Infield Chatter

[The Doc]

OK, and I promise this is the last time (until the summer at least)

Second one-day final, Sydney: England 246-8 (50 overs) beat Australia 152-8 (33 overs) by 34 runs (D/L)

and thats the final (best of 3) 2-0

As pleasing as it is surprising. Sorry O!

So now out of fairness I will need to start following the rounders.  Who should I be rooting for?

[owen]

Wow! What a turnaround for the books.

Now England can return home with some pride intact.

Congrats!

O!

[The Doc]

Why oh why (you are all saying I am sure)

Why oh why is Alun failing to keep us up to date with developments in the cricket world cup?

Well I did think that this was turning into a cricket only thread, and as I understand the rounders season has started over the pond I thought I would leave it free for a while, but clearly there is nothing interesting happening on the diamonds so I might as well give you the current state of play.

The first group stages of the world cup (and these are all one day games 50 overs a side BTW) has just finished.  of the original 16 teams (I bet you never new there were 16 cricket playing countries did you?) Netherlands, Scotland, Bermuda, Kenya, Canada, Zimbabwe and surprisingly India and Pakistan have been eliminated.

Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, England, West Indies, surprisingly Bangla Desh and astinishingly Ireland(!!!! ) have gone through to the second round.

I will refrain from covering the whole thing (hurrah you all say) but might mention the England and Ireland games and any other exciting results

[Sebastian Knight]

I will refrain from covering the whole thing (hurrah you all say) but might mention the England and Ireland games and any other exciting results

You don't think a coach being murdered, probably relating to his teams untimely exit from the world cup, counts as an "exciting result"?

[tgraham]

I'm sure the coach found it a less than exciting result.

[The Doc]

I will refrain from covering the whole thing (hurrah you all say) but might mention the England and Ireland games and any other exciting results

You don't think a coach being murdered, probably relating to his teams untimely exit from the world cup, counts as an "exciting result"?

Actually the main reason for posting was to appraise you of that bizzare and very unfortunate affair, but I kept getting interrupted (serves me right for doing it at work) and forgot.

[Chip]

From today's The Sports Guy blog on espn.com:

Suggestion if you're ever watching a golf major in a room mixed with males and females: Any time a no-name golfer wins and hugs his wife, if the wife doesn't look like a supermodel, quickly start making the "Uh-oh, time to trade her in!" and "Looks like somebody needs to go the dealer for an upgrade!" jokes. Any woman within earshot will flip out. High comedy.

[Just checking to see if any of PC's two or three women are paying attention.]

[sarah]

I'm not paying attention.  I'm too busy sulking over the outcome of today's Cubs-Assholes game.

~s

[tgraham]

Thats ASS-tros to you.
No one can lose every game, not even the Nationals and Devil Rays.
Today was an anomoly, trust me, any other time you face the 'Stros pen, you can count on 2-3 runs per inning (5 if you see Lidge).

I've been a die-hard Astros fan since 1967, and I've always been optimistic about the chances, even on teh teams that lose 90+ games. This year there are SOOOO many holes.

Our pitching is suspect past Oswalt and Jennings. The few real offensive threats we have are adequate defenders at best, more likely defensive liabilities. The solid defensive spots mostly wont hit their weight.

The only truly bright spots are Biggio, Phil Garner's ability to pull a rabbit out of a hat, and the possibility of the Rockets return to Astro pinstripes.

[The Doc]

Well the Cricket world cup seems to have been going on for ages, but the second round is now well past halfway (each team played five out of seven games)  and we are getting a clear idea of what is going on.

Australia are unbeaten and are certain to go through to the semifinal stage (probably top of the table - I can't see them losing  to anyone between now and the final)

New Zealand and Sri Lanka have lost one game each but will almost certainly make the Semis, although they both still have to play the mighty Oz

West Indies, Bangla Desh (almost certainly) and Ireland (definately) are out of the running.  Ireland were trounced by Australia today (all out for 91 in 30 overs, Australia 92 for one in 12 overs) but otherwise have turned in creditable (if losing) performances.

The last semi place is between England and South Africa and probably depends on the outcome of the match between them on Tuesday, although if SA beat NZ tomorrow we will also have to beat WI next saturday.  England have been dreadful throughout the tournament, only beating such major cricketing nations as Kenya, Canada, Ireland and Bangla desh - and pretty unconvincingly at that.  I reckon the States could give us a run for our money

[sarah]

...although if SA beat NZ tomorrow we will also have to beat WI next saturday. 

Wisconsin has a cricket team?!

~s

[owen]

http://madisoncricket.tripod.com/

O!

[The Doc]

And they would probably beat us

[The Doc]

New Zealand beat South Africa and are definately in the semis, as are Sri Lanka, So the South Africa/England Match should decide the final semi spot (although there is a bizzare and unlikely combination of results that could just give it to West Indies (or Wisconsin, which would be about as likely)

[The Doc]

Ireland beat Bangla Desh! (For the uninitiated that is something of a surprise - Bangla Desh are one of the elite test playing nations - albeit they gained that status quite recently)

Still looking like England or SA will be in the semis after their game on Tuesday