read more on that 'Brand protection' stupdidity here

Wasim Akram's got his 500th ODI wicket against Holland - Now thats what I call an "Achievement"!

- but it was the 10th wicket in the innings(lol) - Seriously To take that many wickets is the sign of a great bowler and I add my congratulations.
The Pakistan result against Holland may have been totally different had the fairly easy boundary catch been held in the opening overs of the Pakistan Innings!

What a comedy of errors at the end of the Indian innings - 4 wickets in the last four balls (No hat-trick however , one run out in between!)

250 - is it enough?
We will know in 3 and 1/2 Hours.....

Hi Ace - as I'm typing this, England are pressing the self-destruct button - 19 overs , 56 for 4 (Collingwood and Vaughn batting).

Vaughns gone - 62 for 5!

Match's over.

Thanks to Flintoff for providing some action in the end, otherwise it was a drab show. On the whole, I think the toss played the best knock.

But then again, England were far too anxious to play their shots - look at Flintoff, he started hitting only after getting a decent eye in.

Nehra - what a spell! (what more can I say - he really wasn't 100% fit for this game - he even threw up during the match!)

It's an English disease. Ace, you picked the one word that sums up England in all sporting competitions.

I'll try and dress it up, so there's no doubt.......

ANXIOUS

Glad I'm not French though!

wez

What an innings by Sachin - Now its made 1 billion people happy (out of which 300 million hasn't eaten for a long time!)
Personally I would loved it if he scored his 35th century (making him also the leading century maker in WC history!) but two runs short!
To many who may not understand the signifiance, we haven't played each other for more than two years now! and the likelihood of another match in next decade is virtually nil.

On another note, KENYA has qualified for the super six stage!
Thats leaves the Kiwis, Proteas and the Windies fighting for the last slot

In Pool A, Its between England, Pakistan and Zimbabawe (yes , they are still in the race!)

India will go to the super six stage with 8 points.

Good on ya, Ace! I only saw the first 5 overs (wish it was on in a more social time zone ) which included 3 6's and 7 or 8 4's. Brilliant stuff, Tendulka was on fire

I was going to ask you how the names for the Indian players work ... what is the surname, what is the given name? Actually the Pakistani ones look more confusing.

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I was going to ask you how the names for the Indian players work ... what is the surname, what is the given name? Actually the Pakistani ones look more confusing.

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Its the same everywhere, isn't it?

Sachin -Ramesh -Tendulkar
(First name - Middle name - Surname)

(I was supposed to be studying ... Its 3 in the morning and we haven't quite stopped celebrating yet!)

Who wants the WC? WE BEAT PAKISTAN - thats enough!

I knew it was gong to be a dumb question LOL. Perhaps it's not the Indian team I'm thinking about .. but sometimes it appears that the first name is on the shirts. grrr, I'll take more notice and get an example if only they'd lay cricket at a decent hour!

Englaand 4-74 in 13th over.

a good start by Caddick but Bevan and Lehmann seems to take care of business now!

Things change quickly... 7/114! Ack!

I don't know what to say - Bichel (& Bevan) had a great day - Not the first time these two batted to save Australia's skin!
Talking of England..
What is going on?

I dont know but people are already claiming Hussein made the biggest mistake in his life giving Anderson the 49th over (when Caddick and Flintoff had an over each!)./
I might just agree...

So the question is...can England still qualify?

It depends what odds the Pakistani bookmakers are offering.
(now that was said very tongue in cheek!!) Whatever the result of The Pakistan/Zimbabwe game - I hope it's a good game with a close result. The mathematics say that England can still qualify, but on the performances so far I couldn't see them qualifying for the semi-finals anyway.

Well, does this mean that if Zimbabwe win, we are out, and if Pakistan win, we are through?

If Zimbabwe's win, England's OUT

If Pakistan just about manages to win, England's IN

If Pakistan wins by a HUGE margin, we will leave it to the mathematicans!

Now, isn't that simple enough

In the super six stage, the current points tally reads:

Australia :12 Points
India: 8 points

the rest of the lot can get a maximum of 8 points and minimum 4 points (or is it 3)

Thanks for clearing that up Ace.........

I wish I'd passed O level sums as well as words.

I thought yesterday was all a bit surreal, like I wasn't really watching it. (Not just the bleedin' cricket either! ). Mind you, that may have had something to do with the genourosity of mein host at The Flamin' Firkin?

Hell of a perfomance from Pickle/Tickle/ Bichel?, whatever his name is, and an almost England like opening from the Aussies.

By the by, did anyone else hear the Barmy Army reminding our Australian friends about thier heritage? (Chortle! )

Congrats... again... ya gits!

wez

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By the by, did anyone else hear the Barmy Army reminding our Australian friends about thier heritage? (Chortle! )

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Um, wez, it is about 23C here, at almost 11pm, a gorgeous night.

I am just wondering what the 'envy' degree is?

Maybe next game we can reverse the batting order, or perhaps play 'tippety-run', or 'one hand, one bounce'.

This is fun!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Those qualification permutations in full:

1. If Pakistan win by a large margin, they may go through.
2. If Zimbabwe win, they're through, and England and Pakistan are out.
3. If Pakistan win in less than 35 overs, aided by a ball deflection from a passing pigeon, they're through.
4. If it's an owl, they're out.
5. If all 3 teams finish level on points but Nasser Hussain remembers his wife's birthday, they're all out. Fiji would qualify by default. If he forgets, it's Tonga.
6. If Zimbabwe field the golfer Nick Price instead of one of their regular players, and win, England go through, unless he bats with a 5 iron, in which case Pakistan win the cup.
7. If Michael Owen scores a hat-trick, you're watching the wrong channel.
8. If they make cricket any more complicated, I'll go to live in Belgium.

Any more questions, just ask.

Mate, remind me to NEVER have a beer in my gob when you next post.. I almost drowned...

Dr Grace was not mentioned.. an oversight?