The Cricket World Cup is wide open

I believe the semi finals will feature the top two sides, England and India and two out of New Zealand, South Africa and Australia. The only reason I include Australia is that the rest of the countries are abysmal! Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan have no realistic chance. Pakistan and the West Indies are capable of big wins but are too inconsistent to thrive in this type of format. New Zealand will be consistent and have some very good players. I doubt that they can win the World Cup but I like their chances to make the semis. South Africa are weakened because of their racial quota system. Too many of their players are lost to the English county system through the Kolpak ruling. That gives Australia a chance. A win against India (although MS Dhoni was rested for the final two games!) and a whitewash against a severely understrength Pakistan has many tipping a great performance from Australia. As I write this a severely depleted New Zealand smashed Australia in an unofficial warmup game!) Australia has to win all the easy matches and one of the games against New Zealand or South Africa. I fear an upset loss to Pakistan or West Indies could sink them. Or perhaps the English weather. A washout or two against the easy beats would spell disaster.

hi Phil, you make some interesting comments, which are factually correct but lack context. England certainly beat Australia on England but the Australian side was only a patch on the team that will be contesting the World Cup. There were at most 5 guys from the current best team Australia could muster, who played in that 2018 series and only one bowler, Jhye Richardson. It was acknowledged as one of the weakest ODI teams Australia has fielded and the results confirmed that. England won and racked up a record score but this was something of a pyrrhic victory. Ditto when the side beat India minus Bumrah. No question England deserved the series win, but who's to say what might have been if the world's best ODI bowler was playing? I'm also wondering about these huge scores England have compiled - more importantly, who have been the opposition. England have played far more games against bottom 5 teams or sides like Ireland, than say India. It's not terribly hard to make runs against these attacks and I suspect both the bowling and batting has been flattered by the quality of the opposition. I notice you made no mention of the batting collapses in both Sri Lanka & the Windies. Sure they made some good scores in both countries but when the pressure was on to win a series, they crumbled with the bat. The attack that "has been consistent with good variation and quality wrist spin", couldn't stop Scotland from posting a winning score close to 400, which must be a concern I know what the pressure was like for the Australians to win at home in 2015. This must be far greater for a team that's never won this tournament, especially at home with the cracks starting to appear. It will be a mighty effort if Morgan can lift this trophy.

I've noticed that Stokes has been a bit quiet lately. He's a big part of their balance and if his form is down that can only be good for us.

No doubt James. We're not pushovers. I'm just saying we're not the dominant force we usually are going in to these events and that's what I find most interesting about this edition. England and India are hefting the weight of expectation this time.

Out of the picture comparative to our usual profile. I wasn't writing us off, just saying that we aren't the certainty to make the playoffs we usually are. We may or may not do it this time. That's what makes this WC so interesting imo.

I would have England, India as the favourites with the likes of Aus, NZ, RSA and Windies having a chance of winning the Cup. Afghanistan most likely won’t make it to the finals but they might just pull off a few upsets.

Aussies, after getting all mathematics wrong. Let's hope it's 1 off.

Who won?

got to feel for NZ. I was feeling if there is early wicket aussie middle order will struggle. Henry & doug are very good bowlers. Middle order comprising of stoinis, sir don s marshman fell like a pack of card.

England have beat Australia and India in the last 12 months and posted over 300 runs more times than any other team since the World Cup by a long way, whilst also setting a world record score against Australia. There batting lineup collectively out ranks every other side. The bowling attack has been consistent with good variation and quality wrist spin from rashid but up until now it has lacked the express pace however with the inclusion of Archer bowling 92mph yesterday against Pakistan the only real doubt is whether England can hold their nerve on their own turf because fundamentally they are the clear favourites.

Australia 2 away from victory with 1 wicket to spare and Zamba is plumb LBW to Todd Astle. Not given though. NZ robbed. #sandpaper and #dodgyaussieumpires.

Also went to the final 4 years ago. Great as the Kiwi run was it really was a shame the final wasn't Australia v South Africa

Its an unoffical game so basically a training session.

Meanwhile Aussies are crashing & burning against NZ A team. Cricket is real funny game

The Aussies have really come from the clouds in this World Cup . Three months ago they were gonski, but at full strength and firing on all cylinders, all of a sudden they are dangerous, and I’m tipping them to win it. In 2015 we went to Melbourne for the final , and the place we stayed was full of Indian supporters. Consequently there was a lot of empty seats at the game , due to the number of Indian fans that bought tickets early and were disappointed. I can’t see them making the final this time either . Poms V Aussies in the final, and hopefully it ends up a better game than the “fizzer” in Melbourne four years ago.

With improved bat technology, smaller grounds and rules and pitches favouring batsmen, who knows what havoc Vivian Richards would have caused in the modern OD game?