An honest question to Indian fans: Are we really a better ODI side than South Africa ? They will win it this time.

[DeadMan]

SL - no chance. Their batting is thin. Sangakarra, Jaya can't do it all the time. FTB Dilshan won't be able to do it against sheer pace that Aussies and RSA will serve. They don't have quality finishers. And their spin bowling is cannon fodder for Indian players. Aussies - Superb pace attack that could be lethal in knockout encounters. But their batting is so woefully out of form against spinners. They dont like batting in slow subcontinent conditions. They have not for years. No Hayden, Gilly at the top to take the game away. Ponting out of form. Don't fear them.

ya ya ur team have only quality finishers.gud luck 4 ur dream :finger:

[OriginalCopy]

I hope we lose 2 games in the group stages (because of the batting not clicking) one of them to South Africa. That is the only way, the law of averages will work in our favor in the knockout stage starting with the quarters.

Did you study Probability in class 11, 12th or later? Or is 'humanities' your forte? On your original question, in my opinion India is better than South Africa in Indian conditions.

[patriot]

This "law of averages" argument crap is a steaming pile of bullshit. It never caught up with OZ who won haven't lost a WC game in 12 years. India in 03 won 9 games on the trot or something, and were only stopped in the final by a decidedly better OZ outfit. SA still hasn't shown much of ability to win close games, so I would back India to win a knockout game against them.

LOL...you must be on a real high to compare this Indian team to the Aussie teams that steam rolled teams in the 2003 and 2007 WC. Their batting was as formidable as ours and on its's rare off days that are a function of " law of averages" , it had Mcgrath, Lee, Gillespie and Company in bowling ( all average 21ish with the ball) and FAR superior fielding to make up atleast 30 runs.

[Hindustani]

This "law of averages" argument crap is a steaming pile of bullshit. It never caught up with OZ who won haven't lost a WC game in 12 years. India in 03 won 9 games on the trot or something, and were only stopped in the final by a decidedly better OZ outfit. SA still hasn't shown much of ability to win close games, so I would back India to win a knockout game against them.

True, the thing with law of averages is, there is NO fixed sample space. Anyway, in India, India > South Africa by good margin, on turning wickets, India >> South Africa. But like as said earlier, the format of the game and world cup is allowing equal opportunity to everyone, even BD can win the wold cup if they manage to sneak into QF (which they should) as they just need 3 strong performances from their bowling/batting and some luck. I don't think India will win the cup though, will have one bad day and its all over for them, though they are the most strong side in the Cup

[Ultimate_Game]

^^^ "Law of averages" argument in sports is made by the losers to make themselves happy that they might win the next time round but it doesn't have any basis. It's an argument similar to "bad decisions even out in the end for the team/player" which again is not true.

[vvvslaxman]

Law of averages can be applied to individuals. But in a team game you can't apply law of averages. A good team will have more match winners. All you need is 1 or 2 winners stepping up in a match.

[OriginalCopy]

Law of averages can be applied to individuals. But in a team game you can't apply law of averages. A good team will have more match winners. All you need is 1 or 2 winners stepping up in a match.

Law of averages has no statistical basis either for individuals or teams. This is just a term for hopeful / wishful thinking, nothing more.

[patriot]

Law of averages can be applied to individuals. But in a team game you can't apply law of averages. A good team will have more match winners. All you need is 1 or 2 winners stepping up in a match.

Wrong. Law of averages applies to batting as a group, this is especially true of Indian batting in ODIs. Otherwise we should be scoring 300+ every game. Just look at the sum of the averages of our top 7 and their strike rates. But we dont score 300+ every game. we have off days as a batting group. And that is the law of averages I am referring too.

[Manny_Pacquiao]

south africa are a quality team. always have been. their problem is mental; they never seem to produce in the big game. people make it sound like this is a really easy world cup to win. i disagree. 3 back to back knockout games bring huge pressure. no margin for error at any time, and u need to have 3 really good days to win. even achieving 1 victory in a knockout game can be very draining, mentally and physically. luck can only help u on 1 given day. to win the 3 games on the trot, u need quality players that can hold their nerve, otherwise u won't win. simple as that. south africa have quality, but whether they will hold their nerves and play well is anyones guess. besides, its hard to xpect a team that hasn't won a single ODI series or tournament in india to suddenly win the world cup here. south africa has always underachieved in india, thats a fact.

[girishk14]

SL - no chance. Their batting is thin. Sangakarra, Jaya can't do it all the time. FTB Dilshan won't be able to do it against sheer pace that Aussies and RSA will serve. They don't have quality finishers. And their spin bowling is cannon fodder for Indian players. Aussies - Superb pace attack that could be lethal in knockout encounters. But their batting is so woefully out of form against spinners. They dont like batting in slow subcontinent conditions. They have not for years. No Hayden, Gilly at the top to take the game away. Ponting out of form. Don't fear them.

Explains how dilshan whacked steyn, morkel & co for a century in champions league, and how we got knocked out by West Indies and pak

[patriot]

south africa are a quality team. always have been. their problem is mental; they never seem to produce in the big game. people make it sound like this is a really easy world cup to win. i disagree. 3 back to back knockout games bring huge pressure. no margin for error at any time, and u need to have 3 really good days to win. even achieving 1 victory in a knockout game can be very draining, mentally and physically. luck can only help u on 1 given day. to win the 3 games on the trot, u need quality players that can hold their nerve, otherwise u won't win. simple as that. south africa have quality, but whether they will hold their nerves and play well is anyones guess. besides, its hard to xpect a team that hasn't won a single ODI series or tournament in india to suddenly win the world cup here. south africa has always underachieved in india, thats a fact.

First thing. Playing spin in the subcontinent is not their weakness like Eng and Aus. They have won test series against Ind in Ind, SL in SL and Pak in Pak. Infact they have gotten the better of us overall in tests even in India. Their ODI batting is in top form, just like ours. And their bowling unit is far more complete and lethal. Yes, they have choked in the past. But I have a strong feeling this time they will prove everyone wrong.

[ravishingravi]

All this on paper theory mean sh@# in this cup. Essential the winner will be decided in 3 games. Whiever team has 3 good game and hold their nerve ( something SA don't know much about ) will win.

[DeadMan]

Explains how dilshan whacked steyn' date=' morkel & co for a century in champions league, and how we got knocked out by West Indies and pak[/quote'] only from their dreams:haha::haha: me hukana pakayanta pissu ban.mun maxxa athal denne :hysterical:

[Sid]

This is a 3 knockout games tournament ,even if SA wins one of the knock outs ,I am pretty sure their world famous choke will be on display in the next

[girishk14]

only from their dreams:haha::haha: me hukana pakayanta pissu ban.mun maxxa athal denne :hysterical:

Are u a troll?? Im not. I was merely highlighting how we shudnt underestimate any team. In fact, Bangaldesh cudv beaten us yesterday if they had a better pacer who didnt leak runs, and if they had gotten sehwag out. They wudv def chased something below 320.

[saneindian]

The way Smith started crying about spinning tracks shows the mental state of his side. A track taking slight turn and expect SA to choke big time. Unfortunately, as the tournament progresses and we enter end of March, the tracks will become lower, slower and turning..something which the SA team will be dreading about.

[satyam1729]

only from their dreams:haha::haha: me hukana pakayanta pissu ban.mun maxxa athal denne :hysterical:

SL too were eliminated in first round in champions trophy. :hysterical:

[DeadMan]

SL too were eliminated in first round in champions trophy. :hysterical:

:fail::finger::finger:

[Hindustani]

ya ya ur team have only quality finishers.gud luck 4 ur dream :finger:

:fail::finger::finger:

Are you acting dumb or indeed this dumb, using retarded smileys as replies to every post ? anyway SL has a good team and has good chance of winning the cup, so cheer up and gtfo now go back to your home and do your homework before mommy comes in and whoop your ASSS or else i will do it for both of you, and I won't be using finger ..

[vvvslaxman]

only from their dreams:haha::haha: me hukana pakayanta pissu ban.mun maxxa athal denne :hysterical:

Don't know what language this is . Is it something to do with banning of Pissing?