[size=16px]West Indies played the role of punching bags for AB de Villiers and his team during their recent bilateral series in South Africa, but this World Cup has already shown that context makes an enormous difference to games between otherwise unchanged opponents. South African expectations have been dampened by a poor defeat to India at a packed MCG, while West Indies' propensity for internal chaos was placed to one side by a restorative romp over Zimbabwe.[/size] [/size][size=16px]These two sides have been kilometres apart in terms of accomplishment in recent times, with South Africa seldom troubled. With Ireland and India showing themselves to be in decent fettle one of the two teams will emerge from the SCG with feelings of enhanced confidence and poise. The other will likely be left extremely worried about their place in the scheme of the tournament, for even if they are not eliminated they would be likely to be pitched into a quarter-final against Australia or New Zealand.[/size] [/size][size=16px]Logic, talent and recent history suggests that South Africa should have the measure of West Indies by a distance. But the pressures of the event and the vagaries of the SCG - a surface likely at this point of the season to more closely resemble a West Indian pitch than a South African one - may yet throw up some surprises.[/size] [/size][size=16px]The thought of defeat will haunt both teams, for by the third match of the pool phase it is time to demonstrate whether they are contenders or pretenders. There will also be expectation from around the world that, after a pair of thrilling encounters between Associate nations, the top tier need to step up and produce a contest worth the name[/size]
[quote author=ketchim link=topic=96120.msg622107#msg622107 date=1424990882]
Who's in Sydney : heard its drizzling and a bit on the dark side.
Is it gonna be a Duckworth Lewis Game ?? :-\
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According The Weather Channel it looks as though it will be mostly partly cloudy/sunny with a chance of rain after 5PM.
Well I hope Gayle's back problem don't flare up during this match. I also hope the West Indies put up a much better fight than they did in South Africa. The West Indies bowling needs to be on par for this match because it is their weakest aspect so far.
[quote author=Rowe992 link=topic=96120.msg622123#msg622123 date=1424994140]
Well I hope Gayle's back problem don't flare up during this match. I also hope the West Indies put up a much better fight than they did in South Africa. The West Indies bowling needs to be on par for this match because it is their weakest aspect so far.
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South Africa's bowlers have a higher economy rate and worse strike rate than West Indies bowlers so far in this tournament, though the competition needs to be taken into consideration (WI have played Ireland, Pakistan and Zimbabwe) and South Africa (India and Zimbabwe).
