Semifinals and Final

[aussie1st]

Pathan is more than capable with the bat let him play as the all rounder and bring in another bowler.

 

[SaiSrini]

Since it is the Wanderers, I feel playing Yousuf Pathan or Piyush Chawla might be a good gamble to take. It is going to be a run fest most probably, and the spinners are going to be the ones who will restrict the scoring the most.

I know it would be tough on Yousuf Pathan to come into the final and debut. But if he succeeds, it will be a boost for India. Even if he fails, wont cost us too much as Joginder has been going for far too many runs. Cant bring Agarkar for sure because he will be slaughtered at Wanderers. Is Piyush fit enough to play?

 

[Cricketman]

I know its a good thought Sai, but knowing the selectors and Indian team "logistics" they will NEVER play a debutant in the final of world cup.

 

[irottev]

Good to see an India-Pakistan final.

It's a shame we didn't make it. We wern't at our best though. Just not our day. Dropped catches, missed chances. Gul won Pakistan the game. 20 more runs and I rekon we would have had enough. Vettori was excellent and must be bowler of the tournament. Bond isn't in the best of form. Gillespie was really unlucky. fours flying off the edge, raised drives just out of fielders reach.

Batting wise, not enough aggression early on. Let Pakistan walk over them and Fulton was far too slow. Got the batting order a bit wrong.

Ahhh well, maybe next time. Making the semis was an achievement. At least we got the boot from the top side.

This issue with the runner is interesting. As far as i'm concerned, Nazir had no injury from that game. It was from previous games if anything and him having a runner was kind of bad sportsmanship. I don't think it would have mattered a lot. Another example though of the ICC needing to change rules. Nazir batted really well, and we really needed to catch his edge, then we may have been in with a show. I don't think Vettori should complain too much about it, and rather he should be looking at the chance they didn't take to remove him.

Runners and the going off the field rules need to be altered. They seem to be being used wrongly a lot.

 

[surendar]

Since it is the Wanderers, I feel playing Yousuf Pathan or Piyush Chawla might be a good gamble to take. It is going to be a run fest most probably, and the spinners are going to be the ones who will restrict the scoring the most.

I know it would be tough on Yousuf Pathan to come into the final and debut. But if he succeeds, it will be a boost for India. Even if he fails, wont cost us too much as Joginder has been going for far too many runs. Cant bring Agarkar for sure because he will be slaughtered at Wanderers. Is Piyush fit enough to play?

Sai, I kept my words.. I didn't open my mouth till i saw the score just now.. I think, even in finals, i should sleep off and see the score next day morning.


Once again, i just can't believe that India has reached finals I saw the first innings.. Yuvi/Dhoni were fantastic. In particular, Yuvi.. what a smashings those were. :hpraise Then i slept off and just now saw the scores and was great to see, India reaching the finals. :hpraise

Well done India, A good/sweet revenge for 2003 WC finals. :cool:

And regarding, YousufPathan/Joginder/Agarkar.... I think, if Piyush is fit enough, he should be there or its better to gamble with Joginder instead of Agarkar. And i don't think, it will be a right move to bring in Yousuf Pathan directly to finals.. And again, it will be a gamble. To avoid gambling, Piyush is the one i like to see in next match.

Once again, Very well done India.. Never thought, they would reach the finals. India-Pakistan should be a cracking finals of the tournament. How about a another Tie?

It's a shame we didn't make it. We wern't at our best though. Just not our day.

I expected Kiwis to loose because, it always happens. They always have a bad habit of getting knocked out in semis, if i remember rightly. Otherwise, next to SA, i wanted Kiwis to grab the trophy.

 

[SaiSrini]

Sai, I kept my words.. I didn't open my mouth till i saw the score just now.. I think, even in finals, i should sleep off and see the score next day morning.


Once again, Very well done India.. Never thought, they would reach the finals. India-Pakistan should be a cracking finals of the tournament. How about a another Tie?

If its a tie, then the trophy winner will be selected via a bowl-out. A tie is not always the best thing to happen. I want a winner (India?).

 

[karnog]

I think joginder should not be dropped . He is giving runs sure, but he is taking wickets and he is quite a good fielder. Put Chawla and although he may be giving less runs, he can't field at all and his batting is useless. The fact that he is a spinner could leak a lot of runs. It was good he didn't play against Aus because Symonds, Clarke and Haddin are good players of spin (though Harbhajan could contest against that).

 

[surendar]

I Put Chawla and although he may be giving less runs, he can't field at all and his batting is useless. The fact that he is a spinner could leak a lot of runs.

Contradicting your own statements eh?

I want a winner (India?).

Naaah.. I don't want to predict again. Let the match finish first.

i hope India bat first!!!

Are you aware that, India won against Pakistan, England,SA and Aussies by batting first and lost to Kiwis by chasing? Nice to see you supporting India then

 

[Dare]

Pakistan should keep the same side, Fawad Alam did good with the ball, he did more in one game than Butt did in all the rest. Asif really hasnt been doing anything since that India game but Gul has been amazing.

 

[SaiSrini]

I think joginder should not be dropped . He is giving runs sure, but he is taking wickets and he is quite a good fielder. Put Chawla and although he may be giving less runs, he can't field at all and his batting is useless. The fact that he is a spinner could leak a lot of runs. It was good he didn't play against Aus because Symonds, Clarke and Haddin are good players of spin (though Harbhajan could contest against that).

Have you seen Chawla fielding? He is a very good fielder. He hasnt been spectacular with those dives and brilliant catches, but he is a very good ground fielder. He was very good in the England ODI's.

 

[aussie_ben91]

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.

 

[sohum]

I think joginder should not be dropped . He is giving runs sure, but he is taking wickets and he is quite a good fielder. Put Chawla and although he may be giving less runs, he can't field at all and his batting is useless. The fact that he is a spinner could leak a lot of runs. It was good he didn't play against Aus because Symonds, Clarke and Haddin are good players of spin (though Harbhajan could contest against that).

Chawla is a better fielder than Joginder any day of the week.

 

[aussie_ben91]

On a side note India beat Australia without Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman & Ganguly & Kumble!

 

[harishankar]

Yes, the youngsters are coming to the party. Great game against Australia last night. I really expected that the way Hayden and Symonds were going, they were going to finish the game off.

India showed excellent character in the last 3 overs to pull the game back. Fantastic.

I feared that Joginder might lose the match when he gave away 18 runs in his first over, but he redeemed himself well by bowling the last over under pressure and he conceded just 7 runs there. And again, in that over when Sehwag went for 20 runs I thought "that's it, game over". But I continued watching and I wasn't disappointed.

India - Pakistan final - just as I predicted though.

Ian Chappell said once in commentary that "India almost seem destined to make it to the final". Well, Australia tried their best to make that false and they did miss Ponting down there.

Had Ponting been fit, it might well have been a different story.

 

[Justcrazy]

On a side note India beat Australia without Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman & Ganguly & Kumble!

And Z Khan...India's best bowler at the moment.

@harishankar,
I agree Aus did miss Ponting there and so did India...they missed almost half of their team....before the tournament you could say that this was India A, full of new younsters and even Dhoni and Yuvi are consider as younsters... We missed, Sachin, Dada, Dravid and Khan...if Aus missed Ponting who cares? 189 was always hard to chase even Ponting had played...

I think India played GREAT cricket! Yuvi is really on fire and hope to see a inning like that in final...Hopefully we bat first and set target around 180-200 always hard to chase in big games. India need to watch out from GUL...hes gonna bowl the last 4 overs and it will be tough to score against him as you see hes improved alot...hes physically very strong and almost unplayable at times...India need to score many runs in first 12 overs and keep wickets in hand and then try to go after Gul...Sehwag and Gambhir need to give us a real flier and then...quick 30+ from Uttapa and a real JUICY 80 odd off 35 balls from yuvi should push us to the victory line...