Champions trophy 2017 discussion thread

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

First topic message reminder :

So it all kicks off today with England's game against Bangladesh at the oval

My prediction is victory for Australia overall....

Should be a really entertaining tournament!

[eirebilly]

That was a scary over from Mustafizur...

[guildfordbat]

Thing is ; we all know how destructive Roy can be.  I see a comment on Cricinfo "if Roy comes off once in the CT , England will win the match".  
Which rather misses the point that they need to win all games whether he comes off or not...they've been winning with big scores lately with no contribution from Roy ; so what harm could it do to replace him with a man in sublime form ? Even if YJB doesn't produce a vintage Roy master class innings , isn't he more likely at present to produce several good brisk innings ?  Likely the latter would be better than hoping for a miraculous return to form from Roy in time to do England any good in this tournament...

Yep, I've heard Alec Stewart say similar to a Surrey supporter who was whinging about Roy's form a couple of years ago in the domestic t20 tournament. He was right in what he said then - ''if Roy bats for 12 overs, Surrey win the game''. However, as I'm sure Stewie would readily acknowledge, what we have now is a very different kettle of fish. Unlike, the domestic t20 which began with many games in a league format, the CT format comprises only 3 league games. Lose just one of those games and you're already sweating on other results and the weather. Furthermore, Surrey didn't have a reserve like Bairstow on the bench!

[alfie]

That was a scary over from Mustafizur...

Indeed . He is looking dangerous...

With both players over fifty and playing well , I'll be so bold as to say if they can see Mustafizur off in this spell England will be massive favorites.

That is "if" . Not sure how many he will bowl in this spell but I'll be glad to see him off...as will the batsmen. Of course he will be awkward at the death too ; but not sure the other bowlers will be able to restrain them enough to make that count...

[alfie]

Hales getting a bit overexcited there against Mustafizur...steady , lad ...no need to rush.
Glad to see Root have a chat with him then. The innings is on course so nothing silly needed.

[eirebilly]

Hales just could not control himself in the end...

[alfie]

Aargh ! Leg spin filth gets the break...

Hales throws away a century...but well played.

He leave the team in a good position ; though Root's limp bothers me ...

[eirebilly]

Great knock all the same though.

I would have been tempted to get Buttler in myself.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Got no problem with Hales going for that there - pretty selfless to not just be looking to knock a few singles to get to a hundred, just mistimed the shot - no problem attacking the part time leggie!

England will have to royally screw this up to lose from here

[wisden]

108 needed from 15, with 8 wickets in hand...we really should be getting home from here..

[VTR]

Very comfortable run chase in the end, once England started to attack the end came very quickly. Root will get man of the match but Plunkett's wickets were key to allow a generally low risk run chase to be undertaken

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Easy win, especially considering we lost our best seamer after just 2 overs.

Have to hope that Root isn't badly hurt - because it seems Woakes will be out for the tournament. If we lost both I'm not sure we'd be able to overcome it.

Oh and also stop being stupid and play Rashid you idiots

[guildfordbat]

Very comfortable run chase in the end, once England started to attack the end came very quickly. Root will get man of the match but Plunkett's wickets were key to allow a generally low risk run chase to be undertaken

VTR - that's bang on.

[KP_fan]

Well an anticlimactic finish given BD set 306

So will Woakes play next game....or any games at all ?
is Stokes fit enough to bowl full throttle

[alfie]

Be surprised if we see Woakes again. Probably a big doubt for the first Test against SA too , alas.

Room for Rashid then , easily. But a bit worried about Ball in the mix - or Willey. Suppose someone will be called up to cover ? Wonder who...

No problems with the batting. Except Roy , of course. And Root - though if he can bat like that hobbling around perhaps he should turn his ankle every week

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Rashid for Ball and Willey for Woakes would be my changes for the next game. Think I'd give Roy one more shot

[VTR]

I agree with those bowling changes, but NZ seems the best opportunity to win and get through vs having to beat Australia in the last game, so I'm dropping Roy for Bairstow and letting someone else decide who bats where

[robbo277]

I wouldn't drop Roy, I'd tell him to give himself some time though. If he doesn't get a ball in his zone, he shouldn't worry about being 5* from 15. He's still got enough time to get on and get a run-a-ball ton.

Neither Root nor Tamim started slogging from ball 1, but Tamim made 128 from 142 at 90 and Root made 133 from 129 at 103.

If Roy faced that number of balls at the type of strike rate he went at when he made his two tons vs Sri Lanka last year, he'd have 170 odd! He just needs to give himself a chance to get there.

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

NZ win the toss and bat vs Aus.

Both teams pace-heavy

New Zealand Team
MJ Guptill, L Ronchi†, KS Williamson*, LRPL Taylor, NT Broom, JDS Neesham, CJ Anderson, MJ Santner, AF Milne, TG Southee, TA Boult

Australia Team
AJ Finch, DA Warner, SPD Smith*, MC Henriques, GJ Maxwell, TM Head, MS Wade†, JW Hastings, MA Starc, PJ Cummins, JR Hazlewood

[jimbohammers]

Interesting team selections. Thought Jeetan Patel would play, home ground and knows conditions.
A lot of batting for both sides

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

Rain stops play after NZ got off to a brisk start, 67/1 in the 10th.

Guptill out for 26 off 22

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

NZ have fielded the same top 4 who played in the corresponding (rained off) NZ vs Aus fixture at Edgebaston in the Champions' Trophy 4 years ago (McCullum was due to bat 5)

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Very surprised Lynn isn't playing for Australia

[Galted]

A bit disappointed with the selections, not much likelihood of commentator howlers. Head and Cummins have some potential but I'm not holding my breath.

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

Match reduced to 46 overs. Ronchi gone for a 43-ball 65, 119/2 off 17.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Ronchi must be near the top of the "bad yet somehow good batsman" in the world list

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

50 up for Kane. 176/2 off 28

[Gooseberry]

A bit disappointed with the selections, not much likelihood of commentator howlers.  Head and Cummins have some potential but I'm not holding my breath.

Hopefully Willey will get Head in the Aus Eng fixture

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

NZ gonna need 330-350 here imo pitch is a belter

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

Taylor gone for 46, Williamson accelerating, on 94 off 92. 239/3 off 37.

NZ will get a small boost off Messers Duckworth & Lewis due to the rain delay

[KP_fan]

NZ on the trajectory to a 325 in 46..although they should have sent Neesham or anderson ahead of Broom

[Galted]

A bit disappointed with the selections, not much likelihood of commentator howlers.  Head and Cummins have some potential but I'm not holding my breath.

Hopefully Willey will get Head in the Aus Eng fixture

Excellent post, Gooseberry, just the sort of effort that has me favouring this forum over the drivel you see on cricinfo.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

NZ on the trajectory to a 325 in 46..although they should have sent Neesham or anderson ahead of Broom

Was just about to post that Anderson should've been in, broom isn't the hitter he is

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

A bit disappointed with the selections, not much likelihood of commentator howlers.  Head and Cummins have some potential but I'm not holding my breath.

Hopefully Willey will get Head in the Aus Eng fixture

Excellent post, Gooseberry, just the sort of effort that has me favouring this forum over the drivel you see on cricinfo.

Cricinfo have just resorted to a Kane & AB(el) pun ...

Ton up for Williamson before he's run out - 100 off 97. 254/4, 41 balls left

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

NZ losing momentum

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

5-wicket bag for Hazelwood, and he's on a hat-trick. 291/9 with 8 balls left

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

Sigh. 291 all out. Last over not required.

6-52 for Hazelwood

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Disappointing effort by the New Zealand lower order that - think they're a good 30-40 runs short

[guildfordbat]

Hi Pete - even though your boys have put runs on the board, still a very disappointing end to the innings. From 250 odd for 3 with 7 overs left, New Zealand should have been looking to post circa 320 to 335. Always feel that to give up an over is a dreadful waste and gives a real boost to your opponents.

Opening overs of Australia's dig are obviously going to be important. Get 'em 45/2 after 10 and it's looking good for you, 70/0 at the same point and it ain't!

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

Hi Pete - even though your boys have put runs on the board, still a very disappointing end to the  innings. From 250 odd for 3 with 7 overs left, New Zealand should have been looking to post circa 320 to 335. Always feel that to give up an over is a dreadful waste and gives a real boost to your opponents.

Opening overs of Australia's dig are obviously going to be important. Get 'em 45/2 after 10 and it's looking good for you, 70/0 at the same point and it ain't!

Aye.


More rain in the interval - Aus now chasing 235 off 33

[guildfordbat]

...

More rain in the interval - Aus now chasing 235 off 33

That doesn't do New Zealand any favours.

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

Boult and Milne account for Warner & Finch. Aus 36/2 after 7.

More rain looking likely though

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

Milne gets Henriques. 53/3 off 9. And it's raining. Another 11 overs minimum before 7.30 to complete the match

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

They'll need to restart at 6.48 to complete 20 overs - Aus will need 174 in that case, or 121 off 11

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Wouldn't say it's looking promising for a result here

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

A no result a great result for England here - means they just need to win one of their final two games and they are through right? Net run rate won't come into it?

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

A no result a great result for England here - means they just need to win one of their final two games and they are through right? Net run rate won't come into it?

Match officially abandoned.

Yep, makes it slightly easier - otherwise England would've needed to beat the loser of NZ vs Aus, or beat the winner and worry about NRR.

If England wins both then NZ and Aus have to start worrying about their NRR

[KP_fan]

unlucky NZ...they dropped off the trajectory of 320..but still had a slightly above par score.

opens up this group more this washout......BD still in with a chance

once it rains and eats up some game time..... and the forecast doesn't look good either.....
they must make a rational decision to restrict the game to 30 overs a side instead of attempting 45 overs a side and failing at getting anything .

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Sri Lanka have bowled nicely first up here - restricted South Africa to 32-0 off the first 10

[KP_fan]

wickets is the key these days.....if they get into the last 20 overs with 8 wickets in hand then sides like SA, India and Eng can blast 200 runs in those 20 overs muhc like a T20

[guildfordbat]

South Africa 225/3 off 41.

Suspect we'll see for the first time in this tournament a team going properly big in the closing overs. Something that Bangladesh and New Zealand failed to do when setting a target.

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