The 2023 Cricket World Cup

by Duty281 Mon 18 Sep 2023, 1:09 pm

First topic message reminder :

After the drama-free finish to the 2019 Cricket World Cup, the 2023 Cricket World Cup will finally get under way on the 5th October, having been initially delayed by Covid and then threatened by a Pakistani boycott.

England are the defending champions, and they're also the reigning T20 World Champions. Doubleplusgood, eh? They're looking to be the first nation to win consecutive ODI World Cups since the Aussie vintage of 1999-2007. Biggest adversaries to that are likely to be India, who haven't won a major global competition since the 2013 Champions Trophy, but will no doubt be heartened by the knowledge that the last three ODI World Cups have been won by a host nation.

Five-time winners Australia can never be ruled out, while Pakistan are fueled by a burning motivation to win the World Cup in the homeland of their greatest rivals. New Zealand have made the last two finals - losing the last on boundary count, would you believe? - and will hope to make the final step this year.

South Africa will presumably think they're due to win something, as they've not won a global competition since the 1998 Champions Trophy, while the Afghans will believe they can spin anyone into submission. Bangladesh will be hoping to make a sizable impact at the ODI World Cup for the first time.

Sri Lanka breezed through qualifying and will be encouraged by making the recent Asia Cup final, even if they did get hammered in said final. The Netherlands round off the ten teams after performing minor miracles in qualification, which of course means the West Indies, the winners of the first two ODI World Cups, will be missing out on this tournament for the very first time.

The ten-team format for the World Cup remains as simple as ever. Ten teams all play each other once, and the top four teams in the group at the end of it go through to the semi-finals, where it becomes a straight knockout. 48 matches total. There will be reserve days for the three knockout matches and, if necessary, Super Overs. But you can't win games on boundary count anymore...

Fixtures:

Tournament Odds:

Squad Lists (Teams have until the 28th September to finalise their squads):

by KP_fan Tue 17 Oct 2023, 8:15 am

alfie wrote:

As for England , selection is a problem now , arguably made worse by failure to look at alternatives against Afghanistan. If he's fit , Stokes must return (talisman effect as well as badly needed lift to the very disappointing batting) ; but his "batsman only" current status automatically unbalances the side.
I do agree lengthening the batting is essential ; but if he replaces Curran - or Woakes - then we are looking at just three seam bowlers plus Rashid and relying on Livingstone/Root for ten overs with no spare options if a pace man has a shocker. I know Livingstone bowled well against Afghanistan but I'm not sure I totally trust him for a full spell if the pitch doesn't offer much against SA. Moeen is an alternative but when does he bowl ten these days ..

When has Moeen played ODIs on spin friendly pitches like the one in Delhi
Let's remind ourselves of the "spin stats" from that game and it wasn't even a 7/10 pitch....only about 5/10
Afg 25.3 overs of spin , 8 wickets for 105 runs
Eng 24 overs of spin, 5 wickets for 90 odd runs ( even more economical than Afg).
Should have bowled full quota of Root.

Going forward Eng's games vs Aus & SA would be equal, Ned a cake walk...
BUT the games vs Ind, Pak & SL tough......where in two of those games BCCI is likely to "arrange" spinning pitches...can't say about the Pak vs Eng game at Eden Gardens.

And therefore Eng need to be prepared to bowl atleast 30 overs of spin in those games ...leaving max 20 overs for seamers
They can keep 3 seamers or just two and go with 4 spin bowling options

Moeen should play IMO and & if he gets pitch like Delhi.....sure he will bowl 10 overs
if the pitch looks like as we suspect in the Ind / SL games....I would suggest playing only Topley & Wood as seamers
Moeen, Adil, Liam and Root as spin options

by KP_fan Tue 17 Oct 2023, 9:27 am

Dharamsala, the seat of Dalai Lama & most scenic of Indian cricket stadia backdrops has had snow in the last day or two on the mountains in the backdrop...... and rains at cricket stadium level lesser altitude
The forecast from the Indian Meteorological Department is that of thunderstorms with rain throughout the day.

A washout would open additional possibilities in addition to killing my Golden match selection
and its the last game of the first lot, so no room to change The 2023 Cricket World Cup - Page 10 1f62f

The 2023 Cricket World Cup - Page 10 1f62f

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Tue 17 Oct 2023, 10:40 am

On England, I would be going with this XI structure

Top 6 - Bairstow, Malan, Root, Stokes, Brook, Buttler - just pick your six best batsmen, and back them to do it. Livingstone isn't one of them.

7-11 - bowlers. And I wouldn't class Livingstone as one of them, he would be a backup bat for me. So a combination of Curran/Woakes/Willey at 7 and 8, then the proper bowlers after that.

Ultimately if England are going to do well in this tournament, Curran and Woakes will need to perform better. We can muck about with side structures till the cows come home, if the best players aren't performing then we won't progress!

6 best bats in the top 6, 5 best bowlers after that. Same structure we landed on in 2019.

by Duty281 Tue 17 Oct 2023, 10:54 am

KP_fan wrote: SL tough

Come on, KP_Fan, it's time to let Sri Lanka go. They're garbage and either the worst or second worst team at this World Cup. Conceded 988 runs in 133.4 overs so far and are heading for 9th or 10th.

by Duty281 Tue 17 Oct 2023, 11:26 am

Netherlands/SA a reduced game. 43 overs a side, SA fielding first. Not big enough of a reduction for the Dutch...

by Duty281 Tue 17 Oct 2023, 12:04 pm

Michael Gough has made an umpiring error! Bigger shock than Afghanistan turning over England.

by KP_fan Tue 17 Oct 2023, 12:50 pm

Duty281 wrote:
KP_fan wrote: SL tough

Come on, KP_Fan, it's time to let Sri Lanka go. They're garbage and either the worst or second worst team at this World Cup. Conceded 988 runs in 133.4 overs so far and are heading for 9th or 10th.

whom have Lanka lost to The 2023 Cricket World Cup - Page 10 2753

SA, Pak & Aus..all Top sides
I saw them closely in Asian Cup....they are sloppy, slow in getting their act together but skillful and with magnified resources the moment ball starts turning.
They have 6 games to go and 3 of those against bottom sides....so I will wait a bit before writing them off

by alfie Tue 17 Oct 2023, 2:35 pm

SA not having it all their own way here ...

8th wicket stand by Edwards and van der Merwe taking Netherlands towards a pretty decent score for this shortened innings... 200 up now with three more overs left. Ngidi rather losing the plot ! Some knock from Edwards clap

Ha ! Some jinx . even as I post , Ngidi gets the wicket Smile

But damage done : 64 stand in six overs was pretty wild.

Wonder how many they can add in these last three overs ?

by KP_fan Tue 17 Oct 2023, 2:42 pm

64 run partnership for 8th wkt in 6 overs has created a fighting total for NED
SA took their foot off after fall of 6th wkt

by Duty281 Tue 17 Oct 2023, 2:51 pm

Yeah, didn't look as though the Dutch were going to get 200, until that spirited eighth wicket stand, which has given them something to bowl at. Edwards has done a very good job, then Dutt unexpectedly launched a few. I thought SA's bowlers were generally accurate and bowled a good length, although Ngidi hasn't done well and some of the fielding was a bit lazy.

245. That's quite decent. Let's see if the Dutch can get some early wickets to make it interesting.

by Duty281 Tue 17 Oct 2023, 2:52 pm

KP_fan wrote:
Duty281 wrote:
KP_fan wrote: SL tough

Come on, KP_Fan, it's time to let Sri Lanka go. They're garbage and either the worst or second worst team at this World Cup. Conceded 988 runs in 133.4 overs so far and are heading for 9th or 10th.

whom have Lanka lost to
SA, Pak & Aus..all Top sides
I saw them closely in Asian Cup....they are sloppy, slow in getting their act together but skillful and with magnified resources the moment ball starts turning.
They have 6 games to go and 3 of those against bottom sides....so I will wait a bit before writing them off

Not writing them off from what, sorry?

by KP_fan Tue 17 Oct 2023, 2:55 pm

The thing with these minnow sides is everyone bats down to 10 as we saw for Afg and now NED

This is a 285 score and an upset is a distinct possibility
Thats' what Afg has also gotten

by alfie Tue 17 Oct 2023, 2:57 pm

Plenty , was the answer ! Dutt came in at ten and hit three sixes : Edwards 78 no and a total of 245/8 from their 43 overs. So added 105 from the last nine overs...

SA will probably be able to run this down ; but their much praised pace bowlers (apart from Jansen) have been put to the sword - and their fielding fell apart under pressure. 21 wides in the 32 extras wasn't a good look either. Even if they do win , I reckon their assumed standing has taken a bit of a knock.

by KP_fan Tue 17 Oct 2023, 3:15 pm

Duty281 wrote:
KP_fan wrote:
Duty281 wrote:
KP_fan wrote: SL tough

Come on, KP_Fan, it's time to let Sri Lanka go. They're garbage and either the worst or second worst team at this World Cup. Conceded 988 runs in 133.4 overs so far and are heading for 9th or 10th.

whom have Lanka lost to
SA, Pak & Aus..all Top sides
I saw them closely in Asian Cup....they are sloppy, slow in getting their act together but skillful and with magnified resources the moment ball starts turning.
They have 6 games to go and 3 of those against bottom sides....so I will wait a bit before writing them off

Not writing them off from what, sorry?

not writing them off as garbage and either the worst or second worst team at this World Cup.

by Duty281 Tue 17 Oct 2023, 4:08 pm

It's happening again...

SA 44/4, three wickets in 14 balls.

by KP_fan Tue 17 Oct 2023, 4:31 pm

Ohh theee South Africans
They start with a bang and somehow conjured to knock themselves out before reaching semis in the T20 world cup also.

ENG will be rooting for NED here for sure

by GSC Tue 17 Oct 2023, 4:38 pm

I think everyone is KPF

Still pretty manageable but SA can't lose too many more

by Duty281 Tue 17 Oct 2023, 4:43 pm

Unlike the Dutch, South Africa have a lengthy tail, and it's about to be exposed because they're five down!

by GSC Tue 17 Oct 2023, 4:45 pm

Hello!

by VTR Tue 17 Oct 2023, 4:48 pm

This could be the biggest shock in cricket for at least 2 days

by Duty281 Tue 17 Oct 2023, 4:51 pm

Biggest shock since Chile's women not beating Argentina's women in the T20 series.

by Duty281 Tue 17 Oct 2023, 4:58 pm

That RRR starting to be a problem as it goes above 7.

by Duty281 Tue 17 Oct 2023, 5:08 pm

Down goes the sixth, it's becoming Miller or bust for South Africa.

by KP_fan Tue 17 Oct 2023, 5:18 pm

NED was also 112-6
But with SA Jansen at 7 batting is shallow
Bavuma not contributing as opener and tail starting at 7
Suddenly SA batting look very weak
Feet of clay exposed

by KP_fan Tue 17 Oct 2023, 5:24 pm

Coetzee averages 28 in FC
And Rabada and Maharaj 16 in OdIs

So they can hang around with Miller and I hope they do....this is my Golden Match
..should have been 100% safe

by Duty281 Tue 17 Oct 2023, 5:36 pm

Van Beek, hero of the game v West Indies in the Qualifier, knocks the top of Miller's off stump and that could be the game.

Two shocks to electrify the World Cup into life a third of the way through.

Required rate up to 9.9 presenting another issue....and that's the eighth! De Leede getting into the wickets column. Wow, what a win this will be for the Dutch, fast becoming a real nemesis for South Africa at World Cups (something the English can also be familiar with).

by king_carlos Tue 17 Oct 2023, 6:07 pm

Well this should blow the group stages open again and keep things interesting!

I'd say the chances of a side with 5 wins and decent NRR making the semis is about to take a hefty jump from possible to probable.

by Duty281 Tue 17 Oct 2023, 6:10 pm

Absolutely, the chances of five wins being enough for a SF spot have increased, so perhaps it marginally reduces the necessity for England and Australia to win their next games, but they still remain key fixtures.

And it also further cements India and NZ's semi-final prospects.

by GSC Tue 17 Oct 2023, 6:27 pm

Yet another dull one sided win

by Duty281 Tue 17 Oct 2023, 6:38 pm

Amazing! Well done to the Dutch. No outstanding spells, just a real team effort with the ball, backed up in the field. A real comeback after they were 82/5 and 200 looked unlikely, never mind 245 and a victory.

Two shocks in this round of fixtures have ignited the World Cup a third of the way through the group stage. Let's hope it stays alight.

Virtually secure - New Zealand + India
Good progress - Pakistan
In the hunt - South Africa
On life support - Australia, Bangladesh, England
Brown bread - Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Netherlands

The fourth round of fixtures throws up some very intriguing games. Afghanistan v New Zealand is tomorrow. A NZ win makes them 4-0 and off into the distance, while another Afghan surprise will actually see Afghanistan swing into being semi-final contenders. NZ certainly won't be complacent after what's happened in the last few days...

by alfie Wed 18 Oct 2023, 6:04 am

alfie wrote:

As for possible knockout qualification though far too early to tell. Suspect there may be another upset or two from the minnows so it is entirely possible for , say , the top three teams to get 21/22 wins between them , the bottom four another 8/9 : so leaving 15 to be shared between the "middle three". In other words , 5 wins and a good -or less bad - NRR might be enough for 4th place.

Of course I am not sure whether either England or Australia actually qualify as one of the "middle three" on present form

Thought I would flag my comment from a couple of days back in light of overnight action : might have to add SA to the doubtful status lot Smile

by GSC Wed 18 Oct 2023, 9:52 am

That really should've been taken, Young gets a second life early

by Duty281 Wed 18 Oct 2023, 11:18 am

NZ doing one of those collapse things which are becoming very popular at this World Cup - three wickets down in nine balls.

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Wed 18 Oct 2023, 11:25 am

I see Davey boy is still moaning about an LBW decision which he reviewed and it was proven to be hitting the stumps - similar to how Smith was doing so in the previous game. Remind me again, whinging Poms?
Leopard's never change their spots, those two are a stain on the game. Actually think Warner should at least be fined for this nonsense

https://x.com/WisdenCricket/status/1714567017624191322?s=20

by GSC Wed 18 Oct 2023, 11:26 am

Young made the most of his extra life.

by GSC Wed 18 Oct 2023, 11:28 am

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:I see Davey boy is still moaning about an LBW decision which he reviewed and it was proven to be hitting the stumps - similar to how Smith was doing so in the previous game. Remind me again, whinging Poms?
Leopard's never change their spots, those two are a stain on the game. Actually think Warner should at least be fined for this nonsense

https://x.com/WisdenCricket/status/1714567017624191322?s=20

I don't really understand his point. Ball tracking says it would've hit, just within the margin of error. So at best it was extremely close to hitting. Hardly the kind of decision worth making a major deal about

by GSC Wed 18 Oct 2023, 11:30 am

If he wants to moan that the technology has allowed certain umpires to basically guess and let the technology make the decision then sure I guess. But the decision was right in this case lol

by VTR Wed 18 Oct 2023, 12:11 pm

So Warner wants a stat shown for how many 50/50 decisions an umpire gives. It reminds me of that line from Naked Gun:

"Doctors say that Nordberg has a 50/50 chance of living, though there's only a 10 percent chance of that"

by Duty281 Wed 18 Oct 2023, 12:15 pm

The Cricinfo article makes it sound even worse.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/david-warner-explains-outburst-following-lbw-against-sri-lanka-1404017

"At the moment, we seem to be waiting for [ball-tracking]," Warner said. "And as a player, you get more frustrated because you think, 'Did they line it up? What's the impact points? how many impact points are there before it goes on?'.

"I've never had Hawk-Eye come in and explain to us how the technology actually works; it's just for the TV. If they could come in and explain to us how it works, then sometimes we might not refer, or [actually] refer it."

Despite Warner's claim, it is understood Australia's players and coaching staff have had multiple opportunities in recent years to learn about how the ball-tracking technology works, with some players being taken to the broadcast trucks to see the ball-tracking system in action.

It is also understood that Australia's players have had the opportunity to work with some ICC umpires on decision percentages and decision-making processes. It is not known which players have taken up those opportunities or when they were specifically arranged.

Laugh

by alfie Wed 18 Oct 2023, 12:29 pm

Afghans punching above their weight again I see... NZ will want to make the most of these last 11 overs. Seems only yesterday we were all moaning about predictable one sided matches : lately we've been getting major upset one sided matches Smile

by Soul Requiem Wed 18 Oct 2023, 12:44 pm

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:I see Davey boy is still moaning about an LBW decision which he reviewed and it was proven to be hitting the stumps - similar to how Smith was doing so in the previous game. Remind me again, whinging Poms?
Leopard's never change their spots, those two are a stain on the game. Actually think Warner should at least be fined for this nonsense

https://x.com/WisdenCricket/status/1714567017624191322?s=20

They're a pair of self entitled *****, the lack of class they've shown throughout their careers sums them up. There's more to greatness than just numbers and that's why neither will be remembered fondly.

by alfie Wed 18 Oct 2023, 12:45 pm

And I am a bit surprised at Warner carrying on like that. Seems a bit of a follow up to Smith refusing to believe the lbw decision against him in the previous game... And all the fuss about the Stoinis caught behind one - which of course has had a bit of support online . Surely not a calculated Aussie plan to try and steer umpires into giving them a bit more favourable treatment ? Because wasting all that emotional energy grumbling about perceived past injustices seems to me not a good idea when you really need to concentrate on what you do in the future games. If I were Pat Cummins I'd be telling him to pull his head in and bat.
It is true sometimes a batsman might feel aggrieved when given out onfield to an extremely marginal lbw - for example Jonny Bairstow was clearly most unhappy to be gone with two umpire's call lights the other day : but that doesn't entitle you to demand the whole drs system be overhauled. Though perhaps requesting your team should be allowed to avoid Joel Wilson could be seen as reasonable Smile

by GSC Wed 18 Oct 2023, 12:46 pm

Afghanistans catching has been suboptimal. Could've probably held NZ to around 250 or so

by alfie Wed 18 Oct 2023, 12:50 pm

Afghan fielding letting them down badly in these late overs... Hundred stand up now and at 210/4 NZ might be ready to really make them pay in these last six overs.

by alfie Wed 18 Oct 2023, 1:12 pm

Yes these death overs are getting smashed...though Phillips caught now off a full toss might save them a few runs. NZ on for 270 plus still : they'd have bitten your hand off for that an hour ago.

Ah...Latham gone too : Naveen having a bit of a magic over here...

by GSC Wed 18 Oct 2023, 1:14 pm

Phillips was looking for 300 so those wickets might help them keep it down to 270-280 odd. But the chance to hold it to a really competitive total has rather gone I think

by alfie Wed 18 Oct 2023, 1:20 pm

Yes they did well to beat England : but I rather doubt Afghanistan is capable of chasing down 280 against this NZ outfit. Can be sure they won't be gifting their batsmen all these extra runs from fielding errors anyway.

Might be more than 280 still the way Chapman is hitting t now ! Last over to go...

by alfie Wed 18 Oct 2023, 1:25 pm

288. Think that'll do.

by Duty281 Wed 18 Oct 2023, 1:29 pm

288. Latham and Phillips was like an old-fashioned ODI partnership, where they carefully built and tried to launch at the end. Afghanistan's fielding was abysmal and probably cost them at least 20 runs. Naveen put in some good death bowling, but his efforts were entirely undermined by Omarzai.

That should be enough for NZ on a pitch that has had a bit for the bowlers in it, but after the events of the past few days I suppose we shouldn't rule Afghanistan out. Might also be some dew late on. Cricinfo giving Afghanistan a 36% chance...I really wouldn't go that high.

by GSC Wed 18 Oct 2023, 1:35 pm

240-250 if you hold some of these chances and Afghanistan are right in the game. 288 feels like it's going to need a fairly big effort, though it's not a monster score in the current game

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