fighting for the one place. Will certainly make 1 March very interesting as it could turn out to be the decider as to who goes through as the third team.

15

I agree ehsan, and I notice that Australia play England last. That means if they've already qualified they might play a weakened team against England.

16

tell me this...does this mean england and austrailia will be 0-1 to start the tournament? and zimbabve will be 2-0?

17

Well the latest news i heard on Television is that Australia is gonna play in Zimbabwe. Its unconfirmed yet so lets see...

And yes Shiraz, thats exactly what was going to happen.

18

I think once they realise that ICC is going to dock the points they might decide it’s safe after all :hehe:

19

With all these boycotss, if Pakistan somehow manages to beat Australia on Tuesday, they will easily make it not just the Super Sixes but semis too. All Pakistan has to do is beat Australia.

20

Thanks Asif, I hope My remarks regarding India didnt have any biased metarial. And yes I hope that we have an enthralling tournament in coming weeks :slight_smile: