The Cricket Thread 2013

[PaulWinch again]

Sri Lanka look pretty good here.

[john e]

Whatever the result here now, Aussies have done brilliant to hang on in there and get so close to the win after losing so many wickets

[tomd2103]

Fancy our chances against SA in the semi-final if we can find a bit of form. 

[john e]

I didn't think we'd get this far, so i'm happy with SA in the semis

[eastie]

We will beat Sri Lanka in the final by 21 runs.

[PaulWinch again]

I'm getting concerned by Swann's injury issues, he seems to be picking up a lot of problems.

[PaulWinch again]

Bresnan is out of the squad for semi final.

[paul_e]

I'm getting concerned by Swann's injury issues, he seems to be picking up a lot of problems.

All different things though, it suggests that he's picking up niggles because he's playing without full match fitness, you see it quite often in rugby in particular where, no matter how sharp you are in training, the first few big hits take a lot out of you.  I used to hate the first game of the season for that very reason, you'd always sit in the changing room feeling a bit battered afterwards.

[Villan For Life]

Bresnan is out of the squad for semi final.

Assume that it's to be with his wife who is due to give birth? Who replaces him, Woakes or Finn? Woakes is a better batsman but his selection significantly weakens our attack. For that reason Finn has to play.

[PaulWinch again]

Bresnan is out of the squad for semi final.

Assume that it's to be with his wife who is due to give birth? Who replaces him, Woakes or Finn? Woakes is a better batsman but his selection significantly weakens our attack. For that reason Finn has to play.

Finn absolutely must play, we're already making up 10 overs from Bopara and Root we can't afford 10 from Woakes.

[tomd2103]

Bresnan is out of the squad for semi final.

Assume that it's to be with his wife who is due to give birth? Who replaces him, Woakes or Finn? Woakes is a better batsman but his selection significantly weakens our attack. For that reason Finn has to play.

Finn absolutely must play, we're already making up 10 overs from Bopara and Root we can't afford 10 from Woakes.

Yep, Finn for me as well.  Hopefully if the top of the order perform we won't need runs from the tail anyway.

[PaulWinch again]

No Swann or Bres for us, but critically no Steyn for them. We finally win the toss and field. Happy with that, think we're a lot better chasing than setting.

[Colhint]

blumming eck great start

[PaulWinch again]

4-2 Amla gone, great start.

[paul_e]

Getting Amla on the cheap is a massive bonus, we need to apply a bit of pressure now.