"I think England rightly so deserve to be favourites" : Kane Williamson

[Abdullah719]

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Transcript via ICC.

KANE WILLIAMSON: A few more here today (smiling).

Q. Welcome, Kane. What message would you say to anyone who has ever picked up a bat and a ball in New Zealand, about this opportunity tomorrow at Lord's?

KANE WILLIAMSON: I guess anything's possible (smiling). I guess when you take yourself back to that point in time, it feels like a long way away and you make a few small steps forward and you work pretty hard together as a group and next thing you might find yourself here.

And it's obviously a really special occasion tomorrow and to be involved in a World Cup and representing your country let alone to turn up here at the home of cricket and be involved in a final is pretty special.

Q. Kane, you and Gary and everyone else in the team talk about how it is one game at a time and Gary yesterday was saying that this is no different to any other game of cricket. But how on earth can you kind of go -- that must be hard to go in with that mindset when you know you are playing England in the World Cup Final at Lord's. How do you do that?

KANE WILLIAMSON: Yes, any game that you play in you deal with different distractions and, naturally, in a World Cup Final it brings other distractions and there's a lot more people here today and perhaps that may be one.

There are a whole bunch of other things where all different thoughts can go through your mind of potential realities, but certainly where Gary and myself and all the group come from it's keeping your feet on the ground looking to play the sort of cricket you want to play to give yourself the best chance regardless of whether it's a semifinal, a round-robin game or, fortunately enough now, to be in a final. At the end of the day, it is still a cricket match, where both teams are looking to go out and implement their plans as best they can to give themselves the best chance.

Q. Can you tell us about the importance of the first ten overs? With Jason Roy and Bairstow, if they can stay longer, they are damaging the opposition?

KANE WILLIAMSON: Yeah, those two have been fantastic throughout this whole competition and prior as well. And I think we mentioned before, there's a whole -- there are a number of other parts to perhaps playing in a World Cup Final. But there is a huge amount of respect for the match-winners that they have within their side, obviously the top of the order and throughout.

But the focus for us is very much about the cricket that we want to play and the performance we want to put on the board and if we do that, we have seen throughout this competition that anybody can beat anybody.

Q. Kane, do you subscribe to the theory that it's better to have played in a final than not and apart from the obvious in terms of the result, what do you still hope to do differently this time around?

KANE WILLIAMSON: Yeah, well, there's a whole heap of different things, I suppose. We were in a different part of the world on a different surface against a different opposition, and both sides are very different from four years ago, so it's kind of hard to compare those times.

Whether having had experience in a final or not is a good thing. Any final you get the opportunity to play in is a really positive thing. But at the same time as we know in this game nothing promises, so it does come down to putting a performance on the board that gives us the best opportunity to win and both sides will be very much looking to do that and trying to treat the game as any other game.

But it's a really exciting, special occasion and I think both teams will be savouring the opportunity to be where we are at the moment.

Q. Are you any more relaxed at all this time around?

KANE WILLIAMSON: Four years ago, how did I feel? (Smiling) Yeah, I don't know, it's just very different. We have a very different group, a slightly different, I guess, vibe and ethos and how we operate, but at the same time there's a real commitment to that which is a really positive thing and it's held us in good stead to this point, so the focus for us is about the cricket that we want to play and we want to be proud of the performance that we put on the board.

Q. Are you a person who loves winning, or do you hate losing, which one are you? As a captain, four years back, how do you relate to losses especially in the evenings? Does it take time or do you just move on as a captain with the losses?

KANE WILLIAMSON: I try not to get too caught up in the results and hopefully not too emotional about just the outcome and maybe look at it with a bit more reason and where we perhaps could have improved and where some things that were out of our control had an impact on the game and then try and move on from that as quickly as possible.

So there's always more to the picture than just the end point and that is sort of the focus for us as a team, it's actually putting our efforts into the moment, how we want to operate as a group and it may well be very different to other sides and how they operate which is fine, but we trust in it and it is important that we do and we look forward to tomorrow treating it with a huge amount of respect because it's not very often you get the opportunity to be out in a World Cup Final, but very much focussed on what we need to try and achieve.

Q. Are you a guy who loves winning more or do you hate losing?

KANE WILLIAMSON: I prefer winning than losing (smiling). That is probably the best way to say it. It is always -- any experience that you have is an opportunity to learn and sometimes tough experiences, being on the wrong side of results, can sometimes slap you in the face and give you a glaring lesson and if you ignore that, I don't think that is a positive thing, so treating both of those, the outcomes with respect and trying to learn from them to be better as a group and as an individual I think is the best part.

Q. I know, as has just been said, you were second in the last final. How would you feel if you are second again tomorrow?

KANE WILLIAMSON: We've sort of spoken a little bit about results and it's not so much about that, it is not so much about that, it's not willing the perfect performance, you don't have to be perfect, but it is about how we want to operate as a side and that's been the case throughout this tournament. We have tried to adjust to conditions as best we could and we've been fairly effective in doing that and we want to be good at that again come tomorrow and we want to focus on the task that are at hand for us to play our best cricket and the end point is the end point.

Q. Do you feel you are the underdogs and does that give you more impetus to go out there and try harder?

KANE WILLIAMSON: A lot of people say that on a number of occasions which is great and I think England rightly so deserve to be favourites. Coming into this tournament from the start, they were favourites and they've been playing really good cricket. But whatever dog we are, it's just important that we focus on the cricket that we want to play and we have seen over the years that anybody can beat anybody regardless of breed of dog (Smiling).

Q. Those of us who have been lucky to go to New Zealand know how lovely you guys are as a people, but how would it feel tomorrow being the party-poopers at Lord's?

KANE WILLIAMSON: Party-poopers? You talking about dogs again, hey? (Smiling) Underdogs? Look, we are really looking forward to the occasion and, like I say, the end point and the result, there's a lot of time between now and that point, so focussing too much on it I don't think is a positive thing and the focus for us as a group is what's in front of us and we know you go into any match and you have to deal with a number of different things, whether it's different moments of pressure, whether it's different moments of momentum and we have to be prepared to deal with all of those again.

Q. Are you guys getting a sense of how big this is back home in New Zealand?

KANE WILLIAMSON: Yeah, I mean, we've seen a lot of support come through, which is awesome. I suppose the last World Cup was at home and a lot of the attention was there on your doorstep and we had crowds of Kiwis coming to every game and we were playing at home which was really special and over here we've got a few scattered in amongst the majority of opposition crowds, but that's great as well and I know we're getting a lot of support from a long way off.

Q. There is huge expectation on England and pressure, can that work for you?

KANE WILLIAMSON: Yeah, I don't know really. We have to turn up tomorrow and we will have to see what unfolds. Nothing promises in this game, everybody has different bits of pressure and how you treat it can be a big part of that.

But I would probably have to say that England are focussed on the cricket they want to play, whether they are favourites or not, and we will focus on the cricket we want to play as well.

Q. The pressure is off you though?

KANE WILLIAMSON: We are quite keen on winning as well (laughter). There's all different bits of pressure on anybody, whether you are favourites or not.

Q. You seem to be a lot more relaxed today than before the India game. Are you?

KANE WILLIAMSON: When did we hang out before the India game?

Q. Why do you think you and the team will have an edge over England?

KANE WILLIAMSON: Why do we?

Q. Why do you think you and the team will have an edge over England?

KANE WILLIAMSON: Why we think we have the edge? We don't really think that in particular. We're just focussing on the sort of cricket that we want to play and hopefully that sort of performance despite being a final or a semifinal or a must-win or a five-match series, we still want to be putting out a strong performance that gives ourselves the best chance, whether you want to win something more than another day. I don't think that's always helpful.

So peeling it back, coming back to the performance, or the small moments, mucking in as a group, which is something we have done well throughout this campaign, working together, you know, are all parts of what we need to try and achieve tomorrow.

Q. You always seem fairly level-headed whatever the situation of the game is, whatever the state of the match is. Is that something you had to learn as a player or has that always been your approach?

KANE WILLIAMSON: I think forever learning. You just constantly are having so many different experiences and the sport that we play, there are so many uncontrollables that you need to try and deal with and that is a real challenge at times.

So, it's, like I say, it's forever learning, learning about the game and about yourself and different emotions that you can feel, but as a group for us it is important that we are level and how we operate and keep peeling it back to what is important.

Q. You speak about not being at home and the competition not on your doorstep but Lord's does a hold a special place to you and the Black Caps. So how do you wrap your mind around that on such a big stage, on a Grand Final, and what are the conversations you have as a captain to try and keep minds sound, I suppose?

KANE WILLIAMSON: Yeah, I mean, it's a really special place to play cricket on any day, but I guess with the added attention of a World Cup Final means it's perhaps a bit more special than another day which is great, and the guys are really excited at the prospect tomorrow and going out there and playing the sort of cricket that we want to play and in terms of conversations with other guys, guys have been having chats on a number of occasions which is cool and I can say that they are just really excited at looking forward to going out tomorrow and taking on what is a really strong England side.

Q. Eoin Morgan has been quite open about his England team taking inspiration from the way New Zealand played in 2015. Is that a massive compliment or annoying because they have become so good off the back of it?

KANE WILLIAMSON: Whether they -- well, if he said that, that's kind or whatever it is, it's great, but I think the last World Cup, which was perhaps seen as a negative, a real catalyst for the changes that they have made and the force that they are and how they are playing their cricket certainly in the white-ball format and I think Eoin has been a massive part in changing that and rightly so they are now ranked No. 1 in the world.

They deserve all of those good parts that come with that and they have been playing really good cricket. It's always a tough one, you don't tend to just change the way you play, you also need to work with the group that you have and try and make adjustments accordingly to get the best out of the personnel that you have at the time and that's forever changing, but they certainly made some strong changes really quickly and they've been playing really good white-ball cricket for a long time.

Q. We know that England prefer really good batting surfaces. This one looks quite green. Is that encouraging to you guys?

KANE WILLIAMSON: Perhaps encouraging to seam bowlers on both sides. But we don't know what the wicket has in store, there's still a bit of time between now and the start of play and I haven't had a close look at it just yet because we have just arrived.

Usually, it's a fairly fair surface here but I think at the same time one that guys need to adapt quickly to, like any other surface that we have seen in the World Cup.

Q. Kane, you have just mentioned adapting quickly and assessing conditions, that seems to be something you have done really well through the tournament. Is that down to the sort of variety of conditions you have to face back at home and how much courage does it take against a powerhouse batting line-up like India or England to go with settling for 240.

KANE WILLIAMSON: Yeah, it is a challenge. I think turning up, most teams having played here before expected scores to be a lot higher than what we have seen, but the reality of it is that they have been quite tough surfaces and there's been surfaces that have aged throughout perhaps a match on one day, so trying to make those adjustments are really important and I think if you are focussing on what you need to do as a group and the cricket that you want to play, then making those adjustments like in the last game. I think both sides looked at the surface, thought it was a really good one, and thought perhaps 300 and something was what was going to be at play, but after 15 overs or so, having conversations thinking "This is really quite difficult and 300 looks like a long, long way away" so if we are able to perhaps achieve something a little bit more realistic on that surface, then that gives you every chance to win the matches.

And we have done it on a number of occasions but we will have to be good at doing that tomorrow and surfaces at times have been hard to read, especially with the pre-emptive ideas what most teams come into the World Cup with which is very high scoring and tough work for the bowlers. Bowlers have I think enjoyed themselves a little bit.

So, yeah, tomorrow is a new challenge for each occasion where we will need to make those adjustments quickly.

Q. Lots have been made over here of what an England World Cup win would do for English cricket. What would a first World Cup win for New Zealand do for cricket for you in that country?

KANE WILLIAMSON: Well, I'd like to think it would have a really positive impact on the sport in our country and having played in the previous one and being in the final there, it still had a massive impact in terms of perhaps inspiring kids to get involved in the game which, at the end of the day, when you move past a number of different parts of the professional game, that is kind of why you do it and hopefully there's a lot of kids out there that have been enjoying the cricket we have been playing and appreciate the hard work that's gone into being here now.

But we also are really excited at watching a final with their team in it. So, it would be a really special thing no doubt.

Q. Kane, the last World Cup we saw Guptill charge the fast bowlers, setting the tone at the start. This World Cup we are seeing Roy and Bairstow do that to the opposition. Given the form of your openers, do you think they will target certain bowlers in the England ranks in the first ten overs and make a statement there, do you think that is going to be the critical part here?

KANE WILLIAMSON: Look, it is impossible to say at this point in time because we just don't know what the surface has in store and what a good total is for the team batting first or the team bowling first.

So, there's too many unknowns to predict any of those things, but I think the thing we do know is we come here tomorrow. All that's happened before doesn't really matter and it's all about the performances both teams want to put out on the day.

 

[Abdullah719]

Williamson not worried about New Zealand being labeled as underdogs for World Cup final

The captain and coach may have changed but the results have been largely the same for New Zealand in reaching a second successive ICC Men's Cricket World Cup final.

Where four years has felt like an eternity for England, going from a humiliating exit before the quarter-finals to the brink of a first ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup title, New Zealand have progressed serenely, in the image of captain Kane Williamson.

He has taken over from Brendon McCullum, and much as he does when he bats in the middle, the Black Caps skipper gives very little away before a match.

One thing he did concede on the eve of the final, was that this Kiwi side is very different to the one that reached the final in Melbourne in 2015, even if five of the players in that game were also part of the team that beat India in the semi-final at Old Trafford.

Given the difference between the two sides, the understated skipper does not believe that experience will give New Zealand an edge in the final.

He said: “We were in a different part of the world on a different surface against a different opposition, and both sides are very different from four years ago, so it's kind of hard to compare those times.

“Whether having had experience in a final or not is a good thing, any final you get the opportunity to play in is a really positive thing.

“But at the same time, as we know in this game, it does come down to putting a performance on the board that gives us the best opportunity to win and both sides will be very much looking to do that and trying to treat the game as any other game.

“It's just very different to four years ago. We have a very different group, a slightly different vibe and ethos and how we operate.

“But at the same time there's a real commitment to that which is a really positive thing and it's held us in good stead to this point, so the focus for us is about the cricket that we want to play and we want to be proud of the performance that we put on the board.

“We've seen a lot of support come through (from New Zealand), which is awesome. I suppose the last World Cup was at home and a lot of the attention was there on your doorstep and we had crowds of Kiwis coming to every game.

“Over here we've got a few scattered in amongst the majority of opposition crowds, but that's great as well and I know we're getting a lot of support from a long way off.”

England beat the Black Caps by 119 runs in the first meeting of the sides in Durham, and enter the game as the world’s No.1 side.

Williamson is happy to label them as favourites on home soil, but insists the underdog Kiwis can still cause an upset.

He added: “I think England rightly deserve to be favourites. Coming into this tournament from the start, they were favourites and they've been playing really good cricket.

“But whatever dog we are, it's just important that we focus on the cricket that we want to play and we have seen over the years that anybody can beat anybody regardless of breed of dog.

“We are quite keen on winning as well. There's all different bits of pressure on anybody, whether you are favourites or not.”

 

[Abdullah719]

Daniel Vettori: If New Zealand win the World Cup then pure joy will sweep the country

Both teams will be very excited about reaching the World Cup final, and the crowning of a first-time winner makes it extra special.

They’ve both reached finals, New Zealand at the last edition four years ago and England back in 1992, but one of these teams getting across the line for the first time is going to be really exciting.

Sri Lanka in 1996 were the last first-time winner – that win swept the country and I think it would be exactly the same for New Zealand.

As a country we're very passionate about our cricket, it's the summer sport and there will be some real emotion from around the team, from supporters who have been so loyal for so long.

New Zealand really likes their team, they have for a while but the way that Kane Williamson leads, the skill that he has alongside with Ross Taylor, they're a really likeable group of guys and that goes a long way to making them more and more popular.

That level of adulation will only go up if they manage to win.

It's a 50-50 game and that's how both teams will view it. Virat Kohli said earlier in the tournament that if a team plays well, they can beat anyone and if they don't, anyone can beat them.

Both captains will view it that way, the two have immense respect for each other and there will be lots of camaraderie between the sides. They play in a similar spirit and, whatever the result, it will be a great showcase for the game of cricket.

There's a real enjoyment about being in a final, just being there means you've had a really good competition and so you have a chance to celebrate that.

It's a nice way to go into the game, and the way Eoin Morgan and Kane Williamson are approaching it, you can tell they're confident while being respectful about their opposition and how well they can play. It’s a chance to watch too really great leaders.

Kane inherited from Brendon McCullum and put his stamp on things – he and Morgan lead in a similar way, they read the game exceptionally way and you enjoy sitting back and watching them.

They both have the skill and the initiative to think on their feet and we've seen them at their bests in the past couple of games.

Both will admit that you become a good captain when you have a good bowling attack, which they both have, but they'll utilise that group to the best way they can.

These two have probably been the best captains in this tournament and it's fitting to see them face each other in the final.

Six members of New Zealand's squad have played in a World Cup final before and that's going to be vital for the team's chances.

Williamson, Taylor and Martin Guptill were there in 2015, so to have three of the top four batters knowing what it's like is really key, particularly with the experience they possess.

They can replay what they went through four years ago, the emotion and experience is very unique, and there are very few people who get to play in back-to-back World Cup finals.

The top order is going to be so important to face the challenge of Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer who have been almost impeccable in their last three or four games.

That will go a long way in deciding the game, how New Zealand can start and how they can counter, and having that experience in there is so important.

It will hold them in really good stead, they've dealt with it all before.

But it's not just the batsmen, Trent Boult, Matt Henry and Tim Southee were there in Melbourne, the core members of the side have been there before and faced that challenge.

Both teams will be confident and rightly so, they've both shown they can fight their way through difficulty so hopefully it's all set up for a really fantastic match at Lord’s.

© ICC Business Corporation FZ LLC 2019. All rights reserved

 

[Madplayer]

To be honest, he is the hero for tomorrow's movie while Morgan is the villain. This guy is simply a great human being. So down to earth and humble for one of the best cricket players on earth.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

You go get it man.

What a guy!

What a leader!

England are the favourites for sure.

But NZ will fight hard under Williamson.

Rest is destiny.

 

[Mueez]

Kane is so humble yaarr.

Kane you win the cup tomorrow the entire world will remember you as a World Cup winning captain.

Give your best and good luck!

May the best team win tomorrow.

 

[Mamoon]

He knows New Zealand will lose tomorrow and he has made peace with it.

 

[Kianig89]

If any player deserves to win a WC then it is Kane Williamson the lone warrior hopefully he will have a good game and Eng will buckle under pressure what has Morgan done apart from AFG

 

[surg]

Smartly putting off the pressure.

 

[Belawal2014]

He knows New Zealand will lose tomorrow and he has made peace with it.

Unfortunately for you, he doesn't have a defeatist mindset, like you. He also doesn't like to seek attention like you do.

Please restrict your verbal diarrhea to the Time Pass section please.

 

[Technics 1210]

He knows New Zealand will lose tomorrow and he has made peace with it.

Where as we know you are a glory supporter and a champion of compensation psychology. Supporting india first in the WC, they get knocked out, now you support England in the WC.

If NZ win, you will start supproting NZ. Fact.

 

[m.shah]

He knows New Zealand will lose tomorrow and he has made peace with it.

Like he knew he would lose to India also and make peace with that

 

[Mamoon]

Unfortunately for you, he doesn't have a defeatist mindset, like you. He also doesn't like to seek attention like you do.

Please restrict your verbal diarrhea to the Time Pass section please.

You can say what you want, but I can guarantee you that England will win tomorrow.

 

[Mamoon]

Where as we know you are a glory supporter and a champion of compensation psychology. Supporting india first in the WC, they get knocked out, now you support England in the WC.

If NZ win, you will start supproting NZ. Fact.

England has always been my 2nd team ahead of India. I am indifferent towards New Zealand, so I don’t care about their results. Anyway, there is no possibility of them winning tomorrow.

 

[hur rizvi]

He knows New Zealand will lose tomorrow and he has made peace with it.

Most probably but if NZ can defeat India they can defeat England too

Win the toss, bat first and score 270 odd. NZ would be in the game

 

[Mamoon]

The majority here have chips on their shoulders when it comes England, and that is why they were hoping for England to falter against India and/or New Zealand in the group, but they were left disappointed.

Then they hoped that the “ruthless” Australians would beat them in the semi-final but they were left disappointed again.

Now they are desperately clinging onto the hope that Mr. Nice Guy Williamson will rain on England’s parade so that they can celebrate and call England chokers and mental midgets.

However, they will be left disappointed one final time.

 

[Belawal2014]

You can say what you want, but I can guarantee you that England will win tomorrow.

In that case, New Zealand should just stay back in their Hotel. No point coming out to play since you've already declared England champions.

 

[Afhan Ali]

England has always been my 2nd team ahead of India. I am indifferent towards New Zealand, so I don’t care about their results. Anyway, there is no possibility of them winning tomorrow.

I am also supporting England
But what if they collapse like India in initiall overs?

 

[WC-Passion]

The majority here have chips on their shoulders when it comes England, and that is why they were hoping for England to falter against India and/or New Zealand in the group, but they were left disappointed.

Then they hoped that the “ruthless” Australians would beat them in the semi-final but they were left disappointed again.

Now they are desperately clinging onto the hope that Mr. Nice Guy Williamson will rain on England’s parade so that they can celebrate and call England chokers and mental midgets.

However, they will be left disappointed one final time.

I think England will win, I'm about 90% confident. But this is England we're talking about, I wouldn't be surprised whatsoever if the team collapsed chasing a total of 280, for example.

 

[Markhor]

Q. Do you feel you are the underdogs and does that give you more impetus to go out there and try harder?

KANE WILLIAMSON: A lot of people say that on a number of occasions which is great and I think England rightly so deserve to be favourites. Coming into this tournament from the start, they were favourites and they've been playing really good cricket. But whatever dog we are, it's just important that we focus on the cricket that we want to play and we have seen over the years that anybody can beat anybody regardless of breed of dog (Smiling).

How can you not love this guy

 

[hur rizvi]

The majority here have chips on their shoulders when it comes England, and that is why they were hoping for England to falter against India and/or New Zealand in the group, but they were left disappointed.

Then they hoped that the “ruthless” Australians would beat them in the semi-final but they were left disappointed again.

Now they are desperately clinging onto the hope that Mr. Nice Guy Williamson will rain on England’s parade so that they can celebrate and call England chokers and mental midgets.

However, they will be left disappointed one final time.

So what it’s sport everyone has right to chose team they want to support

 

[Mamoon]

In that case, New Zealand should just stay back in their Hotel. No point coming out to play since you've already declared England champions.

You always have to hope for the best, but you also have to be practical. New Zealand is a practical team that is not always concerned with winning or losing.

They love to play and experience the moment, which is why they are the nice guys and are gracious both in victory and defeat.

 

[Mamoon]

I am also supporting England
But what if they collapse like India in initiall overs?

They are more capable than India when it comes to recovering from a top-order stutter.

 

[Mamoon]

So what it’s sport everyone has right to chose team they want to support

Absolutely, but people need to respect the hard work of this English team. They have been preparing for this tournament since April 2015, and they deserve to win the World Cup more than any team.

 

[hur rizvi]

They are more capable than India when it comes to recovering from a top-order stutter.

I am not so sure, srilanka game is a very valid example

England are massive favorites but if NZ win toss and put runs on board anything can happen

 

[Ali_Pakistan]

Best of luck to both teams.
Hopefully Williamson ( my favourite non Pakistani player atm ) will lift the trophy.

 

[Mamoon]

I think England will win, I'm about 90% confident. But this is England we're talking about, I wouldn't be surprised whatsoever if the team collapsed chasing a total of 280, for example.

This England team is very resilient and extremely desperate to win the World Cup. They are hungrier than New Zealand. I think even if they have an off-day tomorrow, they will still find a way to win tomorrow.

Whether they win by 200 runs or 2 runs, or by 10 wickets or 1 wicket, I don’t see the trophy in Williamson’s hands at the end of the game.

 

[The Viper]

Classy guy Williamson. His always smiling and is cool as it gets.

 

[Technics 1210]

England has always been my 2nd team ahead of India. I am indifferent towards New Zealand, so I don’t care about their results. Anyway, there is no possibility of them winning tomorrow.

Proving my point once again, India is your First team, once they were kicked out, you fell back to your second team, England.

Not your day today. Take a break.

 

[Belawal2014]

You always have to hope for the best, but you also have to be practical. New Zealand is a practical team that is not always concerned with winning or losing.

They love to play and experience the moment, which is why they are the nice guys and are gracious both in victory and defeat.

to your logic.

Going by your logic, India winning CT 2017 should've been a foregone conclusion. We all know how that turned out.

The Beauty of KO games is that you only need to be better than your opposition on that given day, not over 7 games like in the NBA, NHL in which the better team usually comes out on top.

If NZ are better than ENG tomorrow, then they will win simple as that. If ENG are better, then they will win. Declaring one team as champions before the toss has even played out is foolish, even for you.

 

[Technics 1210]

The majority here have chips on their shoulders when it comes England, and that is why they were hoping for England to falter against India and/or New Zealand in the group, but they were left disappointed.

Then they hoped that the “ruthless” Australians would beat them in the semi-final but they were left disappointed again.

Now they are desperately clinging onto the hope that Mr. Nice Guy Williamson will rain on England’s parade so that they can celebrate and call England chokers and mental midgets.

However, they will be left disappointed one final time.

You are clinging on to England because it is the 1 prediction out of many which may turn out to be true in your case. I bet you have drafted posts in MS Word, and If England win, because no doubt your draft posts in India are now sitting in the recycle bin.

 

[sweep_shot]

Very humble from Williamson. Top human being.

 

[Mamoon]

Proving my point once again, India is your First team, once they were kicked out, you fell back to your second team, England.

Not your day today. Take a break.

My first team is unfortunately Pakistan, my second team is England and my third team is India. However, since I refused to support Pakistan in this World Cup, my first team was England and my second team was India.

 

[UP]

C’mon Kanuuu - you have already dished out one tight tamacha on troll(s) and haters’ face by knocking India out. Please, do me a favour and dish out one more tight slap on the other cheek of troll(s) face by bringing down arrogant Poms.

 

[Mamoon]

to your logic.

Going by your logic, India winning CT 2017 should've been a foregone conclusion. We all know how that turned out.

The Beauty of KO games is that you only need to be better than your opposition on that given day, not over 7 games like in the NBA, NHL in which the better team usually comes out on top.

If NZ are better than ENG tomorrow, then they will win simple as that. If ENG are better, then they will win. Declaring one team as champions before the toss has even played out is foolish, even for you.

I believe India were complacent in the Champions Trophy Final. They just didn’t look as hungry as Pakistan. Our team was on a roll and they were very desperate to win the trophy. I didn’t see such desperation in India on that day.

This England team is extremely hungry and extremely desperate to win the World Cup. If they somehow muck it up, I don’t think some of these England players would ever be the same again. That is why I am fully convinced that they will win tomorrow and InshAllah luck will be on their side as well.

 

[Mamoon]

You are clinging on to England because it is the 1 prediction out of many which may turn out to be true in your case. I bet you have drafted posts in MS Word, and If England win, because no doubt your draft posts in India are now sitting in the recycle bin.

It is not a competition. I don’t keep track of how many times I am right or wrong. I was right about England winning the World Cup, Pakistan getting a reality check after bashing minnows in 2018 and I was right about Pakistan missing out on the semi-final spot when people were busy trying to figure out how to leapfrog England or New Zealand.

However, I have also been wrong many, many times, but like I said, it is not a competition. If trolls like you want to laugh at me, so be it. That is not my problem.

 

[Technics 1210]

My first team is unfortunately Pakistan, my second team is England and my third team is India. However, since I refused to support Pakistan in this World Cup, my first team was England and my second team was India.

Your first team is Pakistan but you refuse to support them. Wow, just wow.

 

[Technics 1210]

It is not a competition. I don’t keep track of how many times I am right or wrong. I was right about England winning the World Cup, Pakistan getting a reality check after bashing minnows in 2018 and I was right about Pakistan missing out on the semi-final spot when people were busy trying to figure out how to leapfrog England or New Zealand.

However, I have also been wrong many, many times, but like I said, it is not a competition. If trolls like you want to laugh at me, so be it. That is not my problem.

You are not right about England winning the world cup for the simple reason they have not yet. Get back to your meds.

 

[WC-Passion]

This England team is very resilient and extremely desperate to win the World Cup. They are hungrier than New Zealand. I think even if they have an off-day tomorrow, they will still find a way to win tomorrow.

Whether they win by 200 runs or 2 runs, or by 10 wickets or 1 wicket, I don’t see the trophy in Williamson’s hands at the end of the game.

The resilience is there, in theory. I'm just worried that England's lack of experience in finals might cause them to lose the game after controlling it for long periods of time. Doesn't help that the closest thing to a proper final England have played in is the WT20 one where Stokes choked in dramatic fashion. However it could just be the internal pessimism that living in England your entire life gives you that is making me say this, who knows.

 

[Mamoon]

Your first team is Pakistan but you refuse to support them. Wow, just wow.

I refused to support Pakistan in this World Cup out of protest. We don’t respect the game, we don’t work hard and we bank on miracles and magic.

You cannot waddle into the World Cup as a 6th ranked team with a 13 match losing streak and two years of minnow performances and hope that all the pieces will fall in place.

England’s World Cup triumph is a lesson for Pakistan.

 

[Mamoon]

You are not right about England winning the world cup for the simple reason they have not yet. Get back to your meds.

I am. Wait for 24 hrs.

 

[Technics 1210]

I refused to support Pakistan in this World Cup out of protest. We don’t respect the game, we don’t work hard and we bank on miracles and magic.

You cannot waddle into the World Cup as a 6th ranked team with a 13 match losing streak and two years of minnow performances and hope that all the pieces will fall in place.

England’s World Cup triumph is a lesson for Pakistan.

Yeah yeah, yet Pakistan is still your first team despite your hollow cries.

You also claimed *average* Australia would not reach the SF (a 5th rank team into the WC), you also claimed Pakistan would not beat a single team ranked higher and not finish in the top half of the table, you also claimed India would be in the final.

Let your failures in understanding cricket and probability be a lesson to you.

 

[Mamoon]

The resilience is there, in theory. I'm just worried that England's lack of experience in finals might cause them to lose the game after controlling it for long periods of time. Doesn't help that the closest thing to a proper final England have played in is the WT20 one where Stokes choked in dramatic fashion. However it could just be the internal pessimism that living in England your entire life gives you that is making me say this, who knows.

I think the WT20 and the CT came too early in their resurgence. I don’t think they would have been able to recover like they have in this World Cup 2-3 years ago.

 

[Technics 1210]

I am. Wait for 24 hrs.

Fluke guess. Nothing more nothing less.

 

[Mamoon]

Fluke guess. Nothing more nothing less.

Not a fluke guess because England is not a fluke team. Success is a process and they have achieved that process.

Predicting that Pakistan will win the World Cup is a fluke prediction; predicting that England will win the World Cup is a logical prediction.

 

[Technics 1210]

Not a fluke guess because England is not a fluke team. Success is a process and they have achieved that process.

Predicting that Pakistan will win the World Cup is a fluke prediction; predicting that England will win the World Cup is a logical prediction.

You were predicting India to win, now you change your tune. NZ knocked out India and not only do your change your prediction, you also belittle Williamson.

You can be read like an open book.

Fluke, and desperate.

 

[Mamoon]

You were predicting India to win, now you change your tune. NZ knocked out India and not only do your change your prediction, you also belittle Williamson.

You can be read like an open book.

Fluke, and desperate.

I said England will play India in the final and it is hard to pick a winner. India can stop England in the final but not New Zealand.

England won the World Cup the moment India lost to New Zealand.

 

[Technics 1210]

I said England will play India in the final and it is hard to pick a winner. India can stop England in the final but not New Zealand.

England won the World Cup the moment India lost to New Zealand.

Fluke, chance, luck. Your response in 3 words.

 

[Mamoon]

Fluke, chance, luck. Your response in 3 words.

We are not talking about a 6th ranked side like Pakistan.

 

[Technics 1210]

We are not talking about a 6th ranked side like Pakistan.

This thread is not about Pakistan. Your words, not mine. :

 

[from_da_lost_dim3nsion]

This dude is going after the WC hard !!!

 

[Mamoon]

This thread is not about Pakistan. Your words, not mine. :

Correct, which is why we are “not” talking about Pakistan, which is why words like fluke etc. don't belong in this thread.

 

[Technics 1210]

Correct, which is why we are “not” talking about Pakistan, which is why words like fluke etc. don't belong in this thread.

Wrong, the terms apply to your predictions, understanding, and your existence - again - your words not mine. :

 

[Mamoon]

Wrong, the terms apply to your predictions, understanding, and your existence - again - your words not mine. :

Again, predicting England would win the World Cup was not a fluke prediction.

It was a logical prediction for anyone who:

- didn’t have a chip on their shoulder when it comes to England

- wasn’t deluded about the capability of this Pakistan team

- didn’t overestimate the big game mentality of Australia

 

[Pakistanian]

He's just a likable a guy compared to Morgan.

 

[Technics 1210]

Again, predicting England would win the World Cup was not a fluke prediction.

It was a logical prediction for anyone who:

- didn’t have a chip on their shoulder when it comes to England

- wasn’t deluded about the capability of this Pakistan team

- didn’t overestimate the big game mentality of Australia

You are just repeating yourself now.

The prediction is not a logical one for you given you dismiss Morgan's role etc and guessed India would win, and claim England are lucky to have players like Roy et al. This is one last ditch attempt to claim you were right so you can feed your insecurity by boasting about it.

Lucky guesses all round from you. Even a broken clock is correct twice a day!

 

[Mamoon]

You are just repeating yourself now.

The prediction is not a logical for you given you dismiss Morgan's role etc, and claim England are lucky to have players like Roy et al. This is one last ditch attempt to claim you were right.

Lucky guesses all round from you.

How is that relevant here?

England were definitely lucky to turn things around in 2015 within a matter of few months because they had proper ODI players in the system already. If they didn’t have the players, it would have taken them much longer to improve.

Morgan was retained as captain not because he was a miracle worker but because he was a good enough ODI player and was the most experienced member in the new look England team.

If he was a miracle worker, he would have turned the 2015 World Cup squad into world beaters.

No captain can achieve long-term success with a poor team, but even an average captain can triumph with a world beating side.

 

[Technics 1210]

How is that relevant here?

England were definitely lucky to turn things around in 2015 within a matter of few months because they had proper ODI players in the system already. If they didn’t have the players, it would have taken them much longer to improve.

Morgan was retained as captain not because he was a miracle worker but because he was a good enough ODI player and was the most experienced member in the new look England team.

If he was a miracle worker, he would have turned the 2015 World Cup squad into world beaters.

No captain can achieve long-term success with a poor team, but even an average captain can triumph with a world beating side.

It is relevant because you claim to have made a logical prediction with England, when in fact you just fluked it.

If he was a miracle worker, he would have turned the 2015 World Cup squad into world beaters.

That's exactly what Morgan is about to do in 24 hrs according to you.

Do you ever read your own gutter tripe or just fluke with your posts hoping no one will notice?

 

[Mamoon]

It is relevant because you claim to have made a logical prediction with England, when in fact you just fluked it.



That's exactly what Morgan is about to do in 24 hrs according to you.

Do you ever read your own gutter tripe or just fluke with your posts hoping no one will notice?

If I had predicted in 2015 and that England would win the World Cup in 2019, it would have been a fluke. However, predicting it before the current World Cup or even back in 2016-2017 was not a fluke. Why are you failing to grasp something so simple?

That is not what Morgan is going to do in 24 hours. Apart from 4-5 players, this team has nothing in common with the one that flopped 4 years ago.

The issue is not with my posting but with your deliberate attempts to misinterpret my posts to prolong the discussion.

 

[Technics 1210]

If I had predicted in 2015 and that England would win the World Cup in 2019, it would have been a fluke. However, predicting it before the current World Cup or even back in 2016-2017 was not a fluke. Why are you failing to grasp something so simple?

That is not what Morgan is going to do in 24 hours. Apart from 4-5 players, this team has nothing in common with the one that flopped 4 years ago.

The issue is not with my posting but with your deliberate attempts to misinterpret my posts to prolong the discussion.

Not failing to grasp anything, you stated *If he was a miracle worker, he would have turned the 2015 World Cup squad into world beaters.*, yet in the same breath claim you predicted England would win the WC.

Who cares what Morgan will do in the next 24 hours, what matters is what he did in the 4 years, during which you did not predict England would win the WC, until India were knocked out of the WC.

How lucky can you get?

 

[Mamoon]

Not failing to grasp anything, you stated *If he was a miracle worker, he would have turned the 2015 World Cup squad into world beaters.*, yet in the same breath claim you predicted England would win the WC.

You clearly are. However, I am more than willing to walk you through it.

Morgan did not turn the England team around. The selectors did by dropping the old school players and selecting players who were capable of playing modern cricket.

If Morgan was a miracle worker, he would have turned players like Bell, Ballance, Anderson, Broad, Finn etc. into world beaters in ODIs. Why couldn’t he? Because no captain can turn average ODI players into world class ones.

I did not predict that England would win the World Cup in 2015. In fact, as Morgan said, had you told me a day after their exit that they would win in 2019, I would have laughed at you.

Who cares what Morgan will do in the next 24 hours, what matters is what he did in the 4 years, during which you did not predict England would win the WC, until India were knocked out of the WC.

How lucky can you get?

I have stated on record (and you can search for my posts) that either England or India would win the World Cup because they are the two best ODI sides in the world. I don’t have the false reputation of being an England apologist for nothing.

I would have been lucky to predict that England would win the World Cup back in 2015, but making that prediction in 2019, 2018, 2017 or even 2016 was logical, because by the end of 2015, it was pretty clear that they had turned things around and had a core of excellent ODI players who were capable of taking them to glory in 2019.

 

[Technics 1210]

You clearly are. However, I am more than willing to walk you through it.

Morgan did not turn the England team around. The selectors did by dropping the old school players and selecting players who were capable of playing modern cricket.

If Morgan was a miracle worker, he would have turned players like Bell, Ballance, Anderson, Broad, Finn etc. into world beaters in ODIs. Why couldn’t he? Because no captain can turn average ODI players into world class ones.

I did not predict that England would win the World Cup in 2015. In fact, as Morgan said, had you told me a day after their exit that they would win in 2019, I would have laughed at you.



I have stated on record (and you can search for my posts) that either England or India would win the World Cup because they are the two best ODI sides in the world. I don’t have the false reputation of being an England apologist for nothing.

I would have been lucky to predict that England would win the World Cup back in 2015, but making that prediction in 2019, 2018, 2017 or even 2016 was logical, because by the end of 2015, it was pretty clear that they had turned things around and had a core of excellent ODI players who were capable of taking them to glory in 2019.

You got exposed by your own words. Save the damage control.

You claimed - If he was a miracle worker, he would have turned the 2015 World Cup squad into world beaters.

Well, since 2015 WC, England went in this WC as #1, and are in the final, under Morgan's captaincy.

Proving your prediction was a fluke because you do not understand cricket, let alone leadership.

 

[WC-Passion]

I think the WT20 and the CT came too early in their resurgence. I don’t think they would have been able to recover like they have in this World Cup 2-3 years ago.

That's a fair point but it's relies on assumptions that I don't see too much evidence for. I guess we'll see whether the "four years of building" has paid off.

 

[Ab Fan]

Unnecessarily wasting a thread on who supports whom and what anyone called to any team's victory, really stick to topic rather.

 

[Ab Fan]

On topic, we all know who are favourites and we also know which team most of us will be supporting. England team and fans also know this.

Same goes to me. I know who will win tomorrow, whom I am supporting tomorrow and I have maintained peace with it as well.

 

[Mamoon]

You got exposed by your own words. Save the damage control.

You claimed - If he was a miracle worker, he would have turned the 2015 World Cup squad into world beaters.

Well, since 2015 WC, England went in this WC as #1, and are in the final, under Morgan's captaincy.

Proving your prediction was a fluke because you do not understand cricket, let alone leadership.

Again, he did not turn the 2015 World Cup squad into world beaters.

Do you see Ballance, Bopara, Finn, Jordan, Anderson, Broad, Bell and Tredwell in this squad?

Do you think that Morgan can take the above players into a World Cup final?

Predicting the number 1 ranked team to win the World Cup is not fluke; it is logic.

The only person who doesn't understand cricket is the one who thinks that Morgan's captaincy is responsible for England's resurgence, not the fact that they dropped 8 players (and Taylor, who retired) who were not cut for modern ODI cricket.

 

[gazza619]

Again, he did not turn the 2015 World Cup squad into world beaters.

Do you see Ballance, Bopara, Finn, Jordan, Anderson, Broad, Bell and Tredwell in this squad?

Do you think that Morgan can take the above players into a World Cup final?

Predicting the number 1 ranked team to win the World Cup is not fluke; it is logic.

The only person who doesn't understand cricket is the one who thinks that Morgan's captaincy is responsible for England's resurgence, not the fact that they dropped 8 players (and Taylor, who retired) who were not cut for modern ODI cricket.

Valid points.

I wonder though when will Pakistan listen and throw away players who are beyond ordinary.

 

[Abdullah719]

Kane Williamson profile: Skipper destined for big things since a child

Some athletes spend hours fine-honing their celebrations in front of the mirror, from the dab to the bolt to the leap and spread, the way you win can define a career. But that’s not Kane Williamson’s style.

When he hit a match-winning six to snatch a thriller against Australia in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup group stages four years ago, he allowed himself a slightly embarrassed fist bump, while around at him Eden Gardens were collectively losing their heads.

And then he looked a little guilty and remembered he had to shake everyone’s hand because Williamson is a good bloke first and a sportsman second.

The 28-year old isn’t one for fighting talk or hype, whatever career he chooses when he finally calls time on cricket, it’s safe to say he’d be a very bad boxing promoter.

That’s why you’ll often find laidback - yes, surfing is his favourite hobby - and understated preceding his name in a quick search of the internet.

As his first school coach Josh Syms recalls: “He had a thirst to be phenomenal but not at anyone else’s expense.”

But if the Cricket World Cup was awarded for self-deprecating one-liners then they’d be etching New Zealand on the trophy already, thanks to the deadpan humour of their skipper.

Asked why Australia had beaten his side at Lord’s a few weeks ago, he replied: “That’s a pretty broad question - could take a while.”

When an Indian journalist cheekily inquired whether he’d pick MS Dhoni, he flashed back: “Has he changed nationalities?”

And when some attempted to cast his side as underdogs, ahead of their final with Eoin Morgan’s world No.1 England, he responded: “Anybody can beat anybody, regardless of breed of dog.”

Williamson’s quick - and not just between the wickets or when flying through the field.

He made his first-class debut at 16 and had scored fifty centuries before he left school, where, obviously, he was first name on the teamsheet for head boy.

He captained his country at age-group level, including at the under-19 World Cup, and made his test debut at 20, obviously scoring a century.

In this World Cup, Williamson has made 30 per cent of New Zealand’s runs with the bat, timing and precision the hallmarks of his game, his wicket established as the most prized by any opponent.

Along with coach Gary Stead he has tweaked the formula that former captain Brendon McCullum so brilliantly pioneered. They don’t search for perfection - a low-scoring one run victory means just as much as a ten-wicket triumph in a blur of boundaries.

Maybe it's because Williamson's so nice, crushing teams into the ground just doesn't seem right, like the punch Ali never gave Foreman.

Five of the team that took part in the last final played in the semi-final success over India but make no mistake, this is a team moulded in Williamson’s image.

His journey from the beachside city of Tauranga, a two-and-a-half-hour drive south-east of Auckland, is that perfect mix of nature and nurture, his mother recalls his sporting prowess while still in nappies.

Dad Brett was a well-known club cricketer, mum Sandra played representative basketball and elder sisters Anna, Sophie and Kylie all represented their region in volleyball.

So when Kane and twin Logan arrived, a sporty future was assured, even more so when they started at the local primary school with its 300 children and nine teams.

With a permanent playmate in his sibling, a supportive family at his back and the great outdoors as his playground, Williamson’s ascent was almost preordained.

It seems the big-stage at Lord’s was half a world away and yet just around the corner.

 

[Usergame]

Absolutely, but people need to respect the hard work of this English team. They have been preparing for this tournament since April 2015, and they deserve to win the World Cup more than any team.

If they lose the Final they don't deserve it, NZ do. Thats why the world cup is played. The winner deserves it. Otherwise you would not need a world cup.

 

[Technics 1210]

Again, he did not turn the 2015 World Cup squad into world beaters.

Do you see Ballance, Bopara, Finn, Jordan, Anderson, Broad, Bell and Tredwell in this squad?

Do you think that Morgan can take the above players into a World Cup final?

Predicting the number 1 ranked team to win the World Cup is not fluke; it is logic.

The only person who doesn't understand cricket is the one who thinks that Morgan's captaincy is responsible for England's resurgence, not the fact that they dropped 8 players (and Taylor, who retired) who were not cut for modern ODI cricket.

You are the only person on the planet who does not credit him for turning the England ODI team into world beaters. Some of the players you mention above resigned, some dropped, but 6 continued on from the 2015 WC including Butler and Morgan himself. Morgan also had a role in picking players for the ODI team post 2015 WC.

Like I said, had you been following Eng cricket and not relying on Google you wouldn't make a mockery of yourself.

Your prediction is a fluke, because you had india winning the wc, now you pick England over NZ.

 

[Mamoon]

You are the only person on the planet who does not credit him for turning the England ODI team into world beaters. Some of the players you mention above resigned, some dropped, but 6 continued on from the 2015 WC including Butler and Morgan himself. Morgan also had a role in picking players for the ODI team post 2015 WC.

Like I said, had you been following Eng cricket and not relying on Google you wouldn't make a mockery of yourself.

Your prediction is a fluke, because you had india winning the wc, now you pick England over NZ.

Making the same paper arguments over and over again won’t add credibility to your position.

The 6 players that survived from the 2015 World Cup squad were the ones who were good enough to play modern ODI cricket and Morgan was one of them.

The likes of Root, Buttler, Stokes, Roy, Bairstow and of course Morgan himself would have blossomed under any captain.

Again, if Morgan had the ability to transform average players into world beaters, the selectors wouldn’t have had to drop 9 players from the 2015 World Cup, and would have given Eoin “‘miracle worker” Morgan 4 years to work with Ballance, Bell, Anderson, Broad, Finn, Jordan, Tredwell etc.

Do you think it would have worked out? Why not if Morgan is such a genius captain?

Also, it doesn’t matter if Morgan picked certain players himself. The point is that he couldn’t have done anything if such players weren’t in the system already.

If there was no Roy, Bairstow, Hales, Stokes etc. in English cricket, what could Morgan have done? Nothing.

Also, my prediction was that England and India to meet in the final and it would be very hard to pick a winner. Repeating a lie over and over again would not add truth your tactic of putting words in my mouth.

England will definitely win today. The only question is if New Zealand will put up a fight and run the game close.

If it was England vs India today, the match would have been 50-50.

 

[Mamoon]

Valid points.

I wonder though when will Pakistan listen and throw away players who are beyond ordinary.

The problem for Pakistan is that they don’t have the players in the system who can turn Pakistan into an elite side so quickly.

England looked like a different team as early as the summer of 2015 when they played New Zealand.

 

[Technics 1210]

Making the same paper arguments over and over again won’t add credibility to your position.

The 6 players that survived from the 2015 World Cup squad were the ones who were good enough to play modern ODI cricket and Morgan was one of them.

The likes of Root, Buttler, Stokes, Roy, Bairstow and of course Morgan himself would have blossomed under any captain.

Again, if Morgan had the ability to transform average players into world beaters, the selectors wouldn’t have had to drop 9 players from the 2015 World Cup, and would have given Eoin “‘miracle worker” Morgan 4 years to work with Ballance, Bell, Anderson, Broad, Finn, Jordan, Tredwell etc.

Do you think it would have worked out? Why not if Morgan is such a genius captain?

Also, it doesn’t matter if Morgan picked certain players himself. The point is that he couldn’t have done anything if such players weren’t in the system already.

If there was no Roy, Bairstow, Hales, Stokes etc. in English cricket, what could Morgan have done? Nothing.

Also, my prediction was that England and India to meet in the final and it would be very hard to pick a winner. Repeating a lie over and over again would not add truth your tactic of putting words in my mouth.

England will definitely win today. The only question is if New Zealand will put up a fight and run the game close.

If it was England vs India today, the match would have been 50-50.

There we have it, you believe Morgan and the ECB were lucky to have players like Roy et al at their disposal. Thus YOU believe the current England team/performance was a fluke from 2015.

You really don't understand cricket if you believe a captain has no role in developing a team by having a say who should be part of the team. Dhoni and Waugh did the same and won the WC, Morgan is no different and stands to win the WC.

You already admitted you were too young to remember the WC 92 but argue as if you followed that WC, no reason to believe you have been following England's development over the past 4 years.

Your predictions have been flukes, not a single one has come true, and through attrition you are left with a 50/50 choice.

 

[Hawkeye]

Williamson low-key telling England they're not winning it.

 

[Mamoon]

There we have it, you believe Morgan and the ECB were lucky to have players like Roy et al at their disposal. Thus YOU believe the current England team/performance was a fluke from 2015.

You really don't understand cricket if you believe a captain has no role in developing a team by having a say who should be part of the team. Dhoni and Waugh did the same and won the WC, Morgan is no different and stands to win the WC.

You already admitted you were too young to remember the WC 92 but argue as if you followed that WC, no reason to believe you have been following England's development over the past 4 years.

Your predictions have been flukes, not a single one has come true, and through attrition you are left with a 50/50 choice.

You continue to avoid the question because you know that it exposes your sorry argument.

If Morgan is that great a captain, why did England drop 9 players after the last World Cup?

What you fail to understand is that no captain can achieve consistent success without having quality players at his disposal.

Steve Waugh wouldn’t have won the 99 World Cup by captaining the 99 England team and Dhoni wouldn’t have won the World Cup by leading Australia in 2011 for example.

At the end of the day, a captain is as good as the players that he has at his disposal, and Morgan has those players.

Do you need some luck to have great players playing at the same time? Of course. Australia were also lucky to have the likes of Ponting, McGrath, Warne, Gilchrist, Hayden etc. in the same generation.

However, winning with great players isn’t a fluke. Fluke is what Pakistan did in the Champions Trophy and fluke prediction were your claims of how Pakistan will win the World Cup this time around.

 

[Technics 1210]

You continue to avoid the question because you know that it exposes your sorry argument.

If Morgan is that great a captain, why did England drop 9 players after the last World Cup?

What you fail to understand is that no captain can achieve consistent success without having quality players at his disposal.

Steve Waugh wouldn’t have won the 99 World Cup by captaining the 99 England team and Dhoni wouldn’t have won the World Cup by leading Australia in 2011 for example.

At the end of the day, a captain is as good as the players that he has at his disposal, and Morgan has those players.

Do you need some luck to have great players playing at the same time? Of course. Australia were also lucky to have the likes of Ponting, McGrath, Warne, Gilchrist, Hayden etc. in the same generation.

However, winning with great players isn’t a fluke. Fluke is what Pakistan did in the Champions Trophy and fluke prediction were your claims of how Pakistan will win the World Cup this time around.

So from 8 to 9 were dropped? Doesn't matter, Morgan is a great captain because he knew which players to drop and which to select so he could build a team that would fit into his style of leadership and play, aggression. Every ex-England captain, coach, player is accrediting Morgan for the transformation of the England team - who are you? A guy who basis his arguments on flukes?

Roy et al were not gun players in 2015, one hit wonder innings do not prove a player's caliber but it was Morgan who had an eye for talent and style, and once ECB decided to give ODIs the same prominence as Test format after 2015WC, it was Morgan who approached the ECB and demanded the team that HE wanted to avoid the repeat of 2015. You fail to understand that it is leadership that nurtures and develops talent.

The point of Waugh and Dhoni was that they selected their teams, they dropped the players, they had influence over team selection, nurtured/developed the talent, and their results speak for themselves. If only you understood cricket instead of basing your arguments on 20/20 hindsight vision and highlights!

You have no argument, just bitterness and hate, which is why your argument has been destroyed not just by yourself, not just by me, but by everyone who understands the game. Your point is that teams that win a World Cup/are successful, are LUCKY to have certain players. You are the first person who says a captain has no influence/role in the development of a team.

Now get back to your fluke predictions, lucky arguments, and 20/20 hindsight vision.

 

[Hasan123]

Kane Williamson is a smart captain. He is a major reason why they are in the final. I like how professional they are and how much effort they put in the field.

They deserve to be in the final. I hope they win tommorow.

Kane Williamson will finish a ATG batter , ATG captain, and a high quality fielder.

Legendary cricketer in the making.

 

[Technics 1210]

Again, if Morgan had the ability to transform average players into world beaters, the selectors wouldn’t have had to drop 9 players from the 2015 World Cup, and would have given Eoin “‘miracle worker” Morgan 4 years to work with Ballance, Bell, Anderson, Broad, Finn, Jordan, Tredwell etc.

Nonsense.

But 2015 was different. For a start, England possessed some very good players. Eoin Morgan, Joe Root, Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali had all played at the World Cup and in the early weeks of rebuilding Adil Rashid, Liam Plunkett, Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes were recalled to the squad, while debuts were handed to Jason Roy and Mark Wood. That’s 11 of the 15 players at this World Cup there and then. However, the crucial decision after their World Cup calamity was putting them in the hands of somebody who could hone serial winners.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/...nd-ahead-of-cricket-world-cup-final-0whn8xdmj

Morgan kept pretty much the same team, 11 of the 15 from the 2015 WC, a few changes, and transformed the England ODI team in the past 4 years. Before you say it, Morgan was Captain for no more than 3 months when the World Cup 2015 started, he barley had time to make any credible and informed decisions, and had to make do with what he had. After the 2015 WC, he made decisions, stuck by them, with 11 of the 15 squad, transformed the team, and here we are, England in their first final after 27 years. Morgan is the reason why England ODI team are here today in the final.

You are proven to be a blagger and once again have shown your lack of understanding and following of Cricket.

Next time you might not be so lucky with your feeble arguments.

 

[Mamoon]

[MENTION=149166]Technics 1210[/MENTION]

It is clear what is happening here. You are looking to have the last word, which is why you keep repeating the same points over and over again in spite of the fact that they have been dispelled over and over again.

Fine, if that is what you are looking for, you can get happy by having the last laugh.

However, for the one final time. This was England’s 2015 World Cup squad:

Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler (wk), Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Eoin Morgan (capt), Joe Root, James Taylor, James Tredwell, Chris Woakes.

The 9 players in bold were not part of England’s plans after the World Cup. In fact, most of them didn’t play a single match after the World Cup, especially the batsmen (Bell, Bopara, Ballance) because England’s new strategy was built around aggressive batting.

The likes of Broad, Finn and Jordan played some games but none of them have featured since 2016/17.

So, to claim that England still have the same core as the 2015 World Cup is too big a lie even for you. If you want to deny facts even when they hit you in the face, that is your choice.

If it is all about Morgan’s leadership, he would have made the likes of Bell, Ballance, Bopara etc. bat like Roy and Bairstow, but no captain can work with players who are just incapable.

The reason why Morgan was retained as captain was because he was the most experienced member of the new look ODI team.

The reason why you are over-emphasizing on the significance of his captaincy is because of your delusions with respect to Pakistan.

You are dreaming of a messiah-like captain to emerge in Pakistan who will turn things around, because you are not willing to accept that Pakistan is a mediocre team and it has bigger problems than shoddy leadership. You are simply unwilling to face the harsh reality.

However, as I said, your tactic is obvious. In every thread, you look to have the last word which is why you keep repeating the same points over and over again, and when everything fails, you try to take the discussion to a different sphere.

As I said, if you are looking to have the last word in every thread so that you claim “victory” in every thread, you can have it. You will grow out of it in due time.

Don’t waste time on repeating yourself again and again in different threads because I won’t read or reply. I cannot entertain someone who is not interested in a serious discussion in any thread.

 

[Technics 1210]

[MENTION=149166]Technics 1210[/MENTION]

It is clear what is happening here. You are looking to have the last word, which is why you keep repeating the same points over and over again in spite of the fact that they have been dispelled over and over again.

Fine, if that is what you are looking for, you can get happy by having the last laugh.

However, for the one final time. This was England’s 2015 World Cup squad:

Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler (wk), Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Eoin Morgan (capt), Joe Root, James Taylor, James Tredwell, Chris Woakes.

The 9 players in bold were not part of England’s plans after the World Cup. In fact, most of them didn’t play a single match after the World Cup, especially the batsmen (Bell, Bopara, Ballance) because England’s new strategy was built around aggressive batting.

The likes of Broad, Finn and Jordan played some games but none of them have featured since 2016/17.

So, to claim that England still have the same core as the 2015 World Cup is too big a lie even for you. If you want to deny facts even when they hit you in the face, that is your choice.

If it is all about Morgan’s leadership, he would have made the likes of Bell, Ballance, Bopara etc. bat like Roy and Bairstow, but no captain can work with players who are just incapable.

The reason why Morgan was retained as captain was because he was the most experienced member of the new look ODI team.

The reason why you are over-emphasizing on the significance of his captaincy is because of your delusions with respect to Pakistan.

You are dreaming of a messiah-like captain to emerge in Pakistan who will turn things around, because you are not willing to accept that Pakistan is a mediocre team and it has bigger problems than shoddy leadership. You are simply unwilling to face the harsh reality.

However, as I said, your tactic is obvious. In every thread, you look to have the last word which is why you keep repeating the same points over and over again, and when everything fails, you try to take the discussion to a different sphere.

As I said, if you are looking to have the last word in every thread so that you claim “victory” in every thread, you can have it. You will grow out of it in due time.

Don’t waste time on repeating yourself again and again in different threads because I won’t read or reply. I cannot entertain someone who is not interested in a serious discussion in any thread.

Change of tune now I see. I see what you are doing now, cannot substantiate your argument, realize you have lost, and have now changed your tact. Why don't you stop repeating your nonsense for once?

The article I cited above proves you wrong. Plenty more where they came from. You have not followed English cricket at all. Your arguments are based on highlights and headlines.

Change the hymn sheet and next time do you home work instead hoping to fluke yourself to victory.