Cricket World Cup in India

Underway, with a game between the finalists from four years ago opening proceedings.

In England four years ago we saw decent crowds at all games.

England v New Zealand in Ahmedabad and it looks like there’s two men and a dog there. Even on a workday and a general population which isn’t that affluent I’d have expected much better.

Anyway, that aside, England have made a solid start, Henry looks like he has it on a bit of string though, bowled really well and deserved his wicket.

Think we’ll need 320 plus to defend on this. The new ball is doing a bit off a good length but I can’t see that lasting and it’ll skid on to the bat nicely in the dew when they are chasing.

 

Weird it being played in an empty stadium. Can only presume ticket prices have shafted the general public?

Their batting line up is a long un so I think you're right with 320 as a minimum. Need Root to bat through.

In other news, my Malan top batter bet is doen the pan already.

 

Awful from the host nation, they're in a massive stadium with a capacity of 132,000 with 12 people watching.

 

Problem is that the fans are more India supporters than cricket supporters

 

Terrible attendance. Every match should be sold out in a country of a billion people, that see Cricket as level or above religion as a national interest.

 

Poor shot from YJB there. He’d have been better off giving it some tap than that ‘controlled check drive’ straight down long off’s throat.

 

Didn’t help that the ICC/BCCI pissed about with the schedule and ticketing until the last minute. The problem with India is they think they are a world superpower but can’t organise a piss up in a brewery.

 

Even worse from Brook

 

Disagree. They’ve got 3 proper bowlers so you’ve got to go after the all rounders.

 

Execution rather than shot selection. It was just as poor a delivery as the previous three.

Tried to hit it too hard and mistimed it.

 

I agree about the crowd but it seems to have increased as the day goes on. Still far too big a ground for this fixture though. Maybe they don't have small grounds of say 10,000 capacity which would be better today.

I won't be watching any India matches unless they are playing England. Can't stand all the hysteria going on around their games - both on the field and in the stands.

 

Poor batting performance in ideal batting conditions to bat first. We must remember though we are only fifth in the world rankings and probably over half the squad won't be playing at the next world cup.

 

I’m chuffed for Root and his typical run a ball innings.
He’s looked a bit vulnerable recently but how valuable is his innings today ?
We’d be totally crackered without it

 

This aged well…

This is a 320 pitch. I stand by that.

Poor batting effort this. Need to bat the overs now and try to scrape to 275 or thereabouts.

There will be enough on the board to make it at least a bit of a game but you’d fancy NZ to chase this comfortably with the depth of their batting.

 

True …. in todays team, there are only 2 players below 30.
With todays schedules and fitness regimes, I reckon most of the squad could still play in 4 years time but many will have retired from international cricket by then

 

Hoping to get home for most of NZ innings. Glad Joe's done well!

 

I love watching Pant/Kholi etc at their best.so I will be. You always get hyperbole for the host nations!

 

Rashid and Wood did excellently there to get us past 280. Those 30 runs they added could be key.

Still think we are a bit below par - but at least it’s a score and needs chasing.

 

Will Young out first ball.

I think he better leave right now.

 

Sorry thought you meant the selection. Agreed he was too quick to try and whack it when he needed to hold his shot more.