CRICKET WORLD CUP KICKS OFF

[nookiebear]

England have a lucky 6 run victory over SA

[isanbirder]

Lucky, Nookie?  It was a tremendous fight-back from the time when SA were 123-3... and we got them all out for 165.  The tension of the last overs was just what makes ODIs a great form of cricket.

[nookiebear]

Lucky, Nookie?  It was a tremendous fight-back from the time when SA were 123-3... and we got them all out for 165.  The tension of the last overs was just what makes ODIs a great form of cricket.

Very Very Lucky!!!

[isanbirder]

Good cricket... but we won, so I won't argue!

[boloa]

Sri Lanka V Zimbabwe

Sri Lanka 268/0 off 42.4 overs   

I think this is a record opening partnership for I day cricket  or maybe just the World Cup 

[nookiebear]

The 1st wicket went down on 282...now 302-5 off 47 overs

[isanbirder]

Poor Zimbabwe!  I shall be glad when the group matches are over, and the top eight sides can get down to the real thing, elimination matches against sides of somewhere near the same standard.

[nookiebear]

Poor Zimbabwe!  I shall be glad when the group matches are over, and the top eight sides can get down to the real thing, elimination matches against sides of somewhere near the same standard.

I agree with you there,,,however you do get the odd upset

[isanbirder]

Here's a suggested alternative format.  The top six sides (?on Test rankings?) go straight into the quarters.  The remaining eight play in two elimination groups of four each, the winners of each group to enter the quarters.  This would reduce the number of games, give the minnows a better chance of reaching the quarters.  Top 6 teams could arrange friendlies among themselves for practice if they want to.  And fewer games would have a foregone conclusion.

[boloa]

Here's a suggested alternative format.  The top six sides (?on Test rankings?) go straight into the quarters.  The remaining eight play in two elimination groups of four each, the winners of each group to enter the quarters.  This would reduce the number of games, give the minnows a better chance of reaching the quarters.  Top 6 teams could arrange friendlies among themselves for practice if they want to.  And fewer games would have a foregone conclusion.

Sounds a bit elitist to me,sport is all about taking part.Some of the lesser nation's might enjoy playing the top players/nation's ,even if they lose. And as Nookies says "however you do get the odd upset" which all adds to the fun of watching 

[isanbirder]

Here's a suggested alternative format.  The top six sides (?on Test rankings?) go straight into the quarters.  The remaining eight play in two elimination groups of four each, the winners of each group to enter the quarters.  This would reduce the number of games, give the minnows a better chance of reaching the quarters.  Top 6 teams could arrange friendlies among themselves for practice if they want to.  And fewer games would have a foregone conclusion.

Sounds a bit elitist to me,sport is all about taking part.Some of the lesser nation's might enjoy playing the top players/nation's ,even if they lose. And as Nookies says "however you do get the odd upset" which all adds to the fun of watching 

Any kind of a championship is elitist by definition.  And I think my suggestion would give the minnows a better chance of reaching the quarters and maybe progressing further.

But, Up the Irish!

[nookiebear]

Will they or wont they beat the Windies to qualify??

[garytaffy]

the Windies will turn them over.........end of tournament! 

[nookiebear]

the Windies will turn them over.........end of tournament!

Wait & See

[nookiebear]

the Windies will turn them over.........end of tournament!

eAT YOUR WORDS tAFFY!!!