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Go on Jordan
Never in doubt.
Much.
Glad Buttler was being rested, if Billings was his replacement. Jordan for the WC squad along with Archer?
Jordan looks a different bowler to a few years ago. Leaner and fitter too. I believe he has had a a lot of back issues.
Rattling through their order again
This is shameful. I grew up adoring West Indies cricketers. Almost worshiping them. When I bumped in to (literally, as we opened our car doors on to each other) Malcolm Marshall, I almost prostrated myself before him. Lovely chap, by the way.
I so want West Indies cricket to be good.
They were excellent in the test series. Hopefully a couple of pyjama party aberrations are just that.
Cracking win for Hampshire today.
Also, Soul Limbo will be ringing out again tomorrow!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/48137570
Sadly without Alex “in” Hales. C’mon Jofra!
(Hampshire looking good for Southern group champion)
Good afternoon, everybodeeeee.
England win toss and bowl first. Looks a good choice to me, touch green out there!
Normal service has resumed.
Urgh.
Bloody hell!
Missed the ending, as it was first practice session on the village cricket pitch. In the rain!
Still, the result was never in doubt, was it?
‘Twas a sure thing.
Will you be wombling over to Taunton tomorrow to see Hampshire continue their winning ways?
England win toss and bowl first.
And a max. of 47 overs each.
Buttler and Morgan again......
PAK looking good in the chase.
I’m loving the varying pronunciations of Fakhars name
England made to work for it, and will keep the selectors busy with options. Hoping it’s a good example of what the WC will bring.
Afternoon, everybodeeeee.
England bowl first.
Bit of a shame, I feel. When they eventually bat first, on current form we might see a truly massive total.
Edit - I'm not the only one thinking that!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/48295945
Small boundaries, and assuming ul-Haq comes back in, England could be chasing a big total, albeit not the record monkey+.
Some quality batting here. Not just biff and bash, but some elegant shots being played as well.
Blimey
Complexion changes in 10 balls!
Never in doubt. Again!
Stokes regaining a bit of form in time for the Summer.
Are we happy with the WC squad? Dropping Willey for Archer the right call I think. Apart from 2 overs up front he’s rarely in it as a bowler.
Vince more versatile as spare batsman
Yeah happy with it, unsure about the kit though
I agree with Houns!
Also, Hampshire are in the runs again!
BUTTLER SMASH!
Here we go! World Cup time!
SA win the toss and will bowl first. Forecast looks good. So, big total or a return to collapse?
Day off, lots of menial home jobs lined up. Headphones charged - looking forward to it!
My traditional British glass half empty outlook is for a humiliating drubbing on day one.
Not the best start, then!
What’s that song? Things can only get better!
England certainly seem to have decided how they are going to play this tournament!
SA have a very good attack though.
Very even so far.
320 + will be par
Enjoying cutting grass in a beautiful walled garden at work listening to TMS, life’s pretty sweet (even better if England can knock a few more runs in the last 4 overs)
320 looks doable, Dan.
Or not.
Fingers crossed.
Hmmmm. Not enough I fear.
It comes to something when 311 feel below par.
I think it’ll be tight. Although SA don’t bat as deep, it’s a manageable chase. We need Archer on song. SA bowled and fielded tightly, save for one loose over.
(At the ground, soaking in the atmosphere rather than the sun).
Not too shabby. 167-6.
Catch.
RM.
What a catch that was. Astonishing.
Fabulous start
Fantastic!
Hope Stokes doesn’t continue the celebrations in a night club.
Quality! I love the fact that nothing is left just to run to the boundary, they chase everything where there is a slight possible chance of stopping 1/2 runs. Good work especially when the opener of any tournament in many sports turns out to be a mare for the hosts!
I’m actually a bit disappointed in SA. The best player in the world (ABdV) not playing, others a shadow of themselves (Duminy & Amla)
It does also show how lucky we are with genuine bowling All-rounders in our team.
SA bowled well today and we still got 311. Points in the bag against strong opposition. Losing today would have made every game a must-win.
My final 4 :
Eng
WI
Aus
Ind
That looks the strongest 4, although love AFG to be in there.
Certainly not PAK on their sorry showing this morning.
Poor showing from ****stan's batting lineup, they don't look like they'll make 3 figures here - albeit against some aggressive bowling. Best moment of the morning was a fan in a T-Shirt saying "I BAK THE PAK" 😂
RM.
Very pleased to see an apparent resurgence in WI cricket!
105 ao.
Ooof!
Only listening not watching but a bit of a clarification on the 2 short deliveries in an over seems to be in order. Sounds like there were plenty of deliveries which were not counted as short that could have been on another day.
I was only dipping in and out but not too many were getting up around the shoulders and there was quite a lot around the ribs. It became more the threat of a decent short ball and an inability to deal with it early on that got ****stan in a pickle.
****stan started this badly in the Champions Trophy - and won it!!
Exactly, it is a long old tournament where a lot can happen!
I hope they do improve- I’ve just had an invite to AUS v. PAK on Wednesday week!
Big test for SA now - effectively out if they lose this one. Considering Bangladesh are a strong bowling line up, and their spinners will like the bounce at the oval.
Crazy from du Plessis there! I think if Bangladesh get one of these out before they’re set they should win inside 50. If not it could be a good finish for the neutral.
RM.
Why would SA be ‘effectively out’ if they lose this match? They’ve got another 5 games to play.
It’s an interesting format and leaves the possibility of an unpredictable table for semi qualification.
5 or 7? Isn’t it round-robin of 10 teams, everyone gets 9 games in the group with the top 4 going through?
RM.
9 games, not 7, my bad.
I’ve also just answered my own question, or rather Dan Norcross has:
You can lose four of your nine games and still have a chance of the semi-finals if lots of teams are beating each other.
But you really don't want to be losing any more than three.
I say “effectively out” as they now need to win every game of the next 7, including lots of top teams.
Lose 4 you are out imho. Lose 3 and you will need a good NRR. That needs big wins against the lower ranked teams. One of whom just beat them.
and they got done by 100-odd against us which won't help the NRR either
clarification on the 2 short deliveries in an over seems to be in order
It's height, not 'short' surely. Anything over head is a wide and you're allowed 2 between shoulder and head, is my understanding.
That sort of WI bowling will be punished by some - Finch, Buttler etc.
Morning all.
Will ****stan fancy putting England in first if they win the toss? Plenty of runs last time out here!
We really enjoyed the Bangladesh win in the tj household!
England win toss and put them in.
Sounding like it’ll be quite a runfest today. England burn their review.
****stan off to a flyer!
A much needed wicket.
Indeed. Credit to Wood for slowing the rate down and creating the pressure, great keeping too.
RM.
Pace of the game seems to be slowing. Can't see a really big target being set.
^^^ It won't be a huge total but I am sure they will get well past 300 - but that should be beatable assuming we don't go and get ourselves an early wicket or two and nerves set in.
BANG-like 330?
Oh, Flashy - why did you have to say that??
Sorry, everyone!