LET THE CRICKET BEGIN

[2020hindsight]

Go the southern hemisphere. Cheers martin

yep, martin, let's hope down under ends up on top

 

[2020hindsight]

http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200704/s1908761.htm

Ponting primed for final flourish. Australian captain Ricky Ponting believes he has one more big innings left in the tournament as his side head into tonight's World Cup final against Sri Lanka at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.

Australia are bidding for an unprecedented third straight World Cup title and fourth overall. They go into the showpiece match on the back of an extraordinary Cup run that has seen them go 28 games unbeaten with 22 straight wins.

Ponting has led from the front in the Caribbean, his 502 runs at an average of more than 71 surpassed only by Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene and Australian opener Matthew Hayden, who leads the tournament with 621.

"My batting, I've felt really good in every game I've played so far. I've enjoyed the partnerships we've had at the top of the order," Ponting said. "That's what it's all about. Regardless of whether I get runs, I know the other guys around me will get runs. For guys like me, who've been around a while this is the reason why you still play the game, to be involved in contests like this one. It doesn't get any bigger than a World Cup final. A lot of our players have been here and done this before. The know how in this team to get the job done in big games is right there for us."

Ponting, 32, one of six survivors from the Australia side that lifted the trophy four years ago, knows all about performing on the big occasion.

During the 2003 final he scored a magnificent 140 not out, the highest individual score in a World Cup final, as Australia thrashed India by 125 runs in Johannesburg. His 121-ball innings featured four fours and an astonishing eight sixes.

"It's about doing it one more time," Ponting said. "Hopefully there's a big score out there for me."

well you can bet we're gonna come out fighting

(even if we only win by 99 runs resourceboom lol)

 

[Bomba]

cant wait for the game tonight. im counting down the hours. I cant see OZ losing unless its an extremely spin friendly wicket.

From reports its more a pace bowlers wicket so it would be interesting to see how Tait goes.

I hope Ooh Aah is the top wicket taking bowler for the tournament and if he is the winning run getter then it will truly be a nail biting match.

 

[billhill]

I worry that malinga will be a bogey man for our team. No one has faced him before in the australian team and if you've seen his action you can see why other batsmen have found him difficult to play. Should be a good match, close i hope.

 

[2020hindsight]

Just looking at the website ( gee that wikipedia is good - probably a post by a a Kenyan lol) :-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cricket_World_Cup

South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya hosted the 2003 World Cup. The number of teams participating in the event increased from twelve to fourteen. Kenya's victories over Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, among others — and a forfeit by the New Zealand team, which refused to play in Kenya because of security concerns — enabled Kenya to reach the semi-finals, the best result by an associate. In the final, Australia made 359 runs for the loss of two wickets, the largest ever total in a final, defeating India by 125 runs.[6][32]

Hek if Kenya can beat Sri Lanka , you'd think we could do it blindfold lol

Also I notice that "Ooh Ahh" ( lol - like it ) is leading the wicket tally overall

Get a load of the bet options - sheesh . You can see why the bookies love this game
http://www.sportingbet.com.au/uipub/sport.aspx?l1id=11&l2id=608583&l3id=608584

There's one there for first aussie out - Gilchrist 1.83, Hayden 1.95
I would have thought that Gillie is the more likely (by a good margin) - - and whilst theres absolutely nothing better that seeing him in full flight - with sixes all over the place lol - you have to accept that he works a damned side harder than Hayden when we come out to field. - and its (usually) not the end of the world if he does get out early - the other good thing, he (nearly) always leaves the field with the run rate looking good at least , if not the score .
PS I wonder if he'll walk lol

I mean would YOU own up ?

 

[2020hindsight]

I hope Ooh Aah is the top wicket taking bowler for the tournament and if he is the winning run getter then it will truly be a nail biting match.

LOL - 300 to 1 mate but an interesting concept .

 

[brerwallabi]

Hmmmm looks like no sleep tonight and off to bed at 6 in the morning, need plenty of coffee tonight - no wine damn or I'll never get through it

 

[shares]

Aussies to win, 150 run demolition or 8 wicket slogging :

 

[brerwallabi]

Thats the way we should approach it and I sure Ricky will be looking for the big win.

 

[Royce]

Aussies to win, 150 run demolition or 8 wicket slogging :

Lets not get too confident..The Sri Lankans are an excellent team with great talent in both bowling and batting. ( smart coach as well ) .. I think its going to be a lot closer than most people think.


Royce

 

[2020hindsight]

hi folks.... there are 11 different ways that you can be out in a game of cricket.

1. LBW
2. Retiring - leaving the crease without the umps . consent
3. Bowled
4. Timed out - must be on the field within 3 mins of the previous dissmissal
5. caught
6. Handled the Ball
7. Hitting the ball twice
8. Hit wickets
9. Obstructing the field
10. Run out
11. Stumped Cheers Martin

Here's an old post from X2.. and likewise the odds for various ways Gillie will get out .
I guess "12. walking when the video playback shows you weren't even out" comes under the category "any other mode of dismissal"
http://www.sportingbet.com.au/uipub/sport.aspx?l1id=11&l2id=608583
hek, slip him $50 and split the difference of the 250 to 1 bet with him after the match !!

other modes:-
13. taken off to jail after breaking every window in the surrounding buildings (or maybe for losing too many balls over the perimeter fence)
14. taken off on accusations of using voodoo because the ball he hit went into orbit and didn't come down

 

[Wysiwyg]

Originally Posted by x2rider
hi folks.... there are 11 different ways that you can be out in a game of cricket.

1. LBW
2. Retiring - leaving the crease without the umps . consent
3. Bowled
4. Timed out - must be on the field within 3 mins of the previous dissmissal
5. caught
6. Handled the Ball
7. Hitting the ball twice
8. Hit wickets
9. Obstructing the field
10. Run out
11. Stumped Cheers Martin

OOOH AHHH Glenn McGrath I say ooh ahh Glenn McGrath has numbers 1..3 & 5.

Mute tyre Mulee it ran has dogged determination to spoil the aussie win.

The best in the world at cricket is Australia.C`mon aussie c`mon c`mon.

 

[2020hindsight]

well I've got $20,000 on Gillie being stumped (at about 101 I hope)
PS always wanted to be a millionaire
shame it's only monopoly money

 

[Wysiwyg]

well I've got $20,000 on Gillie being stumped (at about 101 I hope)
PS always wanted to be a millionaire
shame it's only monopoly money

I hope gilly is there long enough to see the spinner on.Every time I watch him he gets out early.

 

[2020hindsight]

I hope gilly is there long enough to see the spinner on.Every time I watch him he gets out early.

yep - and rain delayed - sounds like the spinners will have a ball - we'll sure know soon enough now

 

[Wysiwyg]

I hope gilly is there long enough to see the spinner on.Every time I watch him he gets out early.

I`m impressed with that ton........no respect.

 

[2020hindsight]

I`m impressed with that ton........no respect.

mate, lol wowo.
fastest in a final apparently , 8 x 4s, 6 x 6s. - and his first ton in a World cup and what a diplomat/ambassador !!
Hayden's was faster though. (against Sth Africa)
I take back my prediction of 101 lol.
Gillie should just get out to get a rest sheesh - he will be involved with every ball in 30 minutes or so . (cramps etc )

lol , 6 , 4 - just lately he seems to averaging 5 a ball lol.
(149 - highest score in a final in world cup)

 

[2020hindsight]

Gillie's wagon wheel in 3D

 

[2020hindsight]

that was Gillie at his finest, and his willow at its best,
and his slogfesting unkindest sending bullets east and west,
that was Gillie super statesman, with a grin from ear to ear,
that was Gillie supermate, and the Australian of the Year

 

[Wysiwyg]

that was Gillie at his finest, and his willow at its best,
and his slogfesting unkindest sending bullets east and west,
that was Gillie super statesman, with a grin from ear to ear,
that was Gillie supermate, and the Australian of the Year

More than anyone expected , except for he himself.
an individual effort , a team of talent wealth.
The srees they took a spanking , no bowler spared today.
the aussies reached into their heart , and tore a piece away.



(I was published in an anthology many years ago you know,only average in my opinion)