Semifinals and Final

[aussie1st]

I woke up randomly at 3:30 this morning & switched on the television to see highlights from India's innings of 188/5 & Yuvraj carting round our bowling attack. Thinking we're going to lose.
Decided to stay up and watch the Australian. Great innings by Hayden but even after he got out I feel we still should've won.
Sreesanth bowled well but I can't wait to see Hayden destroy him in the ODI series.
Losing 4 wickets for only 13 runs in the last 5 overs is not ideal.

All I have to say is Brad Hogg should've played, Ben Hilfenhaus should've been tried and CAMERON WHITE should've been in the tournament; batting at number 7 instead of Michael Clarke who seems incapable of hitting a 6.
Absolute bone-head of a decision whoever made that.

I agree no idea why the picked Clarke over White, Clarke isn't even a big hitter in the ODI form of the game so don't know why they picked him for a lower order spot.

 

[surendar]

Didn't Clarke play a dominating cricket in WC2007 along with his skipper? I remember him hitting some big shots.

 

[irottev]

If you look at the 2 sides in the finals, there are new players. I think NZ and Australia were a bit guilty of using their top ODI side rather then using players better suited to Twenty/20 cricket.

 

[aussie1st]

Didn't Clarke play a dominating cricket in WC2007 along with his skipper? I remember him hitting some big shots.

He was alright in the WC but that was with him up the order, hes not our best finisher down the order.

 

[harishankar]

He was alright in the WC but that was with him up the order, hes not our best finisher down the order.

Other than Hayden and Symonds, none of the other Aussie batsmen threatened India in this game. And one of them almost got them home...

Gilchrist, had he stayed there for 15 overs could have been the key. So I think Sreesanth (despite his antics) should have been Man of the Match for his outstanding spell of 4 overs 12/2 in a high-scoring game. Yuvraj's innings was breathtaking, but Sreesanth should have got it for removing those two dangerous players (Gilly and Hayden).

I seriously thought Australia had this covered till the last over that India bowled. 188 would not have been enough without Sreesanth's magnificent effort at dismissing those two match-winners.

 

[Sagacious]

Oh my god...What a fantastic performance was from the Indian team!! I think Sreesanth's bowling was the major difference in the match!

We are in the FINALS!!:happy

Now I just want to laugh at Hogg's comments

Couple of Indian batsmen are scared species, might be slightly arrogant and certainly there is no way to hide when people like Clark are going to go to India. With their pace there's nowhere to hide

http://www.rediff.com/cricket/2007/sep/22aus.htm

 

[aussie1st]

Other than Hayden and Symonds, none of the other Aussie batsmen threatened India in this game. And one of them almost got them home...

Hussey was looking threatening until he got his hammy. Hodge was a disappoint I expected a lot more from him. Gilly in his short stay was looking comfortable just a case of them not staying together in key moments.

 

[WORLD CHAMPIONS]

Hussey was looking threatening until he got his hammy. Hodge was a disappoint I expected a lot more from him. Gilly in his short stay was looking comfortable just a case of them not staying together in key moments.

Bsically, it was not our kind of tournament, injury played an major role. Punter,Watson, Huseey luck was not with us, but in ODI series aginst India it will not be same

 

[aussie_ben91]

Didn't Clarke play a dominating cricket in WC2007 along with his skipper? I remember him hitting some big shots.

The only Australian batsman who really struggled in the World Cup earlier this year was Hussey.

I remember at one stage of the match cheering Hayden on to get a century.

 

[harishankar]

Hussey was looking threatening until he got his hammy. Hodge was a disappoint I expected a lot more from him. Gilly in his short stay was looking comfortable just a case of them not staying together in key moments.

Good point. Hussey could have won the match, but he had too much to do when wickets fell at the other end.

India just held their nerve in the last few overs and I didn't expect them to. But it just shows how this younger team feels no fear against a champion side like Australia.

Dhoni also showed no fear in bowling Joginder Sharma in that last over. From what he did earlier, most captains might have hesitated to give him a bowl. Certainly I think Dravid wouldn't have given Joginder another over after his first over went for 18.

 

[Harrypotter_fan]

Congrats India! Good luck for the finals!

 

[nightprowler10]

Which means we wont care whom you support. Because you're insane. (if you're really living in india), i would have thrown you out of the country had I been the president or prime minister.

Well, some one to agree with me. Give some support to your team when they are playing well.

Right. Getting quite sick of this. Who are you, or anyone for that matter, to tell him who he has to like and support in the game of cricket or football. What does it matter if he's an Indian? What does it matter if he lives in India? I have met several American footie fans who support Brazil because that was the team that they watched playing excellent football while they were growing up. And (shock! horror!) they don't have a pint of Brazilian blood in them. Maybe WC likes to watch Australia play because he has watched them dominate everyone and everything for the last decade. Maybe it doesn't have to do with 'glory hunting' and everything to do with all of his favorite players playing for Australia or the team playing excellent cricket all year long. To be honest, you guys would even have a leg to stand on if he supported every team that won a tournament, but ever since he's started posting on the forums, he has supported no one but Australia, except when Aussies aren't playing. Where is the rulebook that says you have to support every sports team that emerges out of your country and no one else?

Come off it already! Its getting old.

 

[manee]

India were given $1 million for their win over Australia from the BCCI.

Yuvraj was also given a Porsche following his six sixes off Stuart Broad, it is a gift from Lalit Modi.

I doubt this fine will mean anything after that:

Sreesanth fined for excessive appealing
Cricinfo staff
September 22, 2007

Indian fast bowler Sreesanth has been fined 25% of his match fee for excessive appealing during India's semi-final victory against Australia in Durban. In addition, the Indian team has been fined for its slow over rate, having being found one over short in the allocated time.

Sreesanth was found guilty of breaching clause 1.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct during an appeal for an lbw against Matthew Hayden in the fourth over of the innings. Although the umpire instantly turned down the appeal, Sreesanth persisted.

Source: http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/twenty20wc/content/story/312147.html

 

[Arunava]

I don't think they care about the fine as long as they are winning and getting huge perks . .Porche , nice

 

[angryangy]

Heh, it was excessive. Not in the obvious way, though, he was appealing several times for the same delivery!