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ArkRoyal wrote: England are playing without three batsmen -- Hales, Denley and Roy; they are having the same problems Australia had without Warner and Smith; it will take a big effort to make the four from here on their part.

Of those 3 only Roy is injured though AR, Denly is playing county cricket and Hales is out of the team for non cricket reasons. I am struggling to see how either of the last 2 would improve the team. Roy has to play against India as Vince is not up to scratch.

mikeh: Roy would improve the team; Denley was picked in the original squad, how could he do any worse than James Vince or Moen in the top six?

mikeh: Roy would improve the team; Denley was picked in the original squad, how could he do any worse than James Vince or Moen in the top six?
Denley made 167 not out in a County game a couple of weeks ago.

Bit quiet over the Ditch from Freezin. Are The Pakis scores in yet..

Freezin is an Aussie supporter living in New Zealand LS, so I would venture to say he would not have been unhappy with the Kiwi slip up last evening. Pakistan's victory has piled more pressure on England as they now face the prospect of having to beat both India and New Zealand in their last two games to ensure qualification. Pakistan play Afghanistan on Saturday and Bangladesh in their last game so if they win both these games and England lose one of theirs, the poms are out. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are also still in the hunt if results go their way. So if India beat England on Sunday, it will make for a very interesting last week of the campaign. England need to bring Jason Roy back for the India game and depending on the pitch maybe Plunkett could replace Moin Ali who is not really contributing much with the bat.

Leather Stops wrote: Bit quiet over the Ditch from Freezin. Are The Pakis scores in yet..

mate I hate the Kiwi's with a passion....especially in sport....same as I hated the English with a passion in sport during my years living in the UK.....so not too sure why you would think I would give a fark if Williamson and his team lost......anyway with the Paki's winning, more heat goes on to the English as mikeh correctly pointed out.....though would make my day if both Eng and NZ lost their remaining games and got pipped at the post by any of SL, Bangladesh or Pakistan.....but sadly can't happen because Eng & NZ play each other in their respective last games....bugger!

nz are actually in a bit of trouble now; I did complain about those cut shots Root and Buttler played against Pakistan at the time.

I agree with Mike.... the Poms could be in a bit of strife and will be interested to see how it pans out. Pakis win both and the Poms drop one then that should be all she wrote for the great unwashed. Bangers are still in it too but have to face the Indians....not unbeatable but I'd prefer Pakistan's draw to both Bangers and the Poms.

ArkRoyal wrote: nz are actually in a bit of trouble now; I did complain about those cut shots Root and Buttler played against Pakistan at the time.

AR by my reading, New Zealand can only be tipped out of the semis if they lose their last 2 games (v Australia and England), England win their last 2 ( V India and NZ) and Sri Lanka win their last 3 ( V West Indies, South Africa and India). They have a vastly superior net run rate to Pakistan and Bangladesh, so these teams are not a threat because even in the worst case scenario they will be even on points with both these teams. It is possible for NZ to be tipped out but I think England are in far more danger at this stage.

mikeh: I would agree 100 per cent about England being in grave trouble; I was just trying to be positive, as they are more than capable of beating both India and NZ, if this happens, as you know, they are in the four irrespective of what the teams from the Indian sub-continent do.