Would like to start a discussion thread for cricket fans on all upcoming and ongoing cricket series in the international calendar leading to the World Cup.

Pakistan has just beaten West Indies despite a fighting century by Lara who still remains upbeat. Not much of quality bowling there, I thought and only Lara and Yousuf made it look like a "Test" match. Pakistan will win both the Test abnd ODI series comfortably.

India and South Africa start a 5-match ODI series from Nov 19. India has no Yuvraj and despite what its most ardent fans (including me ) would like to believe, will lose the ODIs 4-1. Don't even think about the Tests. Sachin, Dravid, Laxman, Sehwag and Kumble will have their moments but South Africa will still win the 3-Test series 2-0. Any body differs?

Australia have named a bowling-heavy squad for the Brisbane Test (starts 23 Nov) and England has no Trescothik (yet again). With all regards to the England fans, I honestly don't think this will be even half as decent a series as the last one or that England stands much of a chance. 3-0 to Australia (I am being kind to England).

Sri Lanka goes to New Zealand and the first Test there starts Dec 7 and it should be a good series except that New Zealand might win it in the end.

But the "mother of all ODIs series" kicks off in Bangladesh when Zimbabwe plays 5 ODIs from Nov 30 followed by Scotland who play 2 ODIs. Too close to call, these matches, eh

Have deliberately tried to be provocative, so let your comments come in

--Srini

Please, please keep writing England off. And you Aussies: keep telling us how many to nil you are going to whoop us by. Because, in reality, Australia do have the best players - we all know that - but have you got the best team?

England aren't scared of Australia and certainly aren't intimidated by them. I think it will be closer than you think but the Aussie strength and experience in the batting will sway it for them.

I agree with you, Srini on most of your predictions but I do believe the SA-India tests might just be a bit more close. As you've rightly pointed out, India's ODI form is shambolic(to say the least) but in the Tests, they might just redeem themselves and win a Test.

As for the Ashes, I think they will easily go to Australia. I know England will try really hard but I think the best they can hope for is a draw. I think the problem is that without Pietersen and Flintoff, England struggle. England really required Michael Vaughan and Simon Jones to be fit and in form but as they are out, I foresee England trying really hard but unfortunately, failing to defend the Ashes.

Krivoy, I am not an Aussie...Indian here. Have been a cricket reporter for 6 years and seen more cricket all my life....more on TV of late, yes than at the ground

England would certainly have had a good chance against Ponting's "Dad's Army" of some good, great players, all on the wrong side of 30 (35??) if only a fit Vaughan and Simon Jones were also there and if Harmison is not soooo very homesick....

They will certainly give a fight and a fright to Australia but I don't unfortunately see them winning anything on this trip down under

India winning a Test in South Africa? SA have lost a mere 14 games at home since returning to the Test fold and India have NEVER won there. Ntini, in the company of Nel and Steyn, is simply going to be too hot for us to handle, all our greats not withstanding Close series, yes, maybe just 1-0 to SA and not 2-0, but India winning a Test, no...

Looking forward to the Bangladesh v Scotland series!

I know you are Indian, Srini. I wasn't replying directly to you but to the Australian sports fans amongst us.

I think we should have replaced Trescothick with Mark Butcher and I wish we had a focussed Graham Thorpe in at number 4 but it's still a side capable of winning.

My only fear is that, on day 1, we are put in and are 56 for 6 at lunch. A good start is vital, not just to the match but to the whole test series.

Apart from Ntini, do you really think SA are as strong as they were. The Indian batsmen could have a field day.

Well, as an Australian sports fan but not an Australian Cricket team fan I have to say that I hope England can pull off a good series. THey haven't had the best run up in the last few months and illnesses like Trescothick's isn't going to help either. BUT if they settle down quick and get a good start as Rog says I think it could be closer than many are saying.

On Trescothick - poor bloke. They took a chance with this series and we wasn't able to pull thorugh but there are media reports that his career isn't over yet but I wonder how much of a chance England cricket would take on touring him again.

Im' so looking forward to this whole series and the ODI's with NZ as well. It's going to be a good summer of cricket!

And I wouldn't be doubting India's chances against the saffers either. I reckon they're pretty inconsistant and if say India got a good first day in then it could leave SA to self destruct a bit.

Bangladesh/Scotland. Yeahhhhh - bring it on!

I have to agree that Oz have the best players but England seem to have a better team. Poor old Marcus, that's no fun what he going through. May well be the end of his Test career though.
On paper I can't see England winning it, but to write them of completely is absurd, they are no longer the easy beats of the mid 90s and have quality batsmen and bowlers, even if some of them are South African
Flintoff and Harmison are the keys to them winning.
Hopefully Australia will stop obssessing with the search for a allrounder. Hey if a guys good enough put him in if not play bowlers and batsmen. We've been doing this for years, O'Donnell, Waugh, Matthews, Watson, Symonds, only one of those was upto Test standard.

Reckon that Waugh was a batsman who bowled a bit, Symonds would be the only one I'd count as a true all rounder. Watson .. we'll see. To be a true all-rounder you would have to be able to be selected alone on the bat or bowling. I get a good chuckle when Lee or even Warne wants to be known as an all-rounder. Nowadays I'd go for Flintoff, Pollack, Kallis and Cairns (although has he retired?).

The Ashes start next week in Brisbane. Can't wait

Brett Lee is 30?? Wouldn't have picked it at all - thought 26-8 would pull him up. McGrath wil hit 37 at the end of the summer.

I love cricket, I would watch every ball of every test if I could put the rest of my life on hold over the five days but I don't like any team. Sorry, but I can't stand Brett Lee or Shane Warne (with a passion! lol ) and I guess it's a lot to do with the arrogance of them. I like players from all over - Hussey, Tendulka, Harmison, Kallis, Gayle, Pollock - and I just want good cricket and close games and series ... if it means Australia losing two tests so it's a tied series then bring it on. (and I also want it played at night when I can watch it properly )

I'm pretty shallow really, I did use to like Hayden until he got caught doing something wrong (swearing was it? and he threw his bat and broke a window in the dressing room) and he used the "I'm a Christian and wouldn't mean to do that" line ... oh how I hate people using that as an excuse. (Hopoate!!! But the Daddy of them all is Hansie "I'm a Christian But The Devil Made Me do It" Cronje.) But on the other hand I used not to like Gilchrist and McGrath but do now although it took a lot of years to warm up to them.

Yes Copago... He's 30 and married

I understand what you're saying about the arrogance of some players, Warne especially. You can tell exactly who those players are, just by watching them play.

With Warne, his just spilled over from the pitch to his personal life; Hence why his marriage fell apart.

Anyway moving back on topic, I've started my Ashes 'banner' preperation

Since everyone has their favorite player/players I was wondering, if you could put together a 'world' team who would you pick?

<if you could put together a 'world' team who would you pick>

Very tough to pick a 11, so I will go for a 14

Chris Gayle
Sachin Tendulkar
Ricky Ponting
Brian Lara
Rahul Dravid
Mohammad Yousuf
Adam Gilchrist
Andrew Flintoff
Glenn McGrath
Shane Warne
Jacques Kallis
Shane Bond
Makhaya Ntini
Mutthiah Muralitharan

And the side to take this on would include the following 14:

Graeme Smith
Stephen Fleming
Mahela Jayawardene
Kumara Sangakkara
Kevin Pietersen
Inzamam Ul Haq
Michael Hussey
Andrew Symonds
Brett Lee
Anil Kumble
Daniel Vettori
Shaun Pollock
Chaminda Vaas
Stephen Harmison

Quote:

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Anyway moving back on topic, I've started my Ashes 'banner' preperation

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Make sure you tell us which test and which day and what it says so we can keep an eye out!

I'll have to think about my team, will post it later

Shane Watson's out, Michael Clarke is back, Ian Bell is doubtful and Ed Joyce might just get a look in, Australia doesn't "want to take a chance", so only 4 bowlers will play.....Interesting build up to the first Ashes Test of 2006...

Lara is going hammer and tongs at Pakistan in the second Test. I am just enjoying watching him thrash Kaneria all over the park (26 runs in an over including 3 sixes in a row)...on his day, Lara is just about the most beautiful batsman to watch in the world...what says you all?

I agree when he's in form, he and Tendulka are magic - when out of form it's pretty sad to see expecially when you know what he is calpable of!

And Brisbane has turned up the heat to welcome the Poms to the 'Gabba' . . . with the nearly 1000 beer kegs on ice and enough pies to circle the ground twice . . . (that's just for the first day) it's GAME ON!

Haven't been able to watch too much of it but Australia have started pretty well, nothing major from each side though.

Ponting and Langer have set the tone for this Ashes, I think The only bowler who looked like taking a wicket was Flintoff....

Boy oh boy...it's just the first day, but I can see that 3-0 scoreline much more clearly...

India got a real drubbing in the second ODI. Except Tendulkar, Dravid and maybe Dhoni, this team doesn't look like it can bat...it's going to be a long, arduous December for India too

Mohammad Yousuf (formerly Yousuf Youhana) got out in the 190s for the second time this series and the Test is drwan. He is now just a 100 or so runs away from Viv Richards' calendar year record tally of 1710 runs! Will he make it? Watch out for the 3rd Pakistan-West Indies Test

>>>> Boy oh boy...it's just the first day, but I can see that 3-0 scoreline much more clearly

Even more clearly after the second day England bowled much better and it was a much better day to watch. Australia declared for 602 (Ponting out for 196 ) and England were already 3 down at stumps. That Hussey catch was brilliant and it was a lucky Brett Lee not to get more injured than what he did - although he shouldn't ahve gone in there like that, that was Hussey's catch from the start.
Maybe Pieterson can pull things around - stating the obvious but they have to avoid the collow-on to have any chance of at least a draw.

I got to watch a bit of the SA/Ind match the other night through a insomnia moment and India are just missing something aren't they?

Has Ponting gone senile? Why on earth would you NOT enforce the follow-on?

9/602 V 157- with a lead of 450, the Poms could follow-on twice, and still not catch up.

Only thing I could think was that the bowlers needed a rest - would be pretty warm up there?

Harmison has always had a worried look on his face, even when he is getting wickets left, right and centre he always looks worried. Now he really does have something to be worried about.

BBC has a over by over update if you can't get to a TV or radio - all the important bits and funny little gems like this one
"1139: Umpire Bowden is decked by a Jones sweep! How marvellous...I mean what a choker...A sweetly-timed shot by the England batsman, which strikes Bowden on the hip, sending sunnies and walkie-talkie flying. Shame for Jones, that was going for four. Bowden will have secretly loved that, the old drama tart. 108-5 "

and

"1105: Jones and Bell have some respite at last - some fat bloke called Warne is into the attack. Apologies, I've been reduced to name-calling. "

Rubbing it in, mate

Get enough rest for your bowlers, pile up some more runs on a wicket that's crumbling/opening up, Warne will get into action on Day 4 and 5 and beat the hell out of England by over 300 or 400 runs...

I would have done the same too, if I were Ponting...aah!..."if I had been"...nice fantasy