ODI World Cup.

[Pies4shaw]

[K]

Does it mean much? Those aren't stars (apart from MSD, a former star).

[K]

Jhye Richardson out of World Cup, Kane called up

http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/26695428/jhye-richardson-world-cup-kane-called-up

'"This is obviously very disappointing news for the team and for Jhye, who has been exceptional throughout his rehabilitation process," David Beakley, Australia's physiotherapist, said. "After his most recent assessment and attempting to bowl in the nets, it was clear that Jhye was not progressing as fast as required and therefore, in consultation with selectors, we made the decision to withdraw him from the squad."'


Okay, now I'm worried. Kane has been very unimpressive, from what I've seen. Jhye's last two ODI overs, I think, were wicket maidens.

[Pies4shaw]

[Pies4shaw]

As expected, Warner won the Orange Cap for most runs in the IPL. He finished 99 clear of Rahul.

In the final, CSK lost to Mumbai by 1 run (7/148, chasing 8/149) with a wicket on the last ball. Watson almost won the game for them but was run out going for the second on the third-last ball (in essence, trying to get back on strike to take Malinga). He made what should have been a match-winning 80 from 59 balls but no-one else in the Chennai team was capable of getting to 30 on the night (indeed, only Bravo managed to stay at the crease to face 15 deliveries). The best for Mumbai was Pollard, who made 41*. Watson probably should have been named MOTM for the seocnd final in a row but they gave it to Bumrah (who plays for the winning team) for bowling a couple of good overs, getting two wickets and knocking out a neat 0 not out from 0 balls with the bat. Watson finished with 398 runs for the season, behind only Dhoni on 416 for CSK. Dhoni choked on the night - 2 from 8 balls is a terrible return when your team loses by just one run.

Anyway, Australia now has the best and most technically capable short form batsman in the World back in the team and with Smith (who is the best batsman in the World in all forms) running into some form against NZ, they look reasonably-placed to compete well in the Cup, provided they can hide their Marsh.

[K]

England have changed their squad!! (A lot!!)

England: Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.


This is not a new theme... but Jofra Archer playing for England is another dagger in the heart of the game. Vince replaced Hales, who was thrown under the bus. (The Irish bus driver then reversed back over his mangled corpse.)

[K]

Bangladesh made no changes to their squad.

Bangladesh: Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), Liton Das, Mohammad Mithun, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Saifuddin, Abu Jayed, Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Sabbir Rahman, Mosaddek Hossain

[Pies4shaw]

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/full-scorecard-australia-west-indies-unofficial-world-cup-warm-up-match-southampton-nursery-ground/2019-05-23

Australia bowled the Windies out for 229 in 46.2 overs (Maxwell 2-14, Coulter-Nile 2-25, Starc 2-34, Cummins 2-36, Zampa 1-42, Behrendorff 1-65, Smith 0-11) and peeled off the runs comfortably, with 3-230 in 38.3 overs (Finch 42 from 47, Khawaja 5 from 7, Warner 12 from 24, Smith 76 from 82, Marsh 55* from 59, Maxwell 18* from 12)).

Khawaja got hit by an Andre Russell bouncer and retired hurt on 5. He is apparently OK.

[K]

Ponting: "The thing that will define Australia's success in the World Cup is, one, how well they bowl spin and, two, how well they play it. That's been their Achilles' heel the last 12 or 18 months. With [Adam] Zampa bowling well now, Nathan Lyon's obviously in the squad and Glenn Maxwell's done a good job with the ball whenever he's played.

"And I think some of our middle order are probably slightly better players of spin now than they were 12 or 18 months ago. With Warner there now and Steve Smith coming back in, the middle order looks a lot better against spin bowling than it probably was."

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/ponting-reveals-how-australia-rallied-after-controversy-20190523-p51q9u.html

[K]

"... Eoin Morgan ... has sustained a "small flake fracture" to the left index finger after an incident during a fielding drill.
...

An ECB statement confirmed the fracture, but added that Morgan is "expected to make a full recovery" ahead of England's opening fixture...

Joe Root did not train on the eve of England's warm-up match either, having stayed at home for personal reasons."

(cricinfo)


The last time "personal reasons" came up, it turned out to be Hales's drug saga, speaking of which it's a pity Morgan didn't break his arm or dislocate his shoulder.

[Donny]

Warm-up match.

Aussies v. Poms.

Aussies sent in. 1/43. Warner 17*.

[Donny]

Is there a worse looking head than Ben Stokes'.

What drivers anyone to WANT to look like that ?

[Donny]

1/55 after 11 overs.

Warner 23*, Marsh 12*.

[Donny]

Michael Slater ? Please, no more.

Warner out for 43 (55). Marsh 28*, Smith 8*.

2/100 after 20 overs.

[Donny]

3/131 after 26 overs. Marsh 30 (44).

Smith 33* (33).