50 overs cricket world cup 2023

Well Australia and England have got off to woeful starts. England need to get back to winning ways tonight against Bangladesh, Australia have a really tough game next up with South Africa. Long ways to go yet but can't afford to lose too many early on imo. 

10 teams they play each other once, simple format really but very straightforward and leaves the best teams at the semi finals. The pitches so far have been a mixed bag, Chennai the other night was a dry grassy slow dead pitch that seemed to confuse a lot of batters, India used their better spinners to knock the Aussies down to a meagre score. Aussie spinners are not good enough to do what India do, Jadega and Kuldeep Yadav were outstanding. The ball that got Smith out was a magic ball. 

England 118/1 off 18 overs so far..

Beautiful ground where they are playing at, up near the mountains, snowy peaks in the background.. Good game to get the run rate up.

Bangladesh need 365 to win. 

Pakistan win, Sri Lanka threw the game away with appalling bowling and fielding, 345 was a decent run chase for Pakistan to get, and they looked to be struggling for a bit, but yet again Sri Lanka just let these teams back into the game with amateur hr playing. Their bowling in the last 10 overs was so bad, wides, full tosses, pies, half volleys, just ridiculous, and that bowler with the slingy/chucker action, Pathirana, shouldn't even be playing imo, he's the one who always gives away runs, he's such a poor death bowler, has no variations or line and length, just full toss or higher full tosses. The bad bowling and poor efforts to try and catch catches by this lot in a world cup is just not good enough. I would throwing cricket balls at the Sri Lankans in the dressing after that dismal effort room if I was coach. 

Afg 272/8 off 50 overs, prolly about 50 runs too short to trouble India, this is a genuine pitch the ball is coming onto the bat nicely meaning that its good for the seamers and quicks, not so for spinners, so it might neuter Rashid's spin.   

Why isn't Murphy in the aussie squad ? surely they aren't just relying on Zampa and a few part timers for spin bowling ? Murphy can bat better than Zampa too. Also I have been noticing how jaded Green has been of late, the lad has been playing non stop, he played the entire IPL then into the ashes, played nearly all the warm up games and now into the world cup, he just looks jaded and tired to me. 

Aussies win the toss and are going to bowl. 

Carey and Green out Inglis and Stoinis in.

oh well done we have lost pictures..

Australia couldn't do it, all out for 172 at one point they had lost like 5 wickets for 60 odd. Smith was not happy about his LBW decision. Long road back now for these lot to make the final 4. 

I see them as a team that is tired, they look weary to me, mind you a lot of the teams do but the aussies more than most, they dropped about 4 catches last night, that's not something you see the aussies do very often. The bringing in of Inglis when he has been out of form was a mystery to me, he hasn't scored runs in ages and has ben getting out cheaply in the warm ups and in the series in SA.  

Not sure on some of the others but I think you might be selling Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood a bit short there Bobby.

Labuschagne is a curious selection for white ball games, he's a bit like Root in that they are both really genuine, talented, test players, but who's game doesn't quite 100% translate to the white ball pace/method. Marnus seemed stuck in 2nd gear last night, he had been at the crease for what seemed like an hr and had scored only 8 runs. He's more of a touch player that finds gaps and plays bad balls leaving lots go by. I realise they both have made some big runs in the ODI game in the past, but still I find it a little frustrating watching them at times when they are struggling in the shorter format. Selectors of both sides need to get a bit more fluid and creative, allowing more younger, fresher, fitter and faster players to have a go.