The Road to Cricket World Cup 2003

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So my friends.. it’s crunch time once again.
Well technically it’s crunch time for most teams as every country should be setting up a solid ODI player squad in mind.

**393 days left till South Africa vs. West Indies at Cape Town **

We all know the groups, and who shall play who, yet we don’t know who will actually be the stars of Cricket’s more prestige tournament.

Who are your predictions?

Personally, I think the final four will be Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/hehe.gif

Some of you might be thinking where’s South Africa, especially since it’s in their own backyard. Well I think South African cricket has been declining ever since they lost a great captain, Crojne. The South Africans are experimenting with younger players, who don’t have a solid place in the squad, and even the South African players have mentioned being moraley down.

Until they don’t this morale booster, they shall not succeed. South Africa needs a good bowling attack, for which they are declining, and Kallis on the other matter has been getting worser with the ball each game, yet growing better with the bat.

Why Australia? Do we have to explain why?

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Pakistan on their day can be the champions. On other days they can collapse like a club team. Although, one thing I’ve noticed in Pakistan for years, they have this special enthusiasm (josh) in them to try. They don’t give up, and if internal Pakistan Cricket issues are resolved, they have a very good chance in going all the way. Only road block could be the South African pitches, but Pakistan does better overseas than home. As for the batting, supposedly Taufeeq Umar could be the next Saeed Anwar, as experts predict. For bowling, hopefully the two W’s stay ‘young’ and there for the World Cup, spinners seem to be fine but for some other pace bowlers might be a little trouble for Pakistan. Anyways.. they will find a good pace bowler, they got two good allrounders in Razzaq and Mahmood.

Sri Lanka, the Tigers. Watch out for these guys, that’s all I can say. Yeah yeah I’ve heard it before, they can’t win anywhere else besides home. I believe they have such a strong squad, it’s unbelievable. With such a amazing batting lineup, in Jayawardene, Jayasuriya, Arnold, Sangakkara and Tillakaratne the wickies, and two world class bowlers, Vaas and Murali. Only problem they could face is not having any other good bowler besides Vaas and Murali. But ever since Dave Watmore has came back to coach them, they have been doing really well. I think their chances at WC2003 reside on their latest series at England.

New Zealand. Yes the kiwi’s have been suprising since ICC Knockout 2000. I believe NZ is improving in Cricket each time a new series occurs. They are a low rated team, with high potential. They might not win every game of the round robin, but they are a united team, and as long as the team can stay fit, with Vettori and Carines, they will make it really far.

Infact you know what, I think New Zealand will win the World Cup

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Miracles and suprises happen, and New Zealand might pull off a shocker. Just like against Australia two days ago

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Oh well who actually knows what will happen. We still got a year left. Every team has equal opportunity to win. You never know someone might get hurt or dropped.

Cricket is a game of chance.

[This message has been edited by Peoples Champ (edited January 12, 2002).]

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[quote]
Originally posted by Peoples Champ:
[/quote]

Personally, I think the final four will be Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Anyone leaving out South Africa in their own backyard must be joking, right? Right now RSA is still one of the two best teams in ODI - last beating AUS in a 3-home-3-away series to put the World Champs in their normal place of number 2. Just watch the present series in AUS and you will see three of the top 4 ODI teams battling it out. Don't confuse Test and ODI cricket.

Well I think South African cricket has been declining ever since they lost a great captain, Crojne.

True, but Pollock has proved himself as ODI captain winning the Commonwealth and 6-part series against AUS in the final straight.

The South Africans are experimenting with younger players, who don't have a solid place in the squad

New players? Not in ODI. All the players presently in AUS, except Ontong, has played ODI's for RSA. In RSA they give a lot of players chances so that there is a big pool to draw from.

and even the South African players have mentioned being moraley down

True only for the present TESTS in AUS. They beat WI 6-1 in WI and won the last 4 Test series during past year.

Until they don't this morale booster, they shall not succeed.

We have the biggest morale booster of all teams playing for us - Jonty Rhodes. There is absolutely NO player or coach that can raise his fellow player's morale like he can.

South Africa needs a good bowling attack, for which they are declining, and Kallis on the other matter has been getting worser with the ball each game, yet growing better with the bat.

Three untrue statements. Thare is NO problem in the bowling department ODI-wise. Kallis is getting BETTER with the ball not worse.

Pakistan on their day can be the champions. On other days they can collapse like a club team.

True.

Only road block could be the South African pitches

I don't see a problem as they have done very good in RSA in the past.

but Pakistan does better overseas than home

Surely you jest?

pace bowlers might be a little trouble for Pakistan

PAK have Younis and Wakar. That's enough.

Sri Lanka, the Tigers. Watch out for these guys, that's all I can say.

They did not do very good in RSA last time.

Cricket is a game of chance

Mainly ODI's, very little in tests.

[This message has been edited by The Old Man (edited January 13, 2002).]

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South Africa is still my pick .. they look ridiculous in Test Matches but they are one heck of a oneday team .. 11 guys how can bat .. 6 or 7 who can bowl .. and sure they can field … and understand the One day better than others and they will be playing on their turf .. they have all the right ingredients to win it all

Sri-Lanka .. second best batting line .. very explosive, all time best off- spinner, and one the of the best coach in the game .. only thing lacking is the second string bowling line there is no major bowler behind Vaas and Murli.. but very aggressive and determined TEAM

Australia .. no doubt the best team around .. with strong and consistent batting line backed up by emerging tailenders (Warren and lee) .. bowling line is rich and dangerous .. best Skipper in the game .. but they are aging and they do lose nerve under pressure … they might be little worn out otherwise Ozies are the team to beat ..

Pakistan .. erratic .. explosive ..and crumbling .. it depends who would they face off .. a team that can beat anyone .. weak batting line .. Pace is worn off .. prediction Shaoib will be injured after couple of games and the WWs will be the men to lead .. Like Gump said .. ‘Pakistani team is like a box Sohen halwa you will never know that you will get broken teeth or bite of Halwa’

NZ .. a dark horse .. or shall we say dark kiwi .. is poor man’s South Africa .. lot of utility players .. everyone can bat and bowl .. lack individual talent .. but they know how to beat better teams .. if you take Salim’ Malick’s advice you can be rich !

India much about nothing .. Tandu Tandu and then again Tandu .. could put a strong show but they have not changed much .. very nervous and shaky with all that batting talent they still wont hold any ground on South African pitches …

West Indies .. lost cause .. no real chance … Lara or no Lara .. they are not any threat

Hey one more thing
These things are hard to explain
For some it seems strange... to swallow
The frontier of our minds
Is the last place we find
But maybe the first place we should go

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GUYS
I say the final four would be PAKISTAN, AUSTRALIA, SRI LANKA, and SOUTH AFRICA.

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well...

not SOUTH AFRICA as a prospect a world cup being played in their backyard is funny.They might have lost to australians in TEST that doesnt mean they r bad.The still 2nd best side.
I think it would be AUS,SA,New Zealand and either India/pakistan.

And frankly I think New Zealand has got very good chances of winning..they may not have stars but they are the most under-rated team.. and they r a great team.

talking about Sri Lankan they neverdid good abroad specially South Africa .... they might be 6th or 7th in this world cup as they did in last one.

havinmg said all these things...I tsill think world cup is one year away and u never know whats gonna happen in 1 yr...
So keeping finger crossed.

Jiyo Aur Jeene Do!!!

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i think the only two teams to have any chances r PAKISTAN and AUSTRALIA....
might as well see a FINAL of the two teams....

SL r good but only as long as muralitharan can keep the opposition batsmen under pressure....
once he has been taken up by the batsmen, SL r losers....

India - no chance as far as i see....

South Africa....
they have good players....
but cant handle the pressure....

nz....
no way will they perform in big matches....
the ICC knock-out trophy was a big surprise....
cant even imagine them lifting the world cup....

England, WI...
out of shape....

zim, kenya, bd....
any hopes????

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I think you guys should start ruling out Australia from final four, they lost their first three of four matches in their own backyard, lost to newzeland twice and south africa once, they might be a great test team but their one day status is going downhill.

my pick are pakistan, south africa, srilanka, and newzeland.
there is no way in the world india would ever win the world cup with or without tendulkur unless the world cup is in india.

Thank you, come again

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Salamz everyone

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/smile.gif

I dont think South Africa will be a force to reckon with either. They’re still chokers in my book and I do not see them reaching the semis at all.

Final four… how about Pakistan, Australia, West Indies, New Zealand.

Pakistan will once again enter the tournament as the most talented side in the world. Australia are always a force to reckon with especially in the big tournaments. New Zealand have quietly improved their side and much like the Sri Lankans in the mid 90’s…the Kiwis know their limitations and work their way around them. Their game has improved steadiy in the last few years.

Finally with regard to the Windies - they are another bunch who rise to the occasion when they have to. Lara is still not past his best and a tournament like the World Cup played in South Africa will fire him up and when he`s on song then the entire team is on another level.

So thats my final four. I hope Pakistan wins this time around - if Saeed Anwar loses the beard and concentrates on his game then that would make me more comfortable with our chances. However at this stage the opening combo looks shaky - Taufeeq Umar and Shadab Kabir and Naveed Latif are good players but cannot open in the World Cup. The ideal combo would be Saeed Anwar and Imran Nazir however one has become a maulvi and the other is being shafted by the captain and the selectors for no reason so we have a bit of a problem…

Our bowling will be as good as always - Waqar along with Shoaib Akhter, the equally fast and fit again Mohammad Zahid, Mohammad Sami, and Abdur Razzaq along with Kaneria, Shoaib Malik and Saqlain make up at unmatched bowling line up.

Believe In Angels.

Laterz,
ManiaX.

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idont think keeping a beard distracts a player's attention from his play....
imran nazir gets a bit nervous at times....
afridi is one definite player in the team....
and i think navid will be on the selectors' list to fill the opening gap....
and if he gets in, either afridi or saeed will be dropped to one-down....

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kaneria doesn't have a good record in limited overs, so you can count him out.
I think it is definite that wasim, waqar and shoaib will be playing. saqlain and razzaq are also definite, i don't think m zahid will have a chance getting into the top 11.
m. sami needs to get over his injuries and positively sure he will get the part.

i think pakistan made a mistake by not letting fazle akbar go to bangladesh, i think he is a good player.

Saeed anwar needs to start playing some cricket if he wants to be in form for south africa. he is a batsman that you can't win without.
Shahid afridi is a definite opener.
with the backup of inzimam, youhana, and rashid latif, i think we may have a winning side.

saeed anwar
shahid afridi
inzimam ul haq
yousuf youhana
younis khan
abdur razzaq
rashid latif
wasim akram
waqar younis
saqlain mushtaq
shoaib or sami

Thank you, come again