Beelzebub

Aaaaaah Amir that first ball 

This match is ours  I can feel it in my gut and surrounding areas

Nice going from Hafeez and Babar 

Just now, SirBalon said:

The situation with NATO and Europe is a dying requirement. Hopefully a similar thing can he created by Europe itself in the not too distant future and in so doing finally free itself from having to adhere to the US’s personal benefits with destabilising certain parts of the globe. We suffer the main retribution in Europe from their meddling.

But apart from a few countries does Europe has enough to replace what US offers in regards to that ?

21 minutes ago, SirBalon said:

Trump thinks many things and what we can say with certainty is that whatever Trump says, one should do the opposite and one won’t go far wrong and be on the right path.

It’s not just that with the issues between the US and Europe. The feeling from Europe in general is more than mutual. The US are another Russia in Euro eyes, but even more suspicious.

US on the other hand thinks they are ones protecting Europe from Russia i.e NATO while Russia sees NATO not as a coalition but simply as way to bring US forces near its border a threat to its national security.

Very tight dismissal 

Just now, Stan said:

Fancy Amir getting a few more wickets today.

Not before England pile on the runs though - Trent Bridge is one of their favourite places to smash teams out the park. 

Probably why they're so confident of chasing any total hence bowling first. If they restrict Pakistan to anything around 300 it'll be comfortable for England. Hope there's no rain to spoil the day. 

Tomorrow's game between Afghanistan & Sri Lanka looks like it'll be wiped out - rain forecast all day in Cardiff.

I'm having that feeling that it's our day

Jofra was the X factor England was missing in ODIs for a long time, Great bowler

Fakhar looks in fine shape like the other day lets hope he doesn't Fakhars up like the other day  

Oh the widening gap between Europe and US is real, Europe believes US double crossed them by pulling out of Iran deal while Trump really pushed for America first narrative, US thinks that it does all the dirty work and gets all the hate while Europe benefits from dirty work. 

56 minutes ago, El Profesor said:

My impression is that Trump´s instincts are isolationist. But at the same time, he has John Bolton on his staff, so you never know. 

A war against Iran would be a totally different animal from the post-WWII wars fought by the United States. The US, even at the highest point of Cold War, was always comfortably the strongest nation in the world, economically and in military strenght. That is not the case anymore, I feel like the US are one stupid war away from losing its supremacy. 

They don´t have more the breathing room for another stupid war and Iran is certainly a regional power to be reckoned with. 

Much like the World War 1 sealed the fate of british hegemony, a war against Iran could definitely end post-WWII era dominated by the US and begin a very different chapter in the history of the world.    

I don't think there will be anyone left after this potential US war in the Middle East to hold the realm of global power as every major power in the World will be exhausted morally, financially and military to the point of extinction.

@Stan @Mel81x

This is definitely true 

Exercises carried out by multiple fighter jets and helicopters, aided by the B-52, which is a nuclear-capable bomber.

Shit 

Just now, Stan said:

Apparently it's to do with a 'recovery period'. 

I don't agree with it and don't understand it, to be honest. 

Looking at our fixtures as well, we've got quite a few gaps in our fixtures even with the late start. The biggest gap being 6 days between playing Pakistan on 16th and Afghanistan on 22nd. Then 5 days after that to play West Indies.

Shortest gap is England on 30th June then Bangladesh on 2nd July.

 

After how long the IPL was i can see if BCCI is using its influence to give some rest to the players.

On a side note, shouldn't it be India who should have played Bangladesh today ? 

Some one tell South Africa that it isn't the semi finals that they get to choke although all credits goes to Bangladesh  

34 minutes ago, Burning Gold said:

I'm curious as to who's using this argument because it's patently false. Close games are relatively rare in one day cricket, whereas you often see T20 games come down to the last over or two. The advantage 50 over cricket has is that there's far more of the nuance and subtlety that makes cricket cricket while keeping the games to a digestible length.

It's not about that, if you had followed enough ODI Cricket than a proper game of Cricket has wickets falling in between the chase with a required run rate that keeps fluctuating all the time and than suddenly the game could end with one good over with the bat or ball. That was the exciting part of ODI Cricket which is rare these days. 

4 minutes ago, Stan said:

I don't think today's performance by NZ/Sri Lanka is a stick to beat the tournament with? What's the issue with the format? It's a bit long-winded but I think this just goes to show just how poor Sri Lanka have become compared to the beast they used to be and actually used to be able to pose a threat to several of the bigger nations. It's like West Indies recently who had to go through big changes before revitalising and becoming as good as they used to be (or near it). 

 

The opening game was quite one sided as well.

Another one sided match so much for the justification of this format that their will be more competitive matches.

I think i will be done with Cricket for the most part after this WC regardless of how we perform in this tournament, ODI Cricket has become too predictable and boring. T20 will be more about the franchise leagues around the world than internationals in future.

Let's make America great again !

At least some positive from this game Amir taking wickets with the new balls 

Ah well 

70/4 nows that's the batting I'm used to watching 

This match has unpredictably written all over it whether for good or worse for either side

Hope we get a good start today