I’m pretty content with the BCs CWC performance, I didn’t think we’d make the semis even though the draw gave us a chance to warm into the tournament with some soft early matches. The overall theme I’d say was that some outstanding batting masked some poor bowling. There were times when some bowling meltdowns threatened to morph into fully blown thrashings but only the SA turned out that way. Some focus areas for me:
1. Boult - failed to live up to leader of the pack status. Has never been great at bowling a dry line & length when there’s not much on offer.
2. Ferguson - enforcer status seriously undermined by age and slower wickets. Invariably leaked runs.
3. Latham - looked out of place in the modern, high paced game.
4. Sodhi - why take him if you have no confidence in his game? Potentially could have been useful in helping us defend big scores had we been minded to bat first more often.
Conways lack of runs post Game 1 could be talked about but honestly I think that just created more space for Ravindra, KW & Mitchell to thrive. We may need to look at a more dynamic style with our top 6 as we did get bogged down a little at times if you want to be critical - I think Will Young might be down the road for example, but I hope we’re smart about it, apart from Latham I wouldn’t do much with the top 6.
In the end I find it hard to be too disappointed being knocked out by India when they are demonstrably inferior, but well done BCs.
4. I suspect Sodhi was taken because he is an experienced, solid character who would deal well with not playing (a la Mills in 2015 and Southee in 2019). In the end, even on turning pitches, I'm guessing Stead and Williamson had more confidence getting 8-10 useable overs out of a combination of RR and Phillips than they did out of Ish. The other complicating factor is his fielding, which was never a strong suit, seems to have fallen off a cliff.
Makes sense Dylan. But also goes to show how lacking in depth and options our bowling is that we go down this path, surely someone who could actually offer something *ON* the field would be better?!
That was a critical moment and you could see how gutted KW was because he had something left in the tank and knew it was his time to take over from Mitchell. Still, I gave them a chance with Phillips but just when he appeared set to launch with that Siraj over (41st), it all went south in a hurry.
I’m pretty content with the BCs CWC performance, I didn’t think we’d make the semis even though the draw gave us a chance to warm into the tournament with some soft early matches. The overall theme I’d say was that some outstanding batting masked some poor bowling. There were times when some bowling meltdowns threatened to morph into fully blown thrashings but only the SA turned out that way. Some focus areas for me:
1. Boult - failed to live up to leader of the pack status. Has never been great at bowling a dry line & length when there’s not much on offer.
2. Ferguson - enforcer status seriously undermined by age and slower wickets. Invariably leaked runs.
3. Latham - looked out of place in the modern, high paced game.
4. Sodhi - why take him if you have no confidence in his game? Potentially could have been useful in helping us defend big scores had we been minded to bat first more often.
Conways lack of runs post Game 1 could be talked about but honestly I think that just created more space for Ravindra, KW & Mitchell to thrive. We may need to look at a more dynamic style with our top 6 as we did get bogged down a little at times if you want to be critical - I think Will Young might be down the road for example, but I hope we’re smart about it, apart from Latham I wouldn’t do much with the top 6.
In the end I find it hard to be too disappointed being knocked out by India when they are demonstrably inferior, but well done BCs.
4. I suspect Sodhi was taken because he is an experienced, solid character who would deal well with not playing (a la Mills in 2015 and Southee in 2019). In the end, even on turning pitches, I'm guessing Stead and Williamson had more confidence getting 8-10 useable overs out of a combination of RR and Phillips than they did out of Ish. The other complicating factor is his fielding, which was never a strong suit, seems to have fallen off a cliff.
Makes sense Dylan. But also goes to show how lacking in depth and options our bowling is that we go down this path, surely someone who could actually offer something *ON* the field would be better?!
Thought the chase was structured magnificently. For me it was all over when Kane lost his wicket at the same time as Mitchell was cramping.
That was a critical moment and you could see how gutted KW was because he had something left in the tank and knew it was his time to take over from Mitchell. Still, I gave them a chance with Phillips but just when he appeared set to launch with that Siraj over (41st), it all went south in a hurry.