Australias fortunes are on the turn with Gilchrist now being there for the entire WC now, & only arriving a couple of days later than the rest. Its just the filip they needed tbh & I would imagine its after someone had a word in his & Punters ear
Clarks been volunteering for power play & death duties & they seem to think McGrath will take the new ball, personally I think he'd be better first change but I do really worry about the amount of runs they'll be chasing if they play Tait, especially as Watson seems a certainty as well. I just cant see how a captain can set a field to Taits bowling
Yes the Aussies like to regard themselves as special & look to take wickets when others look at run rates, but he cant bowl a line & length
& Watson ??? Well, dont get me started on that useless twat again
Looking around the markets I see
Paddy Power have Ross Taylor @ 33/1 highest tournament run scorer @ 1/4 odds 1st 4 places. I think Pie quoted 18's earlier in the thread.
Its about time I commented on the trials & tribulations of:
Pakistan
Well, what on earth do you say about this lot
Theyve just been thumped in SA yet their batting line up is superb.....except the openers, obviously
Theyve got the in form batsman in world cricket in Mohammed Yousuf & class around him in Inzi & Younis. Theyve got one of the biggest hitters in the game in Afridi & hes followed by Razzaq & Akmal at 7 & 8, yet they have been known on quick tracks with sideways movement to simply disintegrate & not want to know.
Normally I like to back Pakistan as you tend to get a rollercoaster ride for your money & you never know whats coming next, & you cant dismiss them from winning anywhere. Theres one massive problem this time though....their bowling.
They fly to the WIs on friday & that is also the last date that they can change an injured player, & theyve brought in anti-dope testing as compulsory....yet all players bar Asif & Shoaib Akhtar have taken the tests & passed. Both of these players were originally banned last autumn for taking nandrolone but the PCB cleared them on appeal. Apparently nandrolone stays in the system for ages & this is the worry, as the ICC reserves the right to drug test whoever in the WC & if found guilty a life ban is likely.
It doesnt take a rocket scientist to work out that if Asif & Shoaib travel to the WC they'll be tested. Officially theyre both carrying injuries & in Shoaibs case that appears to be true & hes only 50% fit, whereas whoever you listen to Asif is between 90% & 50%
The rumour is that theyve both undertaken tests in England & theyre leaving it until the last moment as to whether they'll travel. The 2 of them would be devastating on an uneven track & its no exaggeration to suggest Pakistans hopes rest on them as the rest of the attack is not threatening enough. Naved has slipped away somewhat although Umar Gul is likely to be fit, but the likes of Nazir & Sami just dont appear real international class. I dont think theyre worth backing tbh until the bowling issue is resolved....& I dont see them travelling