I think what we've seen today just proves Sri Lanka are going to be a front runner for the World Cup.

In regards to today game, NZ is a team that usually prides itself on having a very long tail, even Mills is a very handy batsmen. In regards to what Mildroast said, yeah if you did have Mcgrath and Lee Aussie probably would have won by more. The thing is though Aussie has a hell of alot more depth than NZ. When Australia has a player, or players, get injured it doesn't hurt half as much as when a top Black Cap get hurt.

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But you guys do have depth, i mean the master Chris Harris can't even get into your starting XI!

I agree about Sri Lanka, them and South Africa are probably on a par with Australia at the moment.

Which is exactly the scenario of Billy Birmingham's latest offering: "The Twelfth Man: Boned!". Get it if you can - it is very funny, as usual.

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Yes, I wish England had ten that we could rely on to do that well.

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Money won't buy you friends. But it gets you a better class of enemy.
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What, you watched Sri Lanka deal Australia a heavy defeat today did you?? To "prove" something, then surely you need, um, proof. Sri Lanka flogging NZ in NZ means nothing. Australia whitewashed NZ in NZ 5-0 last year and that meant nothing too.
Just a few facts. Australia is ranked number one in ODI's with daylight second and Sri Lanka fifth. Australia have four of the top 10 batting players, Sri Lanka 2, Australia 3 top 10 bowlers, SL 2.

I think any of the top 8 nations are a chance of winning due to the cutthroat nature of World cups. But how you have plucked SL as proven front-runner is beyond me.

Vaas being ranked the 7th best bowler in one day cricket is all the proof really needed that the ICC rankings sytem is bull****. He is routinely pummelled by quality batting line-ups. There's only one and a half bowlers in Sri Lanka, Murali and a rather unspectacular Vaas.

Anyway, Sri Lanka has about as much a chance as England to win the World Cup. One and a half bowlers and only 2 batsmen of any worth, how are they suppose to mount any sort of challenge?

Australia, Pakistan or South Africa are all in the running to win the World Cup. In my opinion, all the other countries will need to be a little lucky.

Actually, in ODI's, Australia is ranked first with South Africa very close behind them. Then it's daylight to third. But Pakistan with Akhtar, Asif, Gul and Kaneira could destroy any batting line up, and with Yousef in exemplary form with the bat, they should be close to SA and Aus at full strength.

I agree on the "proof" thing.. but I'd suggest the ranking of the "front runners" will depend on the pitches: Aussie pitches with pace, bounce, carry combined with a very true boumce.. Australia look so far out in front that one wonders if Australia 'A' might be the next best side in the game... but on a two-paced, slow and low turner with a bit of uneven bounce (i.e.. a genuinely interesting ODI pitch) the chasing pack should be right up there, fully able to compete.

Sadly, I suspect short boundaries will make the forthcoming world cup a farce even if the pitches do not: if the boundaries are big enough to intimidate even Gilchrist and Jayasuria then (assuming the pitches are sensible, par of 220-240 pitches) the strength in depth of the various sides should count... but if not... I guess we'll see a lottery.

I hope I'm wrong: roll on a world cup with typical scores of 170-220

But are all WI wickets that slow or poorly prepared? My recollections of the WI (test) wickets - certainly Sabina park - is one of fairly fast and bouncy wickets. The volume of fast bowlers produced and dirth of quality spinners produced would certainly indicate that prevailing conditions would suit the fast men. I have'nt watched a series there since England's tour, so i cannot be sure.

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