England v Bangladesh, Super Eights, Barbados

By Will last year, mid-April Leave a comment on this post

Do Bangladesh deserve the label minnows, or the tag of a “banana skin” any longer? India were first to trip up, then South Africa blindly faffed their way to defeat. And England, in such unconvincing form, are the next side to try and tame the Tigers.

Scorecard here. Chat away like the rantings fans that you are.

Tags: 2007-world-cup, banana-skin, bangladesh, england, live-coverage |

Comments to “England v Bangladesh, Super Eights, Barbados” Scott wrote:
April 11th, 2007 at 2.53 pm

I think they’re probably still Test minnows, but in ODI cricket they are about where Zimbabwe were before all the good players were driven or left the country in 99.

More a mackerel then a minnow, methinks.

Wraye wrote:
April 11th, 2007 at 3.12 pm

But looking like prawns after losing 3 in the first few overs. Way to go, Saj!

Caroline wrote:
April 11th, 2007 at 4.25 pm

Six down - we really need to run through the tail to do the job properly. I don’t think I can last though - I’m off to bed.

And I better not get up to the Aussies gloating on the news in the morning!

James wrote:
April 11th, 2007 at 7.52 pm

More unconvincing cricket from England. We’ll do it but we make it look harder than it should be!

Mike wrote:
April 11th, 2007 at 7.54 pm

Good to see the Poms putting up a fight

loofer wrote:
April 11th, 2007 at 8.31 pm

Oh dear. Bopara out, a double wicket maiden from Rafique…

England. Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory since September 2005…

Mike wrote:
April 11th, 2007 at 9.04 pm

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz *drool*

liz wrote:
April 11th, 2007 at 9.21 pm

God bless paul nixon for once again bringing us home.

phew! tenacity and patience

( liz -member of the paul nixon appreciation club

Kathy wrote:
April 11th, 2007 at 10.37 pm

A win is a win, as both South Africa and India know. Very, very good spin bowling by Bangladesh. England don’t seem to know what to do with it. But they get two points.

Much better crowd atmosphere. Too much attention paid by the camera to that little blonde bit of fluff that Prince Harry goes out with.

It’s amazing how fickle sport is. Two months ago, here in NZ, the Black Caps were big zeroes. “Even worse than England!” cried the headlines (obviously the worst insult they could come up with), after NZ fell out of the tri-series in Oz. Now they are gods. “On top of the world!”, the Dominion Post screamed yesterday, when the Black Caps hit the top of the points table. I wish this gave me some satisfaction. Anyway, we destroyed everyone before us in the pool section of the 1992 World Cup, but were heartbreakingly thrown out in the semis by a brilliant young Pakistani batsman by the name of Inzamam. A never-to-be forgotten summer in NZ.

You need a strong stomach to handle the roller-coaster, especially if you care too much. So don’t worry England, soon you might be moving from moderately bad to moderately good. And you’re sitting in 5th place when you were seeded 7th. Which is almost alright. Almost.

Will wrote:
April 11th, 2007 at 11.21 pm

Nice, balanced thoughts there Kathy. I thought England were at the very feeble best today, with the bat at least. With the ball, at times they even looked menacing - a great improvement. But they shouldn’t have let Bangladesh off the hook (at 60ish for 6). And the 144 chase was pathetic, with all due respect to Rafique in particular who bowled magnificently. With Australia’s developmental help, they really could be the new Sri Lanka in four or so years.

AgainsTTheWall wrote:
April 12th, 2007 at 9.13 am

Michael Vaughan - top scorer! That would have got reasonable odds beforehand. Still some lousy shots played to get out - Flintoff cutting off middle stump (awful) - Bopara inept (first movement is onto the front foot to a spinner young un).

And despite his MotM Mahmood really should be replaced by Plunkett. I fear that the SA top order will plunder Saj’s straightupanddownallovertheplace offerings.

Edd wrote:
April 12th, 2007 at 10.43 am

Has anyone else noticed that Vaughan has NEVER scored a century in a ODI for England? He was terrible yesterday - he constantly hits the ball to the fielders as it’s just not natural for him to manufacture the ball into gaps. The first time he tried to do that he got out. And he was the top scorer! Just about sums it up…

84 ODI Matches, 81 Innings, his highest score is 90* with 15 fifties

He has become a Mike Brearley figure - only in the team because it’s believed that no-one else can captain it. But we’re going to have to wait until after the World Cup before he finally lets someone competent take his place.

Kathy wrote:
April 12th, 2007 at 10.45 am

Yeah, AgainstTheWall, I can’t figure out why Plunkett’s not playing either. Once he gets his over worth of wides out of the way, he’s had some lovely swing.

And watching the match again today, I can’t see why everyone’s whinging about Vaughan’s and Nixon’s butterfingers, since both instances ended in the wicket being taken. Look for the love, people.

Caroline wrote:
April 12th, 2007 at 2.19 pm

OK I will preface these comments by saying: I am extremely sleep-deprived, have had a significant amount of wine for me (ie. not that much . . .) and seem to have inadvertantly taken in copious amounts of what someone over the back fence was smoking (although my husband says this is not possible . . .) but a win is a win is a win. Like Kathy said, to finish fifth on current form, when ranked below that, is not a disgrace. Look at India and Pakistan, for goodness’ sake! And there is even a chance that we will do better. ‘We’ seem to bring out the same amount of vitriole whether the boys win or lose. They are on a hiding to nothing, in the eyes of many.

Edd, gee no; no-one has pointed out that Vaughan has never got a ODI century before . . . can’t imagine how we missed it. Personally I would like to make a complete arse of myself and say talent will out. He is a good batsman. I’m backing him to get runs soon. And yes, I can wait till the cows come home for it to happen because a) he is a good captain behind the scenes as well as when push comes to shove on the field; and b) there are few others who would do any better.

On Plunkett, I think he is on the outer with the team / management, because so soon after being slapped on the wrists for some drink driving offence (or similar) he is out breaking the ‘unspoken’ curfew with Fred and others. It seems he is being given the message to grow up if he wants to play with the big boys, and that’s fair enough, to my mind. Both he and Mahmood can easily be expensive on their day. Speaking of bowlers, why has Lewis gone home? Didn’t hear much about that one . . .

I notice that on various blogs there is a difference in the amount of, well, not blind optimism, but at least rational acceptance. The ‘whingers’ seem to be those who have unrealistic expectations (eg. BBC blogs), and therefore get terrible disappointed and resentful. Many of the contributors on the Telegraph blogs, for instance, are quite accepting of England’s performances for what they are, and take the positives out of it. They enjoy what they do well, and take interest in discussing how things might be better. They don’t get abusive - these people are human beings, for goodness’ sake (even Pieterson). They are not deliberately trying to drop catches or score slowly. Give them a friggin’ break, and stop making yourselves miserable. That’s for the poms. For you aussies our there enjoying our misery - gloat away, if that makes you happy. Glad to have been of service . . .

And while I’m ranting . . . Will, make up your mind: did Bangladesh bowl well on a deceptive pitch, or were England feeble? You can’t have it both ways. (Well you can, I know; it’s your blog . . . but you get my drift.) Which leads me to my next point: whilst I appreciate the commentary on cricinfo, it is really, really difficult to get the feel of a match when you can’t see it. Anyone else limited to updates of a scorecare late into the night? Very frustrating . . .

I really should have sent all this in several instalments. Then I would be higher up the “top commentors” list . . . ce la vie.

More vino?

Irim wrote:
April 12th, 2007 at 2.32 pm

I have to say, my housemate Mark and I were hoping for Rafique to pull a Malinga hat-trick + 1 when we were 130-6. And we’re diehard England fans. Bangladesh *deserved* to win that one, and had they put 20 more runs on the board, they probably would have done.

I missed “The Dresden Files” for this? Our run chase had to be serious time off purgatory for Catholic watchers.

Come on, Proteas, you *know* you deserve that last semi-final spot. Now go out there and get it.

Mike wrote:
April 12th, 2007 at 5.44 pm

Did you guys read Will’s bulletin on the game yesterday. One particular line highlighted Vaughn’s incapability to score an ODI ton. I quote:

“Vaughan was mercurial as ever. He scratched, he poked and he prodded, occasionally cover driving with his trademark panache, before top-edging Abdur Razzaq to short fine leg, 70 short of his maiden one-day hundred.”

I had a laugh. I was positive I’ve read people bitching about it on here as well. Maybe not. More quoting:

“I really should have sent all this in several instalments. Then I would be higher up the â€œtop commentorsâ€ list . . . ce la vie.”

*Touches his nose*

Caroline I think we gloat because:

1. Expectations run high with Australia. If we slip up, the circling vultures dive in.

2. When we do slip up it ends up being free game of who can grab the spotlight fastest and longest? Suddenly every commentator, ex-player and obscure cricket-related anyone is writing and getting a slice of the pie. We’re written off from all angles.

3. Ashes 2005 was probably the closest ever fought Test Series. I think that’s what made it so appealing. While Australia lost, my most treasured DVD set to date is that 2005 Ashes Series (the 8 hours, 3 disc set hosted by Mark Nicholas). But with that win came some pretty strong pre-series talk from both South Africa AND England prior to the following series. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it does fire us up even more.

4. Australia’s (highly successful) policies of resting, rotating and dropping comes under the sword.

Though the jury is still out for me, Michael Clarke is the best example of our successful policies. Shepherded into the ODI team at 20 as he was oozing with talent. Races away to the mid 60’s in average after a dozen games. Dream Test Debut with that 150 against India two and a half years later.

Then the fall from grace. Axed during the series against the West Indies, a series that saw the birth of a certain Mike Hussey. Missed the two South Africa series. When Watson pulled up with an injury (again) Clarke found his re-entry lifeline.

We found his exodus made him a better player. Australia is not afraid to drop players. You’re in on form, not on reputation.

Matthew Hayden. Who thought he would play ODI’s again?

I could probably write a lot more, but I think I’ll gather my thoughts and write an entry about it some time.

Enjoyed the rant though Caroline. What label were you drinking anyway?

Kathy wrote:
April 13th, 2007 at 6.42 am

Caroline â€” Jon Lewis went home because his wife was having complications with her pregnancy.

And I was thinking exactly the same thing today â€” were England batting badly or the Bangladeshi spinners just doing a brilliant job? It’s a hard call. You have to give a lot of credit to those bowlers.

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England v Bangladesh, Super Eights, Barbados