One World
May 14, 2009, 04:23 AM
So far so good. Here is the fixture.
<table class="scheduleTable"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td nowrap="nowrap">Fri 5
17:30 local, 16:30 GMT </td> <td> 1st Match, Group B - England v Netherlands
Lord's, London
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Sat 6
10:00 local, 09:00 GMT </td> <td> 2nd Match, Group D - New Zealand v Scotland
Kennington Oval, London
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Sat 6
14:00 local, 13:00 GMT </td> <td> 3rd Match, Group C - Australia v West Indies
Kennington Oval, London
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Sat 6
18:00 local, 17:00 GMT </td> <td> 4th Match, Group A - Bangladesh v India
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Sun 7
13:30 local, 12:30 GMT </td> <td> 5th Match, Group D - Scotland v South Africa
Kennington Oval, London
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Sun 7
17:30 local, 16:30 GMT </td> <td> 6th Match, Group B - England v Pakistan
Kennington Oval, London
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Mon 8
13:30 local, 12:30 GMT </td> <td> 7th Match, Group A - Bangladesh v Ireland
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Mon 8
17:30 local, 16:30 GMT </td> <td> 8th Match, Group C - Australia v Sri Lanka
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Tue 9
13:30 local, 12:30 GMT </td> <td> 9th Match, Group B - Netherlands v Pakistan
Lord's, London
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Tue 9
17:30 local, 16:30 GMT </td> <td> 10th Match, Group D - New Zealand v South Africa
Lord's, London
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Wed 10
13:30 local, 12:30 GMT </td> <td> 11th Match, Group C - Sri Lanka v West Indies
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Wed 10
17:30 local, 16:30 GMT </td> <td> 12th Match, Group A - India v Ireland
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Thu 11
13:30 local, 12:30 GMT </td> <td> 13th Match, Group F - TBC v TBC
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
D1 v A2 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Thu 11
17:30 local, 16:30 GMT </td> <td> 14th Match, Group E - TBC v TBC
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
B2 v D2 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Fri 12
13:30 local, 12:30 GMT </td> <td> 15th Match, Group F - TBC v TBC
Lord's, London
B1 v C2 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Fri 12
17:30 local, 16:30 GMT </td> <td> 16th Match, Group E - TBC v TBC
Lord's, London
A1 v C1 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Sat 13
13:30 local, 12:30 GMT </td> <td> 17th Match, Group E - TBC v TBC
Kennington Oval, London
C1 v D2 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Sat 13
17:30 local, 16:30 GMT </td> <td> 18th Match, Group F - TBC v TBC
Kennington Oval, London
D1 v B1 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Sun 14
13:30 local, 12:30 GMT </td> <td> 19th Match, Group F - TBC v TBC
Lord's, London
A2 v C2 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Sun 14
17:30 local, 16:30 GMT </td> <td> 20th Match, Group E - TBC v TBC
Lord's, London
A1 v B2 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Mon 15
13:30 local, 12:30 GMT </td> <td> 21st Match, Group E - TBC v TBC
Kennington Oval, London
B2 v C1 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Mon 15
17:30 local, 16:30 GMT </td> <td> 22nd Match, Group F - TBC v TBC
Kennington Oval, London
B1 v A2 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Tue 16
13:30 local, 12:30 GMT </td> <td> 23rd Match, Group F - TBC v TBC
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
D1 v C2 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Tue 16
17:30 local, 16:30 GMT </td> <td> 24th Match, Group E - TBC v TBC
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
D2 v A1 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Thu 18
17:30 local, 16:30 GMT </td> <td> 1st Semi-Final - TBC v TBC
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Fri 19
17:30 local, 16:30 GMT </td> <td> 2nd Semi-Final - TBC v TBC
Kennington Oval, London
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Sun 21
15:00 local, 14:00 GMT </td> <td> Final - TBC v TBC
Lord's, London</td></tr></tbody></table>
As the timing is very suitable I would be able to make around 70% of the matches. My target is to get DirecTV and buy the package. I find Pakistan and RSA as the main contender this time. Recent result of our Natl. team with the A recruites does not put up a rosy picture and there would be a mere possibility for us this time to pass the group level hurdle.
In seaming conditions other than England, Aussies, Pakis, WIndies and Saffers, all should be putting up strong fight. But again Pakis lost to BD in a WC match here in England, that's how they script their cricket. It will largely depend on their team chemistry. A win in Sharjah does not really ensure the ticket for English ground. WIndies team with their intra island politics, board-player contradiction and latest gayle question is much divided like the Pakis to pull through anything. My best bet would be Saffeers although they are not my favourite. I have little hope for Srilankans, they might just end up as same as Us and recent performance of Dilshan and Malinga does not ensure a total team effort.
Another important matter is Umpiring. Hope this time the umpires would provide the audience a clean fair tournament to cherish.
<table class="scheduleTable"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td nowrap="nowrap">Fri 5
17:30 local, 16:30 GMT </td> <td> 1st Match, Group B - England v Netherlands
Lord's, London
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Sat 6
10:00 local, 09:00 GMT </td> <td> 2nd Match, Group D - New Zealand v Scotland
Kennington Oval, London
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Sat 6
14:00 local, 13:00 GMT </td> <td> 3rd Match, Group C - Australia v West Indies
Kennington Oval, London
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Sat 6
18:00 local, 17:00 GMT </td> <td> 4th Match, Group A - Bangladesh v India
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Sun 7
13:30 local, 12:30 GMT </td> <td> 5th Match, Group D - Scotland v South Africa
Kennington Oval, London
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Sun 7
17:30 local, 16:30 GMT </td> <td> 6th Match, Group B - England v Pakistan
Kennington Oval, London
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Mon 8
13:30 local, 12:30 GMT </td> <td> 7th Match, Group A - Bangladesh v Ireland
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Mon 8
17:30 local, 16:30 GMT </td> <td> 8th Match, Group C - Australia v Sri Lanka
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Tue 9
13:30 local, 12:30 GMT </td> <td> 9th Match, Group B - Netherlands v Pakistan
Lord's, London
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Tue 9
17:30 local, 16:30 GMT </td> <td> 10th Match, Group D - New Zealand v South Africa
Lord's, London
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Wed 10
13:30 local, 12:30 GMT </td> <td> 11th Match, Group C - Sri Lanka v West Indies
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Wed 10
17:30 local, 16:30 GMT </td> <td> 12th Match, Group A - India v Ireland
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Thu 11
13:30 local, 12:30 GMT </td> <td> 13th Match, Group F - TBC v TBC
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
D1 v A2 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Thu 11
17:30 local, 16:30 GMT </td> <td> 14th Match, Group E - TBC v TBC
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
B2 v D2 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Fri 12
13:30 local, 12:30 GMT </td> <td> 15th Match, Group F - TBC v TBC
Lord's, London
B1 v C2 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Fri 12
17:30 local, 16:30 GMT </td> <td> 16th Match, Group E - TBC v TBC
Lord's, London
A1 v C1 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Sat 13
13:30 local, 12:30 GMT </td> <td> 17th Match, Group E - TBC v TBC
Kennington Oval, London
C1 v D2 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Sat 13
17:30 local, 16:30 GMT </td> <td> 18th Match, Group F - TBC v TBC
Kennington Oval, London
D1 v B1 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Sun 14
13:30 local, 12:30 GMT </td> <td> 19th Match, Group F - TBC v TBC
Lord's, London
A2 v C2 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Sun 14
17:30 local, 16:30 GMT </td> <td> 20th Match, Group E - TBC v TBC
Lord's, London
A1 v B2 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Mon 15
13:30 local, 12:30 GMT </td> <td> 21st Match, Group E - TBC v TBC
Kennington Oval, London
B2 v C1 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Mon 15
17:30 local, 16:30 GMT </td> <td> 22nd Match, Group F - TBC v TBC
Kennington Oval, London
B1 v A2 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Tue 16
13:30 local, 12:30 GMT </td> <td> 23rd Match, Group F - TBC v TBC
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
D1 v C2 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Tue 16
17:30 local, 16:30 GMT </td> <td> 24th Match, Group E - TBC v TBC
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
D2 v A1 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Thu 18
17:30 local, 16:30 GMT </td> <td> 1st Semi-Final - TBC v TBC
Trent Bridge, Nottingham
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Fri 19
17:30 local, 16:30 GMT </td> <td> 2nd Semi-Final - TBC v TBC
Kennington Oval, London
</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td nowrap="nowrap"> Sun 21
15:00 local, 14:00 GMT </td> <td> Final - TBC v TBC
Lord's, London</td></tr></tbody></table>
As the timing is very suitable I would be able to make around 70% of the matches. My target is to get DirecTV and buy the package. I find Pakistan and RSA as the main contender this time. Recent result of our Natl. team with the A recruites does not put up a rosy picture and there would be a mere possibility for us this time to pass the group level hurdle.
In seaming conditions other than England, Aussies, Pakis, WIndies and Saffers, all should be putting up strong fight. But again Pakis lost to BD in a WC match here in England, that's how they script their cricket. It will largely depend on their team chemistry. A win in Sharjah does not really ensure the ticket for English ground. WIndies team with their intra island politics, board-player contradiction and latest gayle question is much divided like the Pakis to pull through anything. My best bet would be Saffeers although they are not my favourite. I have little hope for Srilankans, they might just end up as same as Us and recent performance of Dilshan and Malinga does not ensure a total team effort.
Another important matter is Umpiring. Hope this time the umpires would provide the audience a clean fair tournament to cherish.