The 2nd "Knock-Out"

After a rather one-sided crucial game between SA and WI, we have an equally crucial game later today, gain featuring SA (if only they had won it against Bangladesh). This time they take on the Englishmen.

If SA play (read bat) to their potential just like they did against the hosts, it will be very tough for England to pose any kind of threat. The key for England would be to somehow restrict SA to under 250 (if bowling first) and I am sure we will have a great game at hand. In my previous post on the 1st knock-out I had mentioned that the strategy for WI should be to bowl first. They did that and got hammered :) However, I will be consistent and repeat that if England need to win they will be better off bowling first and also restricting the SA batsmen. Why I say that (and I will keep doing that especially against teams like Aus, SA & NZ) is because they have some very dangerous batsmen who happen to be mentally tough too. SA have Smith, Villers, Kallis & Boucher; Aus has Hayden, Ponting, Hussey & Symonds; NZ has Styris, McMillan, Oram & Fulton. These guys can chase any total down unless you score 400 batting first :)

If Eng manage to beat SA and later go on to beat WI, they will be a totally changed side and a force to reckon with in the semis. If they win this one but lose to WI, we have a potential 3-way tie and SA can still make it to the semis if Eng lose badly to WI. Well, let us discuss this tomorrow .. it will save us some trouble!