Balance of World cup groups.

[dial_100]

Pak are a dangerous side, the format suits them Beat the minnows and still lose to the rest of the big guns in the group then you still make the quarter finals and it only takes 1 win to get you into the semis. Pak doesn't have a reliable team but individual match winners can prove to be the diffrence in 1 match. Razzaq vs Saffas Gul vs England Pakistan would destroy Bangladesh any day so to compare them is just stupid. You can only compare sides when they play each other Recent games have been Pak vs Bangladesh Asia Cup - Pak win easily Recent Games Pak vs India Asia Cup - Thriller which India edges. Champions Trophy - Malik plays a great innings alongside Moyo

Your team is too losely tied together. It is easy to get them unoriganized in the game. Reason is, all the recent activities/disrepute that has engulfed all the talent your team had. There was time when Pak team would excel in the pressure situation. But now they dont even feel the pressure because of so many contraversies. I hope they live up to your expectations, friend.

[bharathh]

The groups are OK. If any of the top 8 fail to reach the quarter finals .. .it will be a big shame. Lots of boring matches in prospect though. I liked the 92 WC format. Don't think any other WC has quite got it right like that one did.

[kabira]

we may finish number 2 in the group and pakistan number 3 so Ind v/s Pak in Ahmedbad. I am going baby.

[ludhianvi]

we may finish number 2 in the group and pakistan number 3 so Ind v/s Pak in Ahmedbad. I am going baby.

As long as India qualify for the knockouts, they're playing the quarters at Ahmedabad. So it could still be any combination A1 vs B4 or A2 vs B3 or B1 vs A4 or B2 vs A3 as far as the Ind-Pak clash is concerned.

[kabira]

Yes I know. I will be there regardless. All of my staff will be there as well..

[Sachinism]

Yes I know. I will be there regardless. All of my staff will be there as well..

Are you buying tickets for all of your staff?

[Ram]

Is this WC going to be '96 style League --> Qtr. finals --> Semis -->Finals? I thought the 2003 edition had a really nice format. Teams could carry over their points into the super- sixes from the league phases. That way, we could avoid a potential repeat of the ’96 scenario when a team like South Africa absolutely dominated the league phase but got overcome by a fantastic Lara 100 in the quarter finals.

[kabira]

Are you buying tickets for all of your staff?

50% of the ticket yes.

[maniac]

I think the balance is right...realistically it should be Ind,SA,Eng from Group A and Aus,SL,NZL and Pak from group B and Bang and WI fighting for the 4th spot in Group B. Zim,Ire are the only minnows from non-test playing nations that are capable of producing a miracle and they are placed on either side of the group. I think the ICC has got it right.The grouping is just perfect to have the top 8 teams in the Knockout stages. I still think super 8 format is better than Knockout stages in round 2 Remember in 96 when a Lara special knocked out favouraites SA who were till then on winning spree.

[maniac]

Is this WC going to be '96 style League --> Qtr. finals --> Semis -->Finals? I thought the 2003 edition had a really nice format. Teams could carry over their points into the super- sixes from the league phases. That way, we could avoid a potential repeat of the ’96 scenario when a team like South Africa absolutely dominated the league phase but got overcome by a fantastic Lara 100 in the quarter finals.

oops,Didn't see your post.Amen to that.

[kabira]

you are happy because your team is in easy group compare to India...

[Ram]

oops' date='Didn't see your post.Amen to that.[/quote'] If that is the case, then that is not a good thing for us. Recent history tells us that while we’re unbelievably good in bilateral series (I don’t think we have lost a single bilateral series in the last 3 years. Even if we had, the number couldn’t be more than 1 or 2), our record in knock-out games (finals of tri-series’, Champions Trophy) is a lot more mixed. Our team is near unassailable, when it comes to a series of matches spread over a period of time. So the later the knock-outs begin in the WC, the better it is for us.

[kabira]

^oh we lost against Aussies in 2008

[maniac]

I know it's like comparing apples to oranges but let's take Soccer WC for eg; where the league stages are so competitive that when an underdog team reaches the Knockout stages and puts on a freak effort to knockout the favouraite team it is considered an upset but not undeserving. Cricket is more of a game of mental strength and perseverance,hence, i beleive Cricket wc should have the Super 6's or 8's that the team that has been the most consistent given a chance in Knockouts. I still think that ICC has got the balance right in terms of leagues as they have given the real top 8 teams a chance to qualify and then figh out as a test of mental strength+Capabilities for crowning the most deserved champions.This is were a team like Australia was really good over the years where as teams like S.A,Subcontinent Teams and even WI have lost the plot and pushed the panic button. All the rambling aside all I am saying is I personally dislike the format but ICC has done a good job of making the most out of it with a goood balance.

[maniac]

Our team is near unassailable, when it comes to a series of matches spread over a period of time. So the later the knock-outs begin in the WC, the better it is for us.

We are traditionally a onfidence team,Somthing against the norm happens and we get demoralised easily and our body language changes pretty fast. I may not be his greatest fan on this forum but this is were Dhoni is really good and I guess we have the best person to lead us especially in this type of format.

[dial_100]

The point is I see Table after League rounds like this Group A -------- Group B Australia -------- India Sri Lanka ------- South Africa Pakistan -------- England/Bangladesh NZ --------------- West Indies /Bangladesh Now India and SA both have easy games for QF. The points wont change much except SA may come on top followed by India and then England. But teams like Eng will not be walk over for SL. Only Aussies will find it easy to get to SF. None of the other teams from Group A will find it easy to get to SF including SL. Especially if SL manages 2nd or 3rd position on the table. If they top then it will be easy for them.

[Pak_Forever]

Considering we're the number one One Day team in the world I would hope we can 'compete'

Australia still looks the best ODI outfit to me. And considering just a year ago Australia defeated India in India 4-2 speaks volume. People here suggesting teams like Australia and Pakistan are nobodies are only living in denial. I suspect all wins in this tournament to be based on toss (except minnows). You win toss you petty much win game....the sad usual sub-continent case.

[Hindustani]

I think the balance is right...realistically it should be Ind,SA,Eng from Group A and Aus,SL,NZL and Pak from group B and Bang and WI fighting for the 4th spot in Group B. Zim,Ire are the only minnows from non-test playing nations that are capable of producing a miracle and they are placed on either side of the group. I think the ICC has got it right.The grouping is just perfect to have the top 8 teams in the Knockout stages. I still think super 8 format is better than Knockout stages in round 2 Remember in 96 when a Lara special knocked out favouraites SA who were till then on winning spree.

Ya, I am surprised they are follwoing the knockout format, probably because of 2007 disaster of WI where the cup extended for 1 month and ppl lost interest. To me, the group still looks unbalanced but they are based on current ICC rankings so it is fair enough.

[dial_100]

Australia still looks the best ODI outfit to me. And considering just a year ago Australia defeated India in India 4-2 speaks volume. People here suggesting teams like Australia and Pakistan are nobodies are only living in denial.

^ How these two relate to Pak?? Come on. You have lot of hopes from them then that is fine. But on a reality check, they are as weak as NZ or WI in ODIs as ODI ranking also suggest. They are clear 12 points behind #5 team England. These rankings are not totally rubish I tell you.

[bharathh]

Ppl (or rather Indians and Paks) lost interest in the WI tourney because both teams were knocked out in the first round. Had both teams gone into the second round, there would have been a lot more interest in the tournament.