[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Mr Xtreme: *
Yeah good call. Dravid's a fine player. Yuvraj looks ok too. I still need to see India under pressure to be convinced though.
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Yeah, too many of them crack under pressure - especially their captain who scores big against minnows but gets out in 3 or 4 balls against regular teams.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by kaka malang: *
It will be an even bigger domination by aussies than it was against pak in 99. Forget old records..when it comes to crunch matches aus has nerves of steel,which will ultimately be the grail of victory. Although that is the most likely scenario...i just hope we get a decent match and not a slaughterfest.
Aus chances 80:20
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This is BS.
It should be an even match all things considered. If ever there was a time for India to win against Australia this is it. They are on the up, Oz are on the slide. I wish we were facing the Aussies in these circumstances.
Thank you everyone for keeping this thread so clean and meaningful.After along time I am seeing we are having very good discussion.
Anyway coming back to THE match of tournament..
I agree with most of you that definitly Auss have a very big advantage going into this.
From Indian point of view India should try to exploit weakness of Aussies 4th and 5th bowler.Till now there 4th and 5th bowler ( hogg,lehman ,bevan etc) has not been tested thanks to good job by Lee,Macgrath and Bichel.For that reason I think best strategy for India could be to send Dravid at No 3 and ganguly at No 5. That way we can use Dravid's defensive skill against in-form quality bowlers and use ganguly's love for spinner and slow bolwers against Hogg ,lehman etc.
Same startegy of India against SL paid off very well.When they played Vass and Murali with lots of respect and other 30 overs went for 220 runs.
Just a thought...........
Also I totally agree with Umair it will be next to impossible chasing against Aussies.Infect its always hard to chase big scores in crunch matches.
AKD, Indian team coach is going to leave after the world cup. You can apply for the job. :)
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by ehsan: *
AKD, Indian team coach is going to leave after the world cup. You can apply for the job. :)
[/QUOTE]
I was thinking..but i heard they pay $3000/month to John Wright. Cant work for so less...... !!! :(
Indians will have the thrashing of their lives in the final
Go Aussies GO!
This is life and death for Ricky Ponting, will the ghost of Steve Waugh come back and haunt him? (well he's not dead, but to One Day's he's finished).
India are on their biggest role of their life. This is a fight between the two best teams in the world, but only one can be deemed World Champions.
My gut feeling is for India, where they have waited ever so long to be in this position. Australia on the other hand has achieved this fate in 1999, putting the pressure a little lower.
I am proud of Ganguly's captaincy. Previously, the media put Ganguly down for not being a commanding leader with the bat or on the field, but he has proved his critics wrong.
Jo'berg being a great venue to host a final, will offer good batting and bowling. Overall an all around effort of a pitch.
Austalia 60:40
With the grace of Hanuman, Jesus and Allah India will play well and beat the Aussies. There is good batting depth and though the bowling doesn't have the same edge as the Australian bowling, it is still come a long way in this series.
Someone wrote Dravid should come upfront and Ganguly later. That sounds like a good idea but I will reconsider that decision based on when and if 1 down happens.
Talent wise we have enough to match and over come the Aussies. Sheer nerves and not giving up at the first sign of adversity is what is needed to win this one. Whether the piles of runs come out Sachin's bat or Sehwag's or Khaif's or Dravid's or Yuvraj's...they still count.
You can see the full article by clicking the link but I’m reproducing the last paragraph which I think states the equation very well:
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=20567
But this much is true — the two best teams in the tournament, one dominating by awesome brute force, the other through silken touches, will contest the final. The pretenders have fallen by the wayside. So long, and thanks for the memories
** India can win World cup: Boycott** :k: :k:
Geoffrey BoycottEngland great Geoffrey Boycott believes India can win the World Cup and has advised India captain Sourav Ganguly how the triumph can come about.
“You can win the World Cup. Be patient and be cool. Just dream that you can,” he wrote in a three-page fax sent to the India captain ahead of Thursday’s semi-final against Kenya at Durban.
Boycott, the former England opening batsman, is a household name in cricket-crazy India where he became hugely popular for his outspoken comments on television.
He was forced to miss a commentary assignment at the World Cup after undergoing surgery for throat cancer, but has followed the tournament closely from his home in Yorkshire.
“Catches and run-outs win matches,” Boycott wrote in the fax.
"It is an old saying but we often forget it. Place the right fielders in right places.
"Everyone in your team cannot be as agile as each other. It is your duty whom to place where and whom to hide. It is important.
"Try to be at your best while on the field. A captain’s body language is important, so try to be positive all the time. Let everybody understand that this is the last opportunity and please do not lose your cool or argue with the umpire.
“There might be some decisions going against you but that should not force you to argue with the umpires. You will get scope to say those words to the umpire once the match ends.”
So here we are.. the worldcup final...
India has experienced a complete reversal of fortunes since the start of the tournament. All the effigies must have been put in cold storage now :)
But atleast three of thier batsmen arent tested to the limits yet. Gangluy hasnt scored agiasnt bigger teams Yet, correct me if i m wrong but he has struggled to make it to the double figures apart from the minnows??
Mongia, well i wonder why is he even in the team. Hasnt batted in last three to four games. Indians should have had one tougher game before the final. I think they should play bangar or Agarkar. But then again it will be a huge risk as these guys havent played in a month and putting them in a worldcup final?? hmm....
and the third guy is Sehwag, The guy is doing one thing, he is giving starts with sachin and just hanging in till his form gets the better of him.
Other then that, he is not at his best.
Bowling wise thier seamers are doing great job but harbhajan is not. so that is another thing they shud take care of.
And yes mostly it depends on Sachin coz a cmpetitive indian score is hugely dependent on an excellent start from Sachin. If he doesnt come off, indians will definitely struggle.
Ehsan bhai..Looks like even Sanjay manjrekar comes to KK.he just published his article and said what I already mentioned here.Play Dravid at no.3
http://www.wisden.com/column/column.asp?colid=44121493
**
Flexibility is key
**
India once again came up with a clinical performance. They came out aggressively and played hard cricket. Yet again, the seam bowlers continued their good work.
They do have cause for concern, though – the injury to Rahul Dravid. As of this moment, the extent of the injury is not known. But if it is going to prevent him from wicketkeeping in the final, then India might have to play him as a specialist batsman, with Parthiv Patel replacing Dinesh Mongia.
The Indian batsmen – Sachin Tendulkar included – seemed to have set their minds on getting a big score today. Not wanting to miss out against an easy bowling attack, they did not play their normal game. Tendulkar, for instance, looked to collect runs instead of unleashing the full firepower of his natural strokeplay.
That inhibition and the slow nature of the pitch resulted in the early struggle. Thankfully, Sourav Ganguly played an important innings and ensured that India reached a comfortable and safe score. Ganguly batting at No.3 against spinners was a big advantage for India. The Kenyans erred in giving Ganguly too much spin bowling to feast on.
Once India reached 270, there was only one winner. Kenya had reached the frontiers of their ability, particularly against a top-class seam attack that was able to fully exploit the conditions under lights. The pitch offered seam movement, there was dew in the air, and it was all too much for the Kenyans.
In the final, the Indian bowling might withstand the pressure. But the batting is a concern. India will need to be flexible. The formula that has worked against lesser opposition should not be taken as a key to win against Australia. Ganguly at No.3 looks a sitting duck against them. He could be more effective lower down the order, with Dravid batting at No.3 and absorbing some of the pressure.
Crucial game for both countries. Both teams have been playing very well. And their batting(Aus/Ind) has been consistent, or at least I think.
Which team do u think has a better bowling attack?
On the other hand Australia are on a roll But i think their top order is not at its best with Hayden gilchrist and Ponting all erratic and inconsistent. Thier middle and late order is really in great form.
Bowling wise the case is same as with aussies. Not muh firepower in there after initial assaults from Lee and Mcgrath. Lee is in the form of his life, he is exactly doing what Shoaib was supposed to do 
i.e rattle the top order through express pace and accuracy. Bichel, Hogg and others shud not be a problem for Indians…
as much as i want Aussies to win but it would be better for cricketing world if India wins it coz it will sned the message that Aussies are not invincibles and they are the team that can be beaten. Anyways lets see 
Yeah, hear ya all. If Sachin clicks, India could post a good total or chase it. Man, Tendu must be feelin' a great deal of pressure. I don't expect Sehwag, Ganguly to do damage. Kaif, Singh and Dravid will be able to resist Aussies pace attack.
Okay, let me understand this. What's the use of playin' 7 batsmen? If six batmens can't put a score, you mean Mongia will do that? I'd prefer a bowler instead of Mongia. Replace Mongia and bring back Agit Agarkar. Indians should have done that in the match against Kenya; and I reckon Ganguly would prefer the same team as he did in the Semi-Final. When you are playin' against Aussies, you gotta have options in bowlin' and battin' departments. Catches and run-outs do wonders if you field well.
From the Aussies side, any player can turn around the game anytime. You just never know. Only MacGrath can't bat. Symonds, Bevan & Bichel duo, Gilchrist and Hayden are in their greatest forms ever! Ricky has been proven a good Captain.
Almost 20 years back, West Indies were goin' to win the WC for the thrid time. Caribbean boys dream was ripped apart by the Indians. It was a shock to the Cricket World. Could that happen again? I heard a famous sayin' History repeats itself. Have you?
Havin' said that, this WC has been proven Mother of Controversy and Upsets. In the end, either 1 billion people are gonna have party or 1 continent of the World. :)
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Pakistani Tiger: *
Gilchrist and Hayden are in their greatest forms ever!
[/QUOTE]
I disgree PT yara, Gilly is just in an okay form and Hayden is in a really bad form.
saby yaar, feel free to disagree with me. I don't mind. :p
Waisay, Gilchrist and Hayden outperformed India in the league match. :)
both teams are playing well. Tend, Ganguly, Hayden, Symond, Lee, all of these guys are performing well. It should be a tough matchup.
AUSTRALIA all the way.
India all the wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy to the cup. It will be miraculous and we'll take it!
**I am ready for Tendulkar: Lee
**
JOHANNESBURG: Fast bowler Brett Lee says he’s keen to test himself against Indian opener Sachin Tendulkar in the World Cup final after Australian coach John Buchanan dubbed him the new Jeff Thomson of cricket.
The Lee vs. Tendulkar duel looms as the most anticipated head-to-head in the World Cup and the outcome will be determined by who comes out on top - if India qualifies for Sunday’s final at Wanderers.
Tendulkar, the most successful batsman in one-day cricket, leads the runmakers here with a record 586 runs before today’s semifinal against Kenya.
Lee has been at his devastating best lately, increasing his haul to 20 wickets as he’s tormented opposition batsmen with his blistering pace.
“It would be great to bowl against the world’s best batsman,” said Lee. “He’s a great character. He’s tall in stature but he’s not really tall in height.
“If you bowl a bad line and length then you just get dispatched. It’s pretty hard to bowl to Sachin because no matter where you put the ball, he always seems to find a spot to hit it in.”
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?artid=40906081