Massive total by SA - yes a lot of runs

Did you catch Australia's imposing total and the Kiwi chase - Oh dear,

That's a lot of runs.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/cricket/31022409

Silence of the Lambs - Sledging not on for Kiwi Captain McCullum

England restore some pride - Australia rests while planning to rip the Kiwis a new one

Come on - Eden park is tiny, feather a top edge and it goes for 6.  A game of this importance should be on a proper ground, not one where 14 year olds can hit into the stands

Chris Gayle is back - this is scary

How is England viewing the SL game, hopefully better than St Helens V The Rabbitohs

Jason Gallespie to coach England

1-4 (that's 4-1 Andrew)

Pakistan trying to grab some of our headlines there.
I'm sure we can grab them back with a shambles against Scotland. Can you imagine...?
When's the 6 nations back? Another week of this misery...

The best prepared England Team to leave Home for a World Cup

1 Million Dollars - 

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/cricket/windies-instant-millionaires/story-e6frey50-1111117923463

2015 - The start - England's Annus Horribilis

Is the NZ Ground a green top too far or is the England ODI squad 'old yellow' material

England V New Zealand

England have a hard task - NZ look very strong

South Africa didn't have it all their own way.

Did you see the brawl in an Adelaide bar after Ind v Pak

Day 2

I thought zim were looking hopeful early on. They started so well - Miller was violent though. Maybe he has some issues. 138 off 92 with 9 sixes. Just what we need - another aggressive talented saffa. Give him a British passport quick...

90,000 expected crowd - please stop raining just for today - Duckworth Lewis - For gods sake

For gods sake are we going to need this today -

https://www.easycalculation.com/sports/duckworth-lewis-calculator.php

Paul Collingwood would be an excellent coach, England need a new captain and a new coach. Anything Collingwood in Melbourne is widely accepted (Having trouble commenting on the Collingwood comments below so have to revert to a new thread - sorry)

Did you see Haddin roll his ankle when he carelessly stepped on the cricket ball yesterday - I hope you are watching this live if it gets underway.  Morgan is the bunny today, can he deliver

MCG - Opener - the excitement builds - the city is boiling and heaving - less than 24hrs to go

Good luck - thunderstorms tonight here in the sporting capital - tomorrow, what a fantastic opening game - two great rivals go head to head

Is Australia going to thrash the pants of England or is England going to be a banana skin at the first turn.

And its great to see Brian Lara on TV again.....

new look for the World Cup. - had to get that cup up there. It gets taken down as soon as England are out. (Sorry Andrew)

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/english-cricket-team-have-lost-their-balls-cheeky-posters-taunt-20150209-139ryn.html

DRS and no super overs but no hotspot either

Glad they've got rid of the Super over - that was ridiculous. I still don't get why they can't afford the hotspot cameras for all pitches for a world cup event. need to find out how much they cost.

Interestingly the company that makes the hotspot cameras also makes this:

That would liven things up a bit if they messed up the order.

 





Quotes of the week

I don't think he swung it: England captain Eoin Morgan denies tourists are threatened by Mitchell Johnson

Now to the World Cup

England - excellent toss to win, batting at the Wacca first is very difficult uneven bounce and slightly slow first up.

Positives
Anderson, Broad, Finn look in good nick.  England removed Finch + Warner easily on the difficult initial spell - this should have throttled Australia's momentum so we could struggle to pass 200 odd

Negatives
Morgan - watch that Off stump
England unable to get on top of Australia's middle order and give the knock out punch


Australia

Positives - The finisher again was outstanding, but is now injured and likely to miss the world cup, Maxwell getting some form just at the right time.

Mitch + Mitch a bit wayward at times

Australia will feel good about a win after a shocking start, but they need to improve a lot before they can take on South Africa or NZ on their day.  On another day we could have been all out for 180

England, look a bowler short at times and need to inject something into that middle order