ICC T20 World Cup
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I'm worried about England in the semi though. They have some pretty serious hitting power if they get going, and Root is all class. We will need Guppy fit and firing to get us a decent total, assuming Kane continues to win the toss
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<p>I've just watched the 30 min highlights of the India-Aust game. Kohli is definitely the key and seems to be able to score effortlessly in all parts of the ground - he's that good. The Indian bowlers aren't great though. That's for the Windies to worry about.</p>
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<p>I can't see too many changes in the NZ team even if the pitch in Delhi isn't a slow turner. Milne back in for McCullum (maybe) and hopefully Guptill is good to go.</p> -
<p>That was a masterclass from Kohli. A truly remarkable innings on a slow deck. His manipulation of the ball to gaps with timing more than power is an ideal blueprint for Kane to follow.</p>
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<p>He literally won the game and it was a massive game.</p>
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<p>Aussies will consider played 4 won 2 lost 2 to be a failure and while that team has raw talent, it's noticable that they lack a bit of composure that's been the hallmark of Aussie teams before. Watson stood up and his experience will be missed. Smith needs to stop being petulant. Swearing and shaking your head is not the way a captain should carry on. Similarly just before Kohli got going and turned it into a 19 over run chase there were a lot of startled fielders and bowlers on screen. They didn't cope too well witht he 2's being run and that's a mental work on. They'll get better with experience but composure and assured calmness will be a work on for Boof.</p>
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<p>India, well stop Kohli and you're half way there</p>
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<p>Good game though all said and done</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="567731" data-time="1459115827">
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<p>India's form hasn't exactly been compelling. It's been:<br><br>- embarrassed by us in game 1<br>
- Kohli single handedly beating Pakistan<br>
- embarrassed by the Bangles in game 3, only the biggest choke in the history of T20 cricket kept them in the comp<br>
- Kohli single handedly beating Aussie<br><br>
So if you get Kohli early they are fucked. Plus they have never beaten the Black Caps in a T20 before ;)<br><br>
But, Kohli just has to come off for 2 games in a row which is just as likely given how fucking good he is.<br><br>
Let's hope we get a Gayle special in the semi :)</p>
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<p>With the Pakistan and Australia matches I thought Afridi and Smith criminally undervalued spin. Afridi dropped a spinner for another seamer while Smith gave Zampa and Maxwell only 2 overs each. Appalling captaincy in both cases.</p>
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<p>Sammy won't be so thick.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="566180" data-time="1458503817">
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<p>A couple of predictable results overnight although the Afghans certainly didn't disgrace themselves.</p>
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<p>Is it too early to pick the top two teams to make the semis from each pool ?</p>
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<p><strong>For what it's worth at this stage I'll go NZ, India, WI, England.......</strong></p>
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<p>That of course depends hugely on the India/Aus game which will be a cracker, still fucken thrilled our boys have knocked both of them off already though.</p>
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<p>SA struggle with knockout cricket and I can't see Pakistan or the Lankans playing anything else than a "spoiler" type role to be honest.</p>
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<p>Even a broken clock is right twice a day.</p>
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<p>Not bold enough to pick a winner from that bunch though.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="567878" data-time="1459147925"><p>
Even a broken clock is right twice a day.<br><br>
Not bold enough to pick a winner from that bunch though.</p></blockquote>Fffffuckin spot on Bevan! <br>
Nice work.<br><br>
If we don't win it, it's gotta be the Windies. Fuck the other two. -
<p>Kohli was superb - you can't really say Aus bowled badly but Kohli was nailing yorkers with no problem. The 6 he hit over wide long off from Faulkner was astonishing - he wasn't in position, it was a good slower ball but his wrists adjusted and sent it 86m. Very few batsmen are good enough to do that. </p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiPie" data-cid="567910" data-time="1459159655">
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<p>Kohli was superb - you can't really say Aus bowled badly but Kohli was nailing yorkers with no problem. The 6 he hit over wide long off from Faulkner was astonishing - he wasn't in position, it was a good slower ball but his wrists adjusted and sent it 86m. Very few batsmen are good enough to do that. </p>
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<p><span style="font-size:12px;">Yeah, he was doing things with technique and skill that nobody else achieved on that wicket. He's actually the blueprint that Kane could emulate I reckon</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:12px;">You had to be watching but Sunny Gavaskar cast aside all pretenses at being impartial at the end and was just about yelling with glee - gave the other commentator, Slater, hardly any talk time</span></p> -
<p>Australia never really sorted out what its best batting combo is. Added to that, Warner and Smith had pretty poor tournaments with the bat - one good score between them. Nonetheless, it's good to see them gone.</p>
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<p>It's a bit of a crapshoot, but I think we've probably got the best allround bowling and fielding team. So we mainly need the batsmen to post a competitive total and the opposition not to have a batsman who goes beserk.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Gunner" data-cid="567893" data-time="1459152018">
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<p>Fffffuckin spot on Bevan!<br>
Nice work.<br><br>
If we don't win it, it's gotta be the Windies. Fuck the other two.</p>
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<p>Damn right, cricket is better when they are strong. I've never had a major issue with the English cricket team ( unlike their other codes ) so they'd be third followed by India. Seeing them get all rabid would be extremely hard to take. Would be great if Darren Sammy and the boys could knock them over ( good old Sammy has done fuck all as a player this tourney, he's basically a specialist captain )</p>
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<p>Australia threatened as they always do but it's obviously a huge relief to see them pack their bags.</p>
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<p>I heard on the Radio this will be the BCs fifth different venue in as many games, whether that is an advantage or disadvantage is anyones fucken guess.</p> -
<p>Another advantage for England, thier women play on same pitch immediately before tonights game, no doubt will give a good pitch report to mens team.</p>
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<p>btw the pitch report showed an unusual pitch, pretty dry and green, but with plenty of cracks.</p>
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<p>I'm mildly worried that Morgan will have his 1 in 20 decent inings & take to the spinners while Butler takes 30 off one over from Anderson. But even then IÂ assuming Kane will serenely guide us home. Probably with Satner looking more & more like Danny than ever.</p>
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<p>England are pigshit v spin (bar Root). So we should just open up with that.</p> -
