TOPIC:

Beasley Hutton wrote:

If Pakistan could get their act together with the bat Mike I reckon they could actually win the comp especially with their bowling attack of express pace bowlers- Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf & Mohammad Wasim and then wicket taking leg spin of Shadab Khan plus Iftikhar Ahmed as back up!

Could this be the 1992 ODI World Cup revisited, Beas, when Pakistan came from nowhere to win?
I suspect both the ICC and MCG authorities would love to see an India-Pakistan final.
That said, the Melbourne forecast for Sunday is rain (surprise, surprise). 
 

We didn't get the Paki's v India final but the Paki's are there which is a great effort after a shaky start. The poms routed India which I dont mind, the Indians are second only to the Australians in the arrogance stakes. I hope the Paki's can role massive favourites England, but it looks like they may not even get on the field looking at the weather forecast. Shift it to Optus, at least we'll get a full length game, or shift it to Docklands and close the roof, they play plenty of BBL games there.

Melbourne's long term weather forecast is for rain for the next week.With 25 mm forecast for Sunday.
Wonder if the ICC will consider a move to Optus Oval.You can't have a DLS final,will be a disaster for tv ratings.
Two disappointing semi finals.New Zealand and India did not fire.Englands form is peaking.They covered there injuries easily.But Pakistan bring a better bowling attack than India.And have Rizwan and Babar ,in form as openers.

India and New Zealand were at least 10 - 15 runs short of par in batting first and the chasing teams made short work of the targets. Kohli and Williamson are great test and ODI players but I think they actually get in the way of their teams in the powerplays. Williamson scored at about a run a ball but chewed up too many deliveries which then put the pressure on guys like Phillips, Conway and Neesham to take too many risks. Kohli scored 50 off 40 but by the time he got going India were only 100 off 15 overs and despite a finishing burst from Hardik Pandya, 168 was never going to be enough against the rampaging Buttler and Hales.

England were 0-63 after the power play as opposed to India 1- 38 and that is too much for the power batsmen to make up.  India need someone like Pant or Pandya to bat in the top 3 to take advantage of the first 6 overs.

As for the final it will be a battle between Pakistans pace and spin attack and the powerful England batting line up. The Melbourne weather may well end up being the winner, which would be a shame becuase it is a fascinating match up.

Rules for the final are min 10 overs each to make it a game, if Sunday is rained out they play Monday with the same 10 over rule, but sounds like they'll be lucky to get any play on either day. They should have had a contingency of playing at Docklands with a closed roof but would be just over half the G's capacity.

Well done to England.
Now reigning 50 +20 over World Champions.
Some outstanding all-rounders in there side.
There looking really good for the home Ashes.Our woke cricketers better pull there fingers out.

Gtr agree it is a great achievement by  Eng to hold both white ball trophies.....though the T20 is a lottery, as proved by Aust woke cricketers winning it 12 months ago.

The only heads up Aust needs out of their performance and that of England's, is  having separate  red   and white  ball coaches....that Eng white  ball team is miles away from their red ball team in terms of personel.....let McDonald focus on the red and get a Ponting for the white stuff....atleast Ponting would show some imagination with selection and not have any loyalty to the test boys.....it's obvious both formats require specialized skill sets....something the Aussie selectors just can't  or won't grasp.

Freeze Langer was the coach 12 months ago.They have turned Woke post Langer including McDonald

England were deserved winners. Their bowling and fielding were top class, particularly Curran and Rashid. Would have been an interesting game if Pakistan could have scraped together another 20 runs to bring it up to 160. They were unlucky to lose Afridi as well.

Gee Pakistan imploded over their last 5 -6 overs....as you mikeh, another 30 runs and Eng would of been working hard chasing that down......the Pakistan fast boys did well keeping their team in the game....the Pakistan spinner who completed Afridi's over, had a nightmare of a final.....6 ball duck and got tonked by Stokes for 15 runs off 5 deliveries......