The creekit

[Tommy]

Obviously it's good that Amla is okay but I can't help but feel a bit duped. Arguably their best batsman is suddenly back, playing in the tail end.

[Tycipa]

Ben Stokes take a bow!

[Tommy]

The ever reliable R/Cricket responds:

[London_White]

Obviously it's good that Amla is okay but I can't help but feel a bit duped. Arguably their best batsman is suddenly back, playing in the tail end.

Duped how?
He went off for a concussion check, surely sensible?

[Tommy]

Obviously I'm kidding, it was good to see him back (and then gone again).

Overall a promising performance from England. Stokes very much a match-winner today with a confident knock, two wickets, a ridiculous catch and a very good throw preceding Pretorius' run-out. I had him down as a bit of a weak link going into this tournament but he was everywhere. Archer a little bit frightening at times and you can't help but relish the prospect of him and the recently supercharged Wood bearing down on the Aussies in the Ashes, assuming both are fit/selected. South Africa actually played quite well and should improve when Steyn is back. Early days obviously but I suspect it's more or less five teams competing for four semi-final spots and it could well be tight between them and New Zealand to stake their claim along with England, Australia and India. Great start to the tournament anyhow.

[London_White]

Sorry Tommy, sometimes it's hard to remember who might be being sarcastic on here and who isnt.
Good to see the bowlers show that it's not just about bashing it to all parts in this game. Happy with a comfortable win against one of the better sides

[Rob]

Solid start to the WC by England. With the welcome return of the classic, competitive 1992 format with the 10 team round robin qualifier, our net run rate got us off to a decent start too.

Fabulous catch by Stokes in a good all round team display. Not sure why the Saffas dropped their main finisher Miller.

Have managed to snaffle some tickets with a few chums for the cons match at Lord's. After a couple of personal annus horribilis am now most looking forward to handing it out then to Smith, Warner etc.

As a PS, why is the BBC sport site's lead feature about a Spanish club player potentially leaving Real Madrid, not our own nation's main summer sports WC opening fixture !?

[Vampire]

why is the BBC sport site's lead feature about a Spanish club player potentially leaving Real Madrid, not our own nation's main summer sports WC opening fixture !?

Because the ECB has conditioned English cricket fans to be more interested in sporting heroes born and developed overseas?

[dirty leeds]

why is the BBC sport site's lead feature about a Spanish club player potentially leaving Real Madrid, not our own nation's main summer sports WC opening fixture !?

Because the ECB has conditioned English cricket fans to be more interested in sporting heroes born and developed overseas?

Snore.

[welshwhite]

Hotel all booked for the 25th, just gotta hope the weather is nice on the day.

Can't wait to let that cheating cunt Smith know what I think of their antics

[eric olthwaite]

Thought the Windies were supposed to be the useless makeweights in this tournament. Perhaps not.

[dirty leeds]

Thought the Windies were supposed to be the useless makeweights in this tournament. Perhaps not.

Unpredictable and dangerous is more what I had in mind. Just as prone to misfiring.

[dirty leeds]

But not today - that was over quickly. Maybe Gayle has hurt his back, though?

[Tommy]

I know it’s only two matches down but wasn’t this WC supposed to be massively skewed towards batting? So far the bowlers have dominated in both matches.

I suspected before the tournament began that Pakistan are a bit shite (the series against us and then them getting rolled by Afghanistan hinted at it) but the Windies bowling looked really dangerous today. I can see them causing some upsets in this tournament if their batsmen stay fit.

[eric olthwaite]

Just looked and there’s not a single game at Hove, but they’re at Bristol and Taunton? Twats.

[MightyWhite]

Broad taking aim at the Aussies just reminded me that the Ashes are here straight after the WC. This is how summers without a football tournament should always be

[AndyPaul]

New Zealand hammering Sri Lanka which is no great shock but they've got to be my tip for winning the whole thing.

[Vampire]

NZ may not be the most likely to win it but for me they are the best value bet at 12.5. They’ve got a decent side and the conditions should suit their bowlers. In Kane Williamson they have not only one of the best batsmen in the world but probably the best against the moving ball.

New Zealand hammering Sri Lanka which is no great shock but they've got to be my tip for winning the whole thing.

Got them in the end on Betfair at 14-1. If they reach the semis I’ll lay them for instant profit.

[Rob]

Just looked and there’s not a single game at Hove, but they’re at Bristol and Taunton? Twats.

Am ticked too, being a Sussex fan.

Not enough games at the county grounds. Same old venues for all the group games hasn't been thought through in terms of spreading the interest et all around the whole country. It'll be the accountants purely choosing the larger capacity grounds to raise as much revenue as possible.

I seem to remember at the 1999 World Cup match the group game between India & South Africa being held at Hove and comments were for a fixture like that, the ground wasn't large enough. That said, as Eric will know, Hove's capacity has since been increased with the new south west stand so the ground could easily have catered to a match not involving England or India.

[eric olthwaite]

Have to say I’m not really familiar with many other non-Test County grounds (apart from Derby, nigh on 45 years ago), so I always imagined Hove was a decent-ish size. Went to the bish-bosh two or three years back and don’t recall whether it had been expanded.